*Rolls Eyes*

[patgund]

Again, no real surprise. Everything really IS about politics for this crowd, isn't it?

Former Surgeon General Richard Carmona denounces Bush administration’s political interference

"President Bush’s first surgeon general testified Tuesday that his speeches were censored to match administration political positions.

He was prevented from giving the public accurate scientific information on issues such as stem-cell research and teen pregnancy prevention, he said.

“Anything that doesn’t fit into the political appointees’ ideological, theological or political agenda is ignored, marginalized or simply buried,” Richard Carmona, surgeon general from 2002 to 2006, told a congressional committee. “The job of surgeon general is to be the doctor of the nation, not the doctor of a political party.”

Carmona’s remarks were the latest in a series of complaints from government scientists about what they say are administration efforts to control — and sometimes distort — scientific evidence in order to support policy decisions. NASA scientists have complained of pressure to tone down warnings about global warming. EPA officials have said that technical information on power plant emissions and oil drilling have been ignored."

Comments

[omcintyre.livejournal.com]

What I want to know is what *didn't* this administration lie about, or distort?

Political prestidigitators.. all of them, but not very good ones, I'm afraid.

[patgund.livejournal.com]

Let's just say that if they said rock was hard I'd sooner use stone for a pillow

[czina.livejournal.com]

Well, he never *technically* lied about Bush's drug use during the campaign. Of course, he refused to answer the question, and obfuscated about it - but he never DID say 'I didn't use Cocaine/Heroin/Devil's Blood' or whatever his poison of choice was.

[jj-maccrimmon.livejournal.com]

Sadly it would appear that Bush is President of the Disunited States and responsible to no-one but himself and Darth Cheney. I think it's time to write the Congressmen and woman AGAIN. They are getting used to hearing from me.

[patgund.livejournal.com]

Oh, it gets better.......talk about a good old personality cult.......

http://cabdrollery.blogspot.com/2007/07/putting-muzzle-on-messenger.html

"Hiding important health information from the public is despicable enough, but the White House wasn't content to stop there. It also insisted on using the Surgeon General for propaganda purposes.

Dr. Carmona said he was ordered to mention President Bush three times on every page of his speeches. He also said he was asked to make speeches to support Republican political candidates and to attend political briefings.

Catapulting the propaganda was more important than science, although that is certainly no surprise with this gang, but mentioning Dear Leader's name three times for every page of a speech?"

And more political interference with the Surgeon General

[czina.livejournal.com]

I heard an interview with the gentleman on NPR yesterday - and one more example of politics that interfered with his job was given.

He was scheduled to attend a conference/presentation for the Special Olympics, spotlighting children with special needs. He was going to be riding a bike with a child, or some such thing. When he booked his travel plans, they were refused, and he wasn't allowed to go to the conference.

The reason: Because the Special Olympics is a 'pet project' of a major political family, and it would send the wrong message.

The family - the Kennedys, who founded the organization, of course.