Representing some of the people and none of the truth

Former Bush surgeon general says he was muzzled
Tue Jul 10, 2007 1:18PM EDT

By Will Dunham

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The first U.S. surgeon general appointed by President George W. Bush accused the administration on Tuesday of political interference and muzzling him on key issues like embryonic stem cell research.

"Anything that doesn't fit into the political appointees' ideological, theological or political agenda is ignored, marginalized or simply buried," Dr. Richard Carmona, who served as the nation's top doctor from 2002 until 2006, told a House of Representatives committee.

"The problem with this approach is that in public health, as in a democracy, there is nothing worse than ignoring science, or marginalizing the voice of science for reasons driven by changing political winds. The job of surgeon general is to be the doctor of the nation, not the doctor of a political party," Carmona added.

Carmona said Bush administration political appointees censored his speeches and kept him from talking out publicly about certain issues, including the science on embryonic stem cell research, contraceptives and his misgivings about the administration's embrace of "abstinence-only" sex education.

More here ...

Two things strike me on reading this:

1. This guy is not the first scientist to suggest the current administration ignored science or edited scientific facts for political gain.
2. The right wing, normally filled with such righteous indignation, seems, through their silence on such matters, to approve of these tactics. Their silence indicates that they believe its OK to lie (that's what happens when you alter facts) and cheat (that's what happens when you mislead the public). How can they sleep at night? They can't win on the facts so change the facts, making up their own? It's not like they're disputing issues of politics, political point of view or opinions. They are denying scientific findings for political purposes. How is that serving all the people? Does the right wing have any idea what it means to represent ALL the people of this nation? You can only represent ALL the people if you use the facts. If you make up the facts, then you're only representing one, narrow special interest or another who's goal is political gain ... at the expense of the people of this country.