NYT Editorial: "... the sheer breadth of interference described by sugeon general..."

[Hissyspit]

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/12/opinion/12thu1.html?hp

Editorial
Unhealthy Interference

Published: July 12, 2007
Even those who have grown cynical over the Bush administration’s relentless manipulation of scientific views to fit its political and ideological agenda must have been surprised at the sheer breadth of interference described by the former surgeon general, Dr. Richard Carmona.

- snip -

It all sounds so ham-handedly partisan that it would be laughable if it weren’t so damaging to the public’s understanding of important public health issues. Dr. Carmona declined to name his tormentors but made it clear that they included assistant secretaries in the Department of Health and Human Services as well as other top political appointees.

What to do about such interference needs to be high on the agenda when the Senate health committee holds a confirmation hearing today on Dr. James Holsinger, the president’s nominee to become the next surgeon general. The main subject to be probed, aside from Dr. Holsinger’s professional qualifications, is whether he still holds the views he has expressed in the past that seem hostile to gay men and lesbians. Now, in the wake of Dr. Carmona’s revelations, it will also be important to ask Dr. Holsinger what steps he would take to keep the office from being politicized.

Beyond that, oversight committees in the House and the Senate must look for ways to protect the position from future political interference. Dr. Carmona testified alongside two other former surgeons general who also met political resistance, but nothing close to what Dr. Carmona experienced during four years of service in the Bush administration.

- snip -

Congress could also ban any effort to censor or delay the surgeon general’s reports and speeches. If this White House doesn’t understand why that independence is so important to the nation’s health, the American public certainly should.

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[frogcycle]

1. we need to not approve any more bush appointments to anything

just fucking stonewall
tell him to go fucking ride his bike

the country actually would be better off without any of his appointees - with the jobs open - and the career bureaucrats "making do"

[Nikki Stone1]

2. Kick and recommend. I hate how the Cons interfere with science.

:grr:

[Rageneau]

3. Once again, it was the NYT that got this dufus elected in the first place.

The Time editorial page is unloading on Bush these days, but there is nothing about Bush today that was not obvious back in 2000, when all the NYT could do was lie about Gore and cover for Smirk.