Former Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona (in photo) told lawmakers last month that Bush administration political appointees blocked the release of health reports and scientific information that didn’t match their ideological views. Here is one example: William R. Steiger, an appointee with no background in medicine or public health but with long ties to President Bush and Vice President Cheney, blocked a report by Carmona on poverty and global health because it didn’t promote the Bush administration’s policy accomplishments, the Washington Post reported.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
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23 Comments
From reading the article, it is evident that the Surgeon General didn’t not understand the blur between Medical Policy and Foreign Policy.
Just because facts are accurate, it is not always wise just to put them out their without first accounting for diplomacy along with custom and courtesies shared world wide.
For instance, a country that had a malaria outbreak that is now under control may not be very pleased with some statistic that says, “10,000 of cases of Malaria reporting in ZambisiaLand in 2006.” The dated report wouldn’t update possible visitors to the country that the spread of malaria has been quelled in an heroic effort and the message put out by the Surgeon General would have killed tourism and possible business ventures into that country.
One has to be careful what they say and how they say it when it comes to the world. A few well intentioned, but poorly managed words can cause big trouble.
“From reading the article, it is evident that the Surgeon General didn’t not understand the blur between Medical Policy and Foreign Policy.”
What the article makes clear is that Repubs don’t have a clue what honesty and integrety mean.
I have to agree with Kansas here. Although it would be wrong for the Administration to change or manipulated the information in order to provide disinformation and propaganda. But I believe it is within the right of the administration to deny the release of any study they wish.
You can’t just have departments or people within government departments to be allowed to study and release anything they want.
Who’s to say that people within these department or even the Surgeon General have an agenda to undermine the administration or to make it a political issue or use it to promote themselves for careers outside government on the taxpayers dime.
Former Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona wants to release a report on poverty when he left the Administration to be a CEO of Tucson’s largest Resort and Spa, which caters to only the very rich?
I’m sure the Clinton Administration blocked reports as well.
If they want to stop the release, so be it.
bushco are masters of changing and manipulating the information in order to provide disinformation and propaganda. That’s been the hallmark of this entire administration no matter the area or topic.
Bush Administration 101: Lets not let the facts disrupt OUR truth.
I am sure that somehow the Surgeon Generals report somehow jeopardized national security. If the enemy(the american people) find out then we have lost the war. When has censoring a Surgeon General ever happened before? And for those that are certain that the Clinton Administration did the same, please provide your facts before you make unfounded claims.
Bushco Administrative appointees, are nothing but hired spin doctors. Propaganda has no place in medical and scientific reports. We saw the same at NASA.
IIRC, the Bush administration advised this surgeon general to not attend the Special Olympics – which is associated with other politicians’ names. {Kennedys}
I am quite sure that attending the special olympics would have great impact upon our foreign policy. Or, maybe it is just another example of the politicalization of everything that this [mis]administration has been guilty of. Oh, please tell us, oh wise one – I nearly live to hear your pretzel shaped account on everything Bush.
It’s a wonder bush hasn’t created a cabinet level dept. of information clearing house. Mush be almost as effective to have it decentralized into ever cabinet level department.
Funny to see folks arguing that taxpayers don’t have a right to see the research their tax revenues paid for.
When has censoring a Surgeon General ever happened before? And for those that are certain that the Clinton Administration did the same, please provide your facts before you make unfounded claims.
Posted by: Mike | August 01, 2007 at 08:39 AM
While I do not agree with Bush censoring anything from the surgeon General, it has happened before.
This from the Washington Post
“Satcher, Carmona’s predecessor, who served from 1998 to 2002, said that under President Bill Clinton he could not release a report on sexuality and public health, in part because of sensitivities triggered by the Monica Lewinsky scandal.
Clinton also forced out Joycelyn Elders as surgeon general in 1994 after her controversial remarks that public schools should consider teaching about masturbation.”
here’s the link
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/10/AR2007071001422_2.html
LJ, you beat me to it.
Right time, righ place.
I’d say ther is a big difference between an isolated instance of censorship, and the systemic dis-information and propaganda machine we currently are under. I also recall some big controversy on scientist being gagged re. global warming.
I also recall some big controversy on scientist being gagged re. global warming.
Posted by: The Phantom | August 01, 2007 at 09:40 AM
Which turned out to be false and that particular NASA “Scientist” was substituted by his boss in that radio program and that NASA “scientist” was allowed to make over one thousand public statements without censorship.
I would hardly call that “gagging.”
A comprehensive look at Universal HealthCare.
Very easy to read and understand:
http://www.pnhp.org/facts/singlepayer_faq.php
Nasa scientists at JPL and Goddard labrotory were specifically prohibited from presenting any climate change research from 2001 to 2006, until it was publisized. This was a directive from the head of nasa, at the direction of the administration.
This is very much the standard operating procedure of “conservatives” talking about the administration. They point to things that were done in previous administrations, and say that it justifies the Bush administrations amplification of the same activity to the Nth degree.
Its transparent, it’s obvious, and it doesnt work anymore. give it up.
You should not be surprised about the effects of politics on the activities of government.
What is surprising is the number of people who continue to promote government ’solutions’. Even after seeing how all we end up with is a politically motivated program doing what is politically ‘wise’.
On a free speech note! Doesn’t anybody remember last year when Democrats and Clinton threaten the American Broadcast Company from airing the “Path to 9/11″ move, because it was critical of the Clinton Administration?
Harry Reid and other Democrat lawmakers were threatening to take away the FCC license of ABC and the Clinton’s being all upset, writing letters to the producers of ABC to not air the move.
Censorship? Maybe not! But clear intimidation. You will get more of the same with Democrats. They don’t want anything being said, written or produced through movie or music that is critical or satire of their beloved Political Party.
That movie would have fit in the satire category.
There was also that international convention of scientist, and ours were given orders about areas they could not discuss.
One has to be careful what they say and how they say it when it comes to the world. A few well intentioned, but poorly managed words can cause big trouble.
Posted by: Kansas |
This is rich coming from a Bushbot. George W. has no trouble starting a war with his words ‘bring it on’ does he?
In their world it’s ok for Bush to lie and withhold info as he sees fit..and the repukes will always defend their facist dictator, it has nothing to do with what’s right or honorable….to them doing what’s right means doing anything that gets them what they want.
The administration official who suppressed this report appears to be another arrogant, over-indulged preppie (not unlike his boss) who has never known a day of want in his life. Contrary to what Bush and his father maintain, it is a “class” thing.