Surgeon General report blocked for not serving the administration's political agenda - U.S. Politics Online: A Political Discussion Forum

Ahriman · #1 (**permalink**) 07-29-2007

It's really something that this kind of thing isn't even a surprise to anyone anymore. I guess life and death are all just toys for political gamesmanship.

Quote:

A surgeon general's report in 2006 that called on Americans to help tackle global health problems has been kept from the public by a Bush political appointee without any background or expertise in medicine or public health, chiefly because the report did not promote the administration's policy accomplishments, according to current and former public health officials.

The report described the link between poverty and poor health, urged the U.S. government to help combat widespread diseases as a key aim of its foreign policy, and called on corporations to help improve health conditions in the countries where they operate. A copy of the report was obtained by The Washington Post.

Three people directly involved in its preparation said its publication was blocked by William R. Steiger, a specialist in education and a scholar of Latin American history whose family has long ties to President Bush and Vice President Cheney. Since 2001, Steiger has run the Office of Global Health Affairs in the Department of Health and Human Services.

Richard H. Carmona, who commissioned the "Call to Action on Global Health" while serving as surgeon general from 2002 to 2006, recently cited its suppression as an example of the Bush administration's frequent efforts during his tenure to give scientific documents a political twist. At a July 10 House committee hearing, Carmona did not cite Steiger by name or detail the report's contents and its implications for American public health.

Carmona told lawmakers that, as he fought to release the document, he was "called in and again admonished . . . via a senior official who said, 'You don't get it.' " He said a senior official told him that "this will be a political document, or it will not be released."

washingtonpost.com

Imperator · #2 (**permalink**) 07-29-2007

surgeon generals..ALL surgeon generals serve at the pleasure of the admin........other admins. have had an issue with one of theirs as well....they are appointees and are expected to tow the party line....like it or not pointing fingers is just that..those are the rules of the game.....sux but thats life.

Johnny K · #3 (**permalink**) 07-30-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imperator

surgeon generals..ALL surgeon generals serve at the pleasure of the admin........other admins. have had an issue with one of theirs as well....they are appointees and are expected to tow the party line....like it or not pointing fingers is just that..those are the rules of the game.....sux but thats life.

So your basic premise is that partisanship loyalty should override the good of the Nation and the people. Not surprising from someone of your political leanings, just a little unnerving to actually hear one of you say it unvarnished with the typical spin.

Steve · #4 (**permalink**) 07-30-2007

Insofar as I can tell, there's nothing which prevents the Surgeon General from resigning his post and publishing his report...

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