…and another report of the Bush administration repressing science in favor of ideology. We’ve heard it before. First they were all up in James Hansen’s junk, then they were in NOAA’s face, and now they are messing with one of their own appointees.

Yesterday, NPR’s All Thing Considered reported that in a hearing before the House Government Reform Committee, former Surgeon General, Dr. Richard Carmona, accused the Bush administration of ignoring “Anything that doesn’t fit into..[their]…ideological, theological or political agenda”.

Dr. Carmona was joined by two other former surgeon generals – Dr. David Satcher, who served under President Bill Clinton, and Dr. C. Everett Koop, who served under President Ronald Reagan and the first President Bush. While all surgeons faced challenges from the administration they served, all agreed that difficulties presented by the Bush administration where the most extreme.

On the note of global warming, NRP reports:

[Carmona] recalled a meeting where senior White House officials talked about global warming as a liberal cause with no merit.

“I remember thinking, ‘I know why they want me here, they want me to discuss the science; they don’t understand the science.’ So I had this scientific discussion for about a half an hour, and I was never invited back to the meeting.”

Caroma goes on to describe speeches being edited and travel being monitored. It is no wonder Caroma resigned. He must have felt like a toddler. One can only imaginne Caroma’s frustration after leading the life of accomplishment, determination, and independence necessary to obtain a high-ranking, politically appointed position such as Surgeon General. But if only Caroma was an industry crony of the administration there would have been no need for all the hard work or the bitter ending.

Read the full story here.