The American Mind

Former Surgeon General Richard Carmona accused the Bush administration of muffling his medical reports and ordering him to praise the administration. It’s another in a line of accusations that the administration has politicized science.

The administration, Dr. Carmona said, would not allow him to speak or issue reports about stem cells, emergency contraception, sex education, or prison, mental and global health issues. Top officials delayed for years and tried to “water down” a landmark report on secondhand smoke, he said. Released last year, the report concluded that even brief exposure to cigarette smoke could cause immediate harm.

Dr. Carmona said he was ordered to mention President Bush three times on every page of his speeches. He also said he was asked to make speeches to support Republican political candidates and to attend political briefings.

A line of discussion involved the Special Olympics:

And administration officials even discouraged him from attending the Special Olympics because, he said, of that charitable organization’s longtime ties to a “prominent family” that he refused to name.

“I was specifically told by a senior person, ‘Why would you want to help those people?’ ” Dr. Carmona said.

The Special Olympics is one of the nation’s premier charitable organizations to benefit disabled people, and the Kennedys have long been deeply involved in it.

When asked after the hearing if that “prominent family” was the Kennedys, Dr. Carmona responded, “You said it. I didn’t.”

Dr. Carmona refused to name names publicly. I wish he did because his story clashes with President Bush’s praise of the Special Olympics and Eunice Kennedy Shriver its founder. At White House dinner in 2001 President Bush made these remarks:

Good evening. Good evening, everyone. Laura and I are so pleased to welcome you to the White House, as we pay tribute to a great organization and the really good people behind it.

In a moment, we will hear from Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who has made the Special Olympics her life’s work. If you ever had any doubt about how much good that one person can bring into the world, look no farther than this kind and gracious lady. (Applause.) And she married pretty well, too. Sure glad you’re here, Sargent. (Applause). And they’ve done a good job of raising their family.

We are so pleased to welcome the — I hate to say the word “children” — the offspring of Sargent and Eunice Shriver. Obviously, you’ve done a good job of instilling the sense of public service in your children, and they’re compassionate people. I particularly want to thank Tim for being the President of Special Olympics. (Applause.)

…

We gather here to celebrate achievement of the Special Olympics, itself, and those who compete. Before we lived here, Laura and I were fortunate to be involved with the Special Olympics in Texas. And I’ll never forget being a hugger at Texas Memorial Stadium. Such a wonderful experience. We’re so grateful for the Special Olympics.

And so is America because America at its best upholds the values of every person and the possibilities of every life. And Special Olympics is an example of America at its best, sharing with the entire world a spirit of joy and kindness.

Five years later in 2006 President Bush praised Eunice Kennedy Shriver and the Special Olympics:

In a moment we’ll hear from this woman who has made it her life’s work to create opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities. She founded the Special Olympics in 1968, to get people with intellectual disabilities the chance to develop physical fitness, to create friendships, and experience the joy of sports competition and achievement. Today the Special Olympics includes more than 2.25 million athletes in 150 countries. The games have become a source — (applause.) The games have become a source of unity and excitement for its participants. They’ve helped raise awareness of the challenges facing those with intellectual disabilities.

America upholds the values of every person and the possibilities of every life. And the Special Olympics are an example of America at its best. We share with the entire world the spirit of joy and kindness that the Special Olympics brings.

If you ever had any doubt about how much good one person can do, look no further than this kind and gracious lady. On this special occasion, I ask you to join me in a toast to the Special Olympics, and to Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and to her contributions to our nation — past, present, and future. God bless.

They even had cake.

At an event honoring the 2001 Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens President Bush had these words to say about the Special Olympics:

At any rate, congratulations for winning. I also want to congratulate Michale McCrary. I do, because he recently received the NFL Players Association Highest Honor of Humanity Achievement. That’s important. It’s important to be a champ on the field and it’s important to be a champ off the field. And, Michael, I want to thank you for your work with the Special Olympics.

I don’t know if any of you have ever had a chance to go to see the Special Olympics, but if you do, and somebody offers you a chance to be a hugger — which means you’re standing on the other side of the finish line to hug somebody who comes running across — do it. It touches your heart. And, Michael, thank you for that. And thank you for setting a good example.

On November 21, 2003 President Bush commemorated the anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s death:

We remember a man who welcomed great responsibilities, and had a gift for awakening the idealism and sense of duty in others. We remember a leader who called our Nation to high purpose, and saw America through grave dangers with calm, discernment, and personal courage. We recall, with much affection and respect, the charming and dignified manner that became familiar to us all in the years of President Kennedy’s service.

This is odd behavior for an administration who has it out for the Special Olympics and the Kennedy family.

Dr. Carmona admits to being “politically naïve” (NY Times reporter Gardiner Harris’ words) so I think he took the question helping the Kennedys more seriously than it should have been. Carmona’s other accusations could be just as weak.

The NY Times could have done exactly what I just did to give a fuller look at Carmona’s accusation and the Bush administration.

For more analysis Ken Shepherd examines the general liberal bias of the MSM coverage.

“Surgeon General Sees 4-Year Term as Compromised” [via Steven Taylor]