Government's Top Doctor Told To Ignore Science

The New York Times reveals the reported muzzling of former US Surgeon General Richard Carmona, who explains how the Bush administration repeatedly made him put politics above science.

It's a little like finding out that White House operatives made NASA deny astronomy, or told the CIA to shelve electronic espionage in favor of Tarot cards.

There is a clear Wisconsin connection to this story, and to presidential campaigning, because Carmona worked under then-Health and Human Services secretary Tommy Thompson.

As Bill Christofferson asks in the comment section below - - did Tommy play a role in censoring and stifling the nation's top doctor?

Carmona served as Surgeon General from 2002-2006, and told congressional investigators in sworn testimony that the White House removed science from policy-making and speeches on issues ranging from stem cells to global warming to disease transmission.

For those who assume Dr. Carmona was some sort of renegade, tree-hugging healthinista, here's how the Times described his background:

"Before becoming surgeon general, he was in the Army Special Forces, earned two purple hearts in the Vietnam War, was a trauma surgeon and a leader of the Pima County, Ariz., SWAT team."