Former Bush surgeon general says he was muzzled

The first U.S. surgeon general appointed by George W. Bush accused the administration of political interference and muzzling him on key issues like embryonic stem cell research. "Anything that doesn't fit into the political appointees' ideological, theological or political agenda is ignored, marginalized or simply buried," said Dr. Richard Carmona read more Digg story

It is certainly understandable that a President would appoint people that will follow his agenda. That is the whole point of standing behind your platform when you run. When elected you will attempt to further your agenda. For example, George H. W. Bush wanted to promote free trade so he appointed Carla Hills, a free trade advocate, as US Trade Rep, and thus NAFTA was put into play. Clinton of course made NAFTA a priority as well and saw its eventual passage. Part of a great continuing chapter in American history of course.

However, in some areas the line should be drawn and health is one of them. Crazed Evangelicals and other religious groups seem to believe that both health and science are on the same table as their religious beliefs and do not distinguish between them. Since they believe that stem cell research is in some way immoral it must not take place despite the benefit to the public that the research may bring. Health is something that should be analyzed objectively with no thought of religious beliefs in a person's mind. As the chief medical officer and senior most health official in the US, the surgeon general should be acting as a doctor is supposed to act, in the best interest of a patient. Straying from this mindset is immoral. There is so much benefit that can come from stem cell research and it is disgusting to see religious agendas stifle it. Believing that you are killing someone by performing research on microscopic cells in a petri dish while watching a person die from an incurable condition is irrational.

Stem cell research is hardly the only measure where the effects of a religious agenda can be seen. Religious agendas by "right to life" types have already put numerous cramps on the ability of doctors to perform normal medical procedures. Abortion is being slowly made illegal and very few forms of euthanasia are legal in most states.