Saturday, May 14, 2005
God and Policy
Here's a little reminder of the kinds of people Georgie Bush and the Radical Republicans are putting in policy making roles. Dr. Hager is a Bush appointee to the FDA's Advisory Committee on Reproductive Health Drugs. He played a key role in the rejection of Barr Laboratories application to sell its Plan B morning after pill over the counter. In a sermon at Asbury College in Kentucky last fall Dr. Hager boasted, "'I argued it from a scientific perspective, and God took that information and he used it through this minority report to influence the decision. Once again, what Satan meant for evil, God turned into good.'" It's good to know that medical decisions are being made by people who speak to "god." The Nation has a nice piece on Dr. Hager, his role in killing Plan B, and allegations that he sexually abused his ex-wife. If the allegations are true, it just shows how much Dr. Hager respects women. Not to discount the allegations of sexual abuse, but Dr. Hager's repeated statements about the role his religious beliefs play in his medical decisions alone should be reason enough for the man to be removed from the FDA panel. Hager, the Nation notes, is "a member of Focus on the Family's Physician Resource Council" and we all know what a mainstream organization Focus on the Family is. Hager clearly sees himself as a Christian Crusader at the FDA. During the very same Asbury speech he told his audience, a" war being waged against Christians, particularly evangelical Christians. It wasn't my scientific record that came under scrutiny [at the FDA]. It was my faith.... By making myself available, God has used me to stand in the breach." By his own admission, Hager is letting his particular version of religious faith influence his "scientific" work and dictate the decisions he makes about the medical care available to Americans. For anyone with any kind of medical condition (and this means all of us) this is a scary proposition. Medical ethics is one thing. Using a particular interpretation of a particular religion that not everyone in this country is an adherent of to make medical and scientific decisions is another thing altogether.
The appointment of people like Dr. Hager by George Bush is reason enough for every American who cares about democracy, the Constitution, and its principles to stand up and resist any attempt to do away with the filibuster in the Senate. The prospect of filibuster free Senate and giving George Bush a free hand in making appointments to the federal bench, the FDA, the diplomatic corps, etc. is frightening. Compassionate Conservatism is nothing more than a classic example of bait and switch. It is nothing more than a focused-group advertising jingle. Today it’s Plan B. Today it’s attacks on the teaching of evolution in Kansas. Tomorrow it will be religious tests for holding public office. Tomorrow it will open discrimination against those who don’t hold the same religious beliefs as those in power. It is clear that people like Dr. Hager, James Dobson, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, D. James Kennedy (head of Coral Ridge Ministries), and others have no interest in freedom or democracy. We’re heading down a dark road unless people of conscience stand up and say no. Our little experiment in democracy, freedom, and religious tolerance is being hijacked by people who don’t believe that political power emanates from the people but rather believe that it comes from “god.” D. James Kennedy has told his “flock” that
Here's a little reminder of the kinds of people Georgie Bush and the Radical Republicans are putting in policy making roles. Dr. Hager is a Bush appointee to the FDA's Advisory Committee on Reproductive Health Drugs. He played a key role in the rejection of Barr Laboratories application to sell its Plan B morning after pill over the counter. In a sermon at Asbury College in Kentucky last fall Dr. Hager boasted, "'I argued it from a scientific perspective, and God took that information and he used it through this minority report to influence the decision. Once again, what Satan meant for evil, God turned into good.'" It's good to know that medical decisions are being made by people who speak to "god." The Nation has a nice piece on Dr. Hager, his role in killing Plan B, and allegations that he sexually abused his ex-wife. If the allegations are true, it just shows how much Dr. Hager respects women. Not to discount the allegations of sexual abuse, but Dr. Hager's repeated statements about the role his religious beliefs play in his medical decisions alone should be reason enough for the man to be removed from the FDA panel. Hager, the Nation notes, is "a member of Focus on the Family's Physician Resource Council" and we all know what a mainstream organization Focus on the Family is. Hager clearly sees himself as a Christian Crusader at the FDA. During the very same Asbury speech he told his audience, a" war being waged against Christians, particularly evangelical Christians. It wasn't my scientific record that came under scrutiny [at the FDA]. It was my faith.... By making myself available, God has used me to stand in the breach." By his own admission, Hager is letting his particular version of religious faith influence his "scientific" work and dictate the decisions he makes about the medical care available to Americans. For anyone with any kind of medical condition (and this means all of us) this is a scary proposition. Medical ethics is one thing. Using a particular interpretation of a particular religion that not everyone in this country is an adherent of to make medical and scientific decisions is another thing altogether.
The appointment of people like Dr. Hager by George Bush is reason enough for every American who cares about democracy, the Constitution, and its principles to stand up and resist any attempt to do away with the filibuster in the Senate. The prospect of filibuster free Senate and giving George Bush a free hand in making appointments to the federal bench, the FDA, the diplomatic corps, etc. is frightening. Compassionate Conservatism is nothing more than a classic example of bait and switch. It is nothing more than a focused-group advertising jingle. Today it’s Plan B. Today it’s attacks on the teaching of evolution in Kansas. Tomorrow it will be religious tests for holding public office. Tomorrow it will open discrimination against those who don’t hold the same religious beliefs as those in power. It is clear that people like Dr. Hager, James Dobson, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, D. James Kennedy (head of Coral Ridge Ministries), and others have no interest in freedom or democracy. We’re heading down a dark road unless people of conscience stand up and say no. Our little experiment in democracy, freedom, and religious tolerance is being hijacked by people who don’t believe that political power emanates from the people but rather believe that it comes from “god.” D. James Kennedy has told his “flock” that
Our job is to reclaim America for Christ, whatever the cost. [. . .] As the vice regents of God, we are to exercise godly dominion and influence over our neighborhoods, our schools, our government, our literature and arts, our sports arenas, our entertainment media, our news media, our scientific endeavors -- in short, over every aspect and institution of human society.So much for religious tolerance. So much for privacy. So much for life, liberty, and justice for all. So much for the principles upon which this country was founded upon (no matter how much we’ve struggled to live up to those ideals over the years). In their attempt to “save” America and transform it into an evangelical Christian nation, George Bush and his masters are destroying it. Their vision for America is not a place I want to live in. The easy route is to emigrate to Canada or Europe, but I’m going to stay and fight. They can have my civil rights, liberties, and freedoms when they pry them from my cold dead hands.