Political Quotes

“I do not doubt Dr. Satcher's competence as a physician, scholar, and medical researcher. However, serious questions on two important issues have arisen during Senate debate on his nomination to be U.S. Surgeon General. I am concerned about Dr. Satcher's position on partial birth abortion. The vast majority of Americans (84 percent, according to a 1996 Wirthlin poll), a majority of the Senate and U.S. House, and the American Medical Association support banning partial birth abortion. Former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop has said that there is 'no way to see partial birth abortion as a medical necessity * * *' It is clear that Dr. Satcher's view on this controversial procedure is out of the mainstream of public and medical opinion. Since Dr. Satcher is apparently willing to subordinate mainstream medical judgment to politics in this instance, I have concerns that he may do so on other important health issues as well. I am also troubled that, as administrator of the Centers for Disease Control, Dr. Satcher approved a questionable medical research project in Africa and Asia.”