-Caveat Lector- White House irritated over surgeon general's report on sex Surgeon General urges Americans to respect a 'diversity of sexual values' Surgeon general's "Call to Action" report By LAURA MECKLER, Associated Press WASHINGTON (June 29, 2001 2:52 p.m. EDT) - The White House signaled President Bush's frustration with Surgeon General David Satcher after the Clinton appointee issued a frank and controversial report on sex education the day before. "The president thinks abstinence education is important," Bush spokesman Ari Fleischer said Friday in response to Satcher's report, which called on communities to provide lifelong sex education, encouraging abstinence as well as birth control. Satcher also said Americans should develop greater understanding toward gays and lesbians. The report was the latest in a long history of reports from surgeons general that have rankled the White House. Past surgeons general have issued reports on venereal disease, smoking and AIDS, often to the consternation of the president. Satcher was appointed by President Clinton and began his four-year term in 1998 after surviving a confirmation battle in the Senate led by then-Sen. John Ashcroft, R-Mo., now Bush's attorney general. His term expires in February. Later, Fleischer said, "The president believes and the report does have some indication on this, that the best way to prevent pregnancy, the only surefire way, is through abstinence, and that's the best way to avert disease as well." Bush did not read Satcher's full report himself but was briefed on it, Fleischer added. Bush advisers said conservative groups, the core of his political base, are demanding Satcher's resignation. One senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Bush strongly objected to portions of Satcher's report and had little confidence in him. Fleischer refused to say whether Bush stood behind Satcher, though he routinely offers endorsements of other personnel. "In this case," he said, "the surgeon general was not appointed by this administration." Officials later said Fleischer was expressing Bush's disappointment in Satcher, though they are not likely to seek his resignation. Administration officials expect that Bush will appoint his own surgeon general when Satcher's term ends next year. For his part, Satcher - who has been a target of conservatives since his nomination - has never expected Bush to ask him to stay for a second term. ANOMALOUS IMAGES http://www.anomalous-images.com <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
