Flashback: Jocelyn Elders

[ruggerson]

Same old shit. Different decade.

"President Clinton's nomination of Elders for the post of U.S. surgeon general made her the second African American and fifth woman to be chosen for a cabinet position. However, some people were strongly against the president's choice. Elders was criticized for favoring abortion on demand (abortion without restriction). Her critics also did not agree with her support for medicinal use of marijuana, U.S. legalization of the RU-486 pill (which may be taken by a woman to end a pregnancy), and her urging television networks to air condom ads. She was also involved in a scandal regarding the National Bank of Arkansas, for which she had served on the board of directors. Nevertheless, Elders gained the backing of the American Medical Association and former U.S. surgeon general C. Everett Koop (1916–). In September 1993 the Senate approved her nomination by a sixty-five to thirty-four vote.

"As U.S. surgeon general, Elders continued her work regarding teen pregnancy. She was also concerned with tobacco use, national health care, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS; a disease of the immune system), gun control, and drug and alcohol abuse. However, Elders was forced to resign in December 1994 after she was surrounded by controversy over a statement she made at World AIDS Day at the United Nations. Asked if she would consider promoting masturbation (pleasuring oneself sexually without engaging in sexual intercourse) as a means of preventing young people from engaging in riskier forms of sexual activity, Elders had responded, as quoted in US News & World Report, that "masturbation … is something that is a part of human sexuality and a part of something that should perhaps be taught." Elders's statement enraged both conservatives and moderates, and she was asked by the Clinton administration to give up her position as surgeon general."


http://www.notablebiographies.com/Du-Fi/Elders-Joycelyn.html

[The Straight Story]

1. Well if you think you have to teach masturbation then I would worry about you

It comes naturally :rofl:

[ruggerson]

6. "part of something"

she was referring, of course, to comprehensive sex education.

But we let them (the rightwing and the media) define the meaning and the Clinton administration cut her loose.

[madaboutharry]

2. I guess they were afraid an entire generation could

grow hair on the palms of their hands and go blind.

[saltpoint]

3. I took Dr. Elders to be a physician, fully credentialed, entirely qualified,

and very significantly admirable.

It was disappointing that President Clinton dismissed her when in fact she was right all along.

An Indiana chairwoman of our acquaintance noted that had Mr. Clinton hewn more closely to Elders' advice he might not have been quite so prone to intern frolic.

[alcibiades_mystery]

5. ROFL

Indeed.

[alcibiades_mystery]

4. Don't forget TWO failed AG noms in Year 1 of the Clinton Admin

People flying off the handle over Van Jones are being silly.

[JohnnyLib2]

7. I wish Clinton had backed her. Not so sure this time around.

There just isn't much research and medical outlook about the use of "asshole" by public officials....

[RufusTFirefly]

8. Ted who?

Isn't it miraculous the way the MSM has let Van Jones and the insane outrage over the President's speech to school children completely overwhelm meaningful discussion of health care? The recent death of Sen. Ted Kennedy and the courageous example he set as a champion of compassion and care might actually have started us on the road to real progress. Oh well.