Speaking yesterday in San Francisco, Sen. Hillary Clinton took a shot at the Bush Administration for allegedly abusing science. Lisa Neff of the Associated Press reported:
Clinton argued that the executive branch has put ideology over evidence at the expense of the nation's health and economic viability. "Scientists have been muzzled. Information has been taken off government-sponsored Web sites. The leaders of our country have dismissed scientific research and advancements," Clinton said. "They have denied the factual basis of so much that we take for granted."
While the rhetoric may be politically-correct pablum, this is the first we've seen of a presidential candidate seeking to elevate the visibility of the issue.
We extend our support and best wishes to those who would improve the quality of science, but note that those who've been attacking the Administration for manipulating science have recorded themselves steadily against the President's several iniatives to establish objective data quality standards as part of the federal regulatory review process.
Perhaps Sen. Clinton is trying to "triangulate" on the issue in the manner of her husband -- who, after all, signed into law the Data Quality Act, toothless though that's proved to be.
