More Proof That Lying Is the Culture of the Bush Administration

It gets more bald-faced every day. Here, the Washington Post documents the absolute misrepresentation of scientific studies about needle-exchange programs and their effect at reducing HIV rates. Of course, the Post is too genteel to call it what it is: systematic, conscious lying. Two sources that this administration claims did research that supports their anti-needle-exchange position had the following to say:

One of them is Steffanie A. Strathdee of the University of California at San Diego; when we contacted her, she responded that her research "supports the expansion of needle exchange programs, not the opposite." Another researcher cited by the administration is Martin T. Schechter of the University of British Columbia; he wrote us that "Our research here in Vancouver has been repeatedly used to cast doubt on needle exchange programs. I believe this is a clear misinterpretation of the facts."

This really stinks. Their lies aren't about private sexual matters (and I was no fan of Clinton) but instead actually lead to more sickness and death. Their lies exacerbate the public health problems we face. Their lies are a threat to Republican and Democrat alike, to Christian and atheist, to everyone. It disgusts me.