Why joycelyn elders was fired

Newt Gingrich R-Ga. Elders' statement at the World AIDS Day conference is not the first time she has made public comments that have embarrassed the president. Panetta said she had been cautioned about them. The chief of staff mentioned three such statements made by the surgeon general: suggesting that Catholics have a love affair with fetuses, saying that five-year-olds should be taught about condoms and calling the legalization of drugs "worth studying.

Asked what he or the president thought was wrong with what Elders said about masturbation, Panetta said, "The president thinks it's not something schools should do and it's not something the surgeon general should say.

The administration learned of them through a reporter for U. Later in the day, Elders, 61, issued a statement saying, "I feel this halfway point is a good time for me to go.

Sessi Kuwabara Blanchard. Sessi is an independent drug journalist and drug-user activist. She lives in New York City. Show Comments. Trending Now.

Diane Goldstein September 20, What Exactly Are They? She served as chief of the Arkansas health department under then-Gov. After five years, he knows what he is getting. Although Clinton sometimes pointed out his differences with Elders, he also seemed proud that his Administration could tolerate an official of such controversial views.

William J. After graduation, she joined the U. After her discharge in , she attended medical school at the University of Arkansas and graduated in She did her internship at the University of Minnesota Hospital from In , then Gov. Her words give new meaning to Robert Fulghum's oft-quoted notion of "learning all you ever needed to know in kindergarten.

I will admit that in these statements Dr. Elders did not endorse teaching masturbation; she only suggested it. So whenever a Ku Klux Klan member wants to go out and do some evil, all they have to do is sound contemplative and say, "Perhaps we should go out and assault some African-Americans As you might expect, I have a few questions about this brilliant idea.

First, when does Elders propose we teach masturbatory techniques? Would this come before or after learning the alphabet? Second, how exactly does Elders want us to teach masturbation? There are a variety of methods from which to choose. I suggest using games and songs.