From chattel to cattle

Washington, DC — FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford has appointed a man who has spent the majority of his career in the office of veterinary medicine to the position of acting director of the Office of Women's Health at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dr. Norris Alderson will replace Dr. Susan Wood, a key women's health expert, who resigned on August 31 in protest of the FDA's handling of the application to make Plan B emergency contraception (EC) available over the counter.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America Interim President Karen Pearl issued these comments on the appointment:

"The appointment of Dr. Norris Alderson, a man who has spent the majority of his career in the office of veterinary medicine, to the position of acting director of the FDA's Office of Women's Health speaks volumes about the priority the Bush administration places on women's health and safety. The appointment of Dr. Alderson to replace Dr. Susan Wood further undermines the shaky credibility of an agency that has allowed politics to trump sound science, medical evidence, and women's health.

Stories like this just beg the question: do they make tone-deaf moves like this because they are stupid, or out of malice?