President Bush’s recent appointment of a pro-abstinence policymaker as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Population Affairs (DASPA) has drawn criticism, according to a CBS news story. Dr. Susan Orr, an associate commissioner at the Department of Health and Human Services, would oversee Title X.

Title X is the federal program that provides birth control and other family planning services to lower income families.

Orr has been criticized as being anti-contraceptive. It probably doesn’t help that Orr is currently on the board of directors of Teen Choice, a non-profit groups advocating for abstinence in lieu of contraception.

In April 2001, when President Bush proposed ending contraceptive coverage for federal employees, Orr said, “We’re quite pleased because fertility is not a disease. It’s not a medical necessity that you have it.”

Orr said by not adding a “conscience clause” that would allow employers to withhold contraceptive coverage, the council would force employers “to make a choice between serving God and serving the D.C. government.”

“It’s not about choice. It’s not about health care. It’s about making everyone collaborators with the culture of death,” she said.

Liberal and conservative organizations alike had strong opinions about the appointment.

“The appointment of Susan Orr is a nightmare for anyone who believes in birth control and sex ed, and further evidence that the Bush administration is intent on appointing an anti-choice extremist to head Title X,” said Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards. “This is yet another example of the Bush administration putting politics ahead of women’s health care.”

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins rallied to Orr’s defense, saying her 2000 comments against health coverage for birth control were misconstrued and merely demonstrated her support of consumer choice of coverage. “The real question is why anyone would want to mandate that the insured buy coverage they do not want or currently need,” Perkins said.

What do you think of Orr’s appointment? Do you think it’s a conflict of interest for Orr, who is currently on the board of directors of Teen Choice (a non-profit group advocating abstinence in lieu of contraception) to be appointed to this position? Or do you agree with people who say liberals and the media are unfairly criticizing Orr?

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Additional media coverage included articles in The Associated Press and The Washington Post.

Various organizations, including nonprofit religious corporation Focus on the Family Action Inc., UC Irvine’s New University, Center for American Progress Action Fund think tank, health policy organization The Kaiser Network and family advocacy site LifeSiteNews.com, provided commentary and additional coverage.

Blog discussions include The Wall Street Journal’s Washington Wire, Daily Kos, The Huffington Post, Feministe, The National Abortion Federation and RHRealityCheck.org.

Planned Parenthood posted an online petition against Orr’s appointment.