[Boston] Mayor Thomas M. Menino embarked on a highly public campaign yesterday to block CVS Corp. and other retailers from opening medical clinics inside their stores, an effort that exposed a rift between Menino and the state’s public health commissioner, a longtime ally.

Menino blasted state regulators for paving the way Wednesday for the in-store clinics, which are designed to provide treatment for sore throats, poison ivy, and other minor illnesses.

The decision by the state Public Health Council, “jeopardizes patient safety,” Menino said in a written statement. “Limited service medical clinics run by merchants in for-profit corporations will seriously compromise quality of care and hygiene. Allowing retailers to make money off of sick people is wrong.”

Sit with that thought a moment.

Do surgeons beg for bread crumbs on street corners? Does medicine grow on trees? Do liberals know any shame?

CVS, which operates the Minute Clinics, said they:

…would be happy to talk to Mayor Menino about any of his concerns.”

“We at MinuteClinic are committed to providing convenient, affordable access to quality health care.”

The nerve!

(For those too young to remember Banned in Boston, read here.)