Reply #21: monsanto in the white house [View All]

[superconnected]

Cleita - as long as we're under attack the environment and franken foods (genetically altered) won't matter. BTW: If you're going to support gentically altered food companies, it would be best if we stay under attack.

I'm having a hard time finding Condoleezas link to Monsanto. I remember it was a big deal about a year ago and now, all I'm finding is her Chevron Advisor link. I'll search further.

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Here is the Bush's cabinet with Monsanto links, yes some just resigned:

John Ashcroft Attorney General, in charge of environmental enforcement. Got $1.7 million from oil, chemical and paper companies for his Senate campaign, because they were grateful for Ashcroft's opposition to funding environmental enforcement, voting to rollback clean water protections and letting mining companies dump cyanide and other wastes on public land. One of his major donors was Monsanto (the maker of PCBs.) His recent policies violate American principles of privacy, free speech, civil liberties, etc

Ann Veneman Secretary of Agriculture. Formerly a lawyer with a firm specializing in representing agribusiness giants and biotech corporations. In California, she encouraged policies helping giant corporate farms squeeze out family-owned farms --- so that now, for example, only four companies process 80% of American produced beef. Served on Calgene Inc. Board of Directors, a subsidiary of Monsanto (which gave us PCBs, bovine growth hormone, Terminator seeds, genetic manipulation of our food, etc.) Participated in International Policy Council of Agriculture, Food and Trade, funded by Monsanto, Cargill, Archer-Daniels Midland, Kraft, and Nestle (Perrier).

Tommy Thompson Secretary of Health, was a supporter of Monsanto in Wisconsin. He received $50,000 from biotech firms in his election run, and used state funds to set up a $317 million dollar biotech zone in Wisconsin. He was one of 13 state governors who launched a campaign, funded by Monsanto, to persuade Americans that genetically modified crops were safe. As Governor of Wisconsin, Thompson was always a friend of the paper industry and obstructed Fox River cleanup and compensation for many years. Between 1990 and 1997, Thompson received $155,553 from the paper industry for his re-election campaigns, and much more from the insurance industry and lawfirms representing the paper industry. (see Thompson Defends Fox River Polluters)

Larry Thompson --- Appointed as Deputy Attorney General, under Ashcroft. Had served as Monsanto's in-house counsel.

Linda Fisher Deputy Admin. of EPA despite prior position as a Monsanto Corporation executive. Fisher was one of Monsanto's top Washington D.C. lobbyists between 1995 and 2000. As Monsanto's Vice President for Government and Public Affairs, she represented Monsanto's interest in agriculture, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, environment, finance and trade issues, and managed the company's political action committee and political contribution funds. Monsanto spent $4 million on Washington DC lobbying in 1998, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Mitch Daniels Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Daniels was the vice-president of corporate strategy at Eli Lilly Pharmeceutical company. Eli Lilly and Monsanto developed the genetically engineered bovine growth hormone (BGH), which now contaminates our nation's milk supply.

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And then of course the Supreme Court:

Clarence Thomas Supreme Court Justice. Was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court by President George Bush, Senior. Not surprisingly, the deciding swing vote giving the Presidential Election to George, Jr. was made by this former lawyer for Monsanto Corporation.