Obama Appoints Ex-Pesticide Lobbyist as Agricultural Trade Negotiator

[The Straight Story]

Obama Appoints Ex-Pesticide Lobbyist as Agricultural Trade Negotiator
Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Islam Siddiqui’s recess appointment as chief agricultural negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has sparked considerable opposition from environmentalists and organic farmers. Siddiqui served as vice president for science and regulatory affairs at CropLife America, a trade association for the pesticide and biotech industries. He has also worked as a registered lobbyist advocating for the interests of companies like Monsanto, Syngenta, DuPont and Dow. This work has “revealed him to consistently favor agribusinesses’ interests over the interests of consumers, the environment and public health,” according to a coalition of groups opposing President Barack Obama’s choice. In particular, Siidiqui had fought against regulation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

“We believe Siddiqui’s nomination severely weakens the Obama Administration’s credibility in promoting healthier and more sustainable local food systems here at home,” reads a letter from a coalition opposing Siddiqui’s nomination. “His appointment would also send an unfortunate signal to the rest of the world that the United States plans to continue down the failed path of high-input and energy-intensive industrial agriculture by promoting toxic pesticides, inappropriate seed biotechnologies and unfair trade agreements on nations that do not want and can least afford them.”

http://www.allgov.com/Appointments_and_Resignations/ViewNews/Obama_Appoints_Ex_Pesticide_Lobbyist_as_Agricultural_Trade_Negotiator_100330

[midnight]

1. Who told him to do that?

[BrklynLiberal]

2. damn

[tekisui]

3. Bad move.

[Captain Hilts]

4. GE's PCB defender is our DOJ Environmental Enforcement director. No kidding. nt

[woodsprite]

5. IMO, he's not using his head with some of his appointees.

THAT pisses me off! Either he's not thinking, getting something for the deal, or someone (maybe Rahm) is giving him very bad advice.

[Kokonoe]

6. He must be using worms.

Its 3 D chess.

I sure hope he can outsmart them.

[Orsino]

7. That's not change, etc. n/t

[arcane1]

8. This has been my #1 gripe against Obama

His preference for putting Monsanto lackeys in charge of agriculture :grr: