Hmm. So Michelle Obama’s organic garden doesn’t actually translate into policy:
WASHINGTON – Sidestepping a stalled Senate confirmation vote, yesterday President Obama recess-appointed Islam Siddiqui to be chief agricultural negotiator in the office of the U.S. trade representative. Dr. Siddiqui’s nomination was held up in the Senate and was opposed by the Center for Biological Diversity and more than 80 other environmental, small-farm, and consumer groups. More than 90,000 concerned citizens contacted the White House and Senate to oppose the nomination. Siddiqui is a former pesticide lobbyist and is currently vice president of science and regulatory affairs at CropLife America, a biotech and pesticide trade group that lobbies to weaken environmental laws.
“Dr. Siddiqui’s confirmation is a step backward,” said Tierra Curry, a scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity. “His appointment ensures the perpetuation of pesticide- and fossil-fuel-intensive policies, which undermine global food security and imperil public health and wildlife.”
As undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Siddiqui oversaw the development of the first national organic labeling standards, which allowed sewage sludge-fertilized, genetically modified, and irradiated food to be labeled as organic before public outcry forced more stringent standards. Siddiqui has derided the European Union’s ban on hormone-treated beef and has vowed to pressure the European Union to accept more genetically modified crops.
Appointments like this tell us the continuing mixed messages of the Obama administration. Stay tuned!
our “food” system is fucking disgusting. i watched jamie oliver’s food revolution the other day – which i highly recommend for everyone – and it’s even worse than i thought. the things americans put in their bodies are revolting, and our school lunch program is a disgrace. oliver said that kids in impoverished outlying towns in south africa get better nutrition. it’s so fucking backwards – we make the cheapest grossest “food” and then have the world’s most expensive medical treatments.
DAMN! Fucking Obama takes two steps forward, and three steps backward. Who is this guy, really? Reminds me of the old tee-vee show, “What’s Your Line?”
And we’ll be reinstating off shore drilling too! Whee!
Obama is the most puzzling president in the last 100 years, or more.
What motivates and guides this guy?
I have no way of knowing what motivates Obama, but his actions were evident prior to his winning the Dem nomination primaries. However, they were very lightly covered by the MCM (Mainstream Corporate Media), so many Americans were buying the guy in the well-placed spotlights, swooning (literally in some cases) over the image of the Brave New Politician, the New Man, entranced by his well-crafted, but somewhat vague words.
They were sold a bill of goods. He has brought Corporatism to the fore in what the Dem Party works to support and strengthen. He is in the process of destroying the Democratic image.
Does he want well-paid gigs on corporate boards in his post-presidency? Highly compensated speaking engagements? To be truly uber-wealthy? Believe Reagan really did have the right ideas? Does he believe that destroying unions is a good thing? Preserving a dying business plan for private for-profit health insurance corporations is the best thing to do for the nation?
I don’t know what he thinks or believes.
I do know what he does.
Winning the HCR (High Corporate Returns) battles seems to have released his inner St. Ronnie.
O-bought-ma is the tool/fool of Rahmie the warwhore who recruits only DINOs into what used to be the Dimowitz party. No mystery. Rahmie, the dual citizenshit, bought the pwResidency with WALLSTREETGANGSTA’ $$$$$ so the tune is Money is GOD! Boughtma is just an OREO COOKIE!