Obama's Secretary Of Agriculture: Tom Vilsack?

***Check Back For Updates***

Tom Vilsack, former governor of Iowa, was one of the first Democratic candidates to drop out of the 2008 race for the presidency but has stayed a prominent figure throughout the campaign. He originally endorsed Hillary Clinton in the primaries but has campaigned for Obama since he's secured the nomination.

He's been listed as a possible a possible Agriculture secretary two times by Marc Ambinder's rumored intelligence cabinet predictions.

The New Republic also listed Vilsack as a posible Agriculture secretary in discussing David Axelrod's post-campaign future.

Vilsack's recent op-ed pieces have also encouraged cabinet rumors.

Comments

[mudhenjim]

Michael Pollan is brilliant, progressive and grass roots. If you didn't see him on Bill Moyers Journal last night, please catch it and you will see why he will be an ideal Sec .of Agriculture.

[lizzytysh]

Probably too late for making any difference ~ but PLEASE, BARACK!!!

NO VILSACK ~ No GMO-leaning ~ NO MONSANTO-leaning Person!!!

If anyone is reading this, there may still be time I enough express their concern:

Tell President-Elect Obama: No to Vilsack for Secretary of Agriculture

Ten thousand organic consumers signed OCA's petition last week to Barack Obama, asking him to take a clear position in support of organic agriculture. Thanks to all who joined in to deliver this resounding message to the incoming administration. Unfortunately, it is now being widely reported that former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack is being considered for the Secretary of Agriculture position in the Obama Administration. Vilsack is a notorious cheerleader for genetically engineered crops and chemical and energy-intensive industrial agricultur­e--certain­ly no friend of organic food and farming. Tom Vilsack's appointment would represent a major disappointment for the Organic Consumers Association and its members. But there is still time to make your voice heard.


1) Contact the office of President-Elect Obama and urge him to appoint a Secretary of Agriculture that reflects your organic values

2) Call office of President-Elect Obama at 202-540-3000 and make sure your concerns about Vilsack be heard.

3) Sign the OCA's petition below to President-Elect Obama and urge him to appoint a Secretary of Agriculture that is supportive of organic food and farming.

go here to sign:
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/642/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=1751

[grassfedisbest]

Here's who I'd like Obama to consider:

Mark Ritchie
Marcy Kaptur
Patrick Leahy
Sam Farr
Ron Kind
Tammy Baldwin
Peter DeFazio
Doug O'Brien

[hempster]

Whoever, Whomever, Whatever, Barrack nominates for the Sec of Ag Needs to look at Hemp and all that this plant offers. Paraphrasing two of the presidents carved into the Mount Rushmore Monument: "...sow the seed of the Indian Hemp... and "...man can do no greater service than to add a useful plant to his country...". Imagine the next generation of biofuels, food for animals and human alike, a switch from cotton and nylon clothing to materials made from the hemp fibre and a thousand other etcs., produced from the seed and the fiber of the hemp plant.

[MURPHY08]

How about Orion Samuelson? He's a Fall of Fame broadcaster and a "reporter", not a politician. He knows virtually everything about agriculture and almost everyone in the field of agriculture.

As a reporter, he has covered both sides of virtually every issue, and knows the pulse of agriculture.

[hobbitgirl]

I suppose Vilsack might be okay, but I'm not thrilled about the pattern of former politicians from agricultural states becoming Secretary of Agriculture. How about someone with a background in something other than industrial agriculture? Maybe someone from grassroots movements to rebuild regional food systems--like Ferd Hoefner or Kathy Lawrence or Andy Kimbrell or Michael Sligh or Kate Clancy or Mark Winne or Ralph Paige? Or academics like Michael Pollan or Marion Nestle or Joan Dye Gussow? Maybe someone who cares about the nutrition programs at least as much as corn, soybeans, and cotton? Someone committed to food that is good, clean, and fair?

[zbert]

Being from Iowa, I think Vilsack was a great governor and would be perfectly suited as Sec. of Ag. This is also great for green energy, which is obvious to anyone who goes around Iowa and can see the huge increase in windmill farms and ethanol plants.

[Sammy1]

Vilsack woulb be an excellent choice for Agriculture

[frankpatton]

Vilsack for US Sec of Ag? Are you kidding!

* Vilsack's support of pharmaceutical crops, especially pharmaceutical corn:
http://www.gene.ch/genet/2002/Oct/msg00057.html
http://www.organicconsumers.org/gefood/drugsincorn102302.cfm

* The biggest biotechnology industry group, the Biotechnology Industry
Organization, named Vilsack Governor of the Year. He was also the founder
and former chair of the Governor's Biotechnology Partnership.
http://www.bio.org/news/pressreleases/newsitem.asp?id=2001_0920_01

* When Vilsack created the Iowa Values Fund, his first poster child of
economic development potential was Trans Ova and their pursuit of cloning
dairy cows.

* Vilsack was the origin of the seed pre-emption bill in 2005, which many
people here in Iowa fought because it took away local government's possibility of
ever having a regulation on seeds- where GE would be grown, having GE-free
buffers, banning pharma corn locally, etc. Representative Sandy Greiner, the Republican sponsor
of the bill, bragged on the House Floor that Vilsack put her up to it
right after his state of the state address.

* Vilsack has a glowing reputation as being a schill for agribusiness
biotech giants like Monsanto. Sustainable ag advocated across the country
were spreading the word of Vilsack's history as he was attempting to
appeal to voters in his presidential bid. An activist from the west coast even made this youtube
animation about Vilsack http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hmoc4Qgcm4s
The airplane in this animation is a referral to the controversy that
Vilsack often traveled in Monsanto's jet.

[sustainable]

First Rahm and now this - I'm starting to really wonder whats going on here.

[sustainable]

IS this a double Post?

First it was Rahm's appointment and now this - I'm starting to get worried.

[sustainable]

I don't agree.

[0emissions]

NO>NO NO> he believes in GE crops. Monsanto is a monopoly co. and has ruined small farmers, organic heritage seeds and natural crops. Look what they have done to farmers. Hired ex RCMP in Canada to intimidate farmers with legal threats as a way to get them to buy their seeds. Terminator seeds.
See the case of Percy Schmeiser in Saskatchewan. There are cases in US too.