Agriculture Appointment Has Greens Seeing Red

[Grinchie]

Source: Air America

Agriculture Appointment Has Greens Seeing Red

Monday October 26, 2009 2:53 p.m.
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By Dan Carter

The Obama Administration has just announced the nomination of Islam Siddiqui, a pesticide industry lobbyist, to the position of Chief Agricultural Negotiator, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. Green activists say that the appointment places the president’s commitment to progressive environmental policy in serious question.

Islam Siddiqui is no stranger to Washington. From 1997 to 2001 he served in various positions in the Clinton Administration at the US Department of Agriculture. However, the uproar over his appointment comes from his current position as Vice President for Science and Regulatory Affairs at CropLife America, a trade association representing producers and distributors of pesticides. From 2001 to 2003 he was also a registered lobbyist for CropLife.

Siddiqui is also no stranger to the Obama administration. He contributed $2,300 to Obama’s presidential campaign in 2008. He held fundraising meetings for the president in his home in McLean, Virginia as well.

After the First Lady created a pesticide-free organic garden at the White House, many environmentalists felt that the Obama Administration was signaling a shift to more green-friendly environmental policy. Now, the green movement is crying foul at a perceived betrayal.



Read more: http://airamerica.com/green/10-26-2009/agriculture-appointment-has-greens-seeing-red/#

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Just don't know what to say about this, other than another steaming pile of More of the Same.