US President-Elect Obama Names Mexico Chemistry Nobel Laureate Molina to Oversee Climate Change

[kpete]

Source: Latin American Herald Tribune

US President-Elect Obama Names Mexico Chemistry Nobel Laureate Molina to Oversee Climate Change

Ecologist will be part of the Executive Office of 21 key leaders of Obama team

MEXICO CITY -- Nobel Prize-winning Mexican chemist Mario Molina will be a part of the transition team of U.S. President-elect Barack Obama, the scientist's assistant told Efe.

Lorena Ibarra confirmed that the scientist was invited to join Obama's work team, where he "is going to be managing everything to do with science and ecology," an offer she said he accepted by saying, "Yes, immediately."

Obama on Tuesday promised to give priority to the fight against climate change when he gets into the White House, making his commitment in a videotaped speech that was released at the Bi-Partisan Governors Global Climate Summit in Los Angeles.

Molina, who won the Nobel in chemistry in 1995, will be part of the Executive Office of the 21 leaders of the president-elect's team.

Read more: http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=321027&CategoryId=13280

[babylonsister]

1. Be still, my heart. Rec'd. nt

[roguevalley]

19. Oh sweet Jesus. THis man *READS*! He is *SOCIALLY AWARE*!

He *KNOWS THINGS*! BWAHAHAHAHA! This is so great I am speechless. We might actually make it now with a leader with brains who thinks outside the country. Excellent news.

[babylonsister]

20. Ha! YES!! Unfathomable after the past 8 years! nt

[roguevalley]

30. Oh god. Isn't that the truth? Smartness is hot. truly.

[ben_meyers]

2. For crying out loud!! Now He's outsourcing the government?

What? Just doing the jobs that Americans won't do?

[John Q. Citizen]

5. It will play very well in Latin America and here at home among

Latinos.

This is a smart way to help shore up a recently wooed voting block. And the guy apparently must know his stuff. And it goes along with Obama's theme of inclusiveness. Get the best and the brightest where ever they may be.

[Shiver]

6. Oi vey...

He's picked a Nobel Prize-winning scientist to oversee climate change. And you complain.

[crikkett]

8. evidently a nobel prize doesn't mean he's qualified, in your eyes

Xenophobic much? Or is your behavior out and out bigotry?

[SemiCharmedQuark]

10. Molina has been in the U.S. since the '70s.

[karynnj]

14. I hope you intended a sarcasm tag

This is a Nobel prize winner in this area. Al Gore long ago ruled out working in the cabinet (on 60 minutes). In addition, his incredible work to educate people and make global warming a voting issue, not withstanding, he is not himself a scientist.

Which American comes close - and are you sure he would want it? (Hansen is the name that comes to mind.

[entanglement]

34. Nevermind

[Alter Ego]

3. Hey that's pretty good.

I wonder who the head of the EPA will be? My dream pick is Al Gore, but I don't foresee it.

[redstatelefty]

7. Not Gore

Gore is on record saying he doesn't want the job. More's the pity.

[karynnj]

15. EPA covers many things that never were Gore's main interest

Global warming is. In addition, I really thing Gore doesn't want to be in government.

[Mrs. Overall]

4. A real scientist appointed to a scientific position??? Wow, how refreshing!

[scisyhp1]

9. Molina may have been born in Mexico

but he lives in the US since 1967. His Ph.D. is from UC Berkeley,
he won his Nobel Prize while at MIT, and he is currently at UC San Diego.
I can't say for sure, but he is probably a US citizen too. To call him
a "Mexican chemist" is a bit of a stretch. That's like calling Arnold
an Austrian governor.

[groundloop]

11. But Ahhhnold is an Austrian..

and a governor, so doesn't that make him an Austrian governor?

In any case, it's refreshing to see a highly qualified scientist advising President Obama (that sounds so nice) on science.

[phusion]

12. Where's this "change" that he talked so much about?

This is just the same ol' crap! :sarcasm:

[JDwho]

18. The "change" is that he's appointing qualified people.

Not just his buddies/cronies to ride his coat-tails, (like B#!#)

[w4rma]

13. DLCers and now people from right-wing Mexican administrations? Still no progressives. (nt)

[karynnj]

16. He is a SCIENTIST has nothing to do with the Mexican government

He has been in the US for decades - at places like MIT and UC Berkley.

His politics are unknown - and irrelevant.

Who would you have put in this position? John Edwards? Kuchinich? Neither of whom know more than 1 one hundredth of what Molina does

[Political Heretic]

17. Since Obama is not, never has been, and never claimed to be a "progressive" why is this shocking?

[anonymous171]

21. lol

[babylonsister]

22. Is this woman chopped liver? Quit yer bitchin'...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=7919643&mesg_id=7919643

And google Mike Lux.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

26. He's been living in the United States since the 1970s and is a United States citizen

He is *not* part of any Mexican administration, right wing or otherwise.

[tanyev]

28. He must release original copies of his naturalization papers to prove that he's really a citizen!

And none of this certified copy verified by the Secretary of State where it was filed crap. Everybody knows that's just proof of a cover up.



:sarcasm:

[muriel_volestrangler]

27. He won the Nobel prize for work on ozone depletion

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/1995/press.html

Given that the agreement to stop using ozone-depleting chemicals has probably been the most successful international agreement for the environment, it looks like an excellent choice - and there's nothing 'right wing' about it.

[Odin2005]

23. Christ Almighty, the Obama bashers even found something in THIS to bitch about?

:banghead:

[mainer]

24. Shouldn't it say "Mexican-born" and not "Mexican"?!!!

He's been working in the US for years!

[Xithras]

31. No, in this case "Mexican" would be used correctly.

"Mexican-born" suggests that he is no longer a Mexican citizen. He not only still holds citizenship there, but is a member of the National College.

Anyone who holds Mexican citizenship is, by definition, a Mexican. Just as anyone who holds American citizenship is, by definition, an American.

[maxsolomon]

32. Plus, he lives in Mexico City

That sounds like a Mexican to me.

Its a TRANSITION TEAM position.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

35. Molina holds both.

[goforit]

25. Shocking I tell you just shocking!!! No US citizenship?

Hopefully, the pollution of Mexico City is no indication of his coming format.
:sarcasm:

[JDwho]

29. Big Rec!

That's right, not a little one.

[Botany]

33. Be still my heart

Can bush just put the keys on the hall table and get out now?

[AnnieBW]

36. Just another Mexican taking a job away from an American!

Sorry... got possessed by Lou Dobbs there for a minute. :D