Friday, February 29, 2008

Continuing coverage

Trying to get more information about Hillary in relation to her association with Monsanto is difficult. Googling the combination only seems to yield endless pages of links to the article I linked below.

There is, however, this article in Business Week about Monsanto's gradual evolution into an agribusiness. Hopefully we can agree that Business Week is not just some liberal rag?

To me, the information in this article is troubling. Monsanto's history of trying to outlaw labeling milk that doesn't contain their growth hormone as such is very troubling. What I have read about Monsanto's history of filing lawsuits against small farmers without the financial resources to defend themselves is extremely troubling.

There are corporate ties, and there are corporate ties. I am more than willing to believe that Hillary spent her time as a Wal-Mart director trying to make it a better company, regardless of whether or not those efforts were effectual. I am even willing to believe that she truly credits Monsanto with efforts to fight global hunger and address crop productivity, although I personally do not. BUT, and this is huge to me, I don't see how she can overlook Monsanto's direct attacks on small producers and free speech.

Which brings me back to why this is so discouraging -- I have absolutely nothing positive to propose.

9 Comments:

Blogger Z said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

10:37 AM  
Blogger Z said...

When every search brings you back to just one article, an article that attempts to tie a profound global problem to one person when we are every one of us part of this problem, I don't know if the information is particularly compelling and it certainly isn't even-handed

Does anyone not have ties to Monsanto?

Obama recently (January 2008) hired Moses Mercado, a Monsanto lobbyist, to be a senior advisor to the campaign.

I would definitely urge everyone who finds this disturbing to get out and vote for Ralph Nader in the 2008 election. :)

10:45 AM  
Blogger Z said...

Did a bit more research based on some comments at DailyKos.

A big supporter and contributor to the Obama campaign is Myra Moffett. You can look up her name under his campaign contributions.

In several Washington D.C. blogs you will see her mentioned along with her husband, "Toby".

Toby also goes by the name "Anthony".

Here is an excerpt from his bio as posted at the website for The Livingston Group:

"Former Congressman Anthony J. Moffett is a Senior Counselor at the Livingston Group, and heads the Livingston Moffett International Practice Group. Mr. Moffett served as Vice-President for Global Government and Public Affairs with Monsanto, Inc.."

3:58 PM  
Blogger Sarah said...

Well, if you're trying to cheer me up, you haven't succeeded very well. Monsanto scares the heck out of me, to be honest, and yeah, everyone does seem to be in their pockets. Except for the fringe candidates that no one takes seriously.

No answers here.

4:55 PM  
Blogger Z said...

So are you sending an email to the Obama campaign too? He even promises not to take money from lobbyists...but I guess he didn't promise not to take money from Mrs. Lobbyist.

4:59 PM  
Blogger Sarah said...

You bet I am. And also McCain.

8:03 AM  
Blogger Sarah said...

FWIW, the text of my e-mail to Obama:

I believe that Senator Obama should publicly denounce Monsanto Corporation for their heinous attacks on small farmers and freedom of speech. I believe he should get relieve Moses Mercado of his responsibilities as senior campaign advisor and he should return campaign donations from Myra Moffat. Then I will truly believe that he stands up for the underdogs of this nation. Until he does, I can not.

8:30 AM  
Blogger Z said...

I'm dying to hear if you get a canned and totally inappropriate response like you did from Clinton.

6:44 PM  
Blogger Sarah said...

Sadly, my internet connection and e-mail are so spotty and unreliable that it's entirely possible one could shoot right through the cracks. However, if I do, I'll certainly post it here.

9:30 AM  

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