Well there's this... Monsanto petition tells Obama: ‘Cease FDA ties to Monsanto’

[UnrepentantLiberal]

In 2009, President Obama appointed Michael Taylor as a senior adviser for the FDA. Consumer groups protested the appointment because Taylor had formerly served as a vice president for Monsanto, the controversial agricultural multinational at the forefront of genetically modified food.

-snip-

Taylor’s position, which is currently deputy commissioner for foods at the FDA, includes ensuring that food labels contain clear and accurate information, overseeing strategy for food safety and planning new food safety legislation. He is the first individual to hold the position.

Before he joined the FDA, Taylor was the vice president for Public Policy at Monsanto from 1998 to 2001. He has since worked for the FDA in a number of capacities, most recently returning to the administration as senior adviser to the commissioner in July 2009.

-snip-

Smith cited as problematic Taylor’s prior involvement in overseeing the policy of Monsanto’s genetically engineered bovine growth hormone (rbGH/rbST). Milk from injected cows has been a controversial topic, Smith points out, with many medical organizations and hospitals speaking out against it.

More: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/monsanto-petition-tells-obama-cease-fda-ties-to-monsanto/2012/01/30/gIQAA9dZcQ_blog.html

[sabrina 1]

1. I suppose there is no one else in the entire country, other than a former

Monsanto exec that could have been appointed to that position.

I don't know about anyone else, but as a Democrat, I would certainly never vote for a former Monsanto executive.

I wonder how many Democratic voters would?

This is something that needs a lot of attention from now on. Candidates for the WH need to be asked about their Cabinet choices BEFORE it's too late.

I can think of hundreds of people who would have been a better choice than Taylor. Starting with, eg, Van Jones.

Voting for Democrats then getting Republicans in positions of extreme importance and power?? It seems to be becoming a pattern. A way to sneak in Corporate protecting officials and it is a real problem, imo.

[dreamnightwind]

3. +1,000,000

"This is something that needs a lot of attention from now on. Candidates for the WH need to be asked about their Cabinet choices BEFORE it's too late. "

We should start this process ASAP with Hillary, Biden, and anyone else that looks like they will run in 2016. I don't think we'll like their answers. Maybe if they're accountable for their choices, or at least for the ideological leanings of their likely choices, BEFORE the primaries, they might make better choices. If not, maybe WE will make better choices.

[rhett o rick]

4. I am afraid that's wishful thinking. Pres Obama would not have told us he was going

to appoint Republicans and corporatists if we had asked. And if you do find such a candidate, they would never be supported by the Corp-overlords that have the money to win elections. Face it, the Democratic Party is the conservative party now. It was genius to drive the Republican Party over the cliff and move the Democratic Party to the right to absorb those conservative that didnt want to go over the cliff. Problem is the progressives are screwed. I see no change for the future.

[OneMoreDemocrat]

2. Amazing, putting the fox square in the hen house...

That's so Bush.

Gross. Thanks BO, thanks a lot.