Political Punch

Vilsack has been a noted proponent of unsustainable and dangerous genetically engineered crops, including bio-pharmaceutical corn. The undemocratic and highly unpopular 2005 seed pre-emption bill was Governor Vilsack's brainchild, and that this law strips the right of local governments to regulate Genetically Engineered seed. The biggest biotechnology industry group, the Biotechnology Industry Organization, named Governor Vilsack Governor of the Year. Governor Vilsack was also the founder and former chair of the Governors’ Biotechnology Partnership. When Governor 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 is an ardent supporter of corn-based ethanoil as a biofuel, which uses as much or more fossil energy to produce as it generates, while driving up world food prices.

"Yet Obama does this with men and noone seems to blink an eye."

Of the cabinet positions named, 4 have gone to women with Labor likely to go to one as well.

I am truly concerned with where agribusiness and GMO practices will take our already depleted family farms. I am disapointed in this pick. I hope Vilsack can keep to Obama's Rural plan as stated at change.gov

I'm pleased with this pick. I've lived in Iowa all my life and he did a lot of good for us as governor.

Great pick and a great guy!!not sure where this anti small farm stuff is coming from but it could not be further from the truth.

GREAT CHOICE!!! I live in Des Moines Iowa, my sister was his secretary for a few years, Obama could not have chosen a more honest, down to earth, caring person. Plus he was a great Governor, here in Iowa we are not yet hurting like several other states are all because of the way our past Governors have done their jobs well. I am thrilled for him, he will do us well.

No surprise...another man named to Obama's cabinet. Imagaine if Hillary had been elected and chosen a female VP and nominated 80% of her cabinet as women. It would be all anyone talked about...Hillary making the Executive Office almost entirely female. Yet Obama does this with men and noone seems to blink an eye. Change we can believe in? Yeah, right.

"Even city-folk in the midwest can tell male from female cows"

Um, do you mean male and female cattle? Never heard of male cows before. I drive past lots of cows and bulls every day on my way to work but have yet to see a male cow. Makes me question your veracity.

I come from Iowa. Vilsack is a biotech pawn. No doubt he was vetted by Monsanto's Mike Taylor, the guy approved GMO at the FDA level then went back to work for Monsanto...and now on Obama's transition team. The only hope for an alternative beside GMO seeds, GMO and cloned livestock, unlabeled, is Obama giving Vilsack specific DIRECTIONS.

I think it is a good pick.

It is kind of amusing that in Clinton's third term there was a news report that even Betty Curry is back!

Liz,
Well, tell you what--why don't you move here so you can actually know what goes on in Iowa?

Definitely, the fresh air would be instilled into our frustrated life through whatever way. Agriculture matter, might get people to think something seriously, honestly, and fundamentally,,,,

"I love it when people from PA ..."

Well shucks Jim! You've got your eye on our fine state and the people in it? You're a fine citizen I'm sure.
Thanks for caring and sharing.
May god Bless you this Christmas season.

I love it when people from PA suddenly seem to know all about an Iowa governor's agricultural knowledge or claim he is pro-big farm/anti-small farm. It's hard to be that way and get elected in Iowa. And he's not from the big city--he's from a town of 10,000 or so.

Even city-folk in the midwest can tell male from female cows--it's only people out east that struggle with what goes on between the mountain ranges...

As an Iowan and an Obama supporter, I am deeply disappointed. I'd say this is a safe move when our food supply is dangerously becoming a monoculture. So much for a progressive ag agenda, diversity and encouraging small farmers. Vilsack will play to his pals in agribusiness.

Bad choice.
Tom Vilsack is a Big Farm, pro giant agri-business insider. This pick is like putting the fox in charge of the hen-house. The evolution in our country and others toward a culture of ever bigger agri-business has caused multifaceted and serious damage to all but the fat cats at the top and their lapdogs.
We need agribusiness reform and Tom Vilsack will work against reform.
Bad choice. What a bad choice.

time to stop with the campaign speak
we have a president elect now.
we are still all americans
we should all be trying to be on the same team.
coming from iowa, i hope he knows the diff. between a cow and a bull.
cotton and corn.

and isn't it refreshing to have a president who can complete a sentence,
and make sense.

Important questions for the Sec of Agr. Does he know where milk comes from? Does he know a cow from a bull? Does he know what cotton or corn plants look like? Seems like most Agr Sec don't hava clue.

Not sure if you can really call Vilsack an opponent when he did not even make it to that very early 1st debate.

Even Gravel made that one.