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Vilsack reportedly Obama's pick for agriculture secretary

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor December 16, 2008 06:22 PM

Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack is President-elect Barack Obama's nominee for agriculture secretary, the Associated Press is reporting.

Vilsack, from a key farm state, ran for president, but his campaign ended in February 2007, just as Obama's began. He endorsed Hillary Clinton before the Iowa caucuses, which Obama won to springboard to the front of the Democratic nomination fight.

According to the AP, others under consideration for the post included Dennis Wolff, Pennsylvania agriculture secretary; Tom Buis, president of National Farmers Union; former Representative Charles Stenholm of Texas; Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin of South Dakota; and former Representative Jill Long Thompson of Indiana.

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What an awful choice! Vilsack is pro-agribusiness, anti-small-farm, opposed to organic farming, and owes his support to the likes of ADM and Monsanto, multinationals whose very existence is a threat to American farms. Suddenly I'm sorry I supported Obama. Vilsack will get lots of opposition, I guarantee it.

Posted by Peter December 16, 08 09:57 PM
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Whoa! For a second I thought that said Varitek.

Posted by Don Dolloff December 16, 08 10:49 PM
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What is his record on environmental issues?

Posted by Janice December 17, 08 04:14 PM
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