Franken Shrub--Bush's Ties to Monsanto

http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0104/ridgeway.shtml

Bush's Ties to Monsanto
Franken Shrub
by Jim Ridgeway
The Village Voice Jan. 2001

One way conspiracy buffs can get a handle on the new Bush
administration is by examining the many ties between the president's
team and Monsanto, the big Missouri chemical company that promotes
genetically engineered foods.

For starters, consider the fact that Bush Sr. appointed Clarence
Thomas, a Monsanto attorney, to the Supreme Court. Thomas cast a key
vote in the decision that handed the White House to George Jr.

In addition, John Ashcroft, Dubya's choice for attorney general, was
the top recipient of Monsanto contributions during his losing
reelection campaign for the U.S. Senate. While he was in the Senate,
Ashcroft fought hard for Monsanto. He was active abroad in convincing
hesitant nations to accept genetically engineered crops and is credited
with persuading the British to push for European Union acceptance of
Monsanto's Roundup Ready corn.

Other links include Donald Rumsfeld, the new secretary of defense, who
was president of Searle Pharmaceuticals, now owned by Monsanto, and
Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman, who was on the board of directors
of Calgene Pharmaceuticals, another Monsanto affiliate.

Over at HHS, there's new secretary Tommy Thompson. While he was
governor of Wisconsin, Thompson was a good friend to Monsanto and other
biotech firms. He received $50,000 from biotech companies in his
election campaign, and got the state to set up a $37 million biotech
zone in Wisconsin.