Clinton Goes to Bat for GMOs/Biotech Industry

The potential presidential candidate's old industry ties resurface

By: Max Ocean, editorial intern

Speaking at a conference in San Diego last week for the world's largest trade organization of biotechnology firms, potential presidintial candidate Hillary Clinton backed GMOs and Big Ag, further displaying her allegiance to the industry in the eyes of sustainable food and organic advocates.

While trumpeting her endorsement of GMO seeds when she served as Secretary of State, Clinton told the crowd that the term "'genetically modified' sounds Frankensteinish," and thus turns people off to GMOs. "Drought resistant sounds really like something you'd want," she said, encouraging the industry to improve their semantics. “There’s a big gap between the facts and what the perceptions are.”

"Hillary Clinton's views on GMOs are disappointing, but not surprising," said Katherine Paul, associate director of the Organic Consumers Union, in an email to Common Dreams. Unfortunately, Paul continued, Clinton's positions are "no different than those of previous administrations, including the Bush, Clinton and Reagan administrations, and they are taken straight from the biotech industry's talking points."

"Credible scientists, backed by independent (not industry-funded) studies are clear about the fact that foods containing GMOs are linked to a host of chronic illnesses," Paul continued. "The American Medical Association has called for pre-market safety testing and a recent pilot study found unsafe levels of glysophate, the key ingredient in Monsanto's Roundup, in the blood, urine and breast milk of American women."

Read full story here - with video: http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2014/07/03-4

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Permalink Reply by Less Prone on July 7, 2014 at 10:13am

The reasons behind promoting the obviously poisonous GMO are not that difficult to understand.

http://www.naturalnews.com/033936_Monsanto_genocide.html

Know their agenda!

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Permalink Reply by Christopher on July 7, 2014 at 10:23am

One, or some of 'them', even decided to chisel their agenda into huge granite stones, in Georgia (not Russia).

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Permalink Reply by Christopher on July 7, 2014 at 10:29am

I watched this entire episode on TV a few days ago and, there was mention made, of the large agricultural mindset of growing mono-culture crops, like GMO Corn and Soy Beans etc, etc. Listen for this, just after the three minute mark.

I wonder what Katie Couric thinks of MS. CLINTON now!

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Permalink Reply by Tara on July 7, 2014 at 10:50am

No surprise there! I believe Ron Paul was the only Pres candidate that ever came out against GMO and Big Ag.

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Permalink Reply by Tara on July 7, 2014 at 10:57am

With exception of course to a few Independent candidates but unfortunately, they were never on the radar because they weren't establishment candidates.

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Permalink Reply by Christopher on July 7, 2014 at 1:55pm

Mrs. Obama has her own Organics garden in the White House backyard, but no support from her husband on GMO labeling - and the federal government is in bed with Monsanto.

Why did she not plant some GMO corn, and other GMO food?