Legal Niches

The Democratic primaries and Big Meat

By jennifer

(Joel and I have been in the middle of exams lately, but the regular posting will start again as soon as we’re finished.)

While none of the main contenders for the Democratic nomination are terribly great when it comes to animal issues, Hillary Clinton wins the award for Sucking Up the Most to the Big Meat Industry.

This story at Grist discusses her choice of Joy Philippi as co-chair of Rural Americans for Hillary. Philippi is the former president of a the National Pork Producers Council, the main trade group representing pig CAFO operators.

It’s quite ironic that she would choose a former leader of a CAFO trade group to be the co-chair of RURAL Americans for Hillary. CAFOs are a primary cause of pollution in rural America, and the jobs provided by CAFOs to rural Americans offer low wages and high injury rates. (Another candidate has a better idea of what would help rural America.)

The Clinton connection with the big meat industry was well established during Bill’s presidency — Bill had a well-publicized friendship and political relationship with Don Tyson, head of Tyson Foods.

I think it’s quite clear that another Clinton presidency would not lead to helpful reforms in the Big Meat industry — just more mergers, no health and safety regulations for the workers, and less accountability for the Big Meat corporations.

Full post as published by Animal Blawg on December 15, 2007 (boomark / email).