Obama is considering Charlie Stenholm to be in charge of the USDA.

Who will be the next secretary of agriculture?

If Washington Ag journalist and observer Jim Wiesemeyer has his way CHARLIE STENHOLM.

OH NO!!!

Charlie Stenholm would be BIG trouble for the horses, HUGE. It is my understanding that the agriculture community has been trying to get Stenholm in that position for awhile. He was talked about for the Bush administration as well.

We must be proactive and all write to president elect Obama and tell Obama not to appoint Charlie Stenholm as Secretary of Agriculture. Tell Obama while we realize his own compassion index is 100% we are concerned voters that want to make sure he does not consider Charlie Stenhom for the position of secretary of agriculture. Charlie Stenholm is a paid lobbyist and has been the biggest obstacle in getting the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act S 311/HR 503 and the Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2008 HR 6598 passed. If he is appointed as the secretary of agriculture it will be the worst thing that could happen to horses and all farm animals.

You can contact Obama here:

http://change.gov/page/s/yourstory
~Everyone mention that Charles Stenholm is nothing but a paid lobbyist!!! ~

You can read what Jim Wiesemeyer has to say here: (scroll down to "For Obama")

http://www.agweb.com/Blogs/BlogPost.aspx?src=WashingtonInsight&PID=b53c0d34-a56a-4f24-91f2-cc4cbac60700

Article link:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-markarian/we-need-change-animals-ca_b_143887.html

Here is the info which contains Stenholm's client list at Olsson, Frank & Weeda . http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/lobbyist.php?lname=Stenholm%2C+Charles&year=a
http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/lobbyist.php?lname=Stenholm%2C+Charles&year=2008
http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/lobbyist.php?year=2007&lname=Stenholm%2C+Charles
And in 2006, it shows he was lobbying for Beltex and Dallas Crown:
http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/lobbyist.php?year=2006&lname=Stenholm%2C+Charles
Here is a list of his personal contributions, it has two pages:
http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=DC&last=stenholm

And from his wiki;

Post-Congressional career
After his November 2004 defeat, Stenholm was mentioned by some major news organizations as a possible candidate for Secretary of Agriculture in President Bush's second term Cabinet, despite Bush's support of the redistricting plan. In the end, Bush nominated Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns, a fellow Republican, for the post.
After leaving Congress, Stenholm became a lobbyist, representing various agricultural interests, including the horse meat industry. In 2006, he was the most visible lobbyist for three foreign-owned horse-slaughter plants in the U.S. that are fighting legislation that would force them to close. The legislation appears to be headed to a vote on the House floor by early September.[3] Meat from these horses is used as food in some European Union countries, Japan and Mexico, for zoo food, and for medical purposes.
He is being slated for Secretary of Agricultre in the Barack Obama administration.[1]

Also send this link with your message to President elect Obama
http://www.kaufmanzoning.net/foia.htm

Tell him to look at the over 200 pictures from the government on how abusive horse slaughter is and that Stenholm is a paid to lobby to keep horse slaughter legal not giving a concern for the horse or the millions of Americans that want it stopped.
Give them a GRAPHIC warning. These picks are barbaric and the worst kind of abuse a horse could ever suffer.

FYI:
http://www.moneyline.com/article/newsOne/idUKTRE4A47CS20081105
FACTBOX: Vilsack, Buis and Stenholm among USDA possibles
Wed Nov 5, 2008 9:31am EST

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Prominently mentioned by analysts and farm lobbyists for agriculture secretary in the Obama administration are a former Iowa governor, the National Farmers Union president and a former Texas congressman.
Obama senior strategist David Axelrod said on Wednesday the president-elect would "move with deliberate speed" on selecting nominees for cabinet and major White House posts.
Here is a list of potential nominees for agriculture secretary:

-- Tom Buis, 56, second-term president of National Farmers Union. Buis has elevated NFU's prominence in Washington and is former Senate aide to Tom Daschle, an Obama insider.
Tom Buis, National Farmer's Union= bad choice
This is from their 'policies' listed on their site."2. LivestockWe support producers’ rights to raise livestock. We oppose a ban on the slaughterof horses."
http://nfu.org/wp-content/2008_nfu_policy1.pdf

-- Tom Vilsack, 57, two-term governor of Iowa ending in 2006. Major issues were funding for education and bringing more high-tech agribusinesses to Iowa, the No. 1 corn and soybean state.

-- Charles Stenholm, 70, mentioned for USDA chief for two decades, regardless of who won the White House. A 13-term congressman from Texas through 2004 and a conservative "Blue Dog" Democrat who helped shape the 1990 and 2002 farm laws.

-- Marshall Matz, co-chair of Obama's rural outreach committee and lawyer known in Washington for representing school nutrition interests. Active in Democratic politics since the 1970s. Matz and Stenholm work at the same law firm.

-- Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, 60, elected to second term in 2006. Also mentioned for health and education secretary. She has worked on school funding, health care and renewable energy.

-- South Dakota Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, elected to fourth term on Tuesday. Active on biofuels.
From what I have been reading today, Representative Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, South Dakota Democrat voted NO on HR 503.

-- Roger Johnson, North Dakota agriculture commissioner, active on 2008 U.S. farm law, sought a stand-by disaster relief fund.

-- Rod Nilsestuen, Wisconsin agriculture secretary. Was leader of the state's largest cooperative business group and active in rural economic development.

-- First-term Sen. John Tester, organic farmer from Montana; regarded as a longshot.

Huffington Post, written by John Markarian. NOV. 19, 2008. "WE NEED CHANGE ANIMALS CAN BELIEVE IN.' Link below.

The article talks positively about prospects for posts: former Iowa Gov. Vilsack, John Boyd. NOT Stenholm.

Article link:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-markarian/we-need-change-animals-ca_b_143887.html

We need letters to Obama and Biden, NOW, before it is too late! www.change.gov