Although I say to friends all the time that I will wind up supporting whichever candidate that wins the Democratic primaries, including Hillary Clinton, more and more news items are edging me closer and closer to outright opposition to her candidacy. The latest zinger comes from the <a href="click here Times</a>- it seems both Senator Clinton and Chuck Schumer may have received campaign contributions from DNA pioneer and <a href="http://news.independent.co.uk/sci_tech/article3067222.ece">racist Nobel laureate</a> James Watson in return for donations to his previous employer, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory;<blockquote>Mrs. Clinton and Sen. Charles E. Schumer, also a New York Democrat, requested a $900,000 earmark in June for the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, where James D. Watson served as chancellor before resigning last week after apologizing for comments that suggested that people descending from Africa aren't as intelligent as those from Europe.
<p>Federal campaign filings show that Mr. Watson has donated more than $70,000 to candidates and their political causes, including a total of $3,000 to Mrs. Clinton's presidential campaign on May 17 and June 25. Two days later, a Senate committee report showed that Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Schumer earmarked $900,000 for the lab.</p></blockquote><p></p>If it weren't for the inappropriate timing, and the scientist's horrid and frequent racist remarks, this might not look so bad. As it stands I think both Schumer and Clinton will quietly end up returning the money.
After the debacle(s) of the Bush presidency it is imperative that the next president demonstrate freedom from moneyed special interests, especially morally questionable ones. Unfortunately this episode endangers this possibility, and adds fuel to John Edwards' "corporate Democrat" argument against the front-runner.
<p>Federal campaign filings show that Mr. Watson has donated more than $70,000 to candidates and their political causes, including a total of $3,000 to Mrs. Clinton's presidential campaign on May 17 and June 25. Two days later, a Senate committee report showed that Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Schumer earmarked $900,000 for the lab.</p></blockquote><p></p>If it weren't for the inappropriate timing, and the scientist's horrid and frequent racist remarks, this might not look so bad. As it stands I think both Schumer and Clinton will quietly end up returning the money.
After the debacle(s) of the Bush presidency it is imperative that the next president demonstrate freedom from moneyed special interests, especially morally questionable ones. Unfortunately this episode endangers this possibility, and adds fuel to John Edwards' "corporate Democrat" argument against the front-runner.
