Forget It, Hillary, It’s Chinatown
The LA Times invaded the Big Apple to investigate the amazing fund-raising potential of Hillary Clinton in Chinatown. The main 2008 Democratic contender was able to raise $380,000 during one April fund-raiser - and back in 2004, John Kerry was only able to raise $24,000.
Of course, Chinatown is in Clinton’s backyard, too. But the LA Times questioned how some donors, like dishwashers or servers, would be able to donate amounts within $500 and $2300, suggesting that some donors felt pressured to give money and that others were reimbursed for their donations (which is illegal). And others who reportedly contributed don’t speak English and aren’t registered to vote.
Still, some “spoke of the pride they felt by being associated with a mighty figure such as Clinton.” The LA Times added that “Of 74 residents of New York’s Chinatown, Flushing, the Bronx or Brooklyn that The Times called or visited, only 24 could be reached for comment.”
City Councilman John Liu, the only Asian serving in the City Council and the NY co-chair of Asian-American Pacific Islanders for Hillary, criticized the article, “I think the LA Times is best served by staying in LA.” Ha - is that like saying Liu is best served
Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson said “We do not ethnically profile donors. Asian-Americans in Chinatown and Flushing have the same right to contribute as every other American.” But the campaign is investigating some of the contributions to form certain they are legal. The Daily News spoke to some donors, who said things like, “I would like to see the United States have the first woman President.”
Photograph by f.trainer on Flickr
Original post by Jen Chung
No comments yet. Be the first.
Leave a reply
