Don’t Bore Me With Your Conflicts of Interest
In the “how-dare-you-question-my-virtue” category of political certitude, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Cal.) had a somehow refreshingly honest response Thursday to a reporter with the temerity to assume that she suffers the same temptations and proclivities as the rest of the race. The transcript speaks for itself:
“„Reporter: There are some critics who are have said that your support for the Early Treatment of HIV Act last year and your pharmaceutical holdings represent a conflict. Would you consider divesting your stock from Johnson & Johnson?
“„Ms. Pelosi: No.
“„Reporter: Or do you think you should have at least announced your campaign contributions from Amgen and your holdings before introducing the bill last year?
“„Ms. Pelosi: Absolutely not. My first speech on the floor of the House in 1987, over 20 years ago, was on the subject of HIV/AIDS and research. My work in the Congress has had this as a priority. I would no more do that than I would say my support for broadband means I have to divest any technology stock I have, or my interest in preserving the planet means I have to divest of any interest I may or may not have – I don’t even know – in any green technologies. No.
Sorry. Our bad. We forgot that Democrats would never use their seats of power for financial gain.
