Why do we refute Rep. Eshoo’s Stanford Daily’s endorsement?
Congresswoman Eshoo was endorsed by Stanford Daily earlier this year.
Rishi Kumar was also invited to the interview with — see email excerpt below. “We expect 2–3 of our editorial board members to conduct the interview, which should take around 30 minutes.”
Arriving at the 456, Panama Mall building expecting a 2–3 editorial board, Rishi was surprised to be interviewed by a single sophomore student. The interview was recorded.
Quote from theStanford Daily endorsement article
“Democratic challenger Kumar has campaigned on getting big money out of politics, pointing to the significant corporate lobbying directed at Eshoo. In her career, Eshoo has accepted close to $1.8 million in contributions — more than any other member of the House — from PACs for and individuals affiliated with the pharmaceutical industry. She is currently the Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Health, tasked with regulating pharmaceuticals.”
“…we are concerned by the donations she has accepted from the pharmaceutical industry.”
Eshoo responded to this critique in a statement to The Daily, admitting she received significant contributions from the health care community. She said the reasons for these contributions included her “expertise, tenure and geography,” among others, noting that as a senior member of the House she has run 16 times in a district that has a large concentration of biotech firms employing many people who are her constituents. Nevertheless, we are concerned by the donations she has accepted from the pharmaceutical industry.
Campaign contributions happen due to “expertise, tenure and geography” as Rep. Anna Eshoo states, or perhaps they are meant to subvert and stymie the people agenda?
“Expertise, tenure and geography” are simply buzzwords to distract us from the real issue: our politicians are being bought by major pharmaceutical companies.
How much of an influence should large corporations have in Congress? Do we want the voice of American people stifled and suppressed?
By endorsing Anna Eshoo, The Stanford Daily is endorsing more of the same in politics. Big money in politics is the reason why America is in the pickle it is. This is the reason why new progressive candidates and politics is emerging that seeks to clean up American politics
Shouldn’t we be looking to bringing ethical integrity into politics as the very future of America hinges upon it? We believe that such an endorsement contradicts Stanford’s role as a pioneer in political issues and an educational institute that is a beacon of innovation.
Big Money has polluted American politics for far too long. Is this the example that Stanford wants to set for its students?
As the more progressive candidate who has pledged to NOT accept PAC money and NOT be bought by large corporations, we urge Stanford Daily to reconsider it’s endorsement of Anna Eshoo.
Click to read this article
https://theintercept.com/2018/11/20/medicare-for-all-healthcare-industry/
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