Extraordinary Largesse

Hillary Rodham Clinton must be one extraordinary fundraiser. According to this piece in The LA Times,

The Times examined the cases of more than 150 donors who provided checks to Clinton after fundraising events geared to the Chinese community. One-third of those donors could not be found using property, telephone or business records. Most have not registered to vote, according to public records.

And several dozen were described in financial reports as holding jobs -- including dishwasher, server or chef -- that would normally make it difficult to donate amounts ranging from $500 to the legal maximum of $2,300 per election.

Yet in New York's Chinatown, where John Kerry raised $24,000 total just four years ago, Clinton has raised $380,000 with one fundraiser.

Of course, the Times is reluctant to be too hard on Clinton. "Chinatown's newfound role in the 2008 election cycle marks another chapter in the centuries-old American saga of marginalized ethnic groups and newly arrived immigrants turning to politics to improve their lot." Or, perhaps, more of the legendary Clinton ethical funny business, perhaps . . .