Dr. James Watson endorsed Bernie Sanders today

[rbnyc]

It was reported to me by several attendees of a tree dedication on Long Island today that Dr. James Watson, who was being honored for a charitable contribution, endorsed Bernie Sanders in his remarks.

[99th_Monkey]

1. K&R - For those who may not know

who this guy is:
James Dewey Watson (born April 6, 1928) is an American molecular biologist, geneticist and zoologist, best known as one of the co-discoverers of the structure of DNA in 1953 with Francis Crick. Watson, Crick, and Maurice Wilkins were awarded the 1962 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine "for their discoveries concerning the molecular structure of nucleic acids and its significance for information transfer in living material".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Watson

[appalachiablue]

2. Major science expert, thanks. A terrific supporter.

[shireen]

11. he's a bit odd

The "controversies" section in wikipedia has some troubling information. I've heard some of that stuff before, but then, it's hard to say what's real and what's hype in today's media environment.

[senz]

15. Brilliant people can be rather eccentric.

Egotistical, too, especially in highly competitive fields. I've heard academia is particularly dog-eat-dog.

Maybe human beings are the beta version.

[rbnyc]

3. If any press reports it...

...I will link. But I doubt it. It was a small ceremony at a local org.

[MrMickeysMom]

4. This guy is worth the entire House of Representatives...

K&R

[LiberalArkie]

5. But Bernie would have to be endorsed by Bill Clinton for a HRC supporter to notice.

Democrats in congress have to support HRC. If they supported Bernie
and if Hillary became president, there would be hell to pay
Or if a Republican won, they would not have a problem
Or if Bernie won, Bernie would not hold it against them.

So members of congress have really one option and that is support HRC.

[daleanime]

6. +1

[thesquanderer]

8. Good point about consequences.

Endorsing Hillary is a no-lose proposition. Endorsing anyone else, if Hillary wins, could have unwanted ramifications.

[senz]

13. Thanks for laying it out like that, LiberalArkie.

This also tells us what kind of administration she would run.

[merrily]

7. Thanks, rbnyc. Good to see you!

[JEFF9K]

9. Einstein endorsed socialism. Could it be the SMART choice?

[Hoppy]

10. Yeah, but doesn't Watson believe in that evolution - gene, apes to people thing?

Nobody's gonna vote for Bernie now.

[Duppers]

12. Intelligence recognizes intelligence. nt

[senz]

14. I'm seeing a pattern in Bernie's endorsements

thanks to LiberalArkie's observation. Bernie is getting endorsements primarily from highly accomplished non-politicians, while Hillary seems to be more feared popular among politicians. It is probably no coincidence that politicians stand to lose by being on the wrong side of the Clintons.

[longship]

16. BTW, Watson is a certified kook.

Here:
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2014/12/james_watson_selling_nobel_prize_dna_structure_discoverer_s_history_of_racism.html