Tainted Donations

Sen. Bernie Sanders raised $46.5 million in February, his presidential campaign said Sunday, a huge sum that could help sustain him in a lengthy battle for the nomination.

The senator from Vermont, who won nominating contests in Nevada and New Hampshire last month, has vaulted to the top of the field in recent national polls. But former vice president Joe Biden’s landslide win in South Carolina Saturday raises the potential that the race could continue for a considerable stretch. Sanders finished a distant second in South Carolina, a disappointing showing for a candidate on the rise.

It’s common knowledge that Sanders is considered to be a relatively weak opponent for President Trump, should Sanders with the Democratic nomination. His February financial results, therefore, are somewhat suspect in my mind because dirty political tricks, old as the hills, include manipulating the opposition into selecting an opponent that once can beat.

So how much of the Sanders campaign money is dirty politics money? How hard is it to ascertain?

And what should he do with this tainted money?

No doubt the ethical action would be to publicly return the money to the donors. That often happens.

But I think Sanders should consider donating the money to some cause noxious to those who would indulge in dirty politics. Perhaps Planned Parenthood. Or Socialists of America.

Sputtering is always fun to watch.