genomeboy.com

…I applaud [Hilary Clinton’s] understanding of the relationship between science and the federal government (most recently displayed in an excellent speech she delivered at the Carnegie Institution). If she is nominated to be the Democratic candidate for President, I will support her campaign whole-heartedly.

But on Tuesday, I will vote for Senator Obama, and here’s why. I believe that the Bush administration has so deeply damaged this country’s status, both at home and abroad, that the situation demands the leader who can most rapidly restore our self-respect and the respect of others around the world. This can best be achieved by a clean break with recent history. In that sense, Obama offers more than intelligence, sensible positions on policy, and dedication to public service—the characteristics he and Hillary Clinton share. He represents a new kind of leader, one without ties to a divisive past and one who portrays through his personal history a global perspective that is both crucial and unprecedented. His election, like no other, would instantly announce that America has turned a corner historically and will now be led by a distinct and fresh intellect.

- Harold Varmus, Nobel Laureate and former NIH Director under Bill Clinton, in a statement sent to Wired

(hat tip: The Scientist)