Richardson: Hey, man, I’m a Governor!
posted at 10:50 am on March 24, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
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Bill Richardson offers that rather lame excuse to Matt Lauer on the Today show this morning, as Lauer challenges Richardson over his previous sentiments on superdelegates. After Lauer quotes Richardson saying in February that superdelegates should vote in representation of their constituents, he asks the former presidential hopeful why he isn’t endorsing Hillary Clinton, whom New Mexico voters endorsed in their primary. Richardson’s response? Hey, man, he’s a Governor!
In the first place, Richardson had it wrong in February. The DNC did not create superdelegates to simply rubber-stamp the decision of their constituents. If they had, superdelegates would be a redunancy; they would just simply act from the pledged delegates and eliminate superdelegates altogether. No, the Democratic establishment created the superdelegates for the explicit purpose that Richardson denies here, which is to counter the popular vote when Democrats appear ready to elect someone unpopular with the party establishment.
Why doesn’t Richardson simply acknowledge that? Because the Democrats have been trying to keep that purpose mostly hidden from these same constituents. Their very existence speaks to the back-room-deal impulse that Richardson and the rest of the Democrats publicly decry. Now he wants to make it look as though he’s acting out of that principle, when in fact he’s opposing his own constituency and his previous public statements to make what smells very much like a back-room deal to back Barack Obama.
Note, too, the hippie “man” that now pops up with Richardson now that he’s grown a beard. It’s the kind of faux-populist pose one expects from a career government bureaucrat who now wants to distance himself from the establishment.
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Hey we all know Richardson is weak.. China jumped a mile when Nuclear research was moved from the DOD to DOE.
But hey he’s a govenor now…
tottoritodd on March 24, 2008 at 10:55 AM
I am no fan of Hillary, but Carville is correct, Richardson is a Judas.
He sees Obama is the winner, and he sold out his loyalty…no better then one of Spitzer’s flings.
right2bright on March 24, 2008 at 10:55 AM
AP is so in the tank for Richardson….
Wind Rider on March 24, 2008 at 10:56 AM
I heard about Richardson endorsing Obama on tv Friday afternoon. I was shocked! e was soooo for Hillary clinton a few months ago. I expressed my shock to my husband and asked him why he was not surprised. He just smiled and said, “why should I be? They are democrats, they have no honor or loyalty.” So simple…..
kcd on March 24, 2008 at 11:00 AM
I am amazed that James Carville even knows who Judas was, unless he still has some of his old Sunday School materials stashed away in some trunk somewhere in his attic. The truth is Richardson got sick of the tactics he is seeing from Shillary’s camp, especially from Ol’ Serpenthead Carville. Richardson hit it right on the head in an interview he did where he sees the problem as being most of Shillary’s camp think they “have an entitlement to the Presidency”. Frankly, a lot of her advisers would see no problem in turning the Inauguration into a Coronation as far as Shillary is concerned. I am no fan of Richardson and never will be, but he is right in his assessment of the people that Shillary is surrounding herself with. Hey are the same bunch of scurrilous lowlife rascals that Bubba Billy surrounded himself with that required a fumigation of the White House after his two terms in office mercifully ended.
pilamaye on March 24, 2008 at 11:04 AM
Superdelagates should make their decision based on the astrological forecast of the possible nominees as cast on each superdelegates birthday. Except western governors should also factor in what breed of horse, dog and cow seems most appropriate to each. It is also OK to consult your local taoist priest. Unless balloting falls on a Wednesday, but I don’t want to over complicate this.
snaggletoothie on March 24, 2008 at 11:06 AM
Clinton is simply the wrong color. Listen to Richardson’s own words.
The True Rickardson
bucktowndusty on March 24, 2008 at 11:10 AM
If nothing else, it was fun to hear a Democrat admit about bitterness and divisiveness in their party. Hard to blame that one on GWB, huh? Not that they won’t try….
Aside: I don’t think he was saying “man”, it sounded like “Matt” to me.
landshark on March 24, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Hey man, the beard only emphasizes the secret truth: Bill Richardson is Horatio Sanz.
Vote Sauron 08 on March 24, 2008 at 11:14 AM
hey man,
that was the only funny thing Sanz did on SNL..
DaveC on March 24, 2008 at 11:24 AM
Granted that Richardson’s is a feeble beard, we could use more facial hair in government (Hillary’s mustache aside.). Beards are cool. Did you know the last US president to wear a beard was Republican Benjamin Harrison? And the last with any facial hair* was Republican William Taft?
My fellow Republicans, let us unleash our facial follicles! It is our heritage!
*(Nixon’s 5 o’clock shadow doesn’t count.)
irishspy on March 24, 2008 at 11:27 AM
Let’s face it, this isn’t complicated. Richardson is just another sleazy Democrat that will do absolutely anything to feather his own bed.
rplat on March 24, 2008 at 11:44 AM
That’s so true, rplat. Richardson is, and always has been, a shameless political hack willing to do whatever it takes to get and keep power. He’s sucking up to Obama now simply because he thinks Obama will win the nomination, and not for any other reason.
AZCoyote on March 24, 2008 at 11:54 AM
Classic beta male. He’s probably going on bagel runs for Obama’s people and offering to wash the Messiah’s car.
Travis Bickle on March 24, 2008 at 12:05 PM
If Richardson wished to throw his lot with Obama and have an impact, he could have done so prior to Texas. Rather, his endorsement it has the hallmarks of a transparent political calculation.
The move is a looser.
moxie_neanderthal on March 24, 2008 at 12:07 PM
Another Dem rat jumping from one sinking ship to the other.
Hening on March 24, 2008 at 12:16 PM
He only endorsed because he thinks that Hillary will lose.
What a tool.
ArmyAunt on March 24, 2008 at 12:23 PM
All animals are created equal.
Some animals are created more equal.
Thank you for clearing that up Governor.
TooTall on March 24, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Self-proclaimed intrepid “border Governor” Richardson waits it out until he sees a winner in the primary and then shamelessly throws his support behind the perceived strong horse in an attempt to beg for some favorable treatment in the future.
Yep, politics running smoothly, as expected.
awake on March 24, 2008 at 1:02 PM
tomk59 on March 24, 2008 at 1:21 PM
Sorry, above comment was meant about “because the Democrats have been mostly trying to keep that purpose hidden from their constituents”.
I can’t get the quote thingy to work.
tomk59 on March 24, 2008 at 1:23 PM
Richardson’s timing could prove to be glorious, or wanting. Time will tell if he’s a genius, or a fool.
Entelechy on March 24, 2008 at 1:30 PM
Entelechy, I think he’s proven himself a fool enough times to remove any doubts.
tomk59 on March 24, 2008 at 1:33 PM
Carville called Richardson Judas.I wonder if
Al Gore was to join Obamas team,since theres
not much love between the Gores and Clintons,
what Carville would call AL!
canopfor on March 24, 2008 at 1:46 PM
To think that this man was trying for the Presidency!! Weak willed opportunist. The people of New Mexico need to get rid of this jerk!!
jeanie on March 24, 2008 at 2:47 PM
He`s had all this experience, but somehow he just strikes me as a dope.
ThePrez on March 24, 2008 at 4:27 PM
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