I have decided: RICHARDSON!

[janx]

The dilemma went something like this:

I can't get behind anyone who enabled the Iraq War (IWR)--sorry, but I just can't do it.

Of all of the candidates, I like Obama the best personally, but he lacks experience in certain areas and appears to be taking some very bad advice from his handlers.

I know that we have to get OUT OF IRAQ as soon as possible, if not sooner.

Energy and the environment are paramount.

CIVIL RIGHTS!

I want someone with loads of experience in foreign policy and the areas mentioned above.

Richardson is it! And I cannot believe that more DUers aren't behind this guy.

[Flabbergasted]

1. Saying Gonzalez was a friend lowered his image in my eyes. nt

[janx]

2. Guilt by association, huh?

;-)

[Flabbergasted]

3. Overall you're right. He may be the best candidate. nt

[Tejanocrat]

33. Not guild by association. Guilt by his own race-based threshold for tolerating criminality

Here's what Richardson said about Attorney General Al Gonzalez:

Tavis: It occurs to me now, listening to you talk about your friend who you know, Mr. Gonzalez, it draws a stark contrast between—I haven't checked where all the other candidates are, but I know Obama is on record very clearly saying Gonzalez should step down. I suspect other Democrats running for president are maybe saying the same thing. That's a contrast between you and others on whether or not this guy should step down.

Richardson: That's right. I do believe that it's up to a president to make those decisions about Cabinet members. Obviously, Alberto's very damaged, and he's gotta be frank and testify and do what has to happen. But I think that's up to the president.

Tavis: So you would not call for his stepping down right now.

Richardson: No, no. And you know what? Part of it maybe is because he's the highest-ranking Hispanic ever.

LINK

Moreover, we know Richardson did not simply misspeak when he said his support for Gonzalez was racial because Richardson has repeated that statement:

Presidential candidate and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) said Monday the reason he has not called for the removal of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is that the two both have Hispanic backgrounds.

Richardson, in an interview with The Hill, said he is "pretty close" to making such a call, but added that he is reluctant to do so before Gonzales’s Senate testimony despite the high-profile involvement of New Mexico in the U.S. attorneys scandal.

"The only reason I’m not there is because he’s Hispanic, and I know him and like him," Richardson said, adding, "It’s because he’s Hispanic. I’m honest."

LINK

I am not OK with that attitude.

[seasat]

38. He wanted to wait until he heard Gonzo's testimony and he also heavily attacked Gonzales.

He immediately called for his resignation after Gonzales lied in his testimony. He also had called Gonzales a political flack and in the interview you link to, he said that Gonzales shouldn't have been confirmed. It's not like the call by your guy, Edwards, or any of the other Democratic candidates did anything to speed up Gonzales' resignation.

One of the main reasons Richardson waited on the testimony from Gonzales was because he had worked with him on immigration reform. If you were paying attenuation, you would have noticed that most of the Repugs calling for Gonzales resignation are also from the Tom Tancredo wing of the Repug party. When the politicization of the AG office came up, it hurt Shrub Inc's proposal for a reasonable immigration reform because Gonzales was their point man on it.

On civil rights, I'll take Richardson any day over your candidate. Edwards has the worst ACLU rating of any Democrat running.

[Bluebear]

5. I can't get past his saying being gay was a choice & using "maricón"

No way.

====

The New Mexico governor used the term as part of a joke instigated by talk show host Don Imus during a March 29, 2006, segment of his “Imus in the Morning” syndicated radio program, simulcast on MSNBC.

Almost exactly one year before Imus was to lose his show for using a slur to describe the Rutger’s women’s basketball team, the shock jock used the Spanish word “maricón” in an on-air exchange with Richardson.

“Bernard on the staff here has been claiming you’re not really Hispanic so-- that you're just claiming that for some sort of advantage or something,” Imus said to Richardson, tongue clearly in cheek. “You can just answer this yes or no and this will answer that question. Would you agree that Bernard is a maricón?”

Without missing a beat, Richardson replied in Spanish, “Yo creo que Bernardo, sí — es un maricón si él piensa que yo no soy hispano. Was that good enough or what? ”

“That’s good enough for me,” Imus replied.

Most gay Latinos interviewed for this story agreed with the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation that the word “maricón” means “faggot” in Spanish. So, translated to English, Richardson had replied: "I believe that Bernard, yes – he’s a faggot if he thinks that I am not Hispanic."

http://www.gaynewswatch.com/Page.cfm?PageID=22&SID=1842

[janx]

12. You might be interested in reading this as well:

http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/issues/lgbt

I live in NM and can attest to the fact that the GLBT community here is proud of him. A joke instigated by that miserable shock jock is not likely to change their minds (or mine). ;-)

Regarding the rumor that Richardson believes sexual orientation is a choice, I suggest you read this:

http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/newsroom/pressreleases?id=0219

Yes, he screwed up his answer during the HRC forum.

[yardwork]

39. He lost me right then, too.

Not Richardson. Not Obama.

Kucinich has my vote in the primary. Nothing has changed.

[orleans]

60. here's what i can't get past with richardson

"Vigil-Giron, along with Governor Bill Richardson, not only stopped any attempt at a recount directly following the election, but demanded that all the machines be wiped clean. This not only concealed evidence of potential fraud but destroyed it. In 2006, New Mexico's Supreme Court ruled the Secretary of State's machine-cleaning job illegal - too late to change the outcome of the election, of course."

http://www.truthout.org/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi/65/23443

wait...let me repeat that:

GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON NOT ONLY STOPPED ANY ATTEMPT AT A RECOUNT DIRECTLY FOLLOWING THE ELECTION BUT DEMANDED THAT ALL THE MACHINES BE WIPED CLEAN.


to me, that one dirty little gesture spoke VOLUMES!

[Rowdyboy]

4. Congratulations....I've been falling in love with Democrats since ....

Mo Udall and Fred Harris in 1976. Welcome to the club.

[janx]

6. I used to live in Mark Udall's district in Colorado.

That's some family! Mark came by one night when I wasn't home; that didn't bother him--he came in and talked to my (then) 16-year-old son for about 15 minutes. My son was very impressed and will never forget it.

[Rowdyboy]

9. Mo was my hero in college and afterwards. He was one of the real class acts

of American politics and I affectionately call him "the greatest president America never had". That he lost to Jimmy Carter in the primaries is a tragedy.

I'm glad Mark is living up to the family name. They're some family indeed.

[janx]

15. Where is Tom Udall? Arizona?

?

[Rowdyboy]

31. New Mexico////His dad Stewart (Mo's brother) was a leader of the

early environmental movement. Quite a family, if you overlook Senator Gordon Smith of Oregon who's a Republican cousin.

[DemFemme]

7. Doesn't he say he thinks homosexuality is a choice?

That soundbite may come back to haunt him, if the LGBT community is half as hard on him as they have been
on Obama for the McClurkin mess.

His rather strong support for the Iraq war until he decided to run for president is a dealbreaker for me and his
DLC "I want to grow business" mantra turns me off, I'm afraid.

I like Obama personally the best, too, and I am going with that right down to the wire.

Congratulations on finally making a choice, though. :thumbsup:

[janx]

13. See #5.

:hi:

[janx]

16. Here--I'll save you a click:

"Let me be clear -- I do not believe that sexual orientation or gender identity happen by choice," Governor Richardson said. "But I'm not a scientist, and the point I was trying to make is that no matter how it happens, we are all equal and should be treated that way under the law. That is what I believe, that is what I have spent my career fighting for. I ask that people look at my record and my actions and they will see I have been a true supporter of the LGBT community."

Governor Bill Richardson has an accomplished record fighting for the rights of all Americans. Since taking office, Governor Richardson has:

1. Expanded anti-discrimination laws to include sexual orientation.
2. Signed into law the state's first hate crimes legislation for acts including those based on sexual orientation.
3. Provided state health insurance for domestic partnerships.
4. Signed the Billy Griego HIV and AIDS Act, which was designed to ensure that consumers are the focus of the funding and services provided in all the state's HIV and AIDS cases.
5. Created the state's first HIV and AIDS Policy Commission charged with reviewing and making recommendations on state HIV and AIDS policies. The commission also studies and makes recommendations on all factors affecting the availability, quality and accessibility of health services for persons with HIV and AIDS.
6. Called a Special Session of the NM State Legislature to push for Domestic Partnerships Legislation, among other issues, after it failed by one vote in the Senate during the Regular Session. Governor Richardson has pledged to push for the legislation again during the next Legislative Session.

As President, Bill Richardson will:

* Continue to fight for equal rights for ALL Americans.
* Champion a repeal of the US Military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.
* Appoint his Vice-President to be the Chair of the HIV/AIDS Commission.


http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/newsroom/pressreleases?id=0219

[wiseguy182]

18. thanks

thanks for that info janx, very informative. I believe a Richardson/Biden ticket could do very well. Biden is the other candidate I think is underestimated, he brings to the table 36 years of experience in the senate. and those plaigraism charges are largely overexaggerated.
And with the problem of global warming, Richardson would be the best in terms of environmental matters.

My vote for who should take on Heather Wilson in NM-01 would be Patty Madrid, who came agonizingly close to beating her last year. Madrid has the experience of winning statewide contests, and was one of the best attorney generals in the country, racking up an impressive string of victories. There are various reasons I don't like Heather Wilson, she's quite the whiner, for one.

[janx]

19. I did some phone banking for Patsy when she ran against Heather.

Heather gets some votes from independents and Dems here because they perceive her as being strong and smart (the military persona). I don't see it that way, but there's a strong military population here, and some of them are loyal to that above anything else.

[wiseguy182]

21. Heather Wilson is a loser

It's funny that a lot of voters believe she is strong. She is the one that said that Janet Jackson's breast made her cry. Every time I see her on C-Span, she is always on the verge of tears it seems.

Her environmental records stinks, and she voted against negotiating with pharmaceutical companies to lower drug prices. and other stuff.

So Janx, did you meet Patty? If so, how was she? How was the experience?

[janx]

55. Yes, I met Patsy, and I liked her very much.

She was a smart fireball--very smart and very welcoming.

[MonkeyFunk]

20. That was his spin AFTER the shit hit the fan from this:

Q: Do you think homosexuality is a choice, or is it biological?
A: It's a choice.

[MH1]

28. For some people, that is a true statement. At least if you are talking about behavior.

I guess celibacy isn't a choice either, come to think of it.

[MonkeyFunk]

36. And there's the core of the debate....

homosexual isn't what one does. It's what one IS.

[slick8790]

40. Very well put. eom

[MH1]

45. So someone who engages in homosexual behavior, but can choose not to, is

not a homosexual while they're doing it, in your book?

[MonkeyFunk]

49. How on earth did you get that from what I said?

One who is inclined to have sex with the same sex as one's own is a homosexual, whether he or she acts on it or not.

It's hard to imagine how someone could've gotten it so backwards. Try harder.

[MH1]

57. Just because it's exactly what you said.

homosexual isn't what one does. It's what one IS.

Either way, frankly I'm sick and tired of talking about how people have sex. It's a really dumb thing to get up in arms about, on either side of the debate.

[MonkeyFunk]

59. Rarely have I met someone

who can use a keyboard who is so illiterate.

Kudos to you.... you're a talented monkey.

[seasat]

42. No, it was an honest mistake as Barney Frank said in Richardson's defense

Link

Congressman Barney Frank, issued the following statement today:

"Governor Bill Richardson's apology for the mistake he made in saying that
sexual orientation is a choice did not surprise me, because he has been a
strong supporter of our right to be treated fairly throughout his public career.
It is especially relevant that he voted consistently on our side from the
start of his Congressional career in the 1980s, when the issue of LGBT rights
had far less support even from Democrats that it has today.

I regret Gov. Richardson's misstatement - as I sometimes regret one or two
of my own - but his error in the pressure of a debate should not detract from
his very strong record in defense of equality for all Americans, including
those of us who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or trans gender."

[Romulox]

8. "new democrat"...

[janx]

17. So was Al Gore at one point.

So was Howard Dean. :shrug:

At this point, I'm looking at policy and experience, and I can't find another candidate who represents my principles as well as Richardson does.

[Romulox]

32. Many people seem willing to ASSUME that there has been a presto-changeo conversion

When has Al Gore repudiated the major ideas of the DLCs? Privatization? "Free trade" with authoritarian countries? Military intervention throughout the world? Deregulation?

Cause I haven't heard it...

[seasat]

41. As was John Edwards, Joe Biden, John Kerry, and Hillary Clinton

Hey Janx, welcome to the few, the realistic, but still hopeful Richardson supporters here on DU. I don't agree with Richardson 100% on everything but he fits my views best too.

[BenDavid]

10. Sometime after February or early March

the nominee, I believe will be HRC will ask Gov. Richardson if he would seriously think about running for the U.S. Senate. The only right wing to enter the race is Rep. Heather Wilson, and if you will recall she also called the u s attorney and asked about certain cases involving Democrats in New Mexico. We see that old man Pete is not running. So, it is time the folks of New Mexico send someone like Richardson to the Senate....

Ben David

[janx]

14. The news from here is that Richardson doesn't want to

run for Domenici's seat. We may have to field some other options.

Yes, I know about Heather. I live in her district.

[BenDavid]

11. Sometime after February or early March

the nominee, I believe will be HRC will ask Gov. Richardson if he would seriously think about running for the U.S. Senate. The only right wing to enter the race is Rep. Heather Wilson, and if you will recall she also called the u s attorney and asked about certain cases involving Democrats in New Mexico. We see that old man Pete is not running. So, it is time the folks of New Mexico send someone like Richardson to the Senate....

Ben David

[Capn Sunshine]

22. Richardson is definitely a good dark horse

I had a nice chat with him in San Diego when he appeared at our So Cal Grassroots /PDA/DFA dinner. He won't do well in Iowa. But I think if the string plays out this time around he'll do surprisingly well. He's definitely Cabinet/ Supreme Ct. material.

[bklyncowgirl]

23. I agree with your reasoning. Barring an entrance by Al Gore, Richardson's my guy

A vote to send your people to war is the most serious one that a politician can make. None of our candidates who were in Congress,with the exception of Kucinich, acquitted themselves well in that regard. It may be arbitrary, but it points to something flawed in their judgment.

Richardson has the experience and knowhow to actually DO the job something that I do not feel completely comfortable with regarding Barack Obama.

He unfortunately has not shown the ability to frame his message and qualifications in a manner which plays well in the national media. I'm hoping to see him improve but it's getting late in the game.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

24. I Believe Bill Richardson Was An Early Supporter Of The War Also

MR. RUSSERT: So you regret supporting the war initially?

GOV. RICHARDSON: Yes, I do. It was a mistake. But I was pushing intensively, at the time, for more diplomatic engagement, to go to the United Nations, to bring international support for our goals, to go to NATO, to, to get strong Security Council resolutions. I didn’t push hard enough. I didn’t push hard enough. But, you know, I, I didn’t have the intelligence everybody else had. Incompetence, deceitfulness...

MR. RUSSERT: But you said you knew more about the region than anybody else.

GOV. RICHARDSON: Well, yeah.

MR. RUSSERT: So it was a mistake?

GOV. RICHARDSON: Yes, it was a mistake. It was a mistake. I, I openly state that.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18818527/page/2

[wyldwolf]

26. He said on CNN he would have voted for the IWR if he'd been in Congress

[MH1]

27. Voting for the IWR is not equivalent to "supporting the war" even though

Some Dems have allowed it to be conflated as such, even though that harms the democratic party by allowing them to be blamed for the war as much as Bush.

[seasat]

43. He also was calling for waiting for UN approval before proceding

From a CNN interview on 3/11/2003

CROWLEY: So, am I right, am I hearing you correctly that you believe that the U.N. Security Council should pass the resolution that Britain and the U.S. are proposing?

RICHARDSON: Well, I would go a little differently, Candy. I think the U.S. and Britain should compromise. That's the essence of diplomacy. To get nine votes, if it means postponing for 30 days, or 15 days or 10 days, a new resolution with benchmarks on Iraq's behavior, let's do it. I think that France and Russia are basically gone.

They are going to veto. But it would be a partial victory if we get nine votes for a victory of a majority in the Security Council. If we don't do that, I think it's going to be tremendous prestige loss overseas. I think, domestically, it's going to cause more problems for the administration. The Congress will be divided. This is a time when it's frustrating, but what's the rush, really. Iraq is not heading down Baghdad into the United States.

Again, it is a threat, but it's not an immediate threat. It's not something that is like the war on terrorism, where we're under alert from a potential terrorist attack in this country. So let's be judicious. Let's be calm. Let's be patient.

He also didn't have access to the intelligence report that most of the Senators neglected to read.

[Adelante]

25. Good, janx

I'm for Obama, but I like Richardson very much :hi:

[janx]

52. Thank you!

:hug:

[youthere]

29. Good choice!

How does it feel to have finally settled on a candidate? It was a great relief for me, personally. I like Obama too, but just feel he needs a little more weathering, so I settled on Biden (despite IWR)-although I like Richardson too.
Richardson is a fine candidate and I think he is greatly overlooked, and I would proudly support him should he win the nomination.

[Sparkly]

30. He does have creds.

Good decision. :hi:

[ToeBot]

34. No free traders! nt

[seasat]

44. Richardson on Trade

Richardson was co-sponsor of a bill in the 90s that called for tying human rights to Most Favored Nation status for China. He has maintained a position of tying human rights to trade throughout his career. Here's his position on trade from his Asian Policy speech:

we should negotiate firmly with the Chinese on human rights, and develop trade agreements should be used to incentivize human rights improvements.
...
Trade accords must have enforceable mechanisms to insure respect for core ILO standards, including work conditions, minimum wages, occupational safety, child labor, the right to collective bargaining and the prohibition of compulsory and slave labor.

Trade agreements also must incorporate environmental protections.

The United States should not enter into trade agreements with countries that do not sign the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.
The US also must join the Kyoto Protocol, negotiate a new global warming agreement that goes well beyond Kyoto, and make participation in it a condition of future trade agreements.

Richardson has the strongest record on environmental issues. He was supporting addressing Climate Change back in 1998 before it was popular.

[question everything]

35. I was relly rooted for him

He has a great resume: experience in foreign policy, a governor, from the Southwest..

But he has horrible time being interviewed and expressing himself and his planes.

Plus, I think that his record in NM as far as school and health care can raise many questions.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

37. Highest level of ACLU support, so he is acceptable to me

[janx]

50. YES, in his home state especially. n/t

[w4rma]

46. Richardson supported the Iraq War from the get go. He just never had a chance to vote on it, but he

would have voted for it.

He's also a free traitor.

He's also uninspiring to listen to. He's lacks the kind of charisma that a President needs.

[seasat]

47. Did he cosponsor it like Edwards? Write an OPED supporting it like Edwards?

Actually Richardson urged caution, unlike Edwards, who supported the war so vigorously that he announced it in a Washington Post OPED that was posted on Shrub Inc's state department website.

Richardson cosponsored legislation that tied China's MFN status to improvements in human rights. Edwards voted for permanent MFN status with China.

Richardson has an impressive environmental record. Edwards has the worst League of Conservation Voters score of any candidate. Richardson supported reductions in green house gas emissions back in the 90's. He went on to put policies in place in his state to reduce carbon emissions. Edwards, voted to exempt light trucks and SUVs from increased CAFE standards. Richardson has won praise from environmental groups by blocking mining and drilling in millions of acres of natural wilderness. Edwards voted for mountain top coal mining.

Richardson has received high ratings on his support for civil liberties. He's received awards from the Human Rights commission, pushed through a medical marijuana law, and granted state employees who are GLBT partnership rights. Richardson also spoke out against the Patriot Act. Edwards has the lowest ACLU rating of any of the Democratic Candidates. He voted for the Patriot Act and proposed forming a homeland domestic spy agency in his 2004 campaign.

Edwards also has the least government experience of any candidate. What inspires me to vote for somebody is the knowledge that they have actions that back up their words and the experience to put those ideas in practice. I don't find Edwards inspiring at all based on those criteria.

[MH1]

53. Thanks for the compare and contrast.

It is rather ironic for an Edwards supporter to criticize Richardson (or any Dem candidate, for that matter) over the IWR.

[Think82]

48. I would advise you to look into BIDEN:

he's actually more experienced than Richardson, and is known as the best foreign policy mind in the senate.

Plus, before the iraq vote, Biden and Richard Lugar co=sponsored an amendment to the iwr that would demand Bush exhaust all diplomatic options before using force. It was voted down, needless to say, and Biden reluctantly voted for the iwr, believing bush would act responsibly, as he had done in Afghaniistan. He also held hearings predicting that we would be committing to a decade after the invasion if we went in. Plus, he has the right answer now, as his federlism plan for Iraq got 75 votes in the senate last month.

Please look into Biden before finalizing your decision.

[janx]

51. I'm sorry--I've seen Biden for many years now, and I've seen

how his changing aspects are typical of the D.C. politician.

I know about the amendment.

I was out West, knowing what Bush would do.

[scarletwoman]

54. Great! Have you voted in the DU straw poll?

DU straw poll of all announced Democratic candidates

[janx]

56. ZZZZZZZZZ.....

Yeah, to get two Richardson votes? I don't watch television very often.

That is my point. I'd like to get people thinking about what matters instead of what is presented on television all the time.

[scarletwoman]

58. What does television have to do with it? It's a DU poll. Just taking a reading on our own community.

[eridani]

61. Principal pusher of NAFTA

Which just happened to be a disaster for working people in all three affected countries, and a corresponding boon to their millionaires.