Bill Richardson using William Kristol (PNAC) article to promote his candidacy

[Renew Deal]

Bill Richardson's campaign sent me a fundraising letter and some persuasive literature. One of the pieces was a pamphlet explaining how close the election is and that Bill Richardson has a shot. There are poll numbers from NH and snippets from 3 articles. One of the articles caught my attention. It's called "The Rule-Breaking Campaign by William Kristol. Link here: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1661697,00.html

I am disgusted by this. Richardson is using an article from someone who is morally and politically reprehensible to prop up his candidacy. The person he is quoting is one of the architects of the Iraq war and a promoter for a war with Iran. This is enough to disqualify Richardson's campaign. The irony of this all is that the envelope said something like "A candidate who will end the war." Bullshit Bill!

[rodeodance]

1. oh for petes sake. so what?

[Renew Deal]

2. It's like RimJob from freeperville vouching for you to be a mod at DU.

If you had to go to FR for references, you'd probably not be considered credible.

[seasat]

3. He is not endorsing Richardson.

Do you really think Kristol would endorse someone who is calling for an immediate and complete pullout from Iraq with no residual forces? Someone who has called for diplomacy on Iran and criticized Kyl-Lieberman as saber rattling that will worsen the situation? Richardson is using it because it is a positive comment in a popular national magazine by a recognized pundit. In a March column called "Why Republicans Are Smiling", Kristol wrote:

3. The 2008 Democratic field. Hillary Clinton, as Hollywood chieftain David Geffen has famously pointed out, looks beatable in a general election. Barack Obama is impressive but Republicans find it hard to believe he'll be our next President. The second time doesn't seem to be the charm for John Edwards. And Al Gore, who could be the nominee, still isn't a natural pol. There are serious Democrats who have won in red or purple states: former Governors Mark Warner of Virginia and Tom Vilsack of Iowa, Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana and Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico. But the first three have dropped out of the presidential race, and Richardson is polling at 2% and looks unlikely to make it into the top tier. Hillary is the least left-wing of the leading Democratic candidates. To a Republican, that says it all.

The guy was happy that Richardson was polling so low because he doesn't want to have to face him in a general election.

[VP505]

4. I don't find that

nearly as troubling as Richardson taking lots of campaign money from lobbyists.

[seasat]

5. Richardson is third for lobbyist contributions among Dems

According to open secrets, the lobbyist contributions are:

Candidate......Amount.......Rank among top sectors
Hillary.....$517,525.00..........18
Dodd........$211,575.00..........11
Richardson..$122,050.00..........17
Biden.......$111,810.00..........10

[DCKit]

6. That list alone is enough to convince me that Biden and DK are our best candidates. nt

[seasat]

7. Dodd1.5% , Biden 1.4%, Richardson and Hillary 0.6% from lobbyists

As a percentage of total fund raising, Biden and Dodd have received the most. Richardson, Kucinich and Gravel's top group is retirees. Lawyers are tops for Hillary, Obama, Edwards, and Biden. Dodd has security and investment firms as his top donors.