Governor Bill Richardson: Loyalty to My Country

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/01/AR2008040100885.html?hpid=opinionsbox1&hpid=topnews

Loyalty to My Country
By Bill Richardson
Tuesday, April 1, 2008; 10:29 AM


My recent endorsement of Barack Obama for president has been the subject of much discussion and consternation -- particularly among supporters of Hillary Clinton.

Led by political commentator James Carville, who makes a living by being confrontational and provocative, Clinton supporters have speculated about events surrounding this endorsement and engaged in personal attacks and insults.

While I certainly will not stoop to the low level of Mr. Carville, I feel compelled to defend myself against character assassination and baseless allegations.

Carville has made it very clear that this is a personal attack -- driven by his own sense of what constitutes loyalty. It is this kind of political venom that I anticipated from certain Clinton supporters and I campaigned against in my own run for president.

I repeatedly urged Democrats to stop attacking each other personally and even offered a DNC resolution calling for a positive campaign based on the issues. I was evenhanded in my efforts. In fact, my intervention in a debate during a particularly heated exchange was seen by numerous commentators as an attempt to defend Sen. Clinton against the barbs of Sens. Obama and John Edwards.

As I have pointed out many times, and most pointedly when I endorsed Sen. Obama, the campaign has been too negative, and we Democrats need to calm the rhetoric and personal attacks so we can come together as a party to defeat the Republicans.

More than anything, to repair the damage done at home and abroad, we must unite as a country. I endorsed Sen. Obama because I believe he has the judgment, temperament and background to bridge our divisions as a nation and make America strong at home and respected in the world again.

This was a difficult, even painful, decision. My affection and respect for the Clintons run deep. I do indeed owe President Clinton for the extraordinary opportunities he gave me to serve him and this country. And nobody worked harder for him or served him more loyally, during some very difficult times, than I did.

Carville and others say that I owe President Clinton's wife my endorsement because he gave me two jobs. Would someone who worked for Carville then owe his wife, Mary Matalin, similar loyalty in her professional pursuits? Do the people now attacking me recall that I ran for president, albeit unsuccessfully, against Sen. Clinton? Was that also an act of disloyalty?

And while I was truly torn for weeks about this decision, and seriously contemplated endorsing Sen. Clinton, I never told anyone, including President Clinton, that I would do so. Those who say I did are misinformed or worse.

As for Mr. Carville's assertions that I did not return President Clinton's calls: I was on vacation in Antigua with my wife for a week and did not receive notice of any calls from the president. I, of course, called Sen. Clinton prior to my endorsement of Sen. Obama. It was a difficult and heated discussion, the details of which I will not share here.

I do not believe that the truth will keep Carville and others from attacking me. I can only say that we need to move on from the politics of personal insult and attacks. That era, personified by Carville and his ilk, has passed and I believe we must end the rancor and partisanship that has mired Washington in gridlock. In my view, Sen. Obama represents our best hope of replacing division with unity. That is why, out of loyalty to my country, I endorse him for president.


The writer is governor of New Mexico and a former Democratic candidate for president.

[wain]

1. He's a pol, doing what pols do

He's really not that important in the Obama equation. I hope the Governor's self interest does not detract from the importance of Barack.

[bklyncowgirl]

2. A strong and dignified response. nt

[Doctor_J]

3. Carville and others in the CLinton campaign have been as destructive as hate radio

It is appalling what they have done to Obama over the last 3 months. Whether they are deliberately trying to get McBush elected, or just doing what they do, the party needs to kick them to the curb once President Obama is sworn in.

[TomBall Democrat]

5. I once admired James Carville and Hillary Clinton -

and find myself surprised that I can no longer.

I first felt discomfort with Carville when he published those books with hateful titles - "We're Right, They're Wrong", etc.

And the anger just grew - more and more - until they've become the monsters they once fought.

It's sad.

And now their followers call Obama followers monsters for not following them.

It's like circular hell.

[Eric Condon]

7. It's been hard for me, because I used to like Carville too.

I used to think of him as a passionate advocate for the Democrats. But since I'm only 22, throughout most of my life "the Democrats" and "the Clintons" have been two tightly intertwined entities. Now that we're (thankfully) moving past that era and the Clintons are no longer the standard bearers of the party, I've come to realize that Carville is an advocate for the Clintons, not the Democrats.

Carville doesn't give a shit about this party. If the Clintons switched to the Republicans, he'd switch too. I've never once heard him discuss an actual issue or take an actual stand on anything. I've only ever heard him engage in ratings-driven mudslinging on cable news. He is nothing more than the Clintons' own Karl Rove.

[livingmadness]

4. I too am apalled at the treatment of Richardson.

Not the lease because it muddies the Clinton message re: super-delegates - on one hand the super-delegates should vote or endorse based on their better judgment, on the other they should vote/endorse because, well, they promised. On top of that, Bill Clinton has similarly been denigrating Richardson publicly as indicated here:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/02/BAVNVU2PJ.DTL&type=politics

"In fact, before his speech Clinton had one of his famous meltdowns Sunday, blasting away at former presidential contender Bill Richardson for having endorsed Obama, the media and the entire nomination process"

Carville/Clinton's actions certainly don't aid their perception in the public mind.

[JTFrog]

6. Richardson is kicking ass. Good on him. n/t

[nealmhughes]

8. He should have entitled the piece "A Distasteful Encounter with James Carville,"

in the vein of Gore Vidal to Bill Buckley!

"Loyalty" is not a lifetime commitment, Jimbo. Hon. Mr. Richardson's loyalty lies primarily to his state, the nation, and to the Democratic Party, not to los Clinton.

[MISSDem]

9. Good response. How dare they say that he

owes anyone anything, especially this.

[GOPBasher]

10. Good answer. n/t

[nichomachus]

11. Calling Hillary

I, of course, called Sen. Clinton prior to my endorsement of Sen. Obama. It was a difficult and heated discussion, the details of which I will not share here.


I would imagine that the conversation went along the same lines as if you had called Don Corleone to give him a heads-up that you had decided to turn state's evidence -- only Don Corleone probably wouldn't have shrieked at you.

[bpeale]

12. this is for you Governor Richardson

i accepted it when you decided to run for President. apparently the american people didn't want you, but whatever. when you came back to NM, i assumed you were going to work, but that did not happen. then you decide to pander for yet another job. what i want to know is WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO ACTUALLY WORK AT THE JOB YOU ALREADY HAVE? i am sick of your shit. get back to work! i wish to god i could fire your ass!

[Name removed]

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