Mum's the Word: Bill Richardson Opts Out Of Taking The Political Courage Test

Alibi.com   |  Simon McCormack   |   December 11, 2007 09:57 AM


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Are presidential candidates, including Gov. Bill Richardson, becoming more cowardly? That seems to be the troubling trend, according to Project Vote Smart Media Director Mike Wessler.

Project Vote Smart is a nonprofit organization that asks politicians to take the Political Courage Test (PCT) every year. The test is really more like a survey that asks officeholders and those seeking office about their positions on several major issues, including abortion, education and healthcare. Test takers can choose from a range of policy choices or they can explain where they stand in their own words.

Although he took the PCT in 1996 when it was called the National Political Awareness Test, Gov. Richardson has declined to do so since. "Richardson's people told us some of the information that's asked for in the test is available on his campaign website but they said he would not take the test," Wessler says. Richardson's campaign office did not return calls for comment.

But the governor isn't alone in his refusal. Out of 17 presidential candidates in the Democratic and Republican parties receiving serious media attention, only John Edwards, Chris Dodd and Mike Gravel took the test.


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- isis See Profile I'm a Fan of isis permalink

He's a great person but weakly organized so far.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:47 PM on 12/12/2007
- aintnogod See Profile I'm a Fan of aintnogod permalink

Courage! I don't think the American people deserve a good president. They make our candidates so afraid to be candid and open, that all we'll get is pablum and twisted answers to hard questions. But, of course, if a candidate did not really want to win, then he would not try to please the most people. Winning is the name of the game so, of course, each candidate has to try to collect the largest number of yes votes, to please the largest number of potential voters. It's called democracy in action. This has been my own whimpy answer from de lef' and right side a' my mout'.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 05:27 PM on 12/11/2007
- TuffPosh See Profile I'm a Fan of TuffPosh permalink

The test is worthless due to a) weak questions, and b) the fact that the candidates can skip the questions and insert their own stock BS.

Here's a proposal that would reveal what their true policies are:

http://nomoreblather.com/policy-debates

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 01:02 PM on 12/11/2007
- VeniceDave See Profile I'm a Fan of VeniceDave permalink

Political Courage? Come off it! Bill Richardson is the New Mexico Governor who called his Legislature back into a special session to pass a Domestic Partnership Rights Act. Bill Richardson is the only candidate who has called for a National Summit on Water Resources. Bill Richardson is the only Governor who had the Governor of a sovereign Indian nation (Puebla) swear him in as Governor (as opposed to the traditional Supreme Court Justice). Bill Richardson was the first Governor to deploy the National Guard to protect the border. Bill Richardson is the only major candidate to call for all troops to come home from Iraq, with no residual forces left behind. Bill Richardson has lived his entire life as a Latino in a Caucasian world. Bill Richardson has called to scrap, not modify, No Child Left Behind. According to both the Sierra Club and the League of Conservation Voters, Bill Richardson has the most aggressive plan to combat global warming and climate change of any of the candidates, even stronger than Al Gore's! Bill Richardson has called to tear down the wall between Mexico and the United States. Bill Richardson has promised to appoint a union person as Secretary of Labor, an Educator as Secretary of Education, and to elevate Indian Affairs to cabinet level status.

How much more courage do you want? His life, his policies as Governor, and his issues are a literal "Profile in Courage". He doesn't need to take a test to prove it!

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:58 PM on 12/11/2007
- Dantheman99 See Profile I'm a Fan of Dantheman99 permalink

No one here "hates" Bill Richardson.

However, he made himself irrelevant by his performance in the Logo debate and his ludicrous statement that God wanted Iowa to go first.

Despite the fact he is very good on some of the issues, when he's first seen by the voters, it is in the context of some gaffe. He's looked like the turkey of the season this far.

I expect he will neither be picked for President or Vice-President, but perhaps Secretary of State whoever wins. Either SoS of long run as New Mexico's able Governor.

He should have run for Dominici's seat instead.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:57 PM on 12/11/2007
- ESerafina42 See Profile I'm a Fan of ESerafina42 permalink

Why does this website hate Bill Richardson? I was just thinking that anyone who got their news solely from here would think that Hillary and Obama were the only two Democrats running. For all the general anti-Hillary bias, at least there are a few people posting who support her. So now we have a headline mentioning another candidate, and not only is it negative, but at the bottom of the story it mentions that only it mentions that only 3 of the candidates running DID answer the questions.

How about a headline that says "Hillary and Barack 'Political Courage' Obama Refuse to take Political Courage Test," or "Edwards and Gravel Only Dems With 'Political Courage'"?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 11:47 AM on 12/11/2007
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