Bill Richardson Reportedly Barred From Bill Clinton Event

New Mexico Governor and former Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson was reportedly turned away at the door of a Bill Clinton fundraiser in New Mexico over the weekend, providing a salute to rumors that the former first family is still holding a grudge over Richardson's choice to endorse Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton for president in 2008.

The New York Post's Cindy Adams reports:

So William Jefferson was in New Mexico stumping. Richardson shows up. The event didn't invite him in. Per a very inside insider, Clinton aides, well aware of President Clinton's feelings, on their own turned Richardson away. The Gov was politely told: "Sorry, governor, this is a ticketed event."

When they later related this to Clinton, I am informed he "laughed delightedly."

In the Spring of 2008, Richardson threw his weight behind then-candidate Obama. Democratic strategist James Carville later claimed that Richardson had misled Clinton into believing that he would support her.

Richardson's choice was a particularly hard pill to swallow for Bill Clinton, who as president had appointed the New Mexico governor to posts as both Ambassador to the United Nations and Secretary of Energy.

In April of 2008, Clinton reportedly embarked on an irate tirade against Richardson's perceived deception.

Reports in 2008 and even 2009 claimed that Clinton wasn't willing to forgive Richardson's transgressions, and wouldn't even speak to the governor.

Richardson held a fundraiser during the heat of the standoff in the summer of 2008 with the purpose of drawing cash to retire Hillary Clinton's campaign debt, but it apparently didn't mend the frayed friendship.

Comments

[Lancer 101]

05:38 PM on 11/07/2010

Now on his way out, Richardson is trying to tout his achievements in New Mexico, and in the Albuquerque Journal, he is trying to say the national political environment is what caused Diane Denish, a Democrat, to lose the election and not his scandal ridden administration. One would think Richardson was smart enough to have known better than to undertake the many "pay to play" scandals during his administration; he should have avoided giving so many of cronies top paying jobs in state government; and she should of known better than to use the State Investment Council, crowded with his supporters, to fund state projects and investments for big money people who donated to his campaign. No, he did it to himself and to Diane Denish. Now he's a big nobody that no one wants around. It had to be pretty bad being turned away at the Clinton door. I am glad, though, that he is on his way out - hopefully way out of New Mexico.

[BoTurney]

12:26 PM on 11/01/2010

Oh, snap!

[DCDave]

09:52 PM on 10/28/2010

What did Richardson expect given his behavior?

[Amalek]

11:09 PM on 10/27/2010

Resentment will eat you up.

[Sim0n Gomez]

06:48 PM on 11/02/2010

So will treason

[emm29056]

09:59 PM on 10/27/2010

Bill Richardson didn't deserve the jobs he had in Clinton's administration. I guess Bill learned his lesson.

[Mafdet]

08:12 PM on 10/27/2010

As I understand it, that is how politics works. I for one wish Richardson had kept his word and supported Clinton. Then we would have a president with the political savvy to extricate herself from Wall Street and work for her country.

[admiralj]

09:02 PM on 10/27/2010

Hillary wasn't and still isn't worthy of holding higher office than where she currently serves.

[DCDave]

09:53 PM on 10/28/2010

She would have done a much better job than Obama this past year.

[DCDave]

09:52 PM on 10/28/2010

Nice Post, I agree 100%.

[Bude]

05:22 PM on 10/27/2010

As an recovered Democrat let me say that Dems are a vengeful bunch.

[TheIndependenceParty]

05:32 PM on 10/27/2010

"Recovered Democrats" are simply Democrats who got a raise or a promotion when no one else did, ... and are afraid someone will come along and take their toys away.

Don't worry, ... your car is still in the driveway, mortgage is (probably) safe,and your 401k and Christmas bonus are secure, ... until your boss offshores your job.

Vengeful? Palin is the definition of Vengeful Unleashed!

[Carl Caroli]

04:54 PM on 10/27/2010

Bill is smart, never did grow up.

[TheIndependenceParty]

05:22 PM on 10/27/2010

Both Bills, ... Politicians never grow up. They desire all the toys, special privileges and adoration from all directions. When politicians come in a convenient "two pack" like the Clintons, ... they pose a particular risk. America saw fit not to take it, ... twice!

[admiralj]

09:04 PM on 10/27/2010

Fanned and Faved.

So VERY true.

[SonyaInTx]

04:42 PM on 10/27/2010

Bill Richardson should just give Bill Clinton a brand new cigar......I'm sure all will be forgiven then......just saying.......

[RationalRadioJack]

05:42 PM on 10/27/2010

OMG.......How freaking tired of you to say that and of course you are from Texas.

Bill Clinton ....cigar

George W. Bush........war criminal ......

[InfinteShibumi]

04:27 PM on 10/27/2010

Nonsense.

[OtayPanky]

03:36 PM on 10/27/2010

Seeing as his wife forgave him for his serial adultery and making a fool of her in front of the whole world, you think he'd forgive Richardson for making a principled decision about who to support.

But that ain't Bubba. He plays the game of life by his own rules, even though he claims to be a Christian of some sort.

[NoFactsJustTruth]

04:03 PM on 10/27/2010

Both Clinton's are way to close to republiCAN'TS by my measure and I couldn't support either for a national elective office anytime in the future. I can never forgive his signature on right-wing banking reforms, including the repeal of the Glass Steagall Act, that helped to destroy OUR economy by condoning the formation of the 'too big to fail' monopolies that had been prohibited since the Great Depression. Upon leaving office he banked MILLIONS from Kazakhstan and Colombia to influence (lobby) CONgressional legislations on their behalf.

Don't get me started on their support for the Defense Of Marriage Act...

[OtayPanky]

05:17 PM on 10/27/2010

I don't disagree with you. But when 2016 comes around, if Hillary gets nominated, I'll support her over any repub that is currently on the horizon.

What I wouldn't do is go with the Nader option or sit the election out. That's just a gift to the repubs, giving them a chance to load the Supreme Court, and do more damage than they've already done.

[the964kid]

03:28 PM on 10/27/2010

I'm not a big Bill Clinton fan, but all politicians do this. Although I thought they had squashed this when Bill Richardson helped raise money for the debt HRC's campaign ended with.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/07/30/richardson-to-help-clinton-retire-campaign-debt/

The Clintons shouldn't have taken Richardson's help if they were still going to hold a grudge.

[TheIndependenceParty]

05:25 PM on 10/27/2010

In the Clintons' world, ... it is all about the Clintons, all day, every day! The sun never sets on the Clinton ego!

[the964kid]

06:48 PM on 10/27/2010

I thought things might have changed, but obviously they didn't.

[lovbug]

02:30 PM on 10/27/2010

I'm glad Hillary is NOT President. Her husband has an ego problem and he's petty.

[lovbug]

02:21 PM on 10/27/2010

Bill Clinton is petty. What is wrong with him? He's just so crawny. How many Clintons need to be President before he's satisfied? Get over it and move on. Hillary is Secretary of State of crying out loud.

The Clintons are behaving like the Bush's. They think they are the Hiearchy of the U.S. Get the f outta here.

[hollywoody5000]

02:04 PM on 10/27/2010

Richardson is a light weight wanna be has been who never was. He is a relentless babbler. He is also a traitor to the Clintons who were very much his supporters. Obama should never have been elected President in these dangerous, uncertain & troubled times. That Clinton's "friends" should have turned against her at a time when we needed her most just addes to the travesty of people like Richardson who are worthless to the cause, getting involved in situations in which they are irrelevant.