Huge Endorsement for Obama
Sure, it would have been nice to have before Texas. But in many ways, there couldn't have been a better time for Governor Bill Richardson to endorse Barack Obama.
Here's Richardson's official statement of support:
During the last year, I have shared with you my vision and hopes for this nation as we look to repair the damage of the last seven years. And you have shared your support, your ideas and your encouragement to my campaign. We have been through a lot together and that is why I wanted to tell you that, after careful and thoughtful deliberation, I have made a decision to endorse Barack Obama for President.
We are blessed to have two great American leaders and great Democrats running for President. My affection and admiration for Hillary Clinton and President Bill Clinton will never waver. It is time, however, for Democrats to stop fighting amongst ourselves and to prepare for the tough fight we will face against John McCain in the fall. The 1990s were a decade of peace and prosperity because of the competent and enlightened leadership of the Clinton administration, but it is now time for a new generation of leadership to lead America forward. Barack Obama will be a historic and a great President, who can bring us the change we so desperately need by bringing us together as a nation here at home and with our allies abroad.Earlier this week, Senator Barack Obama gave an historic speech. that addressed the issue of race with the eloquence, sincerity, and optimism we have come to expect of him. He inspired us by reminding us of the awesome potential residing in our own responsibility. He asked us to rise above our racially divided past, and to seize the opportunity to carry forward the work of many patriots of all races, who struggled and died to bring us together.
As a Hispanic, I was particularly touched by his words. I have been troubled by the demonization of immigrants -- specifically Hispanics -- by too many in this country. Hate crimes against Hispanics are rising as a direct result and now, in tough economic times, people look for scapegoats and I fear that people will continue to exploit our racial differences -- and place blame on others not like them. We all know the real culprit -- the disastrous economic policies of the Bush administration!
Senator Obama has started a discussion in this country long overdue and rejects the politics of pitting race against race. He understands clearly that only by bringing people together, only by bridging our differences can we all succeed together as Americans.
His words are those of a courageous, thoughtful and inspiring leader, who understands that a house divided against itself cannot stand. And, after nearly eight years of George W. Bush, we desperately need such a leader.
To reverse the disastrous policies of the last seven years, rebuild our economy, address the housing and mortgage crisis, bring our troops home from Iraq and restore America's international standing, we need a president who can bring us together as a nation so we can confront our urgent challenges at home and abroad.
During the past year, I got to know Senator Obama as we campaigned against each other for the Presidency, and I felt a kinship with him because we both grew up between words, in a sense, living both abroad and here in America. In part because of these experiences, Barack and I share a deep sense of our nation's special responsibilities in the world.
So, once again, thank you for all you have done for me and my campaign. I wanted to make sure you understood my reasons for my endorsement of Senator Obama. I know that you, no matter what your choice, will do so with the best interests of this nation, in your heart.
Sincerely,
Bill Richardson
Richardson and Obama will campaign tomorrow in Oregon. It could be a sneak preview of the future Democratic ticket. Richardson, after all, has an incredible resume to go along with his natural leadership and charisma. He could also turn out the Hispanic vote, a weak spot for Obama in this campaign.
In any case, Richardson's endorsement comes at just the right moment and will hopefully open up the floodgates for other significant superdelegates (Gore, Edwards, Pelosi, etc). As Richardson pointed out, it's time to stop the infighting and turn the focus on McCain and the Republicans.
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Gosh, if Kennedy's endorsement did little, this one is - at best- too little, too late. I'm guessing that it was an attempt at a diving save for a campaign going completely down the tubes, by baiting him with a VP spot. Why else would RIchardson go out on a limb at this time, and despite his statement that superdelegates should follow their state's will?
Bill Richardson would be a great choice and probably my 2nd pick. Chris Dodd would be the first. He said early on he would consider the VP spot and he has extensive foreign policy experience. He's been in the Senate 26 years and the House 6 years before that. He definitely would help the experience argument.
Hardly what i would call a Huge endorsement
more like mediocre at best
After "the Speech", I'd hoped that some of the superdelegates would realize that Obama's going to weather such temporary storms and be the only capable of being consistently "presidential" in vision and demeanor. While I'm disappointed at the smallmindednessof many people who think that a couple of snippets of over-top-oratory by a candidate's former pastor in a sermon somehow reflects Obama's own thinking (which of course it doesn't), I think Richardson's timing does reflect this thought process. While I think that he's hoped to wait to see if he could avoid having to take sides, he's enough of a leader to see the damage to the party if this vitriol goes on much longer.
And for those who complain about "disloyalty", that's garbage. The problem with many superdelegates' decisions so far is that -- rather than taking the role they're supposed to and making the best decision for the party and country -- they've made entirely personal decisions and supported a candidate solely because they "owe" her because her husband appeared at a fundraiser. Good on ya, Bill!
Agreed. Go Obama!
Senator Obama has started a discussion in this country long overdue and rejects the politics of pitting race against race.
What Obama has instilled in me that black people are angry and they talk about us whites behind our backs. I guess this is that typical white behavoir he was talking about. Now i feel like a racist because i wear a hillary pin. My friends come in all shapes, colors and sizes I do not need Obama to try to instill his racism on me or my friends.
I am open for a dialogue on race!! but not one that is initiated by a politian mid-way through his campaign that happens to be slipping in the polls.
Richardson sure threaded that political needle. Will it stop the bleeding?
McCain has had a 10 point turn around since the great speech.
Hillary probably could have avoided this coming out now if he hadn't started peddling the issue to superdelegates, and followed Huckabee's advice instead:
Ironically, former Republican candidate Mike Huckabee had more class, saying, of the controversy: "As easy as it is for those of us who are white, to look back and say "That's a terrible statement!"...I grew up in a very segregated south. And I think that you have to cut some slack -- and I'm gonna be probably the only Conservative in America who's gonna say something like this, but I'm just tellin' you -- we've gotta cut some slack to people who grew up being called names, being told "you have to sit in the balcony when you go to the movie. You have to go to the back door to go into the restaurant. And you can't sit out there with everyone else. There's a separate waiting room in the doctor's office. Here's where you sit on the bus...""
Huckabee also added, "Decency is an underrated virtue in American politics. Not just ethically, but politically, too. If Hillary Clinton had walked in front of the press and forcefully denounced their constant coverage of Wright, noting that all of them had heard Obama lay out his political opinions in exquisite detail for a year now, and they knew better, how much stronger a political position she'd be in right now. The good cop doesn't only play good cop because he's a nice guy. It also helps elicit a confession."
Can we say VP Bill Richardson?
I'm not exactly surprised but still disappointed. This is one of the longest drawn out back stabbings in American political history. You can hear BR talking to Obama just before the Texas Primary...
Now, Barack? You need these wavering Hispanics. Say the word.
No Bill, not yet.
Are you sure Barack?
Yes, Bill, I'm sure.
And then, earlier this week with his poll numbers tanking Obama gets Richardson on the 'phone.
Hey Bill, what's shaking?
Oh, Hi Barack. How're they hanging?
Uh, listen Bill, I think now's the time if we're ever going to do this thing.
What? You think now? But Barack,.. you know that creepy pastor of yours...
Got to run, Bill. See you on the news.
But Barack...
(Dial tone)
haha!!!!!! I hope it wasn't recorded (gulp)
I liked Bill Richardson long before he was a candidate for president of the United States. He is a man of honor and moral integrity. He will help Barack greatly, and help bring this nation together once again. Thank you Bill.
Bill Richardson will be remembered as one of the Democrats who sipped the Kool Aid and took us down the road to defeat in 2008.
All this stuff coming out about Senator Obama is going to kill us in the fall (but of course the Ultra left Obama supporters will blame Hillary rather than themselves and they're flawed inexperienced candidate) The great shame is that this tape didn't emerge before Iowa. If it did he never would have been the Democratic nominee and we might stand a good chance of winning in November.
Thanks for the slap in the face Bill to the other half of the Democratic party that wants to win and hasn't sipped the kool aid...yet...
As someone who had Obama AND Clinton at the bottom of my list of candidates, I would like to know why you say that Obama has a worse chance of winning the election than does Clinton. Especially after her badly run campaign and outright support of the enemy, Small Mac.
It seems to me that Clinton AND Small Mac are the same, stand for the same things, and represent the same old political ugliness.
If you can tell me why you think Clinton stands a better chance of being elected, I will listen. To me THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE is electing a Dem in order to save SCOTUS.
Keep pushing this Hillary and McCain are the same to people they just my buy it. and come noveber if Hillary is not there , those supporter just might buy into your BS and vote McCain
Here is what will really kill us in the fall if Hillary is nominated, and no one is talking about it at all:
Here's an update on the Peter Paul vs. Clintons lawsuit:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=56868
Trial in October 2008, wouldn't that be convenient for McCain?
This is significant because, other than Al Gore, Richardson is the highest profile Democrat with close ties to the Clintons. More than any other of the candidates that ran for the nomination, Richardson knows the Clintons. He worked for the Clinton Administration. As recently as February, he was partying with Bill. If anyone knows the Clintons better or has closer ties to the Clintons and still supports Hillary for President they should speak up. Otherwise, it might be time for Hillary supporters to take a cue from one of the Clintons most prominent friends.
"Huge endorsement"? You have to be kidding. Yeah, what a profile in courage. Why didn't he just wait until the evening before the general election?
Their won't be a huge shift in the polls with this endorsement. I think most Hispanics still go for Hillary but I think that it will be a huge endorsement come November, especially with the fact that the Republicans are going to toss the kitchen sink at this guy, and worse knowing David Axelrod's ability to bury bones deep, the right wing and the press will dig for the skeletons and find some more facts about Senator Obama that will do mega damage in the fall....
God help us if the Dremocrats don't win in November...
(Who are the "Dremocrats"?)
Thats the real issue. How could Obama and his campaign SIT on this wright story. what if it came out in October this would have been a democratic suicide. I blame Obama and his campaign members for trying to commit sabotage within the democratic community
OBAMA IS A LIAR AND A SNEAK
While I would have preferred he endorse before the primary of a state with a large Latino population, like Texas, I actually think the timing is still very significant and valuable. Because in wake of all the Wright BS, a spineless politician would have waited to see how it all sifts out. Instead, Richardson is affirming that Obama's remarkable speech on race demonstrates his singular capacity for leadership and he is also expressing his confidence in Obama's electability. It helps shift the momentum narrative of the horse race obsessed media. In other words, it's a good thing.
Way to go Bill!
I can I shall I am Obama08
Keep up the great work, sloganeer!
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