MSNBC Breaking Richardson to withdraw as Commerce secretary

[Dennis Donovan]

Source: MSNBC

New Mexico governor cites pending investigation of business dealing

NBC News
updated 18 minutes ago

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, tapped in December by President-elect Barack Obama to serve as secretary of Commerce, has withdrawn his name for the position, citing a pending investigation into a company that has done business with his state.

"Let me say unequivocally that I and my Administration have acted properly in all matters and that this investigation will bear out that fact," he said Sunday in a report by NBC News' Andrea Mitchell. "But I have concluded that the ongoing investigation also would have forced an untenable delay in the confirmation process."

He said he plans to continue in his role as governor. "I appreciate the confidence President-elect Obama has shown in me, and value our friendship and working partnership. I told him that I am eager to serve in the future in any way he deems useful. And like all Americans, I pray for his success and the success of our beloved country."

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28493919

[babylonsister]

1. Ruh roh. Not good.

Some pundit predicted problems for him down the pike; I guess they were right. :(

[Autumn]

6. It's good that he

is withdrawing. Obama does not need the association. He has too much to do without the distraction of an investigation on Richardson. Oops meant to reply to original OP.

[VeraAgnes]

15. Realize this:

The republicans are Termites and will be relentless in their mission of destroying out Powerful, Democratic foundation. It will never stop.

[Autumn]

61. You have got that

right. It's their main mission ,and they will have plenty of help.

[Name removed]

36. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Demeter]

84. On the Other Hand, NM Gets to Keep Him

and once this issue is resolved, he's ready for the second wave of the Cabinet.

Obama will have to cycle through to get willing and able Cabinet members. I expect a lot of turnover in 4 years.

[davidinalameda]

87. hopefully he'll resign as governor as well

he can't pull a Blago

it will look horrible

[Autumn]

99. Well a lot of people that I

know in NM (family and friends) don't want him. They have had enough of him since the 2004 elections.

[totodeinhere]

2. This is just a guess, but perhaps he withdrew so that he could become Obama's special Mideast envoy....

[Dennis Donovan]

5. No, unfortunately, it's for some sort of potential scandal...

[onehandle]

8. If that was true, then Obama would look foolish. Not that the withdrawal will do otherwise.

Sounds like the vetting missed something. Or he's ill.

[MADem]

60. No way. You don't cite a SCANDAL brewing as justification for leaving, and expect to take another

job.

You do, though, cite a conflict of interest, or a scandal, to cover up a BIGGER scandal, sometimes. A little business conflict isn't anything compared to a sex scandal. Or maybe he just didn't want the crappy job with a Depression looming. Everyone would point the finger of "poor COMMERCE" at him.

Spending more time with family isn't believable in this instance, since he's had plenty of time to do that lately. And you don't do that before you've even started work!!

I'll bet he's looking back over his decisions during the past four years or so, in any event, and doing a lot of regretting.

[Ken Burch]

103. He maybe wants to spend more time with OTHER PEOPLE's familes?

makes as much sense as anything else.

[MADem]

108. Who knows?

Another member provided a few cites as to the issues he's facing, it sure "sounds" bad.

Then again, if it starts out by sounding bad, and then ends up being nothing...well, while everyone is looking one way, he could be taking care of business and persuading someone to hush up over the other way.

He'll get the spotlight for a while longer until Obama picks a new victim, er, cabinet official, for the Sacrificial Lamb, er, Commerce slot!

I sure wouldn't want it...they may as well rename it "Whipping Boy."

[onehandle]

3. Whoa. nt

[Redneck Socialist]

4. Crap. n/t

[Uzybone]

7. Sucks. But better now than later.

[cliffordu]

9. Some days I sooooo hate politics.

Dammit.

[alcibiades_mystery]

10. Big deal

I mean really. Who cares?

[Dennis Donovan]

11. So why respond to the thread?

I'll never understand why some would take the time to repsond to anything with "who cares.":eyes:

[tclambert]

22. Perhaps he is especially passionate in his apathy.

[happygoluckytoyou]

31. NAH... i dont care even more than he doesnt care, and i didnt post a comment

[alcibiades_mystery]

27. Who cares = "This is unimportant"

That's my position, and it's a legitimate one, especially given the embarrassing hyperventilating about this non-event on this thread. Cheers.

[Rage for Order]

67. If it was a non-event, Richardson wouldn't have withdrawn

The fact that the pending investigation will take longer then a month (the amount of time before the confirmation process would begin, which is the reason Richardson gave for withdrawing, i.e. not wanting to cause a "untenable delay" in the process) to be completed speaks volumes. It doesn't take over a month to investigate an open-and-shut case, guilty or innocent.

Both Obama and Richardson see this as quite the opposite of an unimportant non-event, in direct contradiction to your astute poliical anaysis.

[AlbertCat]

71. It doesn't take over a month to investigate an open-and-shut case, guilty or innocent.

What planet are you from? 'Cause things are often different here on Earth.

[AlbertCat]

69. Agreed

Maybe he's backing out because Clinton is after him!

Maybe because he has a looming sex scandal!!!

Maybe he's a reptilian alien who must return to his home planet or die!!!!!!!!

Or MAYBE it's WHAT HE SAID IT WAS! An investigation (not accusation) that will hinder his being confirmed in a timely manor.

Sheesh!

[HughMoran]

13. You are on "Democratic Underground" which is a "political" website

Perhaps you thought you were posting in the lounge or something.

[alcibiades_mystery]

28. No, I knew quite well where I was posting

It was on the thread where a bunch ofg panic mongers were making a big deal out of nothing, and I thought I'd tell them so.

Salud.

[rhett o rick]

41. Leave the "panic mongers" alone. nm

[HughMoran]

50. But when you reply to the O/P as such, it seems like you are dissing posting of political content

See what I mean?

...as in, it's not clear what you are objecting to.

[alcibiades_mystery]

89. Ay yay yay

Zat clear?

[HughMoran]

100. ...as mud

punk :P

[ElsewheresDaughter]

14. Huh?

[alcibiades_mystery]

29. The whaaa?

:shrug:

[Tangerine LaBamba]

33. Obviously, you do.

I mean, here you are, making an empty comment, yet yearning to be recognized.

Well, rest easy. I acknowledge you.

Take a bow, and this little gem is dedicated to you:

[alcibiades_mystery]

47. I care that people think this is important

You NAILED me!

:eyes:

[acmavm]

34. AUGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH! We'd all better care. But if Richardson

comes out of this clean, then I say its time to start throwing mud in the other direction BIG TIME. Stop this shit now. No more hissy pissy republican fits and tantrums. No investigations du jour.

Crap. What next?

[MADem]

62. Anyone who considers political cabinet appointments important. Anyone who understands that

COMMERCE is a bigger job this time around, because the ECONOMY sucks.

You don't have to care, though. No one's forcing you.

[cal04]

12. New Mexico governor cites pending investigation of business dealings

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28493919/

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, tapped in December by President-elect Barack Obama to serve as secretary of Commerce, has withdrawn his name for the position, citing a pending investigation into a company that has done business with his state.

"Let me say unequivocally that I and my Administration have acted properly in all matters and that this investigation will bear out that fact," he said Sunday in a report by NBC News' Andrea Mitchell. "But I have concluded that the ongoing investigation also would have forced an untenable delay in the confirmation process."

He said he plans to continue in his role as governor. "I appreciate the confidence President-elect Obama has shown in me, and value our friendship and working partnership. I told him that I am eager to serve in the future in any way he deems useful. And like all Americans, I pray for his success and the success of our beloved country."

(snip)
"Governor Richardson is an outstanding public servant and would have brought to the job of Commerce Secretary and our economic team great insights accumulated through an extraordinary career in federal and state office," Obama said.

[MADem]

65. Ruh-roh. Why didn't the vetting process CATCH this?

A company donates Big Money to BR. A company gets a billion dollar contract.

I mean, really. Or is this just so friken common no one really notices anymore?


A federal grand jury is investigating how a California company that contributed to Richardson's political activities won a New Mexico state contract worth more than $1 billion. Richardson said in a statement issued by the Obama transition office that the investigation could take weeks or months but expressed confidence it will show he and his administration acted properly.



I mean, come ON. Didn't anyone bother to bounce State Contracts Awarded While Richardson Was Governor against Political Donations to the Richardson Governor/Presidential Campaign Warchest?

And why are so many Democrats under investigation of late? I'm not liking all these investigations--there are way too many of them, of late.

[Garbo 2004]

78. The company's been under investigation for years, first IRS then more recently FBI in NM.

Aug 2008 article about the FBI investigation of the New Mexico CDR contract: http://www.abqjournal.com/news/state/apcontract08-30-08.htm

I recall reading about the investigation previously and was surprised Richardson was nominated since this issue was pending and publicly known and had potential to become problematic in future.

[MADem]

83. Wow. Now, that IS curious. If it was out there, yet wasn't viewed as a problem,

something must have CHANGED between then and now. Someone in the company is singing? Someone's got audio or video tape?

Or maybe, my first thesis is the real one--throw a fake "easily resolved" scandal out there, so people ignore the real scandal while it get managed and swept under the rug.

If there's a paramour, or worse, a baby-mama out there somewhere, this could get juicy.

It's not all that farfetched. Look at EDWARDS, after all. Who knew? Except the bozos on the bus, and the plane, who called themselves reporters but didn't have the stones to say a WORD while the guy was gearing up to run and was running!

That's just...somethin'!!!

[Garbo 2004]

86. What's changed is in December it became public that a grand jury was involved and questioning

witnesses.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aL0GGUluJeT8&refer=worldwide
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/15/AR2008121502940.html?wprss=rss_politics

Whether there's anything else on Richardson's plate is another matter. But this would have seemed problematic enough IMO.

[MADem]

92. Good lord!!!

But YOU knew about it...so why didn't Obama's vetting crew? Or why didn't they care? Was Richardson just a place-holder, or they were hoping it would blow over...or, is there another scandal brewing?

This opening paragraph just reeks, too. You say "And this guy is gonna be running COMMERCE?" when you read it. If it were a Republican in the same boat, there'd be excoriation par excellence!

Dec. 15 (Bloomberg) -- A federal grand jury is investigating how a company that advised Jefferson County, Alabama, on bond deals that threaten to cause the biggest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history, did similar work in New Mexico after making contributions to Governor Bill Richardson’s political action committees.

[Garbo 2004]

101. That's why I was scratching my head when R was nominated. I had just happened to read about

the investigation in my usual 'innertubes' surfing before the nom. With due diligence I don't see how the transition team would not have seen a potential problem if they wanted to avoid even the potential appearance of impropriety. Even if Richardson had assured them there was no "there" there.

Maybe they thought nothing would come of it, but in December with a NM grand jury investigation on the case and the Blago thing also in the news... :shrug:

[Still Sensible]

16. There must be something else

going on here. Based on first reports, I don't see enough here to justify Richardson backing away like this. An obscure investigation with Richardson confident his administration has done nothing wrong doesn't rise to that level. I guess we'll see if there is a "rest of the story."

[Doctor_J]

17. It's in his statement

Repukes will use the repuke-instigated investigation to drag out his confirmation for years.

[janx]

19. My question:

Who got this ball rolling? Who initiated this investigation and when?

[haele]

43. My folks living in Albuquerque say that the Republican machine in

New Mexico is salivating at the chance to make a tempest in a teapot. Whether or not there's really anything wrong or if it was the way "business as usual" runs in New Mexico (which at it's most honest borders on appearance of ethics impropriety - the Natural Gas, Oil and Mining interests apparently run both parties in the state and have for a long time), it would be time wasting and would impact Richardson's ability to do his job.
Also, Dad indicates there's restructuring noises in the party machines on both sides and he figures Richardson wants to be a part of that.

Haele

[Strathos]

93. If we know the fuckin' republicans are trying to fuck everything up

Why not just cut them off at the pass?

There has to be some sort of preemptive strike we can make against them to shut them up or expose them.


The democrats are gonna have to start playing as dirty as the republicans to ever get rid of them.

[tclambert]

26. It does seem strange considering Palin ran for VP with an ethics investigation going on

Richardson cited the confirmation process, though. Maybe he had feedback from the Senate that the committee intended to roast him.

A few hiccups in the staffing process should be expected. You may recall Clinton had TWO designated appointees withdraw due to nanny problems.

[MidwestTransplant]

30. I think Obama is trying to REALLY avoid those types of problems.

and he expects his people to be pretty squeaky clean.

[saracat]

53. Really? Then why wasn't richardson better vetted? Seriously many of us knew he

couldn't pass the vetting process and we don't have clearnace! He is a likable guy with a few problems and they are well known.

[aquart]

66. A New Mexican posted here around primary time or just after...

when we were speculating Richardson for Veep...no idea who it was...but said he was surprised Richardson even ran for president since there was so much deep dirt on him about to come out in NM. But he never said what the dirt was, so when Richardson was picked for commerce, I just figured there was nothing to it.

[glowing]

18. AND why oh why is Andrea Mitchel always breaking these stories?

I don't trust a damn thing Mrs. Greenspan has to say at all.

[Doctor_J]

21. Probably because her husband is one of the biggest crooks

of the last 30 years. So who better to report on criminal investigations?

[pjt7]

109. It's nice & reassuring that Mrs.Federal Reserve

is MSNBC's leading newsbreaker

[ooglymoogly]

23. ditto nt

[cstanleytech]

20. Oh well, to bad about this.

[Poll_Blind]

24. Damn, I really liked Richardson! Hope he finds another place in the administration.

PB

[Liberal_in_LA]

25. Yikes! I hope the investigation doesn't get too messy. I'm glad richardson wasn't picked at the

Prez candidate or VP candidate!

[sce56]

32. Is this another DOJ setup of a Democrat?

At least we don't have pictures of hookers and or audio of bribe phone calls here!
Of course the GOP knows about Hookers and Blow




Even after John McCain announced that the RNC convention was being toned down due to Hurricane Gustav, the National Rifle Association, Lockheed Martin, and the American Trucking Associations sponsored a Sunday night party at a downtown bar -- with a band called "Hookers and Blow" -- hosted by former Tom DeLay aide Glenn LeMunyon.

[Bette Noir]

35. It'll breadk my heart, if Richardson turns out to be durty.

He was my choice for State.

[AlbertCat]

73. Forget durty....I just hope he's not dirty!

[rustydad]

37. Commerse=Economics=Depression

Obama has named his economic team, and it is the same ol same ol. He will not have a clue as the US enters It's next Great Depression, one that it will never shed. Richardson wants none of that and I can't blame him. Bob

[deaniac21]

38. Payback from the Clintons.

[McCamy Taylor]

52. Huh? This is from the Bush DOJ. It is just like Don Siegelman.

[deaniac21]

107. The Clinton MO is to drop little tidbits of information where they

are needed to destroy political enemys. Long history of this. Everytime another Democrat would challenge him in Arkansas, Bingo, investigation.

[lanlady]

39. Good. Richardson was a disgrace as Energy Secretary under Clinton

Remember the Wen Ho Lee fiasco? What a disaster. I never understood why Obama thought Richardson would be any better at Commerce.

[PatSeg]

46. I agree

I'm just glad Obama didn't pick Richardson for VP or SOS. Personally, I don't find anything about Richardson to be exceptional and I think his appointment was gratitude for his support of Obama.

I don't know if Richardson is guilty, but I really wasn't surprised when I heard the news.

[madville]

40. Who in their right mind would want to be Commerce Secretary anyway

Commerce as we know it is about to tank big time. I wouldn't want to step into this mess and then be held responsible for mistakes made over the last 3 decades. It's gonna take years, maybe decades to fix the collapse we are about to experience, who would want their head on the block when it happens.

[ImOnlySleeping]

91. well

Someone that wanted to help despite the political cost. You know, a decent person.

[AtomicKitten]

42. I suppose it's better to withdraw now than provide the Rs ammo in a confirmation hearing. nt

[lamp_shade]

45. I agree. Something like this would have turned his confirmation into a circus.

I admire him for doing the "adult" thing.

[AtomicKitten]

58. I can only imagine how disappointing this must be for him.

Still I agree that he's giving Obama a gift by withdrawing.

[choie]

44. Jesus H. Christ

Isn't there ANY politician who is not steeped in corruption? I am so damn sick of this crap!!

[Wednesdays]

68. You got the goods on Obama, I take it?

:shrug:

[marshall]

70. Let he who is without sin....

I can't believe James Carville--there have to be some who aren't scandal prone.

[Control-Z]

104. Not when everything is a scandal

to at least someone. Especially when so many seem to want and are looking for one. Edwards' haircut was a scandal longer than the fucked up way he treated Elizabeth (not that I think that should have ever been made public.)

Everyone has something, if just by association or accident. If we look hard enough I supposed we can take anyone down.

[closeupready]

48. I'm fine with this. I didn't much like Richardson anyway, so

it works for me.

[jamesinca]

49. Sen. Snowe for Commerce

Shows bi-partisanship, takes out a Republican in the Senate, and allows her to avoid a minority party that can only obstruct at this point and is already looking to lose a few more seats in 2010. She can retire with dignity and grace after the economy tanks with her as commerce sect.

[NCDem60]

59. NO, NO, NO!!!

Snowe will be the potential 60th Senate vote in any filibuster situation.

[Abq_Sarah]

94. Maine's Governor is a Democrat

He'd most likely appoint another democrat to her seat.

[McCamy Taylor]

51. Don Siegelman all over again.

[Festivito]

56. We know it's not just limited to Don Siegleman.

We need a special prosecutor set up just for the corrupt Republican federal prosecutors.

[EFerrari]

57. The Bush DoJ is a sewer.

[NashVegas]

74. It's the Democratic Governor Disease

I'd love to know how thick is the folder on my governor, Bredesen.

[newspeak]

54. how interesting what's coming out now

*'s alleged insider trading at a tune of approximately $848,000 couldn't be bothered with--even though he was warned by the SEC that selling could be deemed as insider trading--I believe he was seated on his company's auditing board--what was his explanation to the public? His momma-in-law lost money, so everything was up and up-the MSM let it drop. His alleged drug use-refused to answer the question because he didn't want to influence the kiddies--MSM, no problem. His appointments in his administration, besides some having little experience like Brown, all corporate hacks!!!! Where was the MSM on that? From the secretary of labor. anti-labor union busting corporate hack to FEMA, all greedy, self-interest or corporate interest whores--but, now the MSM is making sure O has a "pristine" administration. I am so not impressed!!!! I am not a great fan of Richardson because of the 2004 election chicanery in NM, but this already smells like keeping the next administration ineffectual by the neo-cons with the aid of the MSM. I hope I'm wrong, but nothing will get done--the corporate status quo will remain, if you must continually defend your decisions. The corporate owned MSM chose which scandals are important (and some scandals appear out of thin air). Apparently the MSM weren't interested enough in protecting the American people from (in my opinion) one of the most corrupt administrations-it's all about their corporate interests!!!!

[bvar22]

55. This is really too bad.

Richardson was one of the very few appointments I supported.

Maybe too Liberal for an Obama administration?

[Ken Burch]

63. well, let's get Robert Reich in there, then.

There was no reason to leave him out of the Admin in the first place.

That said, I hope Richardson gets something else in the future, since he's obviously innocent.

[Jennicut]

76. I really like Reich. But too bad about Richardson, I liked him to.

Why most politicians always disappoint us? Sigh. I guess there are bad apples on all sides.

[Ken Burch]

116. Or if not Reich, Jim Hightower.

He'd be the straight-to-the people communicator that could really make Commerce an innovative and useful agency for the first time since the New Deal.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

80. excellent pick

.

[tilsammans]

88. Agree n/t

[nashville_brook]

97. didn't see your post! i totally agree...

great minds think alike, etc...

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

64. Good.

[Generator]

72. Oh that figures

He's the only pick I really liked.

[mchill]

75. There were rumors as far back as 2007 that Richardson had a something in his past

..a friend of mine is friends with a to remain unnamed Secretary of State - he/she told my friend Richardson had something in his past that would trouble his candidacy for President - at the time, that was the rumor at that late 2007 meeting where all of the potential Democratic candidates spoke (DLC?) - an affair was mentioned, but not confirmed. Not sure if an affair, or affairs would effect a Cabinet post....

[Baby Snooks]

77. So who suggested him?

Who suggested him? Or is that just a stupid question? The Clintons seem intent on making sure the Obama administration collapses under the weight of the corruption of those who they made sure were put there hoping no one notices and hoping no one remembers in 2012 when the battle cry will be "If you'd elected Hillary in 2008..."

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

81. Yes, it is a stupid question. The Clintons most assuredly didn't suggest him.

[Autumn]

82. My guess would be Obama

You know PE Obama isn't an idiot who sits back with his head in the sand while other people sandbag him. Maybe Richardson wasn't exactly truthful.

[BlackmanX]

79. There's always ambassador to Venezuala

give the man a challenge

[bitchkitty]

85. :(

No doubt much will be made of this and more attention than it deserves given to it.

[madrchsod]

90. oh crap...this is really bad!

what will in the world happened? a politician actually doing the right thing! ....

bill richardson is a man of honor and responsibility. is it any wonder why he`s trusted by the world leaders he deals with.

gee.. if we had a governor in illinois with bill`s honesty.

[Azlady]

95. I'm personally thrilled he is out -

I have a family member who lives in NM that lost their small mom/pop business because of Richardson and the movie industry he has brought to NM. They were not the only ones, there were 4 small mom/pop businesses that lost their business with just one film shooting a couple of years ago. The movie shut down the street that their businesses were located on, they lost their customers, as the movie took 6 months to film. Several other movies filmed in NM shut the doors on other mom/pops in the line of fire of the film industry. He simply did not care that mom/pop businesses were closing because of the film industry. The big film companies were all that mattered to him. He was not small business friendly in other words, all about big business.

Also, a study just completed shows that the Film Industry is not as good for NM Tax revenue as it should be, the study came out just a few days ago. The study showed New Mexico is only getting 14 cents back in taxes for every dollar that it (State of NM)gives the film industry. (through incentive programs).


With all that said, personally I would have loved to seen Richadson in just about any other position, including sec. of State (nothing at all against Hillary though) just didn't like this position offered to him with his track record of not caring too much about mom/pop businesses, (which makes up 60% of the businesses in this country, or at least pre-Bush).

I hope he comes out on top of this pending investigation.

[nashville_brook]

96. Robert Reich would make a good appointment to this position.

http://www.robertreich.blogspot.com/

[goforit]

98. Yep....Clinton had all to do with this investigation. Obama watch your back.

[BlueStater]

102. Never liked him. Good riddance.

Hopefully they can find someone better now.

[Skittles]

105. self deleting

don't wish to hear from the worshipers

[Rhiannon12866]

106. K&R. Biggest domestic story of the day... *sigh*

If he was qualified to run for president, can this really be that serious? He's sure leaving Obama hung out to dry at the very last minute, in a position he's going to need desperately. And I always liked Bill Richardson... :-(

[pjt7]

110. Face it, the neo-con's still have 2 weeks or so left of power

~ expect them to use every minute ~

[Rhiannon12866]

115. They sure are, aren't they?! :-(

Isn't Obama inheriting enough messes already?! :-(

[burrowowl]

111. Richardson is know rumored to be a

womanizer.

[autorank]

112. imho k*r

Some nihilist Republican decided to really stick it to Obama, probably for no apparent reason.
So they match up contributions with contracts and create a false flag investigation that is
bogus from the start. They know that it will compromise Richardson from the outset and probably
knock him out. Why? Because Richardson is the smartest guy on the block, that's why. He's
invaluable. He can meet with the truly mad leaders (Bush being the exception) and get them to
cooperate. He's a great intellect and a fixer all rolled into one. Taking him out hurts Obama,
seriously, in terms of real help and support.

I'm sure that Richardson will be cleared. I'm kinda sure that he'll find out who did this and
settle things. Then he'll be back as some key player for Obama. He's just to smart and incredibly
capable to lose.

[douglas9]

113. John Edwards, Bill Richardson, and the next will be? n/t

[chatnoir]

114. Got this in my inbox just now

Makes for rather interesting reading

Bill Richardson - Kissinger-American
by Greg Palast

excerpted from Armed Madhouse

January 5, 2009



Bill Richardson is out: Caught with his hand, if not exactly in the cookie jar, at least you could say his sticky finger were near it. I'm not surprised.

For years I've been investigating the second-most corrupt state in the USA (after Alaska). I like to check in on the enchanted state with my bud Santiago Juárez.

I knew it was not a polite question, but it was really bugging me, so I asked him, “Exactly how does a Mexican get the name William Richardson?”

Governor Richardson’s dad, Santiago explained, was a Citibank executive assigned to Mexico City. There he met Governor Bill’s mom, and-milagro!-a Mexican-American was born. Richardson gets big mileage out of his mother’s heritage, and that makes him, legitimately, a Mexican-American, a politically useful designation. But it’s just as legitimate to say that Richardson is a Citibank-American.

But Governor Richardson is more than that. Between leaving Bill Clinton’s cabinet where he was Secretary of Energy and grabbing a Hispanic-district seat in Congress, Richardson became a partner in (Henry) Kissinger and Associates. That would make Richardson a Kissinger-American as well.

More at http://www.gregpalast.com/bill-richardson-kissinger-american/

[Hannah Bell]

117. Not only that: granpa = nicaraguan plantation owner, kids married somoza officials.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Hannah%20Bell/60

Richardson has cousins in some rather important positions in Nic.

I don't like him; he plays up the latino thing to get the votes of poor mexicans - yeah, latino like the king of spain.

His granpa WORKED your guys' grandpas.