I was drawn to support Bill Clinton when Nightline read his letter to the draft board

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-- In that letter I found the conviction I was looking for in Clinton which, for me, defined him as thoughtful, early opponent of the Vietnam war. Others saw it as an opportunistic attempt to position himself for some future political career, but I accepted that as a possibility and was still taken by the depth of concern expressed and the conviction he was trying to show to the draft board. I liked the organizing he did behind protests in England; I liked his visit to Moscow; his Rhodes scholarship and his return to serve his impoverished state; I liked his work with the citizens in the Delta.

John Kerry's candidacy provided the same type of insight into his character when the full story of his service in Vietnam and his veteran's protest against it was laid bare. Some saw it as a reflection of duplicity or anti-Americanism. I accepted what was revealed for what Kerry intended to convey with his eloquent words and actions. I think his congressional hearing as a Winter Soldier was nothing short of amazing; the fact of his continuing comradeship with his former shipmates was impressive; his commitment and effectiveness as a Senator was testament to his dedication to public service.

This campaign, it was Bill Richardson whose character was revealed in his commitment to public service and through the mapping out of his record and accomplishments. He has an extensive resume which includes that extra touch which I think indicates his dogged devotion to causes he believes in and the confidence to take risks for peace and security.

We all recognize the failures of Bush in managing our foreign affairs, which have occurred, in part, because, before he ascended to office, he lacked any reasonable history or experience with issues and concerns outside of the U.S., save border issues with Texas and Mexico. Bush was forced to appoint and rely on conservatives in his party who not only came with experience, but with their own agendas. Their counsel was ready-made for Bush's blank slate. No one can imagine that more than a fraction of the initiatives and proposals which have come from the Bush White House have originated with Bush himself. America has been subjected to the surrogate crafting and direction of our foreign policy, conceived and executed by unelected zealots who feed Bush's hunger for power and conquest around the world and at home.

I believe that our next president should have demonstrated a dedication to some cause or endeavor with a commitment which is self-evident and pervasive throughout their life and career. I also believe that experience in managing foreign affairs is going to be essential for a leader who intends to reconcile all of the failures of Bush and the remedies which are pending.

Along with that experience, there should be some demonstrated ability to work with and provide effective leadership as part of or as head of a legislature. In that effort, I believe that results count. Noble struggles against insurmountable odds are admirable, but there is no satisfying substitute for actual accomplishments.

In Bill Richardson, I've found many of these characteristics that I consider requisite in my candidate. That moment of revelation about the character of Bill Richardson came from the accounts of his commitment over the years to resolving issues and concerns of the GLBT community in his state and beyond. From his early, maverick stance against "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" as congressman, to his championing of domestic partner legislation to the point where republicans in his state are complaining this very week about being called back into session to move the stalled bill he crafted and managed back into passage in the House by leaning on legislators until after 3:00 in the morning. "It's all about the gays!" one republican NM senator complained.

In this one session alone, Gov. Richardson was successful in passing an increase in his state's minimum wage, indexed to inflation; signed the strongest protection in nation against Oil and Gas Drilling, giving landowners more power to hold the industry accountable for the use and abuse of their property; achieved landmark legislation setting the goal in his state of reducing oil imports by 40% and replacing liquid fuels with biofuels by 2025; and, notably, muscled through his legislature a measure legalizing medical marijuana for critically ill patients in NM, declaring, "So what if it's risky? It's the right thing to do."

"I have done here in New Mexico," he said, "what I can do as president."

Richardson has also proposed creating a cabinet position for water issues if he becomes president, and another cabinet role for Indian affairs (During the 103rd Congress, Bill Richardson chaired the Subcommittee on Native American Affairs)

I drew together this bio which lays it all out much better than I can. I hope you'll give it a read:

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Bill Richardson was a Congressman for 7 terms, from 1983-97, served as UN Ambassador from 1997-98 and was US Secretary of Energy under Bill Clinton from 1998-01.

He has a BA in Political Science from Tufts University in 1970; MA in International Relations from Tufts University's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in 1971.

After graduation, Richardson worked for the State Department on congressional relations, then completed a 3-year stint during 1971 to 1978 as an aide to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He moved to Santa Fe in 1978, where he lost his first run for Congress. He won a seat on his second attempt, and served for 14 years.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A6996-2003Sep13?language=printer

In Congress, his avid interest in foreign relations resulted in travel on US business to Nicaragua, Guatemala, Cuba, Peru, Iraq, North Korea, India, Nigeria and the Sudan.

Richardson also played a key role in passing President Clinton's 1993 Deficit Reduction package and the 1994 Crime Bill. In addition to his seat on the Energy and Commerce Committee, Richardson was the second-ranking Democrat on the Select Intelligence Committee and served on the Natural Resources Committee, where he chaired the Native American Affairs Subcommittee which was created in the 103rd Congress.
http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/congress/richardson.html

During his first term in Congress, Richardson won a coveted seat on the Energy and Commerce Committee, which is of particular importance to New Mexico. He balanced his agenda between the interest of environmentalists and important oil, gas, and uranium industries in his state.

In the 101st Congress, Richardson supported a plan to promote the use of non-gasoline cars, parts of which were included in the Clean Air Act re-authorization. As a member of the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee, he has supported expansion of national parks and the designation of wild and scenic rivers.

By the 103rd Congress, Richardson had risen to the position of Chief Deputy Whip and led the fight in the House for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). He wrote articles advocating NAFTA for important national newspapers and encouraged President Clinton to work with Mexico on improving the environmental portions of the agreement in order to gain support for NAFTA in Congress. Richardson also played a key role in passing President Clinton's 1993 Deficit Reduction package and the 1994 Crime Bill. In addition to his seat on the Energy and Commerce Committee, Richardson was the second-ranking Democrat on the Select Intelligence Committee and served on the Natural Resources Committee, where he chaired the Native American Affairs Subcommittee which was created in the 103rd Congress.

In late 1994, Richardson travelled to North Korea to discuss a nuclear agreement. He arrived the same day a U.S. helicopter was shot down by the North Koreans and thereby was thrust into the position of negotiating for the release of two U.S. pilots. After five days of tense talks, Richardson left North Korea with the remains of one pilot and a promise that the surviving pilot would be released "very soon." He returned home the following week.

Richardson's highly successful, but unexpected, foray into North Korea was actually his third high profile foreign affairs experience in 1994. In July, he laid the groundwork for a peaceful resolution to the growing Haitian crisis when he held a five and a half hour meeting with Haitian leader General Raoul Cedras in Haiti. In February, Richardson travelled to Burma to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel laureate, and leader of the persecuted democracy movement, and then convinced military leaders to open talks about her release. Richardson was the first non-family member allowed to visit the dissident in her more than five years under house arrest. http://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/congress/richardson.html

In other high-level diplomatic negotiations around the globe, Richardson says he often sensed that, across the table, "they liked the fact that I was a minority and that I could relate to another culture,” he says. "It gave me an advantage because they thought, ‘He's an American, but he's got other cultures and we think he's able to relate better to us.'”

But he stresses that he is an American first, albeit one who cherishes his Hispanic heritage. "I don't want to be known as a professional Hispanic, that everything I do is because I'm Hispanic or I only serve Hispanics,” says Richardson, who says he dreams in English but reverts to dreaming in Spanish after periodic vacations in Mexico. "I serve a broad constituency: Native Americans, Anglos, Hispanics, progressives, Republicans. I don't compromise my values, but I never liked to highlight my Hispanic-ness.”

Twice monthly, he holds an open house where he spends five minutes with any constituent who asks.

When he's not working, he loves to ride horses and attend boxing matches and University of New Mexico basketball games. He ends his days in his study, watching ESPN and enjoying a Dominican Republic cigar.

"I like simple things,” he says. "I'm not terribly sophisticated, although I've been fortunate to travel a lot. I feel that I can relate to people, and that my best years are ahead.” http://www.americanprofile.com/article/18988.html




Governor Bill Richardson on his horse, Sundance, riding outside of Santa Fe, in beautiful Northern New Mexico. (http://www.nmdemocrats.org/ht/d/Gallery/album_id/245467/pos/245469)

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1. Nice post - I admire early and dedicated service, as well, and wish that aspect

of a person's character would stay with them even after they become part of the powerstructure they originally sought to change.

Real change comes from CONFRONTING and exposing the corruption that is the driving force of almost every other issue.

When lawmakers show they are dedicated to an open government that deals with corruption in a way that respects the citizens' right to know, THEN they will have my admiration and devoted service to their governing agenda.

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2. I hope these candidates demonstrate that they've shown the conviction

to confront and expose that corruption

[Viva_La_Revolution]

3. I've been impressed by everything I've heard about him

He would make a very good president.

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4. I'd like to hear much more

. . . though, I never get enough

[w4rma]

5. Where does he stand on 'free' trade? (nt)

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6. All I have on trade is his past unabashed support of free trade internationally and NAFTA

this recent account:

On the pending free trade agreements with Peru and Colombia, Richardson said, "I'm a free trader. But I think free trade agreements have to have stronger enforcements in three areas: wage disparity, worker protection and environmental protection." He said he would only support the pending trade deals if they contain stronger enforcement provisions in those areas.
http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/newsroom/oppenheimer_richardsons_resume_is_impressive


I suspect he knows that he'll face a barrage of criticism from the party on his championing of NAFTA, but it was a logical extension of his own independent support for free trade, overall, in the U.S. and around the globe. I expect Richardson to highlight the efforts he was making to obtain environmental commitments and worker protections included in the agreement. I don't expect that will mollify critics of 'free trade', but I do expect him to make a substantive case in defense of his stance and actions as the campaign progresses. Not much recent discussion of this, although I haven't noticed a flip-flop where he's renouncing the NAFTA support, rather, there's a fleshing out of his concern for the side agreements which Democratic supporters expected to serve as enforcement mechanisms to mitigate the economic and environmental downside of the legislation, which he freely owns up to.


here's a more recent account from the 20th:

"We need to strengthen energy cooperation in the region while we foster democracy and fair trade. To do so, we must promote equitable trade agreements with nations that protect worker's rights and uphold labor laws."

http://blogs.scripps.com/albq/richardson/2007/03/more_daily_chatter_richardsons.html

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9. Wow, that's his current stance? I wholehartedly oppose him in the primary.

He says nothing about trade deals that have already been passed. It's not even on his radar.

No way can I support him. He's at the bottom of my list right above Hillary and Credit Card Biden.

Thank you for the accurate non-obfuscated information!

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10. no problem, w4rma

He's not going to appeal to ANYONE who has spent their time opposing the trade agreements. I suspect he's mentioned them, but not in opposition.

Still, I think it's a mistake to disregard his fight and concern for the mitigation of the negative effects, which he's acknowledged more than once have occurred since his initial support. In my view, if Bush had exercised the authority given under the legislation he could have better managed the impact. Everyone knew there would be job loss, but when it started hemorrhaging, Bush looked the other way. I don't believe a president Gore would have stood still, and I don't believe Bill Richardson, as president will stand still either.

I think he's yet to be heard out on this and deserves a chance to defend his support today, a step away from the early promises. I do know that he's worked to mitigate the effects he cited on the citizens of New Mexico, and that's significant to me. It's also significant that his perspective was one of a border congressman intimately involved with these issues in his state, and later as Governor.

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7. I like Richardson a lot

but I do not like his past support of Nafta. I haven't seen any new news about it, and would certainly love to see him change his tune.

Some DUers feel he didn't do enough for the 2004 NM election problems, but since then he has done a lot more for secure elections than most governors.

Santa Fe, NM - Governor Bill Richardson yesterday signed a bill making New Mexico the fourteenth state to require voter-verified paper ballots (VVPBs) for its voting systems. As amended and passed, New Mexico Senate Bill 678 also requires audits to compare a portion of paper ballots with electronic vote tallies.
http://www.verifiedvoting.org/article.php?id=5697

My point being, he has come around on some issues.

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8. he's going to be his best spokesperson on these issues

I always expect the candidate to do the heavy lifting in the campaign.