Bill Richardson fires back at James Carville 'in the gutter'

Democratic strategist James Carville, one of Hillary Clinton's most vocal supporters, made news on Saturday when he accused New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson of "an act of betrayal" by endorsing Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination.

"Mr. Richardson's endorsement came right around the anniversary of the day when Judas sold out for 30 pieces of silver, so I think the timing is appropriate, if ironic," Carville said in an article published in Saturday's New York Times.

Ouch! is the first response. And then, you think, Say what?

In politics, endorsing is a business with behind-the-scenes strategy and personal repercussions. Today, on the third day after, Richardson ...

got his chance to respond as voters pondered the ongoing Democratic dispute. And the governor turned the other cheek, sort of.

"I'm not going to get in the gutter like that," he told "Fox News Sunday" host Chris Wallace -- and then took his own swipe at supporters of the New York senator, who also lost another superdelegate when, as predicted on The Ticket Thursday night and detailed in two items here Friday, the nation's only Hispanic governor signed onto the Obama team for its message of unity.

"And you know, that's typical of many of the people around Sen. Clinton," Richardson said. "They think they have a sense of entitlement to the presidency."

Richardson did acknowledge that he'd gotten a couple of high-profile jobs -- U.N. ambassador and Energy secretary -- in Bill Clinton's administrations. "I am very loyal to the Clintons," he said. "... I served well, and I served the country well, and he gave me that opportunity.

"But you know, Chris, it shouldn't just be Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton. You know, what about the rest of us?"

(And for those of you keeping track of the "Fox News Sunday" Obama Watch, featured here last week: The "24"-style clock, complete with sound effects, was there today. The Illinois senator, once again, wasn't. He was on the beach.)

--Leslie Hoffecker

Comments

[Jorge]

Gratitude is one of the best virtues of honest people. What Bill Richardson did is showing his true colors. Hillary and Bill had been stabbed by two of the races that they have helped to gain a foot on american politics. Bill Clinton has been called the first black president by the same blacks, because he has done more for blacks and hispanics than Obama has done and to show a little of gratitude doesn't hurt, but the lack of gratitude shows another problem in politics today. I'm disappointed with Bill Richardson, because I would had voted for him for being the one of the best candidates, not for being hispanic. This country is supposed to be the best for opportunities, not for racism. I guess I.'m wrong.

[Matt]

This is Hillary Clinton: Whitewater, Travelgate, Monica Lewinsky and impeachment, renting out the Lincoln bedroom, the loss of the Rose Law Firm billing records for nearly 2 years until they were miraculously found in the White House living quarters, removing files from Vince Foster’s office following his suicide and before investigators could get there. Her stalling to release her full tax returns and earmark requests from her time in the Senate, as well as her Clinton library donors. Her apology to the black community (for her friend and supporters racist comments) which came days too late. Her decline to return $170,000 in campaign contributions from individuals at International Profit Associates, or IPA accused of widespread sexual harassment, and whose CEO is a disbarred lawyer with a criminal record. Lets not forget her campaign eventually returned some $850,000 to Hong Kong businessman Norman Hsu who was found to be a fugitive in a 15-year old theft case. He was indicted for fraud related to his campaign contributions in 2007. Her failed inclusion and diplomacy with congress on her universal health care bid. Her flip flop on NAFTA. Her flip flop on Iraq. Her flip flop on Florida and Michigan. Her exaggerated foreign policy experience. Playing the race card better than Republicans could. Clinton photo with Rezko. Clinton photo with Rev Wright. Her failure to get the endorsement of close friend Bill Richardson. Her suggestion that superdelegates vote against the will of the people (this kind of leadership found support in the notion of "false consciousness" that originated in the philosophical writings of Marx and Engels). How long do we have to ride donkeys with our hands tied with hoods over our heads?

[Skylar]

Endorsing Obama is a fairly smart move by Richardson. This will give him a leg-up on the Dem nomination in 2012 against McCain.

[SJP]

It is hard to believe how petty this has become. Neither side is blameless, but the preponderance of blame no doubt rests with the Clinton camp. Obama and his surrogates have literally been forced to respond to Hillary Clinton's assertion that she and McCain are ready to be commander-in-chief, while Obama is not...and, more recently, the very clear implication by Bill Clinton that H. Clinton and McCain are patriots, while Obama is not. Now this asinine comment from Carville, which really does encapsulate the sense of entitlement that pervades the Clinton camp. In continuing to move forward as if they are the chosen ones regardless of the what the voters say, and in making damaging statements about Obama regardless of how they can be used in the likely event that he is the nominee, Clinton and Co. really have put themselves above party and country. It is truly sad to watch.

[BayArea]

Gov. Richardson, way to go! You've said it all with such class and grace. You are so right, what about the rest of us. I say out with the old, in with the new. I love the Clintons too, but enough is enough! Let's move the Country forward in new and refreshing ways.

Let's follow our leader, the next President of the United States of America BARACK OBAMA!!!!

[david c.]

i admire richardson now even more having the guts to say "no thanks" to endorsing clinton, if the clintonista inner circle has this mentality...any respect i had for carville is up in smoke...and i am more certain than ever that, no matter how ruthlessly she pursues it, the presidency will never be hers...she and her coterie are simply despicable...

[LCSusan]

Governor Richardson is a talented, smart, accomplished man but I think his last question says it all:

"But you know, Chris, it shouldn't just be Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton. You know, what about the rest of us?"

He wants to be considered for VP which he wouldn't be on a Clinton tkt and he wants grateful Obama-ites to make donations to pay off his remaining campaign bills.

http://strictlyanecdotal.com

[Jack]

During his endorsement speech, Governor Richardson told a story of an early presidential debate, while he was still running for President.

He said that during these debates he was a minor candidate, and they rarely asked him questions. He was caught day-dreaming when the commentator did ask him a question and he wasn't listening. Senator Obama was standing next to him and immediately sensed that Richardson was in a potentially embarrassing situation. Obama whispered "Katrina", which allowed Governor Richardson to give his opinion about Katrina.

Obama could have said nothing and watched him struggle. Instead, he helped him. It is this sort of character trait that could make Obama a great president. He helped him when he didn't have to, and at a time when they were both still competing for the same office. By contrast, Clinton sees Richardson as a traitor.

[SGV]

"This will give him a leg-up on the Dem nomination in 2012 against McCain."

I don't think McCain will be around that long. The guys is near senility now, where will he be in another 4 years?

[ListAnAccomplishment]

This is Barack Obama: _____________, ____________, ____________________, ______________________, _______________________, _______________________________, ____________________, ______________________, Tony Rezko, Rev. Wright, __________________________________, _________________________, hasn't finished a full term in the Senate, ___________________, ___________________, ______________________, ______________________. Get the Picture?

[tanstaafl]

If Bill Richardson is Judas, James Carville is Lucifer.

I hope this helps.

[Persio]

I am sorry to say but winning the White House isn't a contest to win for king or queen of the prom. Its a job that need to be handled to the most effective and experienced person running. Richardson sounds like an unknown person crying that the winners should be spread around. It doesn't work like that, i rather have a known, experienced and effective person to represent this country than to have an unknown like Obama.

[chris]

This is Barack Obama: Jeremiah (GDAmerica! US of KKK A!) Wright, Tony Rezko, bully supporters that intimidate voters in caucuses, the disenfranchisement of Florida and Michigan.

Barack Obama will never be elected president. You do not have a spiritual advisor whose rhetoric espouses hatred for this great country and think you can walk away with the presidency. Americans aren't stupid. They know when they're being hoodwinked and bamboozled.

[Rita M.]

If Bill Richardson is Judas, that must mean one of the Clintons is Jesus.
What a great reason to be an atheist.

[jeff]

The way Richardson concludes bitterly with, "What about the rest of us?" tells the real story. Jealousy that his own run against Hillary ended so quickly with such poor numbers, when he said all along that he was the MOST qualified based on experience with foreign experience, years in elected government, etc. He is happy to stab Hillary in the back despite the prominence Bill Clinton gave him to achieve his high-profile jobs in the first place, out of bitterness that he was passed over. He and Biden both had good foreign experience and creds, but lacked the 'special thing" that this particular Dem race requires: how does even an Hispanic like Richardson, let alone smart, white guys like Dodd, Biden and Edwards, compete against a biracial and a woman? Since Obama is more the outsider, Richardson's jealousy is obviously more likely to sympathize with him instead.

[Jaxon]

From Hillary basher Matt:
"How long do we have to ride donkeys with our hands tied with hoods over our heads?"

Evidently you can post here if you're under 13 years of age.

[ALEX]

Loyalty? Loyalty? Have the Clintons showed loyalty to their so-called friend, Richardson, when he made an independent choice? The Clintons are bad for America and just plain egoistical. Teddy Kennedy was not labeled a "traitor" when he endorsed Obama; Teddy was just exercising his independent choice that the Clintons are not good for this country - and that Obama is, in fact, a positive change of positive and sounds leadership.

[I_Slay_The_Dragon]

Be sure, first and foremost, because of my work,
I'm devotedly apolitical. Ironically, Religion (or somebodys
version of it) has been of great "use" in this particular
Election Year. And perhaps, with this years' selection
of, uh,uh, Candidates, and their blatant pandering to
Religion, truly, they now reap, what they have sown.
Like so many on both sides of the political spectrum,
Carville and his old-school, back-room dealing, cookie-
cutter lot, need to run-off to one of their big fancy houses
and reflect upon their irrelevence. Judas? The sheer
ignorance of that statement, stands alone.

[Aspasia]

Richardson, I have three words for you: Wen Ho Lee.
You knew full well that he was innocent of espionage, but you kept him in prison -- in solitary! -- for nine months
IN CHAINS! I heard you on TV lying about this affair.

You have lost my trust forever by your crass expediency.

[tim lopez]

What I find interesting about the Democratic primary process is that with time we have seen how fragile the Clinton candidacy is; and we also see how narrow HRC is as a person-she has no depth. I passed the California Bar on the first try - WOW I am better than a Clinton in one regard; I don't sell out my friends - again, I am better than a Clinton in another regard; I don't put down people with ideas - WOW, again, a third thing in which I am better than a Clinton; I really don't think that HRC is ready - she is riding her husband's popularity; and we see, due to the length of the process and the lack of Clinton control of the process, "cracks" in the Clinton armor. Knowing what I know now, I hate the fact that I liked Bill Clinton only because he was on the Arsineo Hall show. I thought he was cool - I feel like such a fool. I wished that I had more exposure to the primary process before. If I knew then what I know now, then I doubt that I would have been so happy to say I support Bill Clinton. Now, HRC will not receive my vote - if she is the Democratic candidate for the presidency, then my family members of voting age (56 of them) will not be voting. Since we don't sell out our friends (the Democratic Party), we just remain quiet. My cousin has a saying: "sometimes when I don't support you vocally, means that I am supporting you the best way I can."

So, to the Democratic Party, just because my family may not vote in the upcoming election does not mean we are not Democrats....we are just sitting this one out if you select HRC.

tim from milwaukee

[frededias]

If it weren't for the juice they get from repeating Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity Republican talking points, the Clintons would have dropped out already.

As if the Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton dynasty wasn't already bad enough, with these campaign tactics the Clintons are purposely showing that they plan to change nothing.

As a Democrat, I would rather see a general election campaign between a Democrat and a Republican, than between two Republicans!

[Lynn]

I think that Richardson did have a deal at the Iowa caucus just as several supporters of Richardson were told. The deal was if either one got more support than the other that the other would get the other's voters. Richardson held off for awhile but since Feb. 1st he's been talking to Obama. I think Richardson and others see a potential to "guide" Obama as president and have more more influence. Clinton wouldn't need them as much or so it is perceived.

[Hugo]

I think the first comment on this piece, by "Jorge," is indicative of how nasty and utterly impoverished this nation's dialogue on Race is. Jorge says the two races most helped by Bill Clinton's administration has turned on him. In fact, if Bill Clinton were running for president, it would be a runaway. Bill Clinton's southern charm and witty soundbites versus Obama's oratory and rhetorical mastery? Talk about a clash of the titans. But I digress.

Bill Clinton isn't running for Prez, it's his wife. They are two different people, in case you haven't noticed. African-Americans are voting overwhelmingly for Obama due to a confluence of factors, not just because he's an black candidate. Clinton still holds an advantage with Hispanic voters.

But above all, this goes to show how nasty the Clinton camp can be when one of their associates declines to support them. Before the campaign got to this point, Clinton's camp blasted David Geffen for hosting a fundraising for Obama, IN ADDITION to holding one for Clinton.

Message to Clinton camp: Stop trying to bully or intimidate people from voting for Obama. He's a real candidate, he's likeable, he's brilliant, and you know what, he's a good man...unlike the people you surround yourself with.

[celested9]

Carville's "Judas" comment is strong and Richardson is right to be offended.

Here's the thing....forget endorsements for now....Michigan and Florida!!!

Lets advertise in those states NOW, tell those people just who is muddying the waters and obstructing the revotes, particularly in Michigan.

How about something on the order of :

Michiganders....don't let your voice or your vote be taken away because of stupid party politics and Obama's selfishness. Write your state representatives AND SENATOR OBAMA saying you wish to have a re vote (it will be paid for). Tell Obama that you will not be there for him in November if he continues to obstruct your revote.

I have no doubt Obama's lawyers will drop many of their objections to re voting.

[Dean]

New Mexico is a back-water state and the worlds capital for trailer parks. Richardson would be nowhere if it were not for the Clintons. I hate the Clintons, but this is one of the biggest backstabs in recent memory.