Opinion: James Carville’s ‘Judas’ analogy continues to resonate

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How out there was James Carville‘s ‘Judas’ reference to Bill Richardson in reacting to the New Mexico governor’s decision to endorse Barack Obama?

So out there that even Howard Wolfson -- the pugnacious, rarely-known-to-pull-a-punch communications director for Hillary Clinton -- distanced himself from it.

During an appearance on MSNBC’s ‘Morning Joe’ show, Wolfson had this to say about Carville’s comment: ‘It’s not something I would have said.’

After adding that he considers Carville ‘the most brilliant political mind of the last 20 years,’ Wolfson reiterated: ‘It’s not something that I would have said.’

The man in the middle of the flap ...

... wasn’t backing down one iota.

Carville, who usually appears on CNN as an analyst, today was an interviewee, telling Wolf Blizter that his quote ‘had its desired intent’ -- i.e., depicting Richardson as disloyal to the Clinton brand that he once had been so firmly affixed to.

The furor, of course, also had the effect of keeping Richardson front and center -- we doubt that his turn on ‘Fox News Sunday’ and the invites he received today from various cable new shows (culminating tonight with a chat with CNN’s Larry King) -- were based solely on the desire to hear more about why he now backs Obama.

Carville, while unrepentant about dissing Richardson, displayed his distinctive flair in assuring Blitzer that he would have no problem in helping Obama if the Illinois senator triumphed in the prolonged fight for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Referring to his own dome and one of Obama’s top aides, Carville said that ‘Corporal Cueball’ would enlist in ‘Captain [David] Axelrod‘s army’ from ‘Day One.’

For our money, the best sound bite -- among the hundreds -- being offered on Carville’s ‘Judas’ remark came from political strategist Matthew Dowd on ‘Good Morning America.’ Dowd (who, as long as religiously tinged terminology is in vogue, underwent a much-publicized conversion from George Bush loyalist to critic), had this to say:

-- Don Frederick