Bill Richardson speaks (and yes, he almost endorsed Hillary Clinton)

New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson -- who, if James Carville has his way, will be a long time shedding the moniker "Judas" because he decided to back Barack Obama in the Democratic presidential race -- has dished back in an exclusive Los Angeles Times interview.

Speaking over a breakfast of eggs and green chiles earlier this week at the governor's mansion in Santa Fe, Richardson revealed he came thisclose to endorsing Hillary Clinton before hesitating. (In its reaction, the Clinton camp -- not only Carville, but Bill Clinton as well -- has signaled it thought the deal was sealed.)

But Richardson, in his interview with Times reporter Mark Z. Barabak, said he stopped short because he grew upset over the nasty tone of the presidential campaign and increasingly heavy-handed pressure from the Clinton camp.

He concedes that before endorsing Obama, he wrestled with the question of loyalty to the ex-president, who named him U.N. ambassador and then put him in his Cabinet. But, Richardson said, he finally concluded that he had done his part and had settled his debt.

"I was loyal," Richardson said. "But I don't think that loyalty is transferable to his wife. You don't transfer loyalty to a dynasty."

And no, Richardson added, there has been no talk with Obama about the second spot on the presidential ticket, or of any other job in a prospective Obama administration.

"I never say never in politics, but I'm not pining for it," he said.

The full story can be read here.

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[Figgins]

HRC says she will put 100,000 cops on the street. Wait, haven't we heard this before?

Probably need 100k more cops to collect the insurance premiums for HillaryCare.

[bodo]

Bill Clinton put a lot of pressure on the Superdelegates by telephoning them personally and calling in old IOUs. Many caved in early which gave Hillary a lead in Superdelegates. The uncommitted ones who have resisted Bill's pressure are therefore unlikely to vote for Hillary. Of course, they are allowed to change their mind. Richardson did.

[vote4thebest]

Richardson should just keep quiet and go away. The more he talks, the more it shows that he is indeed a 'judas'. His words mean nothing now. Lewis is another one who has ruined the value of his word when he switched his public support from Clinton to Obama. Lewis forgets about the numerous things the Clinton has done to help him and the Blacks. Both bite the hands that feed them.

[Andrew]

I suspect he was hoping for the VP spot from Hillary and when he figured they were stringing him along and not going to actually going to give it to him - he went to Obama who he figured was more likely to offer it, or they may have even promised him it.

[BP of Maine]

The Clintons and Carville are the exact ties and strings that have broken Washington and exactly what Obama wants to fix!! How many more IOU's and assumed loyalties do you think the Clinton's have outstanding? To many I suspect....Let's have Hope!!!!

[Moses]

A true Judda is one who does anything just to get elected.

why are the clintons dying to go back in the white house?

who did they make promises to?

what about conflict of interest, given that one of the couple was already president?

[Millie Burt]

No, I am not a Clinton supporter and will note vote for her in the Nov. elections if she is on the ticket. But I do believe that Richardson is a traitor and not loyal. Before I was hoping Richardson got the Democratic nomination but now I am relieved he did not. A person like this is untrustworthy and if President, why would you believe him and trust him.
t

[bonimba]

Sounds like vote4thebest is upset because it did not go the Clinton way. What's puzzling is that there seems to be confusion about who's running. Richardson and Lewis owe nothing to Hillary, and Bill is not running, or is he ...?

In any case, Hillary will be gone in 10 days. Good riddance ...

[Judge]

Gov. Bill Richardson has shown himself to be an honorable man, unlike Bill or Hillary Clinton.

Obviously, the Clinton's never deserved this good man's support.

Anyone that would call this man a judas, is a political pawn of the Clintons fear machine.

"vote4thebest" - I'm sure you were crying when you wrote that above - you and the clinton whiners are a perfect match!

Losers will support a loser. Winners will not. Bye bye Hillary & Bill Clinton.

[johnsilverstone]

BR, now you have had your say...goodbye!

[Unci]

The nerve of the Clintons who demand votes from people. Slavery is over and my vote is mine to give. I liked what one blog said, If Richardson is supposed to be Judas does that make Bill Clinton Jesus?? Well Bill is certainly NO Jesus. I too was a Clinton supporter, but after all their dirty tricks and underhandedness I switched to Obama, I don't want any more of this for my Country. We have had enough of lies and attitudes of entitlement or payoffs. And, if need be, my vote will be for McCain rather than Billary

[Scottilla]

When an endorsement is an opinion about what or who is best for the country, it means something. When it is political payback, it means less than nothing. Way to go Bill Richardson!

[Jose Arribas]

Any respect I had for Judas Richardson is now gone. Shut the hell up. Everytime he opens his fat mouth, he sinks further and further down the shite drain he's created for himself.

[marnie]

"Lewis forgets about the numerous things the Clinton has done to help him." Sounds rather ominous. LOL... All that talk of "loyalty" makes it sound like somehow Richardson had kissed Clinton's ring and is not paying the favor he "owes" the Clintons now that the family is calling upon him. What is this the Godfather - part IV? Funny as it may sound , there is a little bit of this going on here, isn't it? The Clintons are a family, a tight-knit family that will sacrifice all for the success and the security of its members. As Bill Clinton says, "I worked my whole life, I don't apologize, to take care of my family� That's my life." Or...er...wait, It was actually Vito Corleones who said that. I sometimes get them mixed up. No matters, the point is the same. It's all about family and family business. One of The Godfather's greatest achievements is the way the film manages to reduce its explosive violence into normal business practices and its gangsters to bourgeois businessmen. And, hey, "It's business. It's not personal," you know. If I were Bill Richardson, I'd make sure to keep an eye over my shoulder. I don't know, when senator Clinton's donors "warned" Pelosi recently about the comment she had made about superdelegates endorsement, I thought things started to sound rather ominous, already, back then.

[N.E. BodybutHillary]

Anybody intent on building a dynasty needs to be kept far away from the white house. Richardson finally saw through the facade to the ugly power crazed disciples of Bill the omnipotent. A thousand years shall they reign and a thousand years shall you honor his glory. Oops, someone just nipped it in the bud.

[Evelyn]

He almost endorsed but didn't because of phone calls and a tv ad? Please. He should just stay out of the press for awhile. The more he speaks on this subject the more he seems guilty of betraying his friends.

[radiocboy]

The Clintons can't have it both ways. They want superdelegates to go against the wishes of the electorate, they want already committed Obama-supporters to switch loyalties, but they don't want that freedom for anyone else. Bill Richardson got it right. No one "owes" the Clintons anything. We certainly don't owe them our vote--or the presidency.

www.cafepress.com/wetnoodle

[powerDD]

vote4thebest should just keep quiet and go away. the more he talks the more he looks like a moron but even worse a bloomin RACIST!!!

[ShameOnObama_AndHisSupporters]

Whatever... Richardson--and everyone else who endorsed/supported oBLAHma--will ultimately have to live with themselves, knowing that they supported a racist, hate-filled, anti-American person for president. Let's just hope that these endorsements don't translate into a win for Obama in the general election. Heaven forbid that Obama should end up the Democratic nominee, I--and every other Democrat I know who has VIABLE brain cells in their heads--will be voting for McCain.

[Petra Meyer]

Richardson certainly wasn't loyal to the voters of his own state, New Mexico, who voted for Hillary Clinton.

I'm definitely not impressed with Richardson any more.

I think the label, "Judas", fits.

--Broxie

[johngotts]

The Clintons are bullies who seem to think that by damaging people in the press, in this case calling names at a man who could have handed Obama Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. As I see it the Clintons used him until they didn't need him, he saw this and went to the Obama camp.

Chalk up more dirty Clinton tricks to Whitewater, Travelgate, Foster's murder, hidden documents appearing AFTER statute of limitations is up, Lewinski, Rev. Wright at Bill's prayer meeting the day Lewinski blew up in the press, the lying under oath in a sexual harassment lawsuit, the impeachment, now lies about the Irish peace process, Africa, being a soccer player as a girl in jr. high, Bosnia and even her daughter backed her on that one.

At what point do American's wake up and stop allowing the Clintons to fool the few all the time?

Are American's really as dumb as the Clinton's hope?

[JR]

Stabbing the Clintons in the back is what he calls LOYAL. As they say, you don't need enemies when you have friends like Richardson around.

[cb]

Judas needs to go home and shave. He looks like he's going through men-o-pause!! He's got the "Just for Men" look and he doesn't wear it well. Got a new sports car? Your story's old.....like you!! Go home!!

[abodar]

100,000 cops on the street to collect health insurance premiums? Interesting comment, considering that the best and brightest in the health care policy field acknowledge that a universal mandate is the only way to bring costs down without cutting back coverage. Yes, that means EVERBODY must pay into the pool in order for EVERYBODY to have health insurance. Duh. If ya don't like it, pay out of pocket next time you go to the emergency room.

[Why Richards Why]

I still think Richards is a sell out. I can't believe anyone would endorse Obama after hearing some of the anti-American sermons that spew from his church pulpit.