Hillary Clinton gives 'Judas' Richardson a hug or a shrug

It was, if memory and The Ticket's search function serves, back in March that big Bill Richardson, the goateed governor of New Mexico who'd built his impressive resume largely on important assignments for the Clintons, dramatically turned his back on them and endorsed their chief rival, Sen. Barack Obama, for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Former Clinton strategist and outrageous talk-show guest James Carville likened Richardson's well-timed shift in allegiance to a historic act of betrayal that occurred many, many election cycles ago and helped create Easter. Bill Clinton was reportedly livid over Richardson's switcheroo.

Well, today on the very same stage in Espanola, New Mexico, there stood the defeated Democratic senator from New York, Hillary Clinton, dutifully campaigning as promised for Obama. And right there too was Richardson.

Clinton said all the right things all right. She smiled. She waved. She thanked her longtime friend Richardson, albeit simply for "being here today."

But some Clinton supporters may detect a different message in the body language of the aborted hug between Richardson, who started to put both his arms around his former friend, and Hillary Clinton who seemed to pull back.

We're going to call it a pushug, an embrace that looks like a hug for appearance's sake but carries no intimacy or friendship whatsoever.

You can judge for yourself on this local news video here.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Photo (top): Alex Brandon / Associated Press; screen grab: KOAT.com

Comments

[San Diego]

The only thing that matters is what the voters think. Bill Richardson's aggressive words and actions led me to change from being a registered Democrat to an Independent voting for McCain (who has also rethought support of hispanic issues).

[The Holywriter]

This is the first time that Richardson as actually looked hispanic to me. I've always been told that he was, but didn't notice.

[Marie]

Senator Hillary Clinton, without doubt, would be the ultimate and qualified VP surprise. She would be a big-league pick for Obama, and a gesture designed to unify the Democratic Party. She still polls higher against Mccain than Obama even after June. If you scroll down Obama's list of choices, the analysis hasn't really changed: Obama with anyone other than Clinton doesn't seem to add much at all, while an Obama-Clinton "Dream Ticket" would be nearly unstoppable. Eight weeks ago Obama probably felt like he didn't need her. Eight weeks later, he probably needs her more than he's willing to admit, and certainly more than she needs him. If Obama wants to win, and if his ego will allow it, he should pick Clinton.

[Michael - Washington, DC]

Richardson IS a Judas! Living in DC I know people who have worked with both him and BO and am told that the only time those two look down is to see who they are stepping on. I am a Democrat on paper but wil lbe voting for McCain come the general election.

This country needs experience, NOT experiments!

[ladyhawkke]

Richardson is the worst person on earth and truly a Judas. I never did like Richardson because he, along with Barak Obama, supports giving illegal immigrants medical and other benefits that should be going to U.S. citizens. Watch out, America, if Obama is elected, we are going down the tubes fast.

[bmw60]

Can you blame her? Would you have hugged or been friendly with a "JUDAS" like Richardson is?

Be reasonable and quit asking Hillary to continue to "give, give, give.... she has given till it HURTS" . Be human and acknowledge that she was shafted by that turncoat!!!

[soupyet]

If I were Hillary, I would have spit on Richardson and certainly not allowed a hug. Hillary is a much nicer person than I. Nonr of it will matter though as McCain will win since the Super Delegates have so far failed to do their job and nominate the most electable candidate. Richardson is almost done along with many of the Super Dels that endorsed the losing candidate. Where do they stand when McCain wins???????? They certainly will not be hired by Hillary for the 2012 race and will not be getting any new jobs this election cycle or for the 16 years following when Hillary will be President.....She is too smart to hire any more Judas's.....learned her lesson with Patti Doyle.

[Mark]

I remember when people would say that Richardson would attract more hispanics to Obama's ticket if Richardson was the VP choice...that is complete non-sense. Clinton has more pull in the hispanic community than Richardson ever dreamed of.

[CC]

Clinton's pettiness always impresses me. Of course she might still be angry with him because he was the one Bill Clinton asked to give a job to Monica Lewinsky.

He was a good solider for Bill Clinton, he deserved better than this public insult.

[S]

the pushhug - Can you blame her?

[nick]

From what I understand, it was that Richardson had promised repeatedly he would not endorse Obama to them privately and then did, so it's a little more than just turning his back on them, he kept lying to their face.

[tlatexaspuma]

People were there to see Hillary, not him. He knew it. He was riding on her coat tails. I will be happy to endorse, campaign, and pledge money to his opponent in the next election though to get him out of office.

[N.E. BodybutHillary]

STOP THE PRESS!11

Andy has more Hillary Clinton trivia.

[jeleanoro]

Hillary should have accidently/on purpose, slugged him!!!
Oooopsy, are you ok Bill?, I just can't imagine what happened, my hand must have slipped.LOL

She's a classy lady, and he's an idiot, trying too hard to be what he's not!

[freelisa]

Hear Hear Marie. If 'his ego will allow it' is the key phrase. I agree whole heartedly that if his talk about party 'unity' is real, he'll choose Hillary as VP. If he doesn't, I know his talk about party unity is just more BS from an empty suit, and will NOT vote for him. I may/may not vote for McCain, and will certainly vote democrat for every other choice on the ballot, but will not vote for "no experience Obama' as the leader of the free world. I'm still hoping for a convention coup...her selection will prevent that. His decision making process is (and all that entails for this country's future) on the line now. I hope he makes the decision that 18 million women/Hillary supporters want for the good of the country and for party unity.

[Leon A Davis]

I don't frighten easily, but Hillary is one intimidating woman. I might be compelled to shake her hand, but I'd be quivering like a hound dog passing peach pits the whole time. . I certainly would never open a door for her; she'd probably scream at me for being a sexist pig. . As far as actually touching her sacred person and even hugging her, whoa! I don't think so. For example, look at pictures of all her women supporters. I wouldn't hug any of them either. These are a whole lot of plus-sized angry amazons. Kill all the white men! So I'm forced to admit that Governor Richardson is a far braver man than I. The guy has got a pair, that's for sure.

[CW-democrat for McCain]

I hope Richardson loses his supporters when all of this fraud is over in November. Hispanics might note that he was much less Hispanic -looking a year ago. Just as Bobo suddenly had grey in his hair for the Saddleback forum, Richardson seems to have gotten a darker tan than previously. Why? Gender, race, ethnicity, beauty, or orientation should not matter. Character, responsability, intelligence, and patriotism should. The ability to assess people and issues also should be a trait. If Obama has Rezko and Wright, if he voted Present to avoid issues, if he condoned the gender bias of his party, he is not for right-minded voters.

[Lynn]

Why would Hillary ever want Judas to touch her. One thing that Richardson and Obama have in common . . . they both always put their hands on people. Every time I see Obama greeting someone he's always got his hand on their back. What's with this? Didn't anyone ever tell him that it's intrusive to touch people without their explicit consent.

[democrat for the issues]

I wish Hillary's supporters would grow up and act more maturely. Obama won, Hillary did not. He didn't do anything to her...yes, the press wasn't fair, but the press hasn't been fair to him either. Sexism? How about the racism Hillary and Bill kept prodding everyone to consider?
Anyone who would switch to McCain from Hillary can't care very much about the issues of our country. Supreme Court judges, federal judges, healthcare, war, the economy, the little guy...McCain is on the other side. I am a woman over 50. It would be great to see a woman shatter the glass ceiling... but, if Hillary's supporters can't have that, they'd prefer to see another old white guy who isn't even on top of the facts get it over an intelligent andthoughtful guy? Is anyone out there thinking ahead?

[Bogus as a $2 Bill]

Two Bills cheated on Hillary, One for a couple of fellatios
the other for a spot in an administration that will not see
the light of day...thank God. Gov. Judas is such a good fit
with the, Ayers,Hanoi Jane,john Edwards and all the other sleeze bags that form the dems nomenclatura.
Hillary is much too good for such lice.

[Just one of Obama's 30 Judas's]

All the Rezko,Richardson,Fonda,Wright,Edwards,Solis
Doyle and the other compulsive cheats and liars that back
the Cihicago celebrity seem to be emulates of Judas the
Iscariot. All rate under par for patriotism(wich is par for
one out of two democrats ) The other half of the dems is
composed of naive bleeding heart liberals and rabble
rousing misguided ultra-left tree huggers.

[NoClintonNoParty]

I am ashamed of Richardson, that he chose the inexperienced youngster with a Chicago-style-politics background over a lifetime Democrat and health system reformer.

[Alessandro Machi]

Hillary Clinton won more pledged delegates than Barack Obama did in all the primary contests, even when Michigan and Florida are not counted!

The caucus results were so laughably conducted that the vote of about 1.2 million caucus voters overshadowed the will of 31.5 million voters (NOT counting Florida and Michigan) and the will of the superdelegates, who clearly favored Hillary Clinton until the media beat them up for not voting for Barack Obama.

Barack Obama received most of his supedelegates during the final 10 weeks when he was losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by a margin of 53%-47% and also losing the pledged delegate vote as well.

http://www.HILLARY-WINS.com
http://www.CAUCUSCHEATING.com
http://www.FAIR-REFLECTION.com

[democrat for democrats]

Hillary has claimed the popular vote, but what she didn't tell you? In Washington state, we knew our votes counted if we went to the caucus, and that it didn't count to vote in the primary... so we had record turnouts at the caucuses...and I personally don't know anyone who voted in the primary as well(and I know a lot of Hillary supporters. Obama won the caucus vote. Those that wanted Hillary went ahead and voted in the primary. That doesn't mean she won the Washington vote, which she claims. That isn't truthful.

[Kerri]

Senator Clinton is THE class act. The US would truly be UPGRADED to be graced with such a first lady.