Denver Post tells Obama to pick Bill Richardson for VP

Talk about getting the jump on the competition.

The Democrats have not yet convened their national convention in Denver. Barack Obama has not yet officially picked his vice presidential running mate. And most Americans are on vacation, are about to be or wish they still were.

But the Denver Post is already endorsing Bill Richardson for vice president. Even without an official presidential running mate.

In a recent editorial headlined "Go West, Obama: Richardson as VP," the paper says:

"The first test of a vice president is whether he or she is qualified to serve in the top job should the occasion arise. Richardson clearly leads all other Democratic contenders by that standard. His outstanding record makes him an ideal partner for Obama, not only on the campaign trail but at the vital job of shaping America's future."

It runs through Richardson's resume (which, come to think of it, is embarrassingly longer than Obama's) -- ambassador at the United Nations, 14 years in the House, Secretary of Energy, two terms as a pro-business chief executive of New Mexico -- and says he would be a strong voice inside the Beltway for the West and its unique concerns.

The editorial does not mention what is perhaps the most important political factor arguing for Richardson: his well-timed abandonment of any links to Hillary or Bill Clinton, who gave him most of those substantial jobs, and his hearty endorsement of the freshman Illinois senator last spring.

Strangely, and for perhaps the first time in U.S. history, the newspaper lists as an important attribute for a potential American vice president: "He's one of the few Americans actually welcomed in North Korea."

Say what?

The newspaper says Richardson clearly would do the most of any possible No. 2 to carry the Democratic ticket to victory Nov. 4. Never mind the slap in the face it would be to the still-simmering Clinton camp and its supporters.

So it's settled then -- at least at the site of the Democratic National Convention.

-- Andrew Malcolm

Photo credit: Alex Brandon / Associated Press

Comments

[Tom Turkey]

So it's gov. Judas then...A real kick in the teeth for the Clintons as Obama asserts his strong desire to befriend
Kim Jong Ill, Judas's favorite Asian homme d"etat,who just like Obama and Amadinejahd rank among the planet's
top celebritys. The axis of far left lunacy is born.

[Viva Richardson]

Looking at the photo you cant help noticing Richardsons
skin is darker than Barack's....wich might be the best clue
explaining this oddest of choices. James Carville in a rare
moment of sanity had associated the governor with Judas the Iscariot.....Obama will have to keep this silver
loving guy on a very tight leach and insist he take mega
doses of immodium to keep his accute verbal diahrea in check.

[Obama's roulette wheel fling]

The proletarian masses will not look kindly at this latest
provocation and Frank Marshall Davis has got to be agitating in his coffin.As remarked by an earlier poster
Obama does look white besides Richardson , but that can
hardly account for such a miserable choice. Could a bossy wife have prevailed over this inexperienced and
impulsive junior senator?

[lea]

Richardson is the BEST choice for Obama VP. He, like Obama, believes in change, honesty, diplomacy and clean campaigns .... unlike that "old white haired dude". So what are all of you talking about shades of skin color?
The question is "who is really ready to lead" - not who's skin lighter, browner, yellower or whiter. We might as well vote for hair color.... mine happens to be naturally red, and I have freckles too.

And what about the color of the white house? Maybe Paris's choice of pink could be debated instead of the real issues of improving the disastrous economic situation of the country, or the ending disastrous war in Iraq.

Wake up America! This is the 21st Century. We need 21st Century leadership - not 19th or 20th. - if we expect things to improve.

Barack Obama can do it, and Bill Richardson could be a big help in achieving their common goals for the country.

[Mike Chase]

Unfortunately, the Denver Post is not a major national paper, but it has the right information and analysis. Thanks LA Times for increasing the apparent approval of this choice. Bill Richardson has a great track record. That he is another "minority" candidate is even better from an international standard. Perhaps our country is loosing some of its centuries old prejudices and actually joining the modern world.

As to the comments on skin color, perhaps with modern cosmetic technology both candidates could arrange to be striped by the same artist that will paint the white house pink for my new favorite celebrity Paris Hilton. Lets get behind the two B's Barrack and Bill

[Janet Mann]

Are 4 tickets available for the speech at Invesco Field at Mile High?

[Bob Taylor]

There is talk in today's news that Hillary Clinton may put her name up for vote at the convention. If that happens it would be only right for Bill Richardson to do the same, to split the non-Obama vote. Obama's people vote for Obama, others have a choice. Of course, there is the possibility that the delegates may vote for Bill Richardson. That would make my day. Woohoo!

[James Conroy]

Obama needs to send Richardson immediately to Georgia, both as an observer and to provide credibility for the Democrats. Richardson intimately knows the area and the key players, after representing Clinton there in the late 1990's. We are now getting mostly "dead air" from Bush people and mainstream media regarding this imminent world wide crisis, eventhough Russia is bombing the BTC pipeline that is a major supplier of energy to Europe. As usual, "its all about the oil (and gas)" This will be Bush's "Bay of Pigs" test of leadership. Let's hope he does not blink before Putin does.

[saintsubversive]

The Denver Post may not exactly be a powerhouse national newspaper, but due to the fact that the convention is going to be held there in a few weeks, it probably has a little more sway this time than usual (the fact that this story is being reported in the LA Times and other papers that ARE national powerhouses indicates the importance of this endorsement).

And they made a GREAT choice, Bill Richardson deserved to be the Presidential nominee, but he's too moderate in his ideology to please the left wing of the Democratic party. However, that same "problem" will be a benefit when it comes to attracting independents (like me) and moderate Republicans. He is the best running mate possible, and Obama knows it.

OBAMA / RICHARDSON in 2008!

[clarinetmama]

I was a Richardson supporter from the start and was very disappointed he didn't do better in the primaries. He has the best resume, especially in the area of foreign policy. Our standing in the world is horrible thanks to the current administration. The situation in Georgia isn't one we can blindly jump into; what this requires is clear-headed diplomacy. I hate to think what Bush and his cronies are going to get us into next. This election can't happen soon enough for me.
Two men of color can't screw this up any worse than a bunch of white guys and Condaleeza Rice.

[ConsiderChange]

How convenient now since John Edwards is out of the picture (the information about his infidelity was known as early as 2007--and I wonder if David Axelrod had a bit to do with the amount of information that's being disseminated now!), the focus can be on Bill Richardson as the choice candidate for Obama's VP; well, at least until the Democratic Convention has their respective roll call and delegate count. I was for Richardson, Clinton or Edwards during the primaries. Once the media selected their focal candidates, Senators Clinton and Obama, I knew that it the primary was going to be a bit biased. If Richardson is selected as Obama's VP, Senator Obama will get a "Yes Man", at least more so than Hillary Clinton. I still am not a fan of Obama, however I couldn't stomach another Republican, even as "maverick" as McCain would be. I think this is why the DNC and MSM are shoving this down our throats as if it is the only choice left for Americans who are tired of Bush's games.

So, though I'd rather have Clinton on the ticket as VP, Bill Richardson would be OK (as long as Obama and his ego can stand being both intellectually and politically challenged-- that would be absolutely wonderful to see!!). Otherwise, "Yes Men" are quite BORING.

[KeepDChange]

I really wish it was Clinton-Richardson (or Richardson-Clinton-LOL!). Here's why:

"Who Exactly is Obama? When will folks really look at Senator Obama?"

1.) Selma Got Me Born - NOT EXACTLY, your parents felt safe enough to have you in 1961 - Selma had no effect on your birth, as Selma was in 1965.

2.) Father Was A Goat Herder - NOT EXACTLY, he was a privileged, well educated youth, who went on to work with the Kenyan Government.

3.) Father Was A Proud Freedom Fighter - NOT EXACTLY, he was part of one of the most corrupt and violent governments Kenya has ever had.

4.) My Family Has Strong Ties To African Freedom - NOT EXACTLY, your cousin Raila Odinga has created mass violence in attempting to overturn a legitimate election in 2007, in Kenya. It is the first widespread violence in decades. The current government is pro-American but Odinga wants to overthrow it and establish Muslim Sharia law. Your half-brother, Abongo Obama, is Odinga's follower. You interrupted your New Hampshire campaigning to speak to Odinga on the phone. Obama's cousin Odinga in Kenya ran for president and tried to get Sharia muslim law in place there.

5.) My Grandmother Has Always Been A Christian - NOT EXACTLY, she does her daily Salat prayers at 5 am according to her own interviews. Not to mention, Christianity wouldn't allow her to have been one of 14 wives to 1 man.

6.) My Name is African Swahili - NOT EXACTLY, your name is Arabic and 'Baraka' (from which Barack came) means 'blessed' in that language. Hussein is also Arabic and so is Obama. Barack Hussein Obama is not half black. If elected, he would be the first Arab-American President, not the first black President. Barack Hussein Obama is 50% Caucasian from his mother's side and 43.75% Arabic and 6.25% African Negro from his father's side. While Barack Hussein Obama's father was from Kenya, his father's family was mainly Arabs.. Barack Hussein Obama's father was only 12.5% African Negro and 87.5% Arab (his father's birth certificate even states he's Arab, not African Negro).

7.) I Never Practiced Islam - NOT EXACTLY, you practiced it daily at school, where you were registered as a Muslim and kept that faith for 31 years, until your wife made you change, so you could run for office.

8.) My School In Indonesia Was Christian - NOT EXACTLY, you were registered as Muslim there and got in trouble in Koranic Studies for making faces (check your own book). Kristoff from the New York Times a year ago: Mr. Obama recalled the opening lines of the Arabic call to prayer, reciting them with a first-rate accent. In a remark that seemed delightfully uncalculated (it'll give Alabama voters heart attacks), Mr. Obama described the call to prayer as "one of the prettiest sounds on Earth at sunset."

9.) I Was Fluent In Indonesian - NOT EXACTLY, not one teacher says you could speak the language.

10.) Because I Lived In Indonesia, I Have More Foreign Experience - NOT EXACTLY, you were there from the ages of 6 to 10, and couldn't even speak the language.

11.) I Am Stronger On Foreign Affairs - NOT EXACTLY, except for Africa (surprise) and the Middle East (bigger surprise), you have never been anywhere else on the planet and thus have NO experience with our closest allies.

12.) I Blame My Early Drug Use On Ethnic Confusion - NOT EXACTLY, you were quite content in high school to be Barry Obama, no mention of Kenya and no mention of struggle to identify - your classmates said you were just fine.

13.) An Ebony Article Moved Me To Run For Office - NOT EXACTLY, Ebony has yet to find the article you mention in your book.

14.) A Life Magazine Article Changed My Outlook On Life - NOT EXACTLY, Life has yet to find the article you mention in your book.

15.) I Won't Run On A National Ticket In '08 - NOT EXACTLY, here you are, despite saying, live on TV, that you would not have enough experience by then, and you are all about having experience first.

16.) Voting "Present" is Common In Illinois Senate - NOT EXACTLY, they are common for YOU, but not many others have 130 NO VOTES.

17.) Oops, I Misvoted - NOT EXACTLY, only when caught by church groups and Democrats, did you beg to change your "misvote."

18.) I Was A Professor Of Law - NOT EXACTLY, you were a senior lecturer ON LEAVE.

19.) I Was A Constitutional Lawyer - NOT EXACTLY, you were a senior lecturer ON LEAVE.

20.) Without Me, There Would Be No Ethics Bill - NOT EXACTLY, you didn't write it, introduce it, change it, or create it.

21.) The Ethics Bill Was Hard To Pass - NOT EXACTLY, it took just 14 days from start to finish.

22.) I Wrote A Tough Nuclear Bill - NOT EXACTLY, your bill was rejected by your own party for its pandering and lack of all regulation - mainly because of your Nuclear donor, Exelon, from which David Axelrod came.

23.) I Have Released My State Records - NOT EXACTLY, as of March, 2008, state bills you sponsored or voted for have yet to be released, exposing the special interests pork hidden within.

24.) I Took On The Asbestos Altgeld Gardens Mess - NOT EXACTLY, you were part of a large group of people who remedied Altgeld Gardens. You failed to mention anyone else but yourself, in your books.

25.) My Economics Bill Will Help America - NOT EXACTLY, your 111 economic policies were just combined into a proposal which lost 99-0, and even YOU voted against your own bill.

26.) I Have Been A Bold Leader In Illinois - NOT EXACTLY, even your own supporters claim to have not seen BOLD action on your part.

27.) I Passed 26 Of My Own Bills In One Year - NOT EXACTLY, they were not YOUR bills, but rather handed to you, after their creation by a fellow Senator, to assist you in a future bid for higher office.

28.) No One on my campaign contacted Canada about NAFTA - NOT EXACTLY, the Candian Government issued the names and a memo of the conversation your campaign had with them.

29.) I Am Tough On Terrorism - NOT EXACTLY, you missed the Iran Resolution vote on terrorism and your good friend Ali Abunimah supports the destruction off Israel.

30.) I Want All Votes To Count - NOT EXACTLY, you said let the delegates decide.

31.) I Want Americans To Decide - NOT EXACTLY, you prefer caucuses that limit the vote, confuse the voters, force a public vote, and only operate during small windows of time.

32.) I passed 900 Bills in the State Senate - NOT EXACTLY, you passed 26, most of which you didn't write yourself.

33.) I Believe In Fairness, Not Tactics - NOT EXACTLY, you used tactics to eliminate Alice Palmer from running against you.

34.) I Don't Take PAC Money - NOT EXACTLY NOW, but you took loads of it (current Time issue on who are the 'major players' as well as McCain's "crew".

35.) I don't Have Lobbysists - NOT EXACTLY, you have over 47 lobbyists, and counting.

36.) My Campaign Had Nothing To Do With The 1984 Ad - NOT EXACTLY, your own campaign worker made the ad on his Apple in one afternoon.

37.) I Have Always Been Against Iraq - NOT EXACTLY, you weren't in office to vote against it AND you have voted to fund it every single time.

38.) I Have Always Supported Universal Health Care - NOT EXACTLY, your plan leaves us all to pay for the 15,000,000 who don't have to buy it.

39.) I would like you to believe that the "certificate of live birth" which is posted on my official campaign website in the "fight the smears" section is a real birth certificate - NOT EXACTLY, the so-called "certificate of live birth" you posted appears to be a forgery according to graphics experts who have carefully analyzed it. Additionally, it has no visible seal, no signature and the certificate number has been redacted. So there alone on its face, it’s invalid. The U.S. Constitution requires that the President of the United States be a natural born citizen and we have yet to see your real birth certificate. And you continue to stonewall the release of an authenticated copy. What are you hiding?"

[Jenny]

Oh yeah, pick Richardson, so McCain can win. Bill Richardson, the guy who makes dirty backdoor deals, with corporations and foreign governments, who has a reputation for grabbing women, who reduced the economy in his state to that of a third world country, who tells Americans that it's safe to travel to Mexico when Americans are being slaughtered there, and who believes we should have open borders. No thanks.

Hell, I'd vote for McCain if Richardson, or Hillary Clinton are on the ticket, and I'm not joking. If we're going to have a pro-corporate, outsourcing, pro-illegal alien democratic ticket, we might as well punish the democrats by electing a republican. Maybe they'll smarten up next time.