more 'pay for play' surrounding Obama ?
(snip)"WASHINGTON (AP) - New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson on Sunday announced that he was withdrawing his nomination to be President-elect Barack Obama's commerce secretary amid a grand jury investigation into how some of his political donors won a lucrative state contract.
Richardson's withdrawal was the first disruption of Obama's Cabinet process and the second "pay-to-play" investigation that has touched Obama's transition to the presidency. The president-elect has remained above the fray in both the case of arrested Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and the New Mexico case.
A federal grand jury is investigating how a California company that contributed to Richardson's political activities won a New Mexico transportation contract worth more than $1 million. Richardson said in a statement issued by the Obama transition office that the investigation could take weeks or months but expressed confidence it will show he and his administration acted properly. "(snip)
also, while I haven't yet found a link to the story, there is also an issue raised by local cable news that Hilary Clinton has been linked to a huge 'coincidence' that an upstate NY mall developer made a large contribution to husband Bill's 'library fund' ... and soon after making that contribution, received a huge federal grant assisting the developer's mall project that Hilary was instrumental in pushing through the congress.
Re: more 'pay for play' surrounding Obama ?
Richardson's choice here is a great example of a man putting his nations best interests before his own personal ones.
Re: more 'pay for play' surrounding Obama ?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Lucy in the Sky
Richardson's choice here is a great example of a man putting his nations best interests before his own personal ones.
Then again, maybe he is just guilty and realizes he can't withstand whatever scrutiny he faces. I find that far more likely than him putting the country first. Another possibility is that Richardson has developed some sort of philosophical difference with Obama ( I think Richardson has a history of being a pretty independent thinker ) and feels he can't serve in that administration.
Re: more 'pay for play' surrounding Obama ?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bem401
Then again, maybe he is just guilty and realizes he can't withstand whatever scrutiny he faces. I find that far more likely than him putting the country first.
If you think that must know not alot about the way the man does things. I don't say that to be rude but rather because he is my Governor and so I've witnessed first hand his M.O.
He is an simply fantastic and has done so much for this State and in a very short period of time too. He is beloved here and won re-election by something like 70% of the vote.
Even the rightwing think tank Cato likes him, lol! In the institutes's 2004 "Fiscal Policy Report Card on America's Governors," which measures the governors' cuts in taxes and spending, gave Richardson a "B" grade, singling him out as "one of the best new governors of any party.”
He was actually the most qualified out of all the Dems who ran. He has border State Gov. experience, spent 15 years in Congress, was in a former Pres. administration ( Energy) and has very successful international diplomatic experience too and in that role has negotiated in some pretty heavy duty world issues. But alas he didn't have the name recognition outside of the southwest US. Maybe someday though!
While I'm glad in one way not lose him here I feel kinda bad that he won't be able add what he is capable of for the rest of my fellow Americans.
He is more interested in the well being of all of us out here than he is in any personal glory. It's a rare thing in politics and he is the real deal. Time tested and proven.
I'm sure he will still consult in a less official capacity. At least i hope so anyway!
Re: more 'pay for play' surrounding Obama ?
When this investigation wraps up, I'm sure Richardson will end up in this Administration somewhere down the line, to its and our benefit.