It should reflect the vote of my state; it should represent the vote of my constituency ... it shouldn't be because you're a fund-raiser or a big-shot. Super delegates should reflect their state or constituency.
- Bill Richardson
February 17, 2008
New York Times
Now , the very next month the man has flip-flopped. The governor now apparently fancies himself a party big-shot, who as a super delegate can turn his back on his constituency, the people of New Mexico, and anoint the next nominee; who can go back on his word because he wants to. Because, while it was a by a very thin margin, Clinton won New Mexico. Words, they can mean so much, and they can also come back to haunt you.
3 comments:
Richardson is being such an opportunist here. I really think he has flip-flopped in order to get in good with Obama to be his running mate. This longtime Clinton ally has consistently been linked to be running mate for Clinton. But now, he probably sees Obama as the favorite due Clinton's uphill battle, and wants to get in good with Obama to be his VP. So he goes back on his word from a month ago in the spirit of political opportunism and selfishness, to further his own aspirations.
I don't see what the fuss is about here. There are 12 superdelegates in NM and 6 of them (half) have pledged their support for Clinton, only 2, including Richardson, have pledged their support for Obama. That seems to be reflecting the state's voting pattern to me. Less Superdelegates are pledged to Obama, just like he got less votes. This is a silly argument that holds no water. Richardson has not done anything wrong or hypocritical, maybe he is being an opportunist, but not in the way you say he is.
What makes him hypocritical is the FACT that in February, only one month ago, Richardson said that super delegates - who, by the way, are assigned by state or congressional district- should cast their convention votes according to how his or her constituency voted in the primary.
His point being: that is the way to keep the super delegates from deciding the nominee. In other words, if the super delegates vote as their constituency, then the voters would be deciding, not the super delegates. A good point in February, and still a good point.
As governor, Richardson's constituency is the entire State of New Mexico. His constituency voted for Hillary Clinton. His endorsement of Obama, while his right under the rules, remains hypocritical.
And, you are right, he is also an opportunist.
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