Obama Gets Bill Richardson's Endorsement

New Mexico Governor, Former Presidential Candidate Calls Obama A "Once-In-A-Lifetime Leader"

(AP)  Bill Richardson, the nation's only Hispanic governor, threw his support behind Barack Obama for president Friday, delivering one of the most coveted and tightly held endorsements in the race for the Democratic nomination.

The New Mexico governor joined Obama at spirited rally Friday and said the Illinois senator demonstrated his leadership abilities this week with his speech on race. "You are a once-in-a-lifetime leader," the governor said from the stage. "Above all, you will be a president who brings this nation together."

The endorsement kicked off a two-day campaign swing for Obama, who scheduled stops in Salem, Eugene and Medford after the Portland appearance, which drew a crowd that packed the Memorial Coliseum. Supporters grabbed the 12,000 tickets within hours after they were available online and at Portland campaign headquarters.

Richardson dropped his own bid for the nomination in January. His support for Obama comes during a tough period for the senator, the leader in the delegate chase over Hillary Rodham Clinton. Obama has seen his lead in national polls wither as he's grappled with the fallout from divisive remarks by his former pastor.

Richardson was relentlessly courted by both candidates and his support for Obama represents a potential counterweight to Clinton's strength among Hispanic voters.

As a Democratic superdelegate, the governor plays a part in the tight race for nominating votes and could bring other superdelegates to Obama's side. He also had been mentioned as a potential running mate for either candidate.

No primaries are scheduled until Pennsylvania's on April 22, a gap Obama hopes to use for such announcements to assert that he is the front-runner for the nomination. Oregonians begin primary voting in early May, and the ballots are counted May 20.

Richardson backed Obama despite his ties to Clinton and her husband, the former president. Richardson served as ambassador to the U.N. and as secretary of the Energy Department during the Clinton administration. Last month, Richardson and former President Clinton watched the Super Bowl together at the governor's residence in Santa Fe.

Richardson praised Hillary Clinton as a "distinguished leader with vast experience." But the governor said Obama "will be a historic and great president, who can bring us the change we so desperately need by bringing us together as a nation here at home and with our allies abroad."

The Clinton campaign was publicly dismissive of the endorsement, after the New York senator failed to win it for herself.

Citing Clinton's victory in New Mexico in February, senior strategist Mark Penn said, "Perhaps the time when he could have been most effective has long since past."

Richardson was a roving diplomatic troubleshooter when he was a congressman from New Mexico, negotiating the release of U.S. hostages in several countries and meeting with a rogue's gallery of U.S. adversaries, including Saddam Hussein and Fidel Castro.

"There is no doubt in my mind that Barack Obama has the judgment and courage we need in a commander in chief when our nation's security is on the line," Richardson said. "He showed this judgment by opposing the Iraq war from the start, and he has shown it during this campaign by standing up for a new era in American leadership internationally."

Obama said "I can't be more honored" to have Richardson's support.

[hinnis]

The theology that Wright has been teaching Obama and others is called black liberation theology, which is based upon the struggle between the white oppressor vs. the black oppressed. This is why Wright refers to Jesus as black, and his killers as white, so that the story of Jesus fits within this brand of theology. Wright cites James Cone, another black liberation theologist, as his inspiration. Here are just a couple of his quotes: 1.To be Christian is to be one of those whom God has chosen. God has chosen black people. 2.While it is true that blacks do hate whites, black hatred is not racism. 3.All white men are responsible for white oppression. 4.Theologically, Malcolm X was not far wrong when he called the white man the devil. 5.Black theology refuses to accept a God who is not identified totally with the goals of the black community. If God is not for us and against white people, then he is a murderer, and we had better kill him. The task of black theology is to kill Gods who do not belong to the black community %u2026 Black theology will accept only the love of God which participates in the destruction of the white enemy. What we need is the divine love as expressed in Black Power, which is the power of black people to destroy their oppressors here and now by any means at their disposal. Unless God is participating in this holy activity, we must reject his love. ** The teachings of Obama''s "mentor and spiritual adviser" are racist and divisive.

[hinnis]

OBAMA%u2019S NEW PASTOR COMPARES REV. WRIGHT TO JESUS -- CHICAGO %u2014 The new pastor of Barack Obama%u2019s church delivered a defiant defense of its retiring reverend Sunday, comparing media coverage of Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. to a modern-day lynching that resembles Jesus%u2019 death at the hands of the Romans. In a sunrise Easter sermon, Rev. Otis Moss III implied that his mentor, who has delivered sermons in which he likened the U.S. to the Ku Klux Klan and declared it damned for its %u201Cstate-sponsored terrorism,%u201D is facing the same challenges Jesus did.%u201DNo one should start a ministry with lynching, no one should end their ministry with lynching,%u201D Moss said. %u201CThe lynching was national news. The RNN, the Roman News Network, was reporting it and NPR, National Publican Radio had it on the radio. The Jerusalem Post and the Palestine Times all wanted exclusives, they searched out the young ministers, showed up unannounced at their houses, tried to talk with their families, called up their friends, wanted to get a quote on how do you feel about the lynching?%u201D he continued.

[al2008-2009]

Finally, a progressive governor who makes sense.
.
I%u2019m appalled at our own governor%u2019s lack of response to the global warming snow and ice storms we%u2019ve had over the last few weeks. And the global warming tornadoes as well. We have no comprehensive strategy in place whatsoever, let alone a detailed plan of action to mitigate these storms, and mother earth continues to suffer while the governor%u2019s office refuses to go forward and do what%u2019s right for mother earth.
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And I''m appalled at the US administration as well; now look at what is happening, all over the world, such as just this past Easter in England. These global warming snow storms, blizzards, and deep freezes cannot continue for days without number.
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How long must we sit idly by while our mother continues to suffer from the warming taking place at a feverish pace? How long must our mother suffer before we have proper c02 taxes put into place? How long must the destruction of mother earth take place before we finally put responsible plans into action? At least Obama wants to cut c02 pollution by 80%; perhaps he%u2019s our only hope.

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We the people call upon the governor to implement a comprehensive anti global warming strategy at once and work in coordination with state and federal officials; these hazardous conditions and these awful storms continue to worsen and the quicker we stop the warming the sooner we will see these storms decrease. We need action now.

[freedom76a]

I am surprised that Richardson decided to support Obama who sees white people as racists. Saying we are "typical white people" when we see a black person is racist and if a white person had said it, we would have been called just that. Obama''s views on race were shaped by his 20 year relationship with Wright. One cannot escape this level of racial hatred without accepting it and believing it as Obama does. We cannot afford to have a president who sees all people as racists except for the one group whose skin color just happens to match his own. Oh. And Richardson is a judas. Loyal to the Clintons my sweet aunt Sally. After what the Clintons did for him, which ultimately lead him to become a governor, he does this. Judas is right and it is more than coincidence that he received his 30 pieces of silver during Easter.

[barbjc1]

I think Richardson endorsed Obama because the
VP slot was probably discussed. I think Obama wanted John Edwards but he probably told him not in this lifetime.

[roebish]

Whose anymore racist than most of you white folks playing chess, and don''t even go there about strategies? Nonetheless, the reason why the white race is so offended when the black race speaks out.

Because the dirt that their race has done, and continues with, and because they know the DIRT, hide behind the DIRT, and want other cultures to accept the DIRT of this disrespectful, degrading, and mad behavior. Excluding the main idea, and hiding behind the dirt of their ancestors to carry out such madness! One word greed! If most of the white race is not racist, why would there be any reason, for the Jim Crow%u2019s law and the unions that the military had to FORCE the majority white race of equal-ness with all opportunities. Most of them would never be fair without some enforcement. In addition, Boston Massachusetts was the last state to abolish segregation.
I can just imagine what Barrack has faced on Wall Street with the racist is state involvement. You white folks talking about the 20 yrs of Barrack%u2018s involvement with Rev. Wright what about the involvement that most of you white folks try to carry out segregation every chance you think is not evaluated!

[roebish]

The question remains with many people like myself, why did''nt Bill Richardson endorsement Barrack during the time it was most needed? In addition, here are my views regarding the white race,

The white race perception about Mexicans is totally out of control, and worst than the perception whites have of blacks. Mexicans work very hard, but the white race always seems to degraded this race. Nonetheless, %u201Call the good that Mexicans have done and continue to do is always disregarded.%u201D

We as individuals must come together to put an end to this kind of behavior. The white race should be more humble then what they have been. In addition, segregation is a powerful success tool, for the white race only. Look around people, if the truth be told. Mexicans have been devoted to the white race when the white race have no respect for any body,but themselves,and the white race is prospering again; just in the same, as they have done with blacks,during segregation. Segregation is highly running. We see, we hear, and we know your theme. Bill Richardson knows the game of the white''s man theme!Bill better now than ever!

By a "typical" black women!

[popstom1]

Obama the snake look at the guy

[bec67]

With friends like this who need enemies. He looked like a Bourbon St. barker with that outfit on.

[subscriber2-2009]

did missus obama pass out golliwoggs at the hospital?