Richardson: Voters Decide, Not Big Shots

Says Party Superdelegates Should Not Overrule Popular Will Of Voters In Choosing Nominee

(CBS)  To the suggestion that his recent endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama for the Democratic nomination showed personal disloyalty to Sen. Hillary Clinton, Gov. Bill Richardson said that in deciding between love for country and love for the Clintons, he chose his country.

He also criticized the "personal venom" of some Hillary supporters, like James Carville, who criticized Richardson for his announcement of backing Obama, saying they feel a sense of entitlement, "that the presidency is theirs.

"I think loyalty to the nation, loyalty to the party is a lot more important than personal loyalty," Richardson, D-N.M., told Face The Nation host Bob Schieffer. "I owe the Clintons a lot. I served in the president's cabinet. That loyalty is to President Clinton. That doesn't mean that I'm going to for the rest of my life be in lockstep with whatever they do."

To underscore his point, Richardson pointed out, "I ran against Senator Clinton. I was a presidential candidate."

With regard to recent suggestions on how to resolve the tight race between Clinton and Obama, a race that may come down to the party's superdelegates choosing a nominee, Richardson said a meeting of superdelegates (who could convene to make their choice known weeks before the August convention) was an "interesting" idea but should not overrule the choice made by voters.

"What you don't want is for the big shots in the party, the superdelegates, to determine the nominee," he said. "It should be voters. It should be delegates chosen according to proportionality.

"But, maybe, what can happen is some of the major party leaders like Governor Dean and Speaker Pelosi, Al Gore, John Edwards … find ways that superdelegates can have discussions, can have some kind of consensus emerging so that we don't have a bloody convention where we're weakened.”

Also appearing on the program was Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, D., who said discussions about vice-presidential options for the Democratic ticket were “getting the cart before the horse” before the remaining primaries - including Pennsylvania's - are done.

"Let's try to stay focused on the election at hand," Nutter said.

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Read the full "Face the Nation" transcript here.

[syofie]

Richardson should follow the will of the voters of New Mexico who voted for Hillary. Hillary won the New Mexico primary. Richardson talks out of both sides of his mouth. He is a disgrace to the democratic party.

[iknowbest-2009]

So the primary process delegates and the election electoral college are no longer in use? This year it''s a popular vote? If not, Richardson is talking out of his a$$, as usual for a libbie.

[kramerboy1]

I commend Bill Richardson for being a true patriot, and doing what he thinks is best for the country. He is definately NOT a disgrace to the democratic party. Like he said in the interview, he was running for the nomination against both H. Clinton and Obama. He is doing what he believes is best for America. I voted for Bill Clinton twice, and thought he did a great job. So what, that means I must vote for Hillary? Sorry, I''m a little more open-minded than blindly following the lemmings off the side of the cliff. The funny thing is, from what I''ve followed, Obama has claimed the larger popular vote. That''s what''s great about our country, we have a choince, each individual person. And we vote for who we think will best lead this country. Our choice may not always win, but that is life. At least we follow what we think is best. Freewill - the right to choose.

This whole situation with Clinton & Richardson just proves what a nut-job Carville is, what a creepy guy. I''ve listened to the debates and educated myself about the candidates. And when I do cast my vote, I will vote my conscious. I have no right to put down someone else for doing the same thing, even if my choice isn''t the same as their choice.

[bookout2]

All Bill Richardson is interested in is opening the
flood gates from Mexico so that all those Mexicans can
steal away all the good American jobs as cheap labor.
He is also looking for a cabinet position. Bill
Richardson is a political ***. I hope he is careful
not to choke on all those Tacos.

[broncfan1661]

All I can say is if I were to choose a friend, I would rather have Jim Carville. At least you can trust him.

[walker1209]

Bill Richardson is a joke; in his brief time as a candidate I think he might have garnered about 2% of the vote. Since the people of his state went for Senator Clinton, does this mean that he as a super duper delegate have to through his considerable support to her (stop laughing)!!! Go shave and go away Bill.

[jockh]

There is nothing wrong with putting the welfare of the country ahead of personal loyalties. Anyway James Craville looks and talks like Skeletor from the He Man Cartoons !!

[rohink-2009]

Hate speech? What about hate bombs? What hate airplanes? What about hate knock''''n down buildings?

You guys are good fer outlawing cigarettes, but thats about it.

Posted by smokemonster

**********

You got that right!

[broncfan1661]

There is nothing wrong with putting the welfare of the country ahead of personal loyalties. posted by jockh

I couldn''t agree with you more. But if he were doing that, he would have backed Hillary.
The truth is he is putting the good of Bill Rishardson ahead of both personal loyakties AND the good of the Country.

[popstom1]

He be looken for a job soon

[notopennshut]

Look outside the box! Loyalty to country and nation overides personal ambition. Crucify Obama who has a pastor, but who does not speak for him. Praise Carville whose support overides party unity. Of course he would support Hillary. The republicans prefer to have Hillary as the nominee and see who Carville''s spouse prefer. Look outside the box, and know that that either way, Carville wins, whether it is is wife or him - it''s in the family! He made a pact with the "devil" and there is no way that politics is NEVER discussed within his home. Recognise where Carville is coming from, and you should know that his loyalties lie.

[broncfan1661]

notopennshut,
I have been a loyal democrat all of my life and I can tell you that supporting Hillary Clinton does not override party unity. That is what the Obama people want us to think. Nobody has locked up the nomination yet.
Also, MY wife is Republican and we get along just fine because we are grown up enough to respect the others right to their own opinion. One thing we do agree on though is G W Bush has got to go!

[nettiem-2009]

I agree, the voters should decide so let''s have the primary go to the end and then we will know. It''s too early for the pundits and Gov. Richardson and Sen. Leary to tell the voters that one candidate should drop out when the margin of delegates is so close. We have PA, with 158, Guam 4, Ind 72, NC,115 WVA 28, Ken 51, Org,52 Mt, 16, SD 15 PR 55, It''s the process that needs to change. The superdelegates were built in as a result of the 1972 election when Nixon won a 68% majority and the dems had egg on their face for chosing Mc Govern. The Supers are there to make sure that does not happen again. So let''s on with the primary. Hang Tough Hillary.

[thisandthat1]

Hillary''s done ... she just hasn''t admitted it to herself, eyt.

[kramerboy1]

Yes, I think Hillary should hang tough too - with all the sniper fire and ambushes going on around here. And the sleep deprivation, too. Bill was the great uniter, but Hillary is seeming to be the great embellisher. Her own actions and words have convinced me in the past 2 months that she can''t handle the job. Her complaining about always getting the first question in the debates - sorry, but when you are Commander-in-Chief you get the first question, middle question, and last question. And tears aren''t going to get the job done either.

If Richardson is such a "untrusting" and poor character person, why are the Clinton people crying and whining about losing him to Obama ??

[broncfan1661]

If the Domcrats were using the "Winner take all" method like the Republicans do, then Hillary would be on the verge of locking up the nomination with a win in Pennsylvania and all the Superdelegates that would be beating down her door to support her.. Obama is popular in the smaller states that the Republicans will win in November anyway. Hillary has won in the states that are needed to win the National election.

[creeper00]

Another Democrat who can''t support one candidate without trashing the other. What is the matter with us? Do we have nothing positive to say about the people we support? Can we only support them by criticizing their opponents?

I would''ve given my caucus vote to Richardson if he''d been viable. If this is the kind of politics he practices, I''m glad now he wasn''t.

[jimbosouth]

One question here--why would ANYONE other than the Clintons give a rat''s *** what Carville thinks or says? Like the the Rev. Jackson, he never saw a dumb quote he didn''t like. So who cares?

[er_mk]

So much of Richardson in the spotlight??? I''m not sure that''s right! A man who had been a "mediocre student", but did run for president as "overqualified for the job". A riddle inside a puzzle combination...

[creeper00]

Please...everyone reading this page...if you do nothing else today, go to this Urban Legends page linked to by NRGMIZER below and read Lee Iacocca''s words.

You will not regret it.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/iacocca.asp

P.S. For some insane reason, CBS splits links into two lines. You''ll need to be sure you have the whole thing copied. Now do that.

[ksh1022]

According to this logic Richardson should be supporting Hillary as Hillary won New Mexico. The super delegates should select the candidate they believe will be the one who can beat McCain. It''s obvious that the voters are equally divided. This is why the super delegates were created.

[obama8years]

Richardson is just another Politician who sold his %u201CVote%u201D to the highest bidder - and betrayed the Clintons - as was expected - he is small potatoes and has nothing to offer Obama but more of the Racist rhetoric that wright gave Obama for 20 years - he is the same Traitor to America that Obama and all the other cowards who will %u201CCut and Run in Iraq%u201D and bring on the %u201CSlaughter%u201D of the people of Iraq - and reguardless of who becomes President - American Armed service personell will still be there for a very long time.

All this %u201CFlowery Charm and Speech%u201D of the great Deceiver Obama is a lot of %u201CHot Air%u201D HE KNOWS HE CANNOT PULL OUT OF IRAQ IN THE %u201C%u2018RUSH%u201D He is now talking about doing - he will give us %u201CCHANGE%u201D but it will not be what he promises - he will Raise our Taxes - place his cronies in power - through his racist agenda - and he will further %u201CDIVIDE%u201D Americans by his %u201CBlack Liberation Theology%u201D - that His mentor Wright has been Brainwashing him with for the past 20 years!

[jgunther7]

There are so many highly qualified candidates to choose from for vice president. Candidates with positive attributes and no negatives that could enhance Obama as President. Hillary should go back to doing what ever it is she does well.

[nandssmith]

I am all for having the rest of the states vote before a formal decision is made.

However, Hillary will be behind in pledged delegates from the states regardless.

The Democrat''s system of nomination is not based upon popular votes, biggest states or polls; it is based upon number of delegates.

Any way you slice it Obama will have more pledged delegates. While neither will have enough, he will be the leader.

So for Hillary to win, the very foundation of the Democratic nomination process will have to been thrown out the window in favor of subjective interpretation by party "leaders". The result will be that voters from the majority of the states will be disenfranchised - and the results of each of these states'' primaries will be overturned.

And if that happens it WILL hurt the Democratic party.

[sgtrds]

If Barack goes into the convention with a lead in commi9tted delegates and the popular vote and Clinton gets the nomination anyway because of superdelegates, then I don''t see how I (or any other democrat) can vote for her. I would never be able to bring myself to vote for Mr. Depends from the GOP, but I don''t think I could bring myself to vote for Hilliary if that''s how she gets the nomination.

[sgtrds]

If the Domcrats were using the "Winner take all" method like the Republicans do, then Hillary would be on the verge of locking up the nomination with a win in Pennsylvania and all the Superdelegates that would be beating down her door to support her..

Posted by broncfan1661 at 03:21 PM : Mar 30, 2008

But the winner takes all method is inherently unfair and should not be used. The same applies to it''s use in the Electoral College, which should be done away with completely in favor of a straight popular vote.

[broncfan1661]

nandssmith wrote;
The Democrat''''s system of nomination is not based upon popular votes, biggest states or polls; it is based upon number of delegates.

You are so correct. But it is also not based on who is ahead either, but who attains 2024 total delegates. That is the reason for the convention in August. Since neither candidate will have enough delegates by then (Unless Obama supporters can browbeat enough super delegates into giving him their votes early) it will be played out on the convention floor. That is how it works.

[broncfan1661]

SgtRDS,
I totally agree with you that the popular vote is the only fair way to hold elections. It would eliminate all of this bickering. But our wise politicians have chosen the method we now are having to live with.

[arjun_nyc]

I am appalled at Richardson''s logic on super delegates. The pledged delegates constitute 80 percent of the total number of delegates in the election process. They exercise their independent judgement. The super delegates constitute 20 percenet of the total number of delegates in the election process. They are also required to exercise their independent judgement.

Richardson should spend his time explaining to the voters the rules so that they can undestand fully that the voters count (pledged delegates) and the super delegates are mutually exclusive and the nominee is the one with the most delegates irrespective of the popular votes.

But Richardson, the Judas he is, instead is trying to create division in the democratic party by design just like Nancy Pelosi and others. In fact I firmly believe that there is a group of people in the party who wants to take over the democratic party even if it means dividing the party or destroying the country for power at all cost.

Their call for Hillary Clinton to drop out when she has the momentum strikes me that they have no respect for the basic democratic right of the american people. They are so selfish that they can destroy democracy in the process.

I will now officially call on OBAMA to drop out of the presidential race now before it is too late and he be brought down by his own associations and bad deeds that will resonate with the voters in the remaining primaries.

[brundage3]

I am disappointed that there isn''t more knowledge of political history going into the thinking of the "let the vote numbers decide" argument.

First, Richardson, whom I have respected HIGHLY, knows better than to call the so called "super"delegates Big Shots." HE is one. I doubt he would call himself that. And how many of you have ever even heard the name, Pat Notter? She is one. She is a party official ELECTED by the PARTY members to a PARTY position. Never held elective office in her life. She is part of the majority of super delegates who are NOT in Congress.

AND,,, In all of history the parties have SElected a nominee. NOT Elected a nominee.

The primary elections have been PART OF the process. They have never been intended to be ALL of the process. Although, because of the fact each state wants "to be heard" which means to get a moment in the spotlight, the number of primary elections has grown and so has the "importance"of them.

MAINLY,,, The existence of a large group of delegates NOT determined by primaeries, came about because the left wing of the PARTY IN 1972, enacted policy at the same convention that selected McGovern. They wanted these delegates so that no Presidential candidate could lock up the nomination by focus on a series of primary elections stretch out over a year. A much different campaign strategy than a national one which one must win to win the Presidency.

Situation ethis,,, at it''s worst is at play here.

[darrren12000]

lol - richardson, follow what your state did. also - the big guys decided to strip fl and mich voters of their representation. this race is so undemocratic. the democrats will lose due to their on hypocrisy. i love watching my party implode. bunch of losers.

[brundage3]

By the way,,, PAt Notter is a "Super Delegate" who is committed. She had announced for Obama.

Senator Obama has NOT said he will not accept these "Big Shot" votes has he Governor R?

[darrren12000]

Letes just eliminate the superdelegates. they have zero votes. do that. since they are big shots. lol. either way, they will decide the race because no one will get tot the required total....without the superdelegates.

[serrano338]

OBAMA IS A LIAR. HE LIED ABOUT HIS OWN FATHER TO BE IN BED WITH THE KENNEDYS. WHO CARES WHAT RICHARDSON THINKS. HE''S COVERING FOR A LIAR BECAUSE HE WANTS FAVOR "IF" OBAMA wins which looks unlikely with all the lies being exposed.

Obama said:
"So the Kennedys decided, ''We''re going to do an air lift. We''re going to go to Africa and start bringing young Africans over to this country and give them scholarships to study so they can learn what a wonderful country America is,''" Obama continued. "This young man named Barack Obama got one of those tickets and came over to this country. He met this woman whose great great-great-great-grandfather had owned slaves; but she had a good idea there was some craziness going on because they looked at each other and they decided that we know that the world as it has been it might not be possible for us to get together and have a child."

OUTRAGEOUS LIE! His dad came over in 1959. FACTCHECK!

Where is the outrage, where is the attack, where is the media when Obama lies. WE ARE FED UP WITH OBAMA BIAS IN THE MEDIA and we are going to make sure that it stops! WE THE PEOPLE HAVE POWER, WE THE PEOPLE WANT EQUAL COVERAGE, NOT CUSHY TREATMENT FOR ONE CANDIADTE OVER THE OTHER.

OBAMA LIES ABOUT REZKO, REV. WRIGHT, and SELMA. THE LIES just keep on coming. He''s out Clintoned the Clintons as one hateful reporter wrote. WAKE UP AMERICA.

NOBAMA, NOWAY!!!!

[broncfan1661]

SgtRDS wrote;
If Barack goes into the convention with a lead in commi9tted delegates and the popular vote and Clinton gets the nomination anyway because of superdelegates, then I don''''t see how I (or any other democrat) can vote for her.

I can see your point. I also would be upset if the reverse would happen. Unfortunately we live in a two party system and if we don''t agree with either parties rules or even their choices of candidates there are very few alternatives.

[darrren12000]

sgtrds - sorry but the polls show obambi is going to lose more clinton support. this is going to be ugly. neither one will win. the democrats are addicted to losing. cant wait to laugh at the party of losers.

[heartlight3]

It looks like the Clintons want to have it both ways. They say that the super-delegates should vote based on who they think would be best for the country rather than who is ahead in the popular votes and pledged delegates. But when Richardson did exactly that, they called him a traitor. Do they mean that super-delegates should vote their conscience only if they vote for her?

[lyonb12]

It will be a political suicide if anyone reverse voters choice. Republicans will love to see this so that people who have been motivated to vote for the first time to stay at home, reasons being ''super delegates'' reversed their choice. Nancy Palozi knows what she is talking about. It is not about Hillary or Obama, it is about what people have said. Democrats is a people''s party. It is operated according to people''s wish. What if we ignore what people have said? It will be the burial of the Democrats. Whoever wants to wins must win popular and delegates count. Not super delegates. The interests of the party is way way-important than personal goals. There will be ''ell to pay if Obama or Hillary get nomination by reversing people''s choice!

[kramerboy1]

So where are those Clinton tax returns...let''s see, she said one month ago we''d get them. Obviously, there is more than meets the eye in some of those transactions.

Ask McCain who he would rather face in a general election. The Republicans salivate at the thought of taking on Clinton. As for Rev. Wright, he spoke his mind vehemently. He actually said some of the same things MLK said back in the 60''s, but with less tact and professionalism. Maybe he is a loose cannon, but he''s also an ex-Marine. And he isn''t the one trying to run for President. I''m not real sure Caroline Kennedy owes any political favors either. I respect her supporting Obama, because she has nothing to gain. Jim Carville has his nose so far up Clinton''s jock, he needs to get some air.

[tigerjcs]

The superdelegates should vote whom they would like to support. Leave them alone!. Obama is a liar, a racist and anti-American. He embraced his racist spiritual leader for over 20 years. His daughters were also influence in this racist church. That''s why Michelle Obama is not proud to be American, unless Barack won. NO TO OBAMA. We don''t want an ANTI-american to be the leader of this great nation. We will vote for McCain over Obama if he is the final nominee.

[brundage3]

All sides. ALL of us in America, should read extensively the thoughts of the men who wrote and then debated our constitution through it''s process of adoption.

The "Virginia Plan" which addressed the need to balance geographic (states) power with over-all population is still a major debate even though the
constitution "solved" it in a general way. "State''s rights" was NOT an on-off switch topic eliminated by the Civl War. It is a matter of degree and will always be in play.

The "small states" vs "large state" debate IS INDEED a matter for debate. Read the notes made by Monroe, Madison, Washington and others at the Constitutional convention. Please. The theories apply even in party politics which EVERY delegate to the Constitutional Convention feared. And THAT convention was populated based on the power base of the large states as far as numbers of delegateswere concerned. Despite this, they took care to protect the influnce of the small states.

Why? - That is a good question solved perhaps by the reading.

[barefootboy9]

Richardson will always be looked as a traitor. Just hope and pray Obama doesn''t win, no telling who will be on his cabinet. Judas, Wright, Jesse Jackson, Sharpton, Reeza or what ever his name is and Lewis F
Have mercy on us.

[skyk-2009]

Jefferson would be proud of this whole process! In recent years we''ve become more like a Business in how we pick our leaders and so many people feel left out of the process. This time it really FEELS like the PEOPLE are making the decision and there is a big difference. I see people getting interested, showing up and working like it was supposed to be. I do believe one of these two people will bring a new greatness to this nation.

[ringading3]

Hey Richardson, what did the Osama promisse you? To be a V.P.? You are a traitor and always will be one!

[richnj1]

If Obama wants to claim that the voters must decide, then he should support seating the Michigan and Florida delegations - even if those delegations are weighted toward Hillary. Otherwise, he''s just another hypocrite.

[hutch1934]

Richardson knows better than that. The voters may have the "say", but the word comes from the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). The CFR will tell the President who to put in the cabinet and advisory posts. Carter wound up with 18 CFR members in the cabinet and White House including Brzezinski a certified Leftist protege'' of Kissinger and David Rockefeller. Carter did not make any move without CFR approval.

[naber1961]

if the popular vote as he says, should be the way to elect the nominee, then FLORIDA AND MICHIGAN should be counted.

[chitown639]

Hillary is too big of a liar, that Bosnia lie did it for me, she will never get my vote!!!! We have had too many liar presidents. The change is clear, Barrack Obama for President......Obama 2008...YES WE CAN!!!!

[nmsuip]

Superdelegates were created by the Democratic party so that the Democratic establishment would have more weight (as opposed to independents)in selecting their nominee.

The superdelegates are free to support whoever they choose regardless of public opinion or how the designated delegates fall. And that''s OK.

But they need to be mindful that if they decide to overrule the will of the electorate they do so at their own peril in the coming general election.

If it''s McCain vs. Clinton I''m staying home.

[sjbj2322]

Jump and run over the Bosnia affair....what a crock! How about the lie over a false association between his father coming to the US and JFK. How about the lie over what he did or didn''t know or hear out of Rev. Wright. How about the ongoing saga over just how much Rezko helped him. How about the fact that he threw his grandmother under a bus while failing to acknowledge that he himself had sqirmed more than once when walking down the street and looking behind him to see if blacks were following him. He''s such an opportunistic hypocrite that it baffles logic as to why he has failed to receive the same scrutiny that Clinton has. As for Richardson....well its only appropriate that he side with Obama given the opportunistic placator that he is. Note how he suggest calling a meeting headed by super delegates who are all loyal Obama supporters. What a farse. At least my consolation can rest in the fact that at our county convention held last night the final tally was 60% delegates for Clinton and 40% for Obama. We did our job. Now let''s see what the rest of the nation will do....including Florida and Michigan.