Richardson Backs Out

[HI54UNI]

Richardson withdraws bid to be commerce secretary

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.

"I have concluded that the ongoing investigation also would have forced an untenable delay in the confirmation process," Richardson said. "Given the gravity of the economic situation the nation is facing, I could not in good conscience ask the president-elect and his administration to delay for one day the important work that needs to be done."

Richardson said he will remain as governor and told Obama, "I am eager to serve in the future in any way he deems useful."

The announcement came ahead of Obama's Monday meetings with congressional leaders on a massive economic recovery bill he wants lawmakers to pass quickly.

Obama said he has accepted Richardson's withdrawal, first reported by NBC News, "with deep regret."

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id ... _article=1

[travelinman67]

Wow...you gotta be kidding. Bubba and Hildabeast, whose fingers are in every global pie ever "baked", go forward with Sec. of State, and Richardson, who may have cooked some NM state awards steps back...

...this, along with, you know, Princess Caroline's, you know, ascension to the top of, you know, the NY poli feeding chain, you know, just tells me the madness is SNAFU'd.

Tman's 2009 prediction: Alchoholism and Suicide will be on the rise.

[BigApp]

CHANGE!!!

[ASUMountaineer]

Wait! You mean...corruption...on both sides of the aisle...say it ain't so! The Democrats are all about CHANGE!

[dbackjon]

Glad that he backed out if there was any suggestion of scandal...

[Gil Dobie]

Glad that he backed out if there was any suggestion of scandal...

Good thing the scandal made the press prior to Richardson being confirmed.

[houndawg]

Good for him, he did the right thing for the country, regardless of the results of the investigation.

[Appaholic]

Apparantly, not everyone in NM is excited by this turn of events.....

http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/politics/p ... v_20090104

[BigApp]

Glad that he backed out if there was any suggestion of scandal...

BHO is approaching double digits in "suggestion of scandal". Are you suggesting he back out too?