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BILL RICHARDSON has EXPERIENCE: 1. Bill Richardson has been Governor of New Mexico since 2003. He was re-elected in 2006 by 69% of the vote, the highest margin in New Mexico's history. As a State's Chief Executive, he knows how to run a government and has proven that he has the leadership skills to do so successfully. He knows how to work with a legislature to get laws enacted. He understands the needs of States, especially their need for positive interaction with the federal government. The state of New Mexico borders the nation of Mexico. As New Mexico's Governor, Richardson has faced the problem of illegal immigration and understands it first-hand. Yet, as his heritage is partly Hispanic, he understands all sides of the issue and is in the best position to arrive at a positive resolution of this divisive concern. Bill Richardson has served as Chairman of: (1) The Democratic Governors Association (2005-06) (2006 was the first time the association had ever asked any governor to stay on for a second term); (2) The Western Governors Association (2004); (3) The Border Governors Association (2004); and (4) The 2004 Democratic National Convention. He knows Governors and politicians across the nation, and they know him and, more importantly, respect him. 2. Bill Richardson was the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (1997-98). He knows the value of diplomacy and is good at it. His diplomatic skills have gotten him nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize four times. Bill Richardson's foreign policy accomplishments include: (1) Negotiations with the North Koreans, which resulted in that nation returning to the six-nation discussions on nuclear weapons development; (2) Negotiations with the President of Sudan and Sudanese rebels about a temporary cease-fire; (3) Negotiations that led to the peaceful transfer of power in the former Congo; (4) Negotiations with Fidel Castro (Cuba), Saddam Hussein (Iraq), President Omar Al-Bashir (Sudan), and North Korean diplomats, all of which led to the release of American prisoners; and (5) Brokering an agreement, after securing a military stand-down, for face-to-face talks between opposing factions in pre-9/11 Afghanistan; and (6) Securing safe passage for 7,000 Tajikistan refugees trapped in northern Afghanistan through Uzbekistan. Unlike any other candidate (and our current President), Richardson is known and RESPECTED in diplomatic circles throughout the world. 3. Bill Richardson was Secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy (1998-2001). He knows how to run a large government department and understands the perspective of Cabinet members. He is knowledgeable about energy and has many ideas on how to reduce the dependence of United States on oil and other carbon-based fuels and to lower greenhouse gas emissions. 4. Bill Richardson was a United States Congressman for 15 years (1983-97). He rose into the ranks of the Democratic Party leadership as Deputy Whip. He knows how Congress works and how to get legislation passed into law and he has demonstrated that he can work well with other members of Congress of all political persuasions. "Of all the resumes in the Democratic field of presidential hopefuls, Mr. Richardson's stands out ..." -Jeff Zeleny, N.Y. Times (Apr. 27, 2007). " ... the most impressive resume in the presidential race."
-Concord (N.H.) Monitor (Apr. 6, 2007)
"Nobody on either side is as experienced and tested on the key issues of the day - foreign policy, energy independence and economic growth <- as is Bill Richardson>."
-Adam C. Smith, St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times (Apr. 1, 2007)
" impressed our large crowd of ambassadors, journalists and graduate students with his foreign policy expertise."
-Robert Guttman, Director of Center on Politics and Foreign Relations, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Washington, D.C. (Mar. 29, 2007).
Bill Richardson] is the Foreign Policy Stud of the Democratic contest. ... is bona fides ... are unmatched by the other contenders."
-A.B. Stoddard, The Hill (Wash., D.C.) (Apr. 9, 2007).
" ... has the best resume and sense of humor of the 2008 Democratic Presidential candidates. ... Unlike his rivals, Richardson has a strong record of effective diplomacy ..."
IN magazine (June 1, 2007)
BILL RICHARDSON has BRAINS:
Bill Richardson is both well-educated and an educator. He graduated from Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts and got a Master's degree from Tufts' Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. He has taught at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, New Mexico University, New Mexico State University, and United World College.
Bill Richardson's positions on the broad range of issues he would face as President demonstrate his intelligence. You can find these positions on Richardson's official web site - www.richardsonforpresident.com
BILL RICHARDSON has GUTS:
Bill Richardson takes positions he believes are right, not because they are popular.
" has not compromised and backed down under pressure from consultants. He is real ..."
-Minnesota Daily (Apr. 12, 2007)
Examples are:
Medical Marijuana - Bill Richardson is the first Presidential candidate ever to support the legalization of medical marijuana.
"So what if it's risky? It's the right thing to do. What we're talking about is … people in pain." -Gov. Bill Richardson (Mar. 15, 2007) before signing into law the medical marijuana law the New Mexico State Legislature recently enacted after his urging it to do so since 2002.
"Give credit. It's not something you do because you're going to garner great political support for it. It is a bit controversial."
-Thomas Mann, Brookings Institution political analyst
Gay Rights - Bill Richardson not only has taken unpopular progressive positions on gay rights, but also has succeeded in getting those positions adopted.
"n terms of actual accomplishments Bill Richardson stands above the other current candidates because he's actually pushed forward and implemented laws that have helped our community."
- Matt Foreman, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
"He's … been wonderful. He's kept every promise he's ever made to the community."
- Alexis Blizman, Executive Director, Equality New Mexico.
Animal Rights - As Governor, Richardson spearheaded the movement to ban cockfighting in the state of New Mexico, even though it was an ingrained institution with many citizens there.
He knows how to say he was wrong - While U.S. Energy Secretary, the federal government hounded Chinese-American nuclear scientist Wen Ho Lee and accused him of being a Chinese spy. Lee did plead guilty to one criminal count of improper handling of classified material, but his guilt did not justify the vigor of the attacks he got from the government. Unlike Pres. Reagan ("Mistakes were made"), Richardson admitted that he personally could have been, and should have been, "more vigorous in seeking fair treatment" in Lee's case.
BILL RICHARDSON can WIN:
To win the national election, the Democrats need to make significant inroads in the Rocky Mountain West. Richardson's nomination would guarantee that the Democrats would carry the swing state of New Mexico, and, because of his part-Latino heritage, would almost ensure that Nevada, which Bush narrowly won in both 2000 and 2004, also would vote Democratic. In addition, his candidacy likely would put environmentally-conscious Colorado in play. And, unless McCain is the Republican candidate, New Mexico's neighboring state of Arizona, with the continual migration of Californians and northeasterners there, might also vote Democratic. It is worth noting that two Democratic Congressional candidates beat Arizona incumbent Republicans in last November's election.
" Richardson has the 'prefect platform' for a national race. 'If he gets the nomination, he can win. He can bring all parts of the country together.'"
Spartanburg (S.C.) Herald-Journal (July 8, 2007) quoting State Sen. Glenn Reese (Boiling Springs, S.C.)
Inspired by his partial Hispanic heritage, Bill Richardson can re-invigorate the Latino Democratic electorate, which the Republicans have been courting and in which they recently have been making inroads.
Bill Richardson knows how to win. Not only has Richardson won election repeatedly himself, but also while he was Chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, he oversaw the Democratic Party retaking a majority of the nation's governorships in 2006.
"Richardson made a good impression ... and brought out a diverse group ... 'e had a vast majority of Democrats, but also had Republicans and independents ... .. that means that he can draw across the spectrum.'"
Jim Watts, Chairman, York County (S.C.) Democrats, as quoted in The Herald (Rock Hill, S.C., July 8, 2007)
" is a reporter's favorite -candid, accessible and fun to be around. ... the candidate most likely to rise."
- David Brooks, New York Times syndicated columnist (Mar. 4, 2007)
" Richardson is so approachable and affable, he is disarming ..."
IN magazine (June 1, 2007)
"I defy anyone to name a Democrat better equipped to take Florida than New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson."
-Adam C. Smith, St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times (Apr. 1, 2007)
Bill Richardson appeals to all ethnic groups, including African-Americans.
"I'm crazy about Bill Richardson."
-Congressman and House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (S. C.),
as quoted in U.S. News & World Report (March 5, 2007).
Bill Richardson even appeals to some Republicans.
"Personally, I'm a Bill Richardson fan. I think he has the Bill Clinton touch with people."
-J.C. Watts, former Republican Congressman from Oklahoma, as quoted in U.S. News & World Report (Mar. 12, 2007)
" the only one of the Democrats I've heard who makes sense."
Rick Beltram, Spartanburg County, S.C. Republican Chairman, as quoted in Spartanburg Herald-Journal (July 8, 2007)
http://www.billrichardsonforusin2008.com/
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