By Pablo Fanque, National Affairs Editor, All This Is That News NetworkObama may still have his hands clean, but now, a second pay to play stink has settled around his new administration. The beloved New Mexico Governor, Bill Richardson announced yesterday that he was withdrawing his nomination to be President-elect Barack Obama's Commerce Secretary. He said (approximately), "thanks, but no thanks. . .I think this grand jury investigation into some of my political donors who won a sweet $$$ state contract will hamstring the administration."
The company in question, CDR Financial Products [does that sound like another Ponzi scheme, or what?] was paid a total of $1.48 million in 2004 and 2005 for its work on a transportation program. CDR and its CEO, David Rubin, have contributed at least $110,000 to three political committees formed by Richardson, according to an Associated Press review of campaign finance records. Looking at this crassly, one and a half million dollars is not a bad return on a $100,000 "investment."
Richardson's bugging out is the first real disruption of Obama's Cabinet juggernaut, and the second "pay-to-play" investigation that has landed on Obama's team. The first was the messy case of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich attempting to sell Obama's vacated seat.
A federal grand jury is at this moment investigating how a California company that contributed to Richardson's Presidential bid won a transportation contract worth more than $1 million.
Richardson--in a statement issued by the Obama transition office--said the investigation could take weeks or months. And, as they do every time, he expressed confidence the probe will show he and his administration acted properly.
"The ongoing investigation also would have forced an untenable delay in the confirmation process," Richardson's statement 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." Cough cough.
Governor Richardson did say that he would remain in place as governor. At least until the investigation turns up something really hairy.
Unfortunately, Bill Richardson is one of the good guys. He is an excellent governor. He did great work internationally in the Clinton administration, and in my booklet, was fully qualified to have become President (probably more qualified than the guy who never quite became his boss), and, certainly, Secretary of Commerce. He probably should have been the nominee for Secretary of State. But he got caught with his testicles in the vice. Or maybe he hasn't; it doesn't matter, really--just the whiff of impropriety is enough to sink a fledgling cabinet member. It's the old Caesar's Wife dictum playing itself out once again.
Naturally, Soon-To-Be-President Obama accepted his resignation "with deep regret" and said "Bill Richardson is an outstanding public servant and would have brought to the job of Commerce Secretary and our economic team great insights accumulated through an extraordinary career in federal and state office. It is a measure of his willingness to put the nation first that he has removed himself as a candidate for the Cabinet to avoid any delay in filling this important economic post at this critical time. Although we must move quickly to fill the void left by Governor Richardson's decision, I look forward to his future service to our country and in my administration."
And you know what really sucks? Bill wouldn't have even needed to shave his beard!
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