I heard that your candidate is a drunk and a womanizer . . .

[bigtree]

That's the rap on Richardson that some folks have been using to put him down and write him off as a candidate. I'm a sensitive as anyone to the seriousness of the charges, but I'm not going to tolerate them without defending Richardson (or any other Democrat) if they are just presented as fact without supporting references. It's not going to fly to just throw charges around, 'swiftboating' these Democratic candidates; not from any quarter.

I've seen the governor's responses to these, so, I'm prepared to defend against them, but no one should stand by and let folks take unsupported slaps at any of these Democratic candidates. Not here at Democratic Underground, or from anywhere else. Charges of inappropriate behavior against these candidates should be backed up by supportable facts.



http://journals.democraticunderground.com/bigtree

[John Q. Citizen]

1. First i heard of that rumor, but thanks for passing it on..........

[bigtree]

3. there were charges here at DU

there's this reference:

Tribune: You've been sighted at parties, at fund-raisers and at other functions after having had a few drinks. Alcohol is also offered at events at the Governor's Mansion. What's your attitude toward the consumption of alcohol?

Richardson: Well, just for the record, I only drink wine and I drink very little.

DWI's a huge problem in this state, and I believe it's important we find ways to curb its use, that we do it in an appropriate manner. It's a huge problem in this state. We have thrown the kitchen sink at DWI. I don't want alcohol served at sporting events. I believe we have to tighten up.

But, yeah, once in awhile, I'll have a glass of wine.

There's this myth that somehow Bill Richardson likes to go to parties. That's not the case. I hardly go to any. I went to a Super Bowl party a couple of days ago and I'm sure that people will say I went to 30 of them.

http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/feb/06/bill-richardson-tribune-interview/

[John Q. Citizen]

9. Well, it's probably best not to fuel them by starting a new thread to deny them.

If they come up from somewhere else, then shut 'em down.

[bigtree]

10. it's mostly about conduct in these threads

using two of the Richardson generalizations posted here as a reference

[DemKR]

2. Bill Richardson

is one of the greatest governors this nation has ever had. This sounds like a typical right wing hit job and shouldn't have a place in Democratic Party politics. So I certainly hope no one here at DU would perpetuate them. Bill Richardson shouldn't even have to defend himself against this. We're a year ahead of the primaries and nearly two years away from the general election, slash and burn tactics on all sides should cease. Agreed?

We need to win and the way to do it is by going after our right wing opponents.

[NMDemDist2]

4. here's an interesting interview where he addresses both issues

http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2007/feb/06/bill-richardson-tribune-interview/

he's legislated some of the toughest DWI laws in the country and NM has gone from #1 in drunk driving deaths in the 90s to #8 last year in part due to his policies. If he's a drunk, he's a damned hypocritical one :shrug:

[Bucky]

11. Oooch. A non-denial denial!

Regarding internet rumors about 'womanizing', he says:

"Sure, I've made mistakes as a human being, but those are just mean-spirited rumors. That's all I have to say."


That said, I like the Richardsons. They look like real people. In fact, they kinda look like the couple from family guy.

[bigtree]

14. wow, that's uncanny

the family guy.

I like it.

[Beaverhausen]

5. I thought this thread was going to be about Guliani

so nice it's about one of ours. :eyes:

[senseandsensibility]

6. And of course with Guliani

they aren't just idle rumors.

[Algorem]

7. likeable kind of candidate people want to have a keg and orgy with

[calimary]

8. Agreed. But on the other hand, anybody on the republi-CON side is FAIR GAME.

I mean - mccain's really looking - AND sounding - bad lately. Kinda incoherent-like. I heard he was on something...

I'm just saying...


I heard that mitt romney is into that Mormon polygamy thing and it all got hushed up while he was running the Olympics in Salt Lake City...

I'm just saying...


As for our friend rudy, well, you don't NEED to make anything up about him. He's already got so many skeletons in his closet that he could run his own cemetery.


Hey, dirty pool? YOU BET. They do it to us all the time and appeal to the baser, more prurient, more gullible, more dish-the-dirt side of all the folks driving the nonstop coverage of Anna Nicole Smith and such. AND IT WORKS. So why the hell can't we just - um - er - sorta - uh - well, flap our gums a little? Just something salacious I heard somewhere... Don't know if it's true, but... I'm just saying... That Opie-wannabe jerk-ass who stirred things up about Nancy Pelosi's plane because he saw something in one of the Moonie papers and simply took it as fact, AND HAS ADMITTED HE DOESN'T KNOW IF IT'S TRUE OR NOT, certainly made some hay against our side doing exactly this. MAYBE, just MAYBE, it's time to turn the tables and GIVE 'EM A TASTE OF THEIR OWN MEDICINE. See how they like it.

[Sapphire Blue]

12. I really wish people would take to heart what Gov. Richardson said at the Winter Meeting...

... about not tearing each other down & calling on all Dems to run clean campaigns; reminded me of President Carter.

Video here: http://democrats.org/a/2007/02/bill_richardson_1.php

[bigtree]

13. I heard that. He obviously meant the candidates, 'cause he's ripped on Congress already

Carter could be really sharp in his criticisms; calm and collected, but sharp. I don't think he always restricted those to the republican opposition.

But, there has to be a standard of criticism which is centered on facts, and avoids personal characterizations which have nothing to do with the issues and concerns that folks expect to effect with their advocacy in these campaigns. We need to change the process to reflect on voters and their initiatives and away from the personalities of our candidates.