This weekend’s trip to Sudan is a chance for Gov. Bill Richardson to remind the nation of his skills as a diplomat and win some wealthy, influential friends just days before an expected announcement that he’s running for president.
There is a good chance Richardson will return from Sudan able to claim success in helping stop the genocide being carried out by a government-backed militia. His mission, sanctioned by the U.S. State Department, is to convince the government to allow U.N. peacekeeping troops into the war-torn Darfur region.
The United Nations gave Sudan a Jan. 1 deadline to begin the process of allowing 20,000 peacekeepers into the region. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir sent a letter three days before the deadline saying the nation would comply.
But Sudan was supposed to allow 60 U.N. troops and civilians in to the region by Jan. 1. As of Thursday, 20 civilians and no peacekeepers had been allowed in, according to the Sudan Tribune, and the United States was expressing skepticism about Sudan’s willingness to comply. For months before the deadline, Sudan refused the troops.
Enter Richardson, a brilliant negotiator and, quite possibly, the American who has the best relationship with the Sudanese government.
Richardson has a penchant not only for finding his way into such situations, but also for laying the ground work in advance so that his missions are successful.
He was in Sudan in September and talked that nation’s president into releasing an American journalist and his two companions. He was asked in early December by the Save Darfur Coalition to travel to Sudan and push for the acceptance of U.N. troops. Since then, Richardson has been working with the Bush Administration to make this a bipartisan effort. You can bet he’s also been in contact with friends in Sudan.
Winning wealthy friends
Expect the mission to be a success, at least on some level. The Sudanese government has no way out of this but to allow peacekeeping troops. The bad-cop White House supports tough sanctions if Sudan doesn’t comply, and Richardson has now jumped into the game to play good cop.
It’s a role he loves.
And it’s one that will gain him national press this weekend, which brings us back to an expected announcement that Richardson is running for president.
Save Darfur, which is paying for Richardson’s trip, is a well-funded, diverse and powerful organization. Successful negotiations would win the governor many friends. Should he opt to run for president, a victorious mission would allow Richardson to remind the world that he played an instrumental role in helping stop a conflict that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and displaced millions.
Leaders of Save Darfur include a diverse group of Jewish, Muslim and Christian religious organizations and a number of political and humanitarian organizations. Lest you think it’s a liberal coalition, one of the executive members is the National Association of Evangelicals.
Save Darfur has millions of supporters. Some of the most visible backers include Actor George Clooney, Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Oprah.
Creating momentum
A successful trip would give Richardson momentum heading into next weekend – the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend – which many are beginning to suspect is when Richardson will announce his run for president.
In case anyone still doubts that Richardson is running, he’s scheduled to be in Douglas County, Nevada, for a party dinner on Jan. 27. Richardson has said he’ll make an announcement on whether he is running before the Legislature convenes on Jan. 16. If he will have made a decision beforehand, why would Richardson travel to Nevada, now that the 2006 election has passed, unless he’s running for president?
If he sticks to his pledge to make an announcement before the session starts, Richardson has 10 days to do it. This weekend, he will obviously be busy in Africa.
He won’t want his announcement to be overshadowed, and next week is a busy one for Congress. As Avelino Maestas wisely observed on his blog Live From Silver City, House Democrats will be pushing their “First 100 Hours agenda.”
On Tuesday, they plan to vote on implementing the 9/11 Commission recommendations. Wednesday they plan to vote on a minimum wage increase. Thursday they plan to vote on extending stem-cell research. Friday they plan to talk about lowering prescription drug costs.
In addition, on or about Wednesday, President Bush will announce his new strategy for Iraq.
So next week is out, leaving only the holiday weekend. Richardson is in South Carolina on Saturday for a dinner honoring former Democratic governors in that state.
Drawing from Dr. King’s teaching
I’m not making any predictions or telling you I know something concrete, because I don’t, but many politicos I’ve spoken with are beginning to think Richardson will make his announcement on Monday, Jan. 15, which is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and the day before the Legislature convenes.
It’s a gamble to make such an announcement during a holiday weekend, but Richardson has always been a gambler, and he has usually won. Fewer people are paying attention to the news, but it’s also a slow news day, and an announcement from Richardson would likely gain more media attention than it would on a week day.
Picture Richardson quoting these words from King – “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.’” – in the context of announcing that he wants to be the first president who is a member of an ethnic minority.
Richardson told FOX News in December, during his quasi announcement and slip of the tongue, that he is Hispanic, “which I believe is an asset. But I’m not running as an Hispanic. I am running as an American who is proud to be Hispanic.”
Richardson identifies himself as American first and Hispanic second.
In a speech on King’s holiday, he could talk about how, when the nation’s top job can be held by a member of an ethnic minority group, minorities will be one step closer to equality, to being Americans who are proud to be Hispanic, rather than Hispanics who are also Americans.
He could speak about how he believes that time is now, and he’s the man for the job.
And imagine the standing ovation he would receive from Democrats when the state Legislature convenes the next day, and the momentum that would create for his legislative proposals – an agenda likely designed to boost his White House bid.
I can picture it. But, like I said, it’s just a hypothetical. Richardson still has to return from Sudan with something to show for his efforts. Then we’ll see what happens.
This weekend’s trip to