If he had performed this well in public when he was running for president, Gov. Bill Richardson might have been giving a different speech tonight at the Democratic National Convention.
Not really. But Richardson the Western governor was much better tonight than Richardson the presidential candidate was during most debates and other major events. In a speech that included a couple of memorable one-liners delivered with enthusiasm and energy, Richardson roasted John McCain and praised Barack Obama, who spoke later in the evening.
“John McCain may pay hundreds of dollars for his shoes, but we’re the ones who will pay for his flip-flops,” Richardson said after listing some of those position shifts, including voting against the Bush tax cuts before deciding to support making them permanent.
The speech was full of partisan spin, but that’s the nature of such events. The state GOP took advantage of the opportunity to hit back. In a news release, state party Chairman Allen Weh said Richardson’s “partisan rhetoric is just more of the same old stuff” and declared that “New Mexico will be McCain country this November.”
Richardson didn’t have much time to prepare for today’s speech. He was scheduled on Wednesday to give a different speech on foreign policy but was bumped from the program because time ran short. He had to come up with a new speech to give today, one that helped set the stage for Obama’s acceptance of his party’s nomination in front of 75,000 people and on television.
Having to wing it proved beneficial for Richardson, who many speculate wants to be secretary of state. He’s never been good at scripted events, but is usually pretty good in impromptu settings.
Richardson began his speech by welcoming those in attendance at INVESCO Field at Mile High in English to the American West and in Spanish to Colorado. Speaking to what was likely the largest crowd he’s ever faced, Richardson noted the size of the event.
“When we do things in our part of the country, we do them big,” he said.
Then he began the McCain bashing.
“John McCain says you’re all here to follow a celebrity. It’s time someone told him you’re here to elect a president,” he said.
Richardson said in his lifetime America has never faced as many difficult challenges as it faces today. He highlighted differences between the candidates on taxes, energy and the Iraq war.
“John McCain called our recession psychological. His economic advisers say American families are whiners,” Richardson said. “But when American oil companies whine, John McCain says they need more tax breaks. Barack Obama says it’s time for that to end. No more economic policies that send jobs overseas, that cripple our industries.”
Richardson transitioned nicely into a couple of minutes on foreign policy by asking whether anyone was going to miss Dick Cheney and receiving a resounding “No!” in response. He then said, “Joe Biden is going to be truly a great vice president of the United States” before talking about Afghanistan and nuclear proliferation. In doing so, he subtly made two important points: Biden is strong on foreign policy — a point the Obama campaign wants to make – and Richardson is strong on foreign policy — a point the governor will have to make if he wants a shot at secretary of state.
Richardson closed with kind words for McCain — “we honor his service” — but said “that doesn’t mean we have to make him president.”
“At a time when America needs change, and not more of the same, America needs Barack Obama,” Richardson said. “I have a question for America and my fellow delegates: Are you ready to take this country back? Are we going to win this election? For America’s future? Let’s do it!”
Loud cheering followed each of Richardson’s closing questions. He left the stage to chants of “Yes we can!” His speech won’t be remembered in the history books, but it was an effective lead-up to the real important speech of the evening.
Here’s video of Richardson’s speech:
If he had performed this well in public when he was running for president, Gov. Bill Richardson might have been giving a different speech tonight at the Democratic National Convention.