Michael Swickard
Many New Mexicans believe “pay for play” is our state motto. Nope, other states got that first. Ours is: “$howing $ufficient re$pect in the give-to-go Land of Enticement.”
It is the way decisions are made by some leaders, though not all. And there is the rub. Average citizens find it is hard to figure out who is on the “give-to-go” and who is not. A general rule I use is that when lots and lots of money is given to someone elected who has a means to reward contributions, then it more than likely means something.
From my four decades of watching New Mexico politicians I have several overarching perceptions. First, there are some politicians who cannot be bought, nor are they swayed in the least by money on the table. You will offend them if you even hint at scummy actions. They hate bad behavior, legal or not.
Then there are other politicians who are open for business at all times. They get quite huffy when you do not understand which way the dollars have to flow for attention. They expect everyone to understand that money greases the wheels of their attention.
Finally, there are in-betweeners who are not exactly open for business but can be swayed by dollars or other valuables at times. Most of the time they go to great lengths to keep things above board and honest. But at times they will stumble with the correct provocation be it monetary or even personal.
Not about judicial scandal
Very few “wall leaners” in the New Mexico Roundhouse think otherwise about those who can be bought and who cannot. Most who have watched our fascinating political system for any length of time know which leaders will take “give-to-go” money and how much to give for what favors.
Let me be clear: This column is not about a recent indictment for bribery of a district judge in Southern New Mexico. In that case there must be the presumption of innocence, which does not allow any room to discuss the information that came out in the grand jury. This is not just something to say. Suspicion is not proof and it is not American jurisprudence to think otherwise. The legal proceedings must be seen as a way for this district judge to clear his good name, and nothing else.
Still, it is on the mind of many people. An example is that this week the chief justice of the N.M. Supreme Court, Charles W. Daniels, declared to journalist Heath Haussamen that he did not pay a bribe for his position on the court, nor would be have entertained any thought of doing so. Again, our legal system does not allow for conviction by media, rather than a court of law.
My concern in this is that there is so much money in politics. Former N.M. Gov. Bill Richardson has not been charged with any crime. Any conjecture is just that. However, it has been my observation that to get his attention I would have to hand someone some cash. Perhaps I am wrong. It seemed to me that money had to be given to Richardson to have any access to him at all.
I have heard stories of university departments informally requiring all professors to donate to Richardson. They were favored with what they wanted. How to prove this? It is not easy when everyone is happy with the outcome of the give-to-go.
Might be nice to keep track
Most often the only time corruption comes out is when one of the consenting adults becomes unhappy. Care seems to have been taken to ensure the give-to-go was a win-win situation for participants. Richardson was a power player. He was a take-no-prisoners type of guy who knew how to “rough up” those who gave him any crap.
Richardson was completely in control of everything that happened. Anything that happened on his watch did so with his knowledge.
Again, it appears he was only playing by the rules. And I am sure there were a few people appointed to something by then-Governor Richardson without a “give-to-go” contribution. Might be nice to keep track of how often money greased the wheels of government.
Swickard is co-host of the radio talk show News New Mexico, which airs from 6 to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday on KSNM-AM 570 in Las Cruces and throughout the state through streaming. His e-mail address is michael@swickard.com.