{"id":3642,"date":"2008-08-28T22:42:00","date_gmt":"2008-08-29T04:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/2008\/08\/guv-gives-a-rousing-speech-at-democratic-convention\/"},"modified":"2008-08-28T22:42:00","modified_gmt":"2008-08-29T04:42:00","slug":"guv-gives-a-rousing-speech-at-democratic-convention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2008\/08\/guv-gives-a-rousing-speech-at-democratic-convention\/","title":{"rendered":"Guv gives a rousing speech at Democratic convention"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>If he had performed this well in public when he was running for president, Gov. Bill Richardson<\/a> might have been giving a different speech tonight at the Democratic National Convention<\/a>. <\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

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<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> roasted John McCain<\/a> and praised Barack Obama<\/a>, who spoke later in the evening.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cJohn McCain may pay hundreds of dollars for his shoes, but we\u2019re the ones who will pay for his flip-flops,\u201d Richardson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> said after listing some of those position shifts, including voting against the Bush tax cuts before deciding to support making them permanent.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

The speech was full of partisan spin, but that\u2019s 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<\/a> said Richardson<\/st1:city>\u2019s \u201cpartisan rhetoric is just more of the same old stuff\u201d and declared that \u201cNew Mexico<\/st1:place><\/st1:state> will be McCain country this November.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Richardson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> didn\u2019t have much time to prepare for today\u2019s speech. He was scheduled on Wednesday to give a different speech<\/a> 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\u2019s acceptance of his party\u2019s nomination in front of 75,000 people and on television.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Having to wing it proved beneficial for Richardson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>, who many speculate wants to be secretary of state. He\u2019s never been good at scripted events, but is usually pretty good in impromptu settings.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Richardson<\/st1:city> 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<\/st1:state><\/st1:place>. Speaking to what was likely the largest crowd he\u2019s ever faced, Richardson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> noted the size of the event.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we do things in our part of the country, we do them big,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Then he began the McCain bashing.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cJohn McCain says you\u2019re all here to follow a celebrity. It\u2019s time someone told him you\u2019re here to elect a president,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Richardson<\/st1:city> said in his lifetime America<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> has never faced as many difficult challenges as it faces today. He highlighted differences between the candidates on taxes, energy and the Iraq<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> war.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cJohn McCain called our recession psychological. His economic advisers say American families are whiners,\u201d Richardson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> said. \u201cBut when American oil companies whine, John McCain says they need more tax breaks. Barack Obama says it\u2019s time for that to end. No more economic policies that send jobs overseas, that cripple our industries.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Richardson transitioned nicely into a couple of minutes on foreign policy by asking whether anyone was going to miss Dick Cheney<\/a> and receiving a resounding \u201cNo!\u201d in response. He then said, \u201cJoe Biden<\/a> is going to be truly a great vice president of the United States<\/st1:country-region>\u201d before talking about Afghanistan<\/st1:country-region><\/st1:place> 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 \u2013 and Richardson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> is strong on foreign policy — a point the governor will have to make if he wants a shot at secretary of state.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Richardson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> closed with kind words for McCain — \u201cwe honor his service\u201d — but said \u201cthat doesn\u2019t mean we have to make him president.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\u201cAt a time when America<\/st1:country-region> needs change, and not more of the same, America<\/st1:country-region> needs Barack Obama,\u201d Richardson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> said. \u201cI have a question for America<\/st1:place><\/st1:country-region> and my fellow delegates: Are you ready to take this country back? Are we going to win this election? For America<\/st1:country-region><\/st1:place>\u2019s future? Let\u2019s do it!\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\n

Loud cheering followed each of Richardson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>\u2019s closing questions. He left the stage to chants of \u201cYes we can!\u201d His speech won\u2019t be remembered in the history books, but it was an effective lead-up to the real important speech of the evening.<\/p>\n

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<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s video of Richardson<\/st1:place><\/st1:city>\u2019s speech:<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n