by Charlie Ericksen
WASHINGTON, D.C. Ñ Hispanic leaders are absorbing New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson’s decision to decline President
elect Barack Obama’s nomination as Secretary of Commerce with a mix of sorrow and disbelief.
The reality show scenario of a black president circled by a strong Hispanic supporting cast hit a snag even before Obama could take the oath.
Both men are progeny of international mixed marriages, Obama with a Kenyan father, Richardson with a Mexican mother. Both built reputations as public servants of conviction and strength, of contagious confidence who together could inspire this nation to believe in itself again.
“An individual of great integrity and commitment,” Dialogue on Diversity president Cristina Caballero described Richardson to Hispanic Link News Service, sharing a common reaction to his retreat. She singled out his support on women’s issues when he served 14 years in Congress. “When our organization started nearly 20 years ago, he was one of the first two leaders to step forward.”
The morning after Richardson’s Jan. 4 announcement,the Washington Post’s headline story called his withdrawal “the first visible crack in what had been one of the smoothest presidential transitions in modern history.”
In its lead editorial, the Post credited hi with making “the right decision” and questioned the Obama transition team’s failure to do its homework.
The Post editorial stated that while Richardson’s confirmation “would inevitably have been delayed and the controversy an unnecessary distraction for the new Obama administration,…it’s unclear whether the political ground simply shifted on them in the wake of the (Illinois Gov. Rod) Blogojevich arrest. ” Blogojevich is accused of inviting cash offers in return for appointment to Obama’s vacated U.S. Senate seat. Political realities, not people, drive the news machines in this town.
A federal probe was initiated this past summer into whether Richardson’s offi ce or a political action committee he helped form
encouraged a New Mexico state agency five years ago to hire a California company whose president made contributions totaling $100,000 to two Political Action Committees associated with Richardson.
Speculation had been building in Washington that a “pay-to-play” allegation involving a Richardson supporter could turn his confirmation hearing into a media feeding frenzy. Kindled by a growing public distrust of federal leadership, it was ignited by revelations concerning Blagojevich, alleged to have put the U.S. Senate seat being relinquished by the president-elect up for bid.
None of the Hispanic organizational leaders Hispanic Link News Service contacted expect Richardson to end up in jail. He has been charged with nothing, convicted of nothing. Almost to the person, Hispanic leaders accept his “unequivocal”statement that he and his Administration “have acted properly in all matters and this investigation will bear out that fact.”
The danger is a political one. Had he chosen to tough out his conformation hearing, the fl ack would have sliced up not just his own
image. The effectiveness of Obama’s administration would take shrapnel, too.The pending investigation, Richardson said,“promises to extend for several weeks or, perhaps,even months.”
Such an eventuality could impede Obama’s quick-start response to the national economic crisis and defl ect attention from other matters of serious concern.
Obama accepted Richardson’s withdrawal with expected deep regret, stating that he looked forward to “future service to our
country and in my administration.”
Hispanics continue to express confi dence in Richardson’s ethical behavior.
Obama’s two remaining Hispanic nominees on his 20-member Cabinet Ñ U.S.Rep. Hilda Solís of California as Secretary of Labor and Senator Ken Salazar of Colorado as Secretary of Interior Ñ confi dently await their Senate confi rmations.
Intent on making Obama keep his promise to the Hispanic community to create a diverse, inclusive administration, members of the infl uential National Hispanic Leadership
Agenda have already conferred and forwarded to Obama’s transition team the names of half a dozen seasoned, highly qualifi ed individuals as candidates to head the Commerce Department.
John Trasviña, the NHLA’s Washingtonsavvy chairman and president of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, told Hispanic Link News Service that the group identifi ed several individuals with strong credibility in the community who will receive widespread support if they’re nominated. Hispanic Link.
