Richardson Plays Eddie Haskell

A favorite television show as I grew up was Leave It to Beaver. June and Ward Clever, raising their sons Wally and Theodore (Beaver), were written as the model American family. One character in the show, Wally's friend Eddie Haskell, was a weasel kind of guy. The phrase "Eddie Haskell" is known to refer to an insincere brown-noser", according to Wikipedia. "Eddie's two-faced style was also typified by his efforts to curry favor by talking to adults at the level he thought they would respect." June and Ward Clever saw the transparency of Haskell's weasel ways yet rarely called him on them.

Friday, at a rally in Oregon, former Clinton administration cabinet member, current New Mexico governor, Bill Richardson endorsed Barack Obama for President. This event was played up, excessively so, mostly to deflect some of the attention Obama's campaign has endured over the Jeremiah Wright flap. Richardson ran for the presidency himself but was unable to catch on with the Democratic primary voters. I think even the Democrats voting in the primaries saw the true Bill Richardson character. Just like Mike Huckabee, he was enjoying the attention and over-stayed his time in the campaign.

Richardson's endorsement was a big ole 'gotcha' moment for Hillary Clinton. As recently as Super Bowl Sunday, Richard was photographed and enjoyed the publicity of spending the afternoon with former President Bill Clinton, watching the game together in New Mexico. Richardson, a Super Delegate in the Democratic Party, was said to be sending signals that he was on board the Hillary Express.

Let's remember, Richardson was brought into the spotlight of national news as a member of Bill Clinton's administration. Bill did the whole 'my administration will look like America' thing. So, instead of concentrating on the most qualified cabinet appointments, it was all about symbols. Richardson was brought on from the House of Representatives. He was the Hispanic guy. Technically he's only Hispanic on his mother's side, but still. He was Secretary of Energy - no accomplishments - and then over to the U.N. as our representative.

Richardson ran for President this election cycle on these credentials. He was elected governor of New Mexico on these credentials. Were it not for Bill Clinton, Richardson would probably still be just another member of the House of Representatives. His main statement during his campaign for President was that he would immediately withdraw troops from Iraq and he would go around the world negotiating with every dictator known to man. He's all about the talking. Never mind that all his previous talking didn't stop the lead up to 9/11. He and Madeleine Albright were a swell team.

To pour a bit of salt into the wound to Hillary's campaign, Richardson deviated a bit from the standard protocol of diplomats. Richardson, previously self-promoted as an incredibly gifted diplomat, was interviewed by Lester Holt this past weekend. From NewsBusters.org : "Holt: Before we talk about what was behind your endorsement of Obama, I've got to ask you about the phone call you had to make on Thursday to Senator Clinton. You're friends with the Clintons, you worked for Bill Clinton in his administration. What was the phone call like?

Bill Richardson: Well [chortling], I've had better phone calls. I talked to Senator Clinton about 9 o'clock, and I told her, and you know, she was, she was disappointed. It was a little bit heated. She asked me why, I gave her the reasons..."

Standard diplomatic protocol, and just plain good manners, in this type of situation, would have Richardson do the standard response that he wouldn't blab about a personal phone call. But no. Richardson had to get in the jab that Hillary was angry. Was that an unusual response on her part? Why would it be? Up until that phone call, she was lead to believe Richardson was supporting her.

Eddie Haskell. Bill Richardson is Eddie Haskell.

So, who knows what kind of deal Richardson cut with Obama. Maybe he'll be offered a good gig with him. Richardson seems to have waited until he felt Obama will be the clear winner of the nomination and went with that team. And, he got the publicity at the campaign rally from the television networks and newspapers. He and Obama did the man hug three times on that stage.

It was all typical smarmy stuff from the campaign above the fray. There are lots of former Clinton people in Obama's campaign. They've shown a bit more class in how their participation has been handled.

Nice going, Eddie.