by Frank James,Chicago Tribune
Obama and advisors bumble with Richardson
My first thought on hearing that New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson had asked President-elect Obama to drop his nomination as Commerce Secretary because of a federal probe into possible pay to play activity in Richardson’s office was “Uh-oh,don’t tell me Obama has some pay-to-play curse that will be following his presidency like a hungry stray dog.”
The scandal involving Gov. Rod Blagojevich in Illinois is,of course,about the governor’s alleged pay-to-play activities including the charge in a federal criminal complaint that he sought to auction off Obama’s vacant Senate seat. First Illinois,now New Mexico. You’re almost afraid to ask what state comes next?
My follow-up thought was that Richardson’s move obviously calls into question the quality of the,ahem,“vetting process”that the Obama team conducted. How did Richardson,an old baseball player,ever to first base with a huge problem like this hanging out there?