Richardson: 'I'm not going to stoop to Carville's level'
Richardson recently endorsed Obama despite his longstanding ties to the Clintons.
(Photo credit: AP)
(CNN) - Barack Obama supporter Gov. Bill Richardson, D-New Mexico, responded on Sunday to controversial comments by James Carville, saying that he would not "stoop to Carville's level."
Carville, a Hillary Clinton supporter and former strategist for her husband's 1992 presidential campaign, compared Richardson to the Biblical figure Judas in an interview with the New York Times last week. When later asked whether his comment was accurate, Carville made no attempt to apologize, saying that it had "the desired effect."
"I haven't gotten into the gutter on this. And you know, I'm not going to stoop to Carville's level. I barely know the guy in the first place," Richardson told Bob Scheiffer on CBS's "Face the Nation."
Carville had argued that Richardson's endorsement of the Illinois senator was an act of betrayal since the governor has a long history of political ties with her husband. Richardson disagreed.
"I think loyalty to the nation, loyalty to the party is a lot more important than personal loyalty," he said. "I owe the Clintons a lot. I served in the president's cabinet. That loyalty is to President Clinton. That doesn't mean that I'm going to for the rest of my life be in lockstep with whatever they do."
Though Richardson did not personally attack the Democratic strategist, he criticized the Clinton campaign's behavior.
"I ran against Senator Clinton. I was a presidential candidate. And what I ran against this personal venom that people like Carville and many others in the Clinton team that feel a sense of entitlement, that the presidency is theirs. "
On CNN's Late Edition, Carville acknowledged that his comment was harsh, but said that these kind of campaign spats are "powder puff stuff" compared to the general election.
"I don't think this campaign has been particularly negative. I've probably said the most negative thing in the whole campaign," he told Wolf Blitzer.
–CNN's Peter Lanier
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Richardson, you couldn't reach Carville's level if you parked your big butt on Leahy's shoulder's on Dodd's shoulder's on Kerry's shoulders, on Kennedy's shoulders. Shut up.
Thats the ticket B.Richardson. Rise above the frey!
After watching the Clinton Chronicles on YouTube I've got an idea of what you've gone thru and witnessed all these years and no longer want any parts of.
You got out my friend and in one piece. God Bless You.
OBAMA '08
Is there no new news or what this is so 2 weeks ago!!!
test
Let me tell you this Mr. Traitor, you have stooped even further. You are a snake in the sleeve and greedy as hell.
Carville is Hillary's gutter-mouth and hit man. He is an example of everything wrong with with the politics of old. Both Hillary and Bill, most likely with Carville's advice, have to be the most negative, divisive political couple in US history. Carville and the Clintons are the cause of the polarization of the party.
Obama and Richardson have stayed on the high road and all the polls are beginning to reflect their choice is the best and correct one to follow..
How can you stoop any lower Richardson, when you are already on the bottem?
Give it up Richardson. Obama can't win in the general but his ego will take down the Dems. He is reaching too high too soon! 🙁
Hillary or McCain 08! 🙂
Remember what Carville said ,that the day he endorsed Obama coincided with the day Judas betrayed Jesus for 40 pieces of silver. Maybe the emphasis is on 40 pieces of silver.
Carville is missing the point. A campaign doesn't have to be negative and full of personal attacks if we don't make it that way. Campaigning wasn't aways this way.
I wish candidates would just stick to the issues and stead of intentionally lying, misleading and tearing each other down.
Well, Richardson is a Judas! There is nothing NOT TRUE about Mr. Carville's statement.
I don't think I want my country's image portrayed by the Carville's of the world. I highly respect Mr. Richardon for his high moral standards...Notice how is placed Mr. in front of Mr. Richardson's name. He has clearly earned my respect.
If loyalty means what Carville said, i see America going down for the next decade.
As an Obama supporter, I'm quite glad Carville is on the Clintons' side.
Obama has been stressing his argument that delegates should base their support on the outcome of the voters. (NM went for Hillary!) Based on your previous opportunity that Bill you should have stayed neutral if you did want to support Hillary So yes you are a Judas.
If I were Richardson, I would back a winner too. Its not that the Clinton campaign is losing on issues, its because of honor. People have seen the dishonesty and have left her in droves. The " if you can't beat em, cheat em" theory is obvious.
They tried to shut Bill Clinton up. Then they tried to shut Ferrero up. Now they are trying to shut Carville up.
SAY THAT, Gov. Richardson! Refuse to be a puppet.
Enough about it already.
What do the Clintons owe Richardson for having to answer for Bill over the Monica-gate mess? For pete's sake as far as I am concerned all of Bill's Cabinet paid him in full by having to put up with the garbage they absorbed over that mess.
Get over it Carville!
JUDAS...His poltical career was made by the CLINTONS...
So many in the Obama camp have backstabbed teh clintons..
So many backstabbers..
Hillary will Fight and Fight Hard!!
Hillary 08!!
GOOD ANSWER GOV. RICHARDSON
Richardson won't stoop to Carville's level?
I DON'T THINK JUDAS RICHARDSON COULD REACH THAT HIGH !!!
The Clintons believe they are entitled to the presidency. WE THE PEOPLE decide. Obama 2008!
I think you past Carville's level, Richardson. You sholdn't promise one thing and do another. So, did Obama offer you the VP position?
Its over Richardson. We true Latinas will never respect you. Its okay, wait till you want those extra funds for New Mexico.