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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I think Carville is way out of line on this but he is a great role model for cancer patients everywhere.
He already has!!
sour grapes setting into the clinton team...it is clear
I am reading the Enquirer or a serious, reputable news website.....
I have been confused lately by all the smut that makes the headlines on your website.
Good answer. Who is Carville anyway? Just a troll doing his master's bidding. Looks the part too.
You're a better man than Carville. No need.
This man is so sensible, articulate, and intelligent I really regret him not being a current candidate and hope that he will be a VP for Barack Or Hillary
It really is not spite
Nor antagonism towards Obama.
But American people- and democrats in particular- don't like disenfranchising voters.
Not counting the votes in Fl and Mi disenfranchises those voters ( stop prattling about the rules) and then swiftboats Hillary Clinton out of her win.
This will sour the people who once would have voted for Obama if he had won fair and square. But winning by cheating is not winning at all.
I think Richardson's thinly veiled attempt at a Vice Presidency or Cabinet position is stooping to a much lower level than anything else.
Lou Dobbs is the biggest blow hard in the news business.
I like Richardson and think he did the right thing!
Good for Governor Richardson! Carville's brand of politics are outdated and Americans are tired of it.
I agree wtih Richardson. Why add more fuel to the fire if there is no point in it? Way to keep on the high road.
Good for Richardson.
People are tired of the politics of personal destruction practiced by Carville and the Clintons.
Very excited to see a great race between Obama and McCain.
Gov. Richardson forgot that his word was his bond, obviously he also ignores the voters of his fine state and his word to his supporters is also broken.. I believe he was portrayed by Mr. Carvelle as he truly is .
Hillary Clinton is a country without the tree.
I am afraid it is matter of Governor Richardson reaching up to James Carville's level!
I don't expect anything good from richardson. He should be done for.
Waiting for rude comments from Clinton people, 'cause I know its going to happen.
"It had the desired effect", huh? And what's that? DIVISIVE? Should we expect anything less from a Clinton supporter.
Time For change.
OBAMA 08
The Fat Cat already did his stoopen.
This guy will step on anybody he can.
I have zero respect for him.
Lets hope he doesn't end up in Obama's white house,
he'll screw him 10 years from know.
Williams a clinton head person involved in slum lord adgency, that gave loans out to people that can't pay them and also targeting African Americans.
I don't care what anyrone says about Rezco, it was dead but so many clinton supporters kept bringing it back up. Now you have this......waiting for spin....
What are you afraid of CNN? Afraid to post comments that don't lock step with the democrats? So much for "The name you can trust" hype.
Gerat – Another self-righteous Obama supporter, acting like they're morally superioir politicians. Gimme a break, Judas!
Interesting how many Obama backers speak as if they have some sense.