"I can get bipartisan support... bring Democrats and Republicans together... bring nations together

[bigtree]

Associated Press Writer

DALLAS — At the start of a tour to try to capture the support of neighboring Texans, Democratic presidential hopeful and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson said Sunday that, if elected, he would work to raise the country's image around the world while improving wages and health care availability at home.

"I can get bipartisan support. I can bring Democrats and Republicans together. I can bring nations together," Richardson, a former congressman, ambassador and energy secretary in the Clinton administration, told a small group of mainly Spanish language media Sunday.

With planned stops in San Antonio, Abilene and Austin this week, Richardson is trying to capture the support of neighboring Texas for several reasons. The state would have a better say in selecting presidential nominees if lawmakers move up the primary to Feb. 5. Texas also offers Richardson, the son of a Mexican mother and American father, a potential base of support in its growing Latino population.

"Don't vote for me just because I'm Hispanic, but because I have the best plan for education, health and immigration," Richardson said after effortlessly switching to Spanish.

Richardson pointed to recently approved legislation raising the minimum wage in his home state and his experience leading a border state as preparation to deal with the country's concerns over immigration and jobs.

"This is a tax-cutting Democrat who is moderate who also knows how to govern with a balanced budget who also respects Americans' civil rights," he said.

report: http://www.statesman.com/news/content/gen/ap/TX_Richardson_Texas.html

[Buzz Clik]

1. Richardson spoke Spanish? The knuckledraggers will shit their pants.

"Amurcans should speak Amurcan. Don't tell me I have to 'press one' for English. Put yer ass in that INS van, and go back to Messico."

[bigtree]

2. Bush has done it for years

knuckle-draggers nowithstanding

[Buzz Clik]

3. Yeah, and how happy are they with his border policies?

If Bush busied himself catering the the rightwing demands for purging this country of Mexicans, he'd immediately add 15 points to his approval rating.

Richardson speaking Spanish will only remind them how pissed off they are at Bush.

[bigtree]

4. again, Bush speaks Spanish

Dodd speaks it, arguably better than Richardson.

On the immigration debate, the border Democrat would/will wipe the floor with ANY knuckle-dragger they put up.

[ellenfl]

6. his spanish is rudimentary . . . like his english.

he sounds like a 'murkin' trying to sound like a latino.

ellen fl

[rooney]

5. bush can't speak Spanish, He would say a

few words occasionally, like Hola or something simple and he certainly doesn't speak Spanish in sentences that are complete. BTW he doesn't do that in English either.

[Learn2Swim]

7. lol

I got a good laugh out of that, picturing him doing that. Then I imagined people in the crowd being like "WTF?". :)