Presidential campaigns aren't famous for producing honesty, so it's refreshing when someone like Democratic candidate and New Mexico governor Bill Richardson can speak his mind.
In an interview with the Hill newspaper published today, Richardson offers wide-ranging thoughts on American politics. And his comments on some matters, like why he hasn't asked attorney general Alberto Gonzales to resign, are, to put it mildy, original: "The only reason I'm not [calling for Gonzales's resignation] is because he's Hispanic, and I know him and like him," said Richardson, adding, "It's because he's Hispanic. I'm honest."
He continued: "I want to give him the benefit of the doubt."
The governor's dance with honesty didn't end there. Richardson has recently returned from a trip to North Korea, where he was part of a bipartisan delegation to secure the remains of six US soldiers killed during the Korean war. Said Richardson of the mission: "The North Korea trip has given me a lot of visibility and good buzz."
The governor has always cultivated the image of a freewheeling rebel - an image that apparently extends to the campaign trail. "You're not canned. You've got no talking points," Richardson said of his campaign. "You just got to let it rip."
