I'm not sure who I'll be supporting in the presidential race but New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson certainly made an excellent impression on me at last night's Human Rights Campaign 2007 Los Angeles Gala where he was the keynote speaker. Hillary Clinton was also in town for a private fundraiser and I'm still sore at her for being too cautious in her initial response to Gen. Peter Pace's anti-gay remarks a few weeks back.
So right now, I'm up for grabs.
It was so refreshing to hear a politician address a crowd of mostly gay and lesbian people and to unabashedly embrace us: "You will never have to prod me to make a stand with you," Richardson said. "I know there are a lot of candidates who are rock stars and have a lot of bucks, but I'm getting up there - I'm moving up!"
I like Richardson not just because he's gay-friendly, but he's the first Hispanic-American to run for president! It's kind of ironic that he is such an underdog for the Democratic nomination given his experience as a governor, 15 years as a congressman, former secretary of energy (under Pres. Clinton) and abassador to the U.N. He's also been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize four different times for negotiating the release of hostages, American servicemen and political prisoners in North Korea, Iraq and Cuba, according to the bio in the HRC program.
HE should be the rock star!
Richardson told the crowd that he was not at the HRC dinner campaigning ("sort of...") and told of his current efforts to pass a domestic partnership act in New Mexico to go along with the hate crime and anti-discrimination legislation that has already been passed.
"I want a domestic partnership bill so I can sign it," he said. "I believe all families deserve our respect."
He seems undaunted by the opposition.
"I've done all of this in a red state. I'm convinced we can accomplish all of that on a national level."
As for "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," Richardson said simply: 'It's gotta go. If I'm elected president, I will end this disastrous, disrespectful policy. It makes no sense to turn away and turn out well-qualified recruits at a time when our country needs them the most."
Richardson said two of his top priorities as president would be to pass federal hate crime and anti-discrimination acts on a federal level and to have the fight against AIDS the highest priority of foreign policy: "I've spent my career pushing this agenda because it's the right thing to do."
"This country is tired of the politics of hatred and division. What we need is someone who can bring us together."
Well said.