Rod and Billy - The Company You Keep

So President-elect Obama is having to deal with another problem where somebody connected to him is being accused of receiving improper benefits , or "pay-to-play." This time it is former New Mexico Gov and former Clinton UN ambassador/Energy secretary Bill Richardson, Obama's nomination for Commerce secretary. It seems as if Gov. Richardson received some sizable campaign donations ($110,000) from a California company, CDR, that won several transportation contracts with the state of New Mexico during that time. CDR was paid nearly $1.5 million for their work in New Mexico in 2004-2005. Prosecutors have found enough evidence that these campaign contributions are tied to the contracts that they have convened a grand jury to investigate further.

As a result of the investigation and in order to allow the administration to get started on the right foot (read: not bog it down with another scandal before Barack Obama even makes it to the inaugeration), Bill Richardson has graciously withdrawn his name from the process and will not be confirmed by the Senate. Thanks Bill, that was swell of you. When did you decide to do this? When it appeared that an indictment is imminent? When somebody from the incoming administration saw that this was a disaster that they couldn't spin away? Another reason, Bill?

So, we have several people of questionable character associated with the incoming Obama administration and the President-elect has held up his hands in innocence, claiming he is in the dark with these things. Really? You didn't vet Bill Richardson before you nominated him for Commerce? Is that why Al Gore and John Edwards don't have a place in the administration yet? Heck, everybody else from the Clinton years has seemed to find a home.

Bill Richardson, Rod Blagojevich, Hillary Clinton, Eric Holder, Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayers, Greg Craig, Larry Summers, Rahm Emmanuel, Timothy Geithner, and Tom Dashcle - all questionable and shady characters with shadows in the closet that most people don't want to touch. You are claiming innocence with all of their skeletons? Hmmm, might say something about the company our President-elect is keeping.