Washington Jewish Week - In Local Talk, Richardson Stresses Israel Bona Fides

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New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson admits he's not one of the "rock star candidates" running for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Yet, when it comes to Israel, "while other candidates talk about what they'll do, I've done it," he told some 150 people at a Chevy Chase synagogue on Wednesday of last week.

Speaking at Ohr Kodesh Congregation as part of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington's Presidential Forum Series, Richardson pointed out that, as United Nations ambassador, he had vetoed resolutions critical of Israel, was one of the first governors to buy Israel Bonds and voted with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee "97 percent of the time" while a member of Congress. "I can't figure out where [AIPAC] went wrong 3 percent of the time," he quipped.

Noting he has visited Israel 11 times, he said that he is "fully committed to the American-Israeli relationship" and the Jewish state's being the "cornerstone" of U.S. Middle East policy.

But he does believe that during the past six years, Israel has "lost strength in the region, not because of what [it's] done," but because of the increased power of Iran and terrorist groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.

"We're not moving in the right direction" in the Middle East, Richardson said, adding that if he were elected, he would ask Israel what he could do to "fortify" the U.S.-Israel relationship.

Discussing Iran, the candidate said he believed in holding talks with the Iranians, but would keep open the option of force to prevent that nation from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Richardson also clarified a remark that raised eyebrows in the Jewish community last month. He had told reporters at the National Jewish Democratic Council policy conference that he might name former Secretary of State James Baker, seen by many Israel supporters as unfavorable to the Jewish state, as a Middle East envoy.

Following last week's speech, he told WJW that he wanted to be bipartisan and that Baker's name had been the "first thing that came to mind," but that there are "plenty of other" statesmen who could fill the role as well.

After spending the first few minutes of his remarks discussing Israel, the New Mexico governor focused mainly on domestic policy ‹ displaying a casual, down-to-earth style that audience members said they found appealing. He occasionally would throw in a joke as well, musing that, after the rough trip he had the previous day, one of his priorities as president would be setting up an "Airline Passenger Bill of Rights."

Answering a question he says he is frequently asked ‹ "What would you do in your first six days as president?" ‹ Richardson said, to applause, that his agenda's top item would be to "get us out of Iraq" by the end of the calendar year. He would redeploy those forces to "fight al Qaeda and terrorism" and divert the $500 billion a year being used in Iraq to "domestic needs."

He would devote the following day to assuring a plan for energy independence, comparing it to President John Kennedy's challenge of putting an man on the moon in 10 years. The following four days, he said, would be spent on education, creating jobs, a national heath care plan and reaffirming a "woman's right to choose" and America's opposition to discrimination.

Richardson also said he would lead an America that says "Africa is important, too." In response to a question, he promised to take the lead in stopping the genocide in Darfur by pushing the United Nations for further sanctions and pressuring China to use its influence in the region.

A handful of attendees surveyed after the speech were impressed by the New Mexico governor.

Julie Gess said she already had looked positively at Richardson as a candidate, but after hearing him for the first time in person, she was going to call all her friends to tell them how impressive he was.

"He swept me off my feet," the District resident said, adding that the combination of his background, substance, honesty and his "appealing" speaking style added up to a strong candidate.

Michael Stempel, 42, of Chevy Chase also was impressed by Richardson's resume. He talked "in real world terms," Stempel said, by clearly laying out what he would do about certain problems.

McLean's Tina Rosenthal called Richardson "haimish," saying he has a "charisma that people can relate to."

Admitting she had no idea who Richardson was when a friend encouraged her to come to the event, Rosenthal said she now believes Richardson is the "whole package."

The governor's appearance was the second of the JCRC's Presidential Forum Series. Democrat Mike Gravel, a former U.S. senator from Alaska, was the first speaker earlier this month, and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is scheduled to appear in late June.

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