Bill Richardson
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Born: 11/15/47
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Key Campaign Platform (source: www.richardsonforpresident.com)
- Iraq: Governor Richardson's plan in Iraq is to de-authorize the war and withdraw ALL troops in six months, we can start redirecting these funds toward what matters most for Americans: improving education, expanding access to quality health care, and addressing the REAL security threats like the Taliban, nuclear proliferation, and global warming. This seven-point 'New Realism' plan for Iraq describes in detail what is required and includes: promoting Iraqi reconciliation, global cooperation, and significant de-authorizing the war now.
- Immigration Reform: As the Governor of New Mexico Richardson dealt with the effects of immigration, legal and illegal, every day. The federal government has not done enough to solve the problem. In 2005 violent crime, drugs, and crime were out of control along New Mexico's border with Mexico. He took action, declaring a state of emergency along the border, making $1.75 million available to local law enforcement agencies to increase patrols and add personnel. As a result, arrests are up, crime is down, and the flow of undocumented immigrants has slowed. Governor Richardson believes in a realistic immigration reform plan that must address the problem from all sides -- securing the border, penalizing employers for knowingly hiring illegal workers, offering a tough but reasonable path to legalization, engaging Mexico in the reform process, and improving our current immigration quota system.
U.S.-India Relations
- Governor Richardson has hinted at supporting India's inclusion as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. In one of his speeches, he said: "A third trend transforming our world is the rapid rise of Asian economic and military power, above all in China and India. The simultaneous rise of India, China, and Russia requires our thoughtful attention and strategic leadership, so that these powerful nuclear-armed nations may be integrated into a stable global order."
- Governor Richardson has voiced his support for a greater role for India in global affairs, and has said on at least one occasion that India can provide an effective economic counterbalance to China.
Notable Achievements
- Was actively involved in formulating and promoting American foreign policy and was the preferred envoy to nations such as Sudan, North Korea, Iraq, Cuba, Peru, Bangladesh and Nigeria.
- In January 2007, he secured a 60-day ceasefire in the strife-torn Darfur region in Sudan where hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost due to civil war.
- Introduced one of the most prominent Native American bills in the House that was late signed into law by President Bill Clinton.
- He was nominated four times for the Nobel Peace Prize for negotiating the release of hostages, American servicemen and political prisoners in Cuba, North Korea and Iraq.
