RICHARDSON WHACKS DEM FRONT RUNNERS

From NBC’s Julia Steers and Kristin Wilson

"If you haven't seen enough to know that we need to get all the troops out, then you aren't watching the same war that the rest of America is seeing."

Presidential candidate Bill Richardson took that implicit shot at his rivals for the Democratic nomination Thursday at a speech at Georgetown University. Although the New Mexico Governor he insisted he "wasn't criticizing anybody," he didn't mince words when it came to the Iraq policies of his opponents.

"Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards have said we have to wait and see how things go to know how many troops they bring out and how quickly,” Richardson said. “I
say there has been enough waiting and seeing."

He saved his harshest criticism for the Democratic frontrunner, saying that she is "wrong" and that her policy is "exactly backward."

"Senator Clinton has said she might well have troops still in Iraq at the end of a second term -- nine years from now ... Military analysts have said that Senator Clinton's plan could require leaving up to 75,000 troops in Iraq. That is changing the mission, not ending the war."

He also attacked Clinton's position on Iran, saying that she has aided the "wrongheaded" Bush Administration policy "by voting for their irresponsible resolution on Iran."

A Georgetown sophomore got the best of the governor when he asked if Richardson would accept the VP position in a Clinton or Obama Administration despite his opposition to their Iraq policy. Smacking his forehead and a burst of laughter, Richardson said he was "just pointing out the differences" between the policies, but insisted, "I don't have to worry about being vice president, because I'm going to win the nomination."...[Open in new window]
*
Right on, Bill. Even if you are just saying it, it's good to hear.