By Dorothy Rowley
AFRO Staff Writer
(January 4, 2009) - New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has become the first casualty of President-elect Barack Obama's cabinet picks, having made a stunning decision this weekend to withdraw as the nominee for commerce secretary.
One of the country's most prominent Hispanic politicians, Richardson, 61, said Sunday that his decision to walk away from the Obama nomination was based on an investigation into a company that engaged in business with New Mexico's state government.
Obama, who described Richardson as an "outstanding public servant," said he accepted the withdrawal, but with "deep regret."
Said Obama, "It is a measure of his willingness to put the nation first that he has removed himself as a candidate for the cabinet in order to avoid any delay in filling this important economic post at this critical time. Although we must move quickly to fill the void left by Gov. Richardson's decision, I look forward to his future service to our country and in my administration."
Richardson has denied any wrongdoing in the matter and it was believed that the Senate would have easily confirmed his appointment.
But Richardson determined to call it quits, explaining he feared that a lengthy investigation would impede his chance at confirmation.
According to a December Washington Post article, a federal grand jury in Albuquerque has been investigating whether a financial firm improperly won more than $1.4 million in work for the state shortly after making contributions to some of Richardson's political action committees.
"Let me say unequivocally that I and my administration have acted properly in all matters and that this investigation will bear out that fact," Richardson said in a statement released by Obama's transition team. "But I have concluded that the ongoing investigation would have forced an untenable delay in the confirmation process."
He added that because of the sense of urgency surrounding the work of the Department of Commerce, he'd asked Obama to cease moving forward with the nomination.
Richardson, who served seven terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and as energy secretary for President Bill Clinton, had also sought the current U.S. presidency before dropping out of the race last year. At the time he made the decision in January 2008, he had a very small support base.
Political pundits are now saying that his exit from consideration as a cabinet member sheds a negative light on the president-elect because Obama has reportedly gone the extra mile to ensure that he performed a rigorous screening of his top appointees.
They also say Richardson’s absence will reduce the potential for Hispanics to have a powerful role in the Obama administration.
Hispanics, who voted 67 percent in favor of Obama's presidency, had anxiously awaited Richardson’s appointment to the Commerce post -- especially after Obama passed him over for secretary of state in favor of Sen. Hillary Clinton.
Hispanic columnists had also reacted to the decision with searing criticism, suggesting that Obama had a lack of respect for the Hispanic community. But, following Richardson's nomination, the Hispanic community as a whole expressed pride over his selection, saying it brought along with it the promise of better opportunities overall for Latinos in America.