Taking a Look at Bill Richardson

Chris Crain blogs on New Mexico Governor and Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson's pro-gay record. Among other things:

• He signed legislation expanding New Mexico civil rights laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity. (At the time, only three other states had included transgender protections.)
• He signed an executive order in 2003 extending health insurance and other benefits to the same-sex domestic partners of N.M. state employees.
• He's on record backing full-fledged civil unions and (unlike John Kerry) opposes state-level constitutional amendments banning gays from marrying.
• While in Congress, Richardson backed military service for out gay men and lesbians. That means, unlike Al Gore, John Kerry, John Edwards, Hillary and the rest, he was anti-Don't Ask, Don't Tell when it was very uncool to be.

Obama's Got a Point

In his statement announcing his forming a presidential exploratory committee, Obama takes on the establishment:

Obama tried to turn his biggest weakness _ his lack of experience in national politics _ into an asset by criticizing the work of those who have been in power.

"The decisions that have been made in Washington these past six years, and the problems that have been ignored, have put our country in a precarious place," he said.

No kidding. If years of experience and seasoned political hands gets us Katrina and Iraq, who needs it?