I was quite discouraged, to say the least, upon reading a recent Daily op-ed criticizing Tufts' favorite son, Gov. Bill Richardson. While I will not attempt to argue points from the piece, my hope is that in spite of the negativity surrounding modern politics, we, as relatively idealistic and optimistic students, can concentrate on the positive aspects of what makes each presidential candidate stand out. This dialogue, I hope will be encouraged amongst my fellow students who decide to write editorials promoting the candidate they support.
Why write an op-ed promoting Richardson for the Democratic presidential nomination? For one, he is perhaps the most qualified candidate in the field. As a former U.S. Congressman of 14 years, Ambassador to the United Nations, Secretary of Energy and now governor of New Mexico, Richardson has the experience to make tough decisions based on a wealth of knowledge gained from years of on-the-job training.
Upon browsing through the potential democratic candidates, I knew exactly what I wanted: a person who has the gumption to get us out of Iraq, decrease our dependency on oil, improve healthcare and education systems and stabilize our economy.
As governor of New Mexico, Richardson has accomplished many of these goals already. He has turned that state into a leader in alternative energy, provided health insurance to every child resident under five years of age, increased teacher salaries, cut taxes for the middle and lower classes, balanced the budget and increased the minimum wage.
He even successfully negotiated for the release of a Pulitzer-prize winning journalist in Sudan and helped to frame a fragile cease-fire in the Darfur region. Through diplomacy, Richardson has proven that he can get the job done. This is the kind of experience and leadership the country desperately needs.
So often, a presidential candidate is judged by his character more so than his stances on issues. Upon first meeting the governor, I was extremely surprised by how personable and down to earth he was. He spoke to me: a student, a citizen, an elected official and most importantly, an undecided voter.
Instead of giving me the usual, politically correct, suave performance many of us have grown to expect, he stared me straight in the eye and told me exactly how he felt. He was not afraid to say he didn't know or to give me an answer that might be unpopular. He was truthful. He was real. As I spent more time with the governor on the campaign trail, this never changed. He remained the same honest candidate.
As a proven leader, Richardson will be a great asset to have in the White House. As a straight shooter, his character is exactly what this country needs. I encourage you to pay close attention not to the money each candidate has raised, but to instead focus on what each candidate has accomplished and further, what each candidate has the potential to accomplish as president.
For more information about Gov. Bill Richardson, I encourage you to visit his Web site, www.richardsonforpresident.com, or attend one of the Tufts for Richardson meetings.
Scott Merrick is a senior majoring in political science and is also currently serving his second term as a New Hampshire State Representative.
