Richardson withdraws as Obama's Commerce Secretary designate

January 4, 3:55 PMRight Side Politics ExaminerDan Spencer

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NBC News reports Obama's Commerce Secretary designate, Governor Bill Richardson has withdrawn his name for the position, citing a pending investigation into a company that has done business with his state:

Obama said Sunday he accepted Richardson's decision to withdraw with 'deep regret.'

"Governor Richardson is an outstanding public servant and would have brought to the job of Commerce Secretary and our economic team great insights accumulated through an extraordinary career in federal and state office," Obama said.

The investigation is part of a broad national federal exploration of "pay-to-play," in which government officials reap financial or other benefits in return for state business. The most infamous part of the federal probe is the recent arrest of Illinois Democrat Governor Blagojevich.

I have never thought much of Bill Richardson. I can't get past the Wen Ho Lee scandal at the Los Alamos National Laboratory when Bill Richardson was energy secretary.

The necessity of Richardson's withdrawal, is further evidence that Obama's poor judgment about whom he chooses to associate with, folks like the still unrepentant terrorist Bill Ayers and Reverend Wright with will cause the Obama presidency problems.

Watch the following MSNBC video report:

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