Richardson slams McCain over Georgia
Sun, 10 Aug 2008 21:55:44 GMT
Democratic Bill Richardson, a supporter of Barack Obama
New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson says Sen. John McCain's campaign is run by lobbyists that represent Georgia and other countries.

As Georgian military forces launched a large-scale military offensive against South Ossetia on the eve of the opening ceremony of the Olympic games and Russia, in response, moved its forces to the region, a clash between the supporters of two White House runners was triggered over the crisis.

"He takes huge amounts of money from oil companies that are profiting in the (former) Soviet Union and many parts of the world," Richardson said Sunday.

"This has been one of the failures of the Bush administration, to build a strong relationship, a mutually beneficial relationship with Russia, so we'd have the kind of influence to persuade them to stop some of these very, very dangerous efforts within their territory," he added.

John McCain urged Russia to "immediately" halt military operations while Barack Obama demanded that Georgia's territorial integrity be respected.

Richardson, a former US envoy to the UN said that McCain's frequent calls to expel Russia from the G8 club of powerful nations would prove disastrous if enacted.

"I believe what Senator McCain is proposing is totally, totally wrong," he said, stressing the United States needs Russia's help with Middle East peace and in Iraq.

Russian officials had earlier said that Georgia would never be able to attack South Ossetia without the support of the US.

BGA/DT
texas grass Reviewed by texas grass on . Richardson slams McCain over Georgia Richardson slams McCain over Georgia Sun, 10 Aug 2008 21:55:44 GMT Democratic Bill Richardson, a supporter of Barack Obama New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson says Sen. John McCain's campaign is run by lobbyists that represent Georgia and other countries. As Georgian military forces launched a large-scale military offensive against South Ossetia on the eve of the opening ceremony of the Olympic games and Russia, in response, moved its forces to the region, a clash between the supporters Rating: 5