Whether he is guilty of any wrong doing or not, he stepped aside for the sake of Obama and the country. I have always liked Bill Richardson and I hope he is not involved in any criminal activity. At this point in time with Obama getting his cabinet together and the mammoth challenge he faces, a scandal would only hinder Obama’s performance. Under the circumstances, Richardson did the right thing. It’s too bad there aren’t more public servants like him.
He is involved in a grand jury investigation into corruption on a pay-for-play scandal. He never should have considered (or been considered for) the appointment in the first place. Do they not vet people at all?
I would think that the first question you ask a potential cabinet candidate is, "Are you the subject of any criminal investigations that might require you serving the remainder of your cabinet post from a federal or state prison? If so, please explain the number of years that you face if convicted."
If the answer is in the affirmative, the follow-up question should be, "Would you be willing to accept a back-up position as head of the Feceral Department of Prisons and Rehabilitation?"
Dems went balistic because Palin's daughter was pregnant. And Richardson is being investigated for corruption, and he skates by the first stages of vetting. Amazing.
Also, I always thought Richardson was major phony. He plays "Hispanic." His mother was ultra upper class Mexican who married a Boston Brahmin in banking of the upper class. He has as much in common with "Hispanics" in East L.A. as I have with the residents of Mars.
I first thought I would be upset for the next 4 or 8 years. I have never laughed as much in my life.
James Carville has the best word for Richardson ,Judas 
and Carville would NEVER take it back
A lot of Dems who are from privileged backgrounds pretend to be middle class.
Remember Lunch Pail Joe Bidden? His father was not blue collar. He lived in Scranton, but their are nice areas of Scranton. That is the type of distraction magicians use. Now you have Scranton in mind. He must be a tough kid from the hood. Don't ask what part of Scranton.
Biden's father was managment, not blue collar. His grandfather was a state Senator, if I recall. (He may have been a U.S. Congressman, but I admit my memory is weak.)
Bidden went to the most elite prep school in his state. (The coffee shop he hangs at after Home Depot, the one he referenced in his speech when he talked about the current concerns of the working people, closed for decades. Biden lives in a 6,000 foot mansion. Poor baby.
Guess who also went to the most elite private school in Hawaii. Hint: who lived in tha Aloha State?
Irony, irony, irony - the most middle class of the four canditates, the really middle class person was Palin. What ever else you can say about her, she is as truly middle class as you get.