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Richardson: I Won't Be Anybody's VPGov. Bill Richardson answers questions in our presidential mashup.

Updated Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2007, at 11:50 PM ET

The following is an unedited transcript and may contain typos or omissions. Click here for more on the presidential mashup.

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Richardson: Yes. That means H-1B visas, that means looking for workers in this country that we need in certain sectors. This means focusing not just on illegal immigration, but legal immigration. There's a huge backlog of enormously talented people and workers that, because of red tape and bureaucracy, can't get in, especially in the computer sector, especially in health-care areas. Yes, I would. Those H-1B visas, I believe, need to be increased to permit more skilled workers to come into our work force. This enhances our competitiveness.

Rose: What have you learned about education as governor?

Richardson: What I've learned is that I am hands-on. All these issues you've talked to me about, education, health care, I have to manage them. I have to balance budgets. I see directly whether a child is increasing his proficiency or his testing scores. I see, for instance, how one out of two minority kids in this country are not graduating from high school. As a governor, I'm able to put money in education to build schools. I'm very proud of the fact that I boosted teachers' salary. We used to be 48^th in the country in New Mexico. We're 28^th. So, I have hands-on experiences that a lot of these other candidates don't. They all have their 10-point plans. I've actually done a lot of good things in education that involves helping a child and making us more competitive.

Rose: For this "mashup" online, we have invited Bill Maher to submit questions to each candidate. And here on videotape is his question.

Bill Maher: Gov. Richardson, what criticism would you apply to the voters? Do you think they're fair with you guys? Are they fickle? Are they shallow? Do they make informed choices? Do they pay attention to the right things? Do you ever, on the real now, feel like we're spoiled brats who can't take the truth and have to be lied to?

Richardson: My answer to that is, thank God for the voters. Thank God especially in the small living rooms in Iowa and New Hampshire that know how to scrutinize a president and know how to ask the right questions. My big concern is that 48 percent of the American people of our voters turn out when they elect a president, and it should be 90-plus percent. I have a lot of faith in the voters. What I worry about is our institutions. The national media, for example, in Washington and New York that likes to tell the American people who's going to win, what the polls are saying. I feel that the American voter is substantially well-informed, and it's up to politicians and political leaders and parties to stimulate greater voter turnout, and that means talking honestly about issues. That means ethics reforms. That means campaign-finance reform. That also means that my judgment, some kind of public financing to restore faith. The voters are losing faith in our institutions. And they feel that too many lobbies and too many special interests dominate us. And they are right. What we need is for political leaders and political parties to speak frankly to voters, to get exposed to them—not just the candidates that have the most money, but the candidates that are truest in terms of their views and what they stand for. I would just conclude—I just believe that with the voters, what they want is who can bring change and who has the most experience. And I believe that, humbly, I bring both.

Rose: What do you say to those people in the media who suggest that, while you would very much like to be president, while you have an impressive résumé, that this campaign may very well be about the vice presidency for you?

Richardson: Well, I would say to them, Charlie, that I want to be president. I believe I'm the most qualified because of my ability to bring change and experience. I've done a lot of these things that everyone talks about in their 10-point plans. I'm not interested in being vice president. If I'm not selected, I will return to the best job in the world, governor of New Mexico. I'll start riding my horse again. I'll have a normal life. I have four years to go. Being a governor, the CEO of a state, is the best job I've ever had. So, I would not leave the arena, sadly.

Rose: So, you wouldn't leave the governorship of New Mexico to be vice president on anybody's ticket?

Richardson: No, no. I'm very happy where I am.

Rose: Thank you, Gov. Richardson.

Richardson: Thank you.

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COMMENTS

Remarks from the Fray:

I hope Richards reconsiders. I don't think he's got the name recognition for White House bid right now, but he's one of the better candidates out there. If he's got to do time as someone else's VP before getting into the big chair himself, maybe it'd be worth it.

Of course, then his future depends largely on how well Hillary or Barak does first. Perhaps not an enviable position after all.

--Lono

(To reply, click here.)

(9/14)

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