Nov. 30 -- Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson said he was ``depressed'' and ``disgusted'' to see Republican candidates ``trying to outdo each other on demonizing immigrants'' during this week's debate.
Attacking immigrants, said Richardson, the only Hispanic presidential candidate, ``is not only wrong, it's bad for the economy.'' Richardson spoke during an interview on Bloomberg Television's ``Political Capital with Al Hunt.''
Anti-immigration sentiment was evident during the Nov. 28 Republican debate. Ex-Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney accused former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani of making the city into a ``sanctuary'' for illegal immigrants, while Giuliani said Romney operated a ``sanctuary mansion'' because illegal immigrants worked at his home. Richardson said Senator John McCain of Arizona is the only Republican contender with a balanced policy on the issue.
``It's unrealistic to think we're going to deport 12 million people,'' Richardson said. ``We ought to create a path to legalization.'' As New Mexico governor, Richardson allowed illegal immigrants to earn drivers' licenses and attend public colleges at in-state tuition rates.
On Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, Richardson, 60, urged President George W. Bush to take a stronger leadership role.
``He needs to play a role like President Clinton did,'' Richardson said. ``You can't just give speeches and leave it all to his secretary of state.'' He said this week's Middle East peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland, was a weak first effort by the president, who has criticized former President Bill Clinton's hands-on approach.
`Done Nothing'
``This president for seven years has done nothing,'' said Richardson, who was U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under Clinton.
Disagreeing with rival presidential candidate Senator Hillary Clinton of New York over energy policy, Richardson said he wouldn't seek to lower oil prices by tapping the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
As energy secretary under Clinton, Richardson released oil from national reserves in response to a home heating-oil shortage. ``It's a bad idea to do it now because it's not going to affect prices,'' Richardson said.
Bush should immediately ``assure the American people that there is enough home heating oil,'' and Congress should pass emergency legislation to help middle- and low-income people offset high heating oil prices, Richardson said.
Cut Oil Imports
The former governor has proposed cutting U.S. oil imports by 80 percent by 2020 through tax incentives for renewable power and by forcing automakers to design more fuel-efficient vehicles.
Saying the American dream of home ownership is ``in peril,'' Richardson said the government should intervene to help homeowners get reduced interest rates from mortgage lenders as a way to stop foreclosures.
On the campaign, Richardson said his goal is to be among the top three finishers in the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary. By next weekend Richardson plans to have visited all of Iowa's 99 counties.
Recent public opinion polls have put his support in the state at less than 10 percent. He said that with nearly half of Iowa voters undecided, he is within striking distance of his goal.
``If you don't place in the top three in a field of six or seven, you probably have got to start thinking whether your campaign is catching on or not,'' Richardson said.
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