Didn’t Bill Richardson already “betray” Hillary Clinton by running for president himself?

Yes, that’s right. If you are yourself running for president, by that very act you are manifesting your preference for yourself over any competitors for the job. You are endorsing yourself and simultaneously withholding your endorsement from the other candidates.

After New Mexico Bill Richardson dropped out of the presidential race, he spent several weeks mulling the question of whom he might endorse. Finally, following a “tense” conversation with U.S. Senator and former First Lady Hillary Clinton, Richardson endorsed the bid of guru and U.S. Senator Barack Obama. According to the New York Times:

“Let me tell you: we’ve [Hillary and I have] had better conversations,” Mr. Richardson said.

The decision by Mr. Richardson, who ended his own presidential campaign on Jan. 10, to support Mr. Obama was a belt of bad news for Mrs. Clinton. It was a stinging rejection of her candidacy by a man who had served in two senior positions in President Bill Clinton’s administration, and who is one of the nation’s most prominent elected Hispanics….

“An act of betrayal,” said James Carville, an adviser to Mrs. Clinton and a friend of Mr. Clinton.

“Mr. Richardson’s endorsement came right around the anniversary of the day when Judas sold out for 30 pieces of silver, so I think the timing is appropriate, if ironic,” Mr. Carville said, referring to Holy Week.

A later story quotes Carville pointedly refusing to apologize for the comparison, which is not too surprising given the modus operandi to date of that particular political hit man.

Does it need to be argued that, in reason, one cannot base support for a candidate for the presidency (or even any lesser office) on any considerations except the candidate’s ideas, character, qualifications for the job and such-like? Personal loyalty might reasonably tip the balance all other things being equal, but how can it be a primary desideratum?

One must also wonder, of course, whether Carville would castigate as a Judas every person associated with the Bill Clinton administration who decided to support someone not-Hillary for president… Surely there are many other instances of such “betrayal” given the growing support for Obama since the primaries began. Or is it only “important” endorsements that are supposed to be based on anything other than the endorser’s honest best judgment?

Richardson’s endorsement is, however, unjustified, especially considering that he points to Obama’s recent speech tepidly disavowing and dishonestly rationalizing the bigoted pulpit-speak of Jeremiah Wright as a major example of what draws him to Obama.