Bill Richardson, Cocks, and Racism

Evidently Bill Richardson finally thought it was a good idea to take a side on cockfighting, something he avoided in the past because, you know, it's SO defensible. But now that Richardson wants to be called el presidente...

Source: AP/Yahoo!

Cockfighting appears to be on its last legs in New Mexico, one of only two states where it is legal. And the reason might have something to do with the race for the White House.

Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democrat running for president, has come out strongly in favor of a ban on cockfighting. Legislation to outlaw the bloodsport has come up from time to time in New Mexico, but until recently, Richardson refused to take sides.

But the money quote comes from Jack Cairnes, "a former Washington state lawmaker who moved to New Mexico 18 months ago to raise and fight his roosters."

Arguing before a legislative committee Monday in Santa Fe, Cairnes said a ban is being promoted by a "small group of extremists traveling from state to state interfering with rural life." He said it was a rural-versus-urban issue that "borders on being a racist issue" because many cockfighters are Hispanic.

Borders on being racist because many cockfighters are Hispanic???

I suppose that would be akin to the utterly racist position of being against serial murder because most serial murderers are white?

Of course, this is the same faulty logic that is used to label those of us who fight illegal immigration as racists.

But I have a confession to make. Reading his jackass statement gave me a momentary desire to get gaffed up myself and go a couple of rounds in the ring with Mr. Cairnes.

I am such a bad girl.

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Bill Richardson * Cockfighting * Racism * New Mexico * Cocks