SALON

Wednesday, Dec 3, 2008 5:15 PM UTC

Obama announces Richardson nomination

If all goes well, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson will be the next commerce secretary.

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Topics: Bill Richardson, Barack Obama, War Room,

As expected, on Wednesday morning, President-elect Barack Obama announced that New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is his choice to become commerce secretary.

The press conference at which the announcement was made featured several rather unsubtle reminders of one reason Richardson is politically valuable: namely, he’s Hispanic, and Obama owes a great deal to Hispanic voters. As he said goodbye to the state he leads, Richardson made an extended digression in Spanish. And one of the three questions Obama took from the press was from a Hispanic reporter, Telemundo’s Vicente Serrano, who had a question about whether Richardson’s nomination was a consolation prize for Hispanics who wanted to see him become secretary of state.

On a wholly different note, one reporter asked Richardson why he’d shaved off his beard, which he began sporting after he dropped out of the presidential race earlier this year. Obama fielded the question for him, saying, “I think it was a mistake for him to get rid of it. I thought that whole rugged look was really working for him … We’re deeply disappointed with the loss of the beard.”

I feel I can safely speak on behalf of the New York bureau of Salon — which has previously declared Richardson’s beard the best beard ever — and say that kind of honesty and support for great beards, well, that’s change we can believe in.

Alex Koppelman

Alex Koppelman is a staff writer for Salon. More Alex Koppelman.

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Gripping photos: The people of the Turkey protests (slideshow)

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  • The protests take on a festive element as police forces move out of the park and square. Wearing a gas mask, this young man dances to traditional Turkish music in front of Taksim Square’s Ataturk Monument.

  • In Gezi Park since March 31st, this protester, originally caught off-guard by the Government’s teargas and water cannons, went out and bought a Russian army mask from WWII, preparing for what was to come.

  • This rambunctious boy seems to be enjoying the chaos. After taking this picture he threw a stone at the already destroyed building in the background.

  • Forming a line, the police face off directly with protesters in Taksim Square. After a while, they retreated and there was a general cheer – a back-and-forth dance that has been common since the beginning of this protest.

  • An elderly woman in Gezi Park reads the news. The tent community occupying the park was violently destroyed on June 16th.

  • Many different groups had set up booths to promote their cause in Taksim Square and Gezi Park. Standing in front of one, this man waves his flag while posing with conviction.

  • Many home-remedies are used to minimize the effects of tear gas. This woman has put a milky solution on her face, removing her mask after the tear gas dissipated. Before sunrise, the police came again for another round of teargasing.

  • People capitalize on the uprising -- selling flags, beer, gas masks, sky lanterns and spray paint to name just a few of the popular items.

  • On Monday morning, June 11, the police execute a strong offensive. Many plain-clothed police officers, like the ones seen here, clash with protesters in the side streets away from the main stand-off in Taksim.

  • The authorities seem to be most aggressive in the night, pushing protesters away from the square and park. After being teargassed this young woman catches her breath with other protesters on Siraselviler Street.

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