Marathon Pundit: Bill Richardson's "Maricón Moment" strikes out

Maricón is one Spanish word I know--it's a gay slur similar to "faggot."

Working in the hotel business for years as I did, I heard that word being bandied about a lot--or on crudely scrawled on walls as graffiti.

And wouldn't you know there is a Don Imus tie-in?

From Gay News Watch:

Almost exactly one year before Imus was to lose his show for using a slur to describe the Rutger’s women’s basketball team, the shock jock used the Spanish word "maricón" in an on-air exchange with Richardson.

"Bernard on the staff here has been claiming you’re not really Hispanic so-- that you're just claiming that for some sort of advantage or something,” Imus said to Richardson, tongue clearly in cheek. "You can just answer this yes or no and this will answer that question. Would you agree that Bernard is a maricón?"

Without missing a beat, Richardson replied in Spanish, "Yo creo que Bernardo, sí — es un maricón si él piensa que yo no soy hispano. [General laughter] Was that good enough or what? [General laughter]"

"That’s good enough for me," Imus replied.

In English, Richardson's statement translates into, "I believe that Bernard, yes – he's a faggot if he thinks that I am not Hispanic."

Richardson recently apologized for the year-old comment. Also on the Richardson beat, the onetime college baseball player visited the Field of Dreams baseball diamond earlier today in Iowa. In 2005, Richardson was forced to recant his claim that he had been drafted by the Kansas City Athletics. Now a Richardson aide has pitched a new baseball tale for the masses, one that is likely conveniently unverifiable, that the young Richardson was offered $25,000 to sign with the team now known as the Houston Astros.

That's Bobby Richardson, not Bill, in the picture. Bobby was a teammate of Mickey Mantle in the 1950s and 1960s.

Bill Richardson should stick to his strong suit: He's a boring bilingual guy who is governor of a swing state who'll be a good bottom ticket guy for the Democrats next year.

H/T to Sister Toldjah and Pajamas Media.

Related posts:

Bill Richardson telling tall tales again

Bill Richardson résumé padding flashback: Being drafted by the Kansas City Athletics

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