Betrayal

I couldn't say it better. Below is a comment posted by Barbara on a Los Angeles Times blog when Richardson was officially nominated:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/12/03/obama-nominates-richardson-for-cabinet/
December 3rd, 2008 5:16 pm ET

The appointment of Richardson to the Cabinet is absolutely mind-boggling. Richardson has already shown himself to be disloyal as per his deflection from the Clinton camp when something better came along. Bill Clinton made this made and he repaid him with his betrayal. Does Obama think he has the magic lantern? Richardson will betray him just as easily! And to make matters worse, Richardson used his position as former Energy Secretary to further feather his nest by working for the oil companies after leaving the White House. What a dirt bag! Judas.

Bill Clinton says Richardson told the Clintons 5 times that he would not endorse Obama and ABC's Mark Halperin reported that Richardson said Obama could not beat McCain. Yet, when it looked like Obama would beat Hillary, he endorsed Obama.

James Carville, described Richardson as a "Judas" who was cashing in "30 coins of silver" to win favor with Obama. And in a March 25, 2008 NY Times article by Patrick Healy, Carville said "he stood by his comment on Good Friday in which he compared Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico to Judas for his endorsement of Senator Barack Obama." Carville declared, "I was quoted accurately and in context, and I was glad to give the quote, and I was glad I gave it. I'm not apologizing, I'm not resigning, I'm not doing anything."

BBC on Bill Richardson

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7763366.stm
James Carville, a close aide and friend to the Clintons, compared Mr Richardson to Judas Iscariot.

At the time, some commentators accused Mr Richardson of making his endorsement in the hope of landing a senior position in any future Obama administration - possibly even the role of Secretary of State, a role that Mrs Clinton is set to occupy.

quid pro quo

It's no secret that Gov. Richardson wants to become Secretary of State. This GQ Magazine interview shows the reason why Gov. Richardson came out to support then Senator Obama for his presidential run, even though it was President Clinton who appointed him to the UN and then the Energy Department:

http://men.style.com/gq/blogs/gqeditors/2008/04/title.html
So if Barack Obama were to win the nomination and he offered you the vice presidency…
What would I do? Well, I wouldn't preclude anything. [laughs] You know, I love my job.
Okay, but—
Well, you can't, you know, you can't, uh, turn your back on something like that. But I didn't endorse him because of that.
Or secretary of state.
You can't turn your back on something like that.