Friday, February 24, 2012

Babeu's Boo-Boo

"Ariz. sheriff leaves Romney campaign after accusations; Denies claim he threatened to deport ex-lover" by Shira Schoenberg  |  Globe Correspondent, February 19, 2012

Paul Babeu, an Arizona sheriff and congressional candidate with a history in Massachusetts politics, resigned as Mitt Romney’s Arizona campaign cochairman after the Phoenix New Times reported that Babeu threatened to deport an illegal immigrant with whom he previously had a relationship.

Babeu acknowledged that he is gay but denied any misconduct. He said he would continue his Republican campaign for representative from Arizona’s Fourth Congressional District.

The Phoenix New Times said Friday that Babeu - a strong opponent of illegal immigration - threatened his former boyfriend, a Mexican, with deportation after the man, referred to as Jose, refused to promise not to disclose their relationship.  

What do we have here, like, three levels of hypocrisy?

Babeu, the first-term sheriff of Pinal County, responded at a press conference Saturday that all of the allegations are “absolutely, completely false,’’ except for the fact that he is gay.

“The campaign continues in full force,’’ Chris DeRose, a spokesman for Babeu, said. “A series of lies in a tabloid isn’t going to change anything.’’

Yeah, I get a Globe every morning, too.

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Related: Apathetic About Arizona Post

Two s***ty sheriffs down that way, 'eh?

Also see: Officer in Ariz. shooting has shot 6 others

What would you expect given the leadership?

And look who they are barring from office:

"English skills keep woman out of election" associated press, January 30, 2012

YUMA, Ariz. - A City Council candidate who was barred from running for office because she doesn’t speak English proficiently is vowing to appeal the judge’s ruling.

Alejandrina Cabrera conceded in an interview with the Yuma Sun that she needs to improve her command of English. But the San Luis resident said the judge’s decision that she doesn’t satisfy a state law requiring elected officials to be proficient is unjust.

Cabrera said her language skills are adequate in a southwestern Arizona border city where Spanish is used as frequently as English.

The case has brought national and international attention to the city after Mayor Juan Carlos Escamilla of San Luis filed a court action last month asking for a determination on whether Cabrera had the English skills necessary to serve on the council.

State law requires elected officials to know English, but Cabrera’s attorneys have argued that the law does not define proficiency in the language.

An expert testified that in tests he administered to Cabrera, she did not demonstrate the level of proficiency needed to serve on the council. Yuma County Judge John Nelson said he also based his ruling on Cabrera’s failure to respond correctly to questions posed to her.

“The specialist is right that I have to continue [studying English], but I don’t agree that my English is not satisfactory for’’ the council, Cabrera said.

“I know that many people know both languages, but the truth is that, whether we like or not, all the people speak Spanish. If you go the market, if you go to the Post Office, if you go to pay your water bill, nobody speaks to you in English,’’ she said.

The New World Order is here!

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