Arpaio urged to part with groups

by Jim Cross, Sandra Haros/KTAR (August 12th, 2009 @ 2:20pm)

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Comments:136

PHOENIX - The Southern Poverty Law Center is calling on Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio to distance himself from anti-illegal immigration groups, saying that such groups may view his stand on immigration as vindication of their beliefs.

Dr. Heidi Beirich of the center came to the Valley at the invitation of Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, who has been a lightning rod in the immigration debate, clashing with Arpaio.

"It's not about immigration, it's about hate," Gordon said Wednesday.

Beirich singled out three anti-illegal immigration groups on her radar screen: the Minutemen Civil Defense Corps, American Border Patrol and United for a Sovereign America. All operate within Arizona's borders.

Beirich said it is dangerous to have mainstream people, such as the sheriff, associating with the Natavist groups.

"These are not people who anybody who is in public life should be spending time with," Beirich said. "These are parts of our horrible past, especially the racism, that we've been trying to get over."

Arpaio takes offense to anyone implying he's a racist, saying "I have no use for racist groups. I do not condone racist groups."

He added, "I think if people knew my family, they would know that's a viscous allegation made by these open-border people trying to do everything they can to insult and discourage me from enforcing a law."

Arpaio tells News/Talk 92.3 KTAR he is not a racist. "Come on, am I a racist? I'm not a racist," he said. "You know and everybody knows it. I'm just doing my job, enforcing all the laws, including illegal immigration."

Beirich said Arpaio's association with such groups endorses what they do and empowers them, calling that "a scary thing."

"In terms of rating immigrant communities and what not, they probably figure that he's endorsing their views," she said.

"It's not just hanging out with haters, it's also marching immigrants down the street in fatigues and this scene that, like, comes out of imperial Rome," she said, adding, "I don't know why it is that he keeps getting re-elected, I just don't know."

Last 5 Comments

• 0 Reply Abuse Vote

  Gooooo Sheriff Joe!

  joelwisch

  Phil Gordon says it is about hate.. and I would suggest it is his. HIS hate. The illegal aliens are tearing up the Mexican American community with dope and crime. Sheriff Joe is very actively stopping that, and I very much admire him for that. I believe Sheriff Joel is very smart to appose amnesty too. The cose is staggering. http://www.heritage.org/research/immigration/wm1490.cfm

  33796
• 0 Reply Abuse Vote

  hate group

  Lance S

  ABC: Not a hate group Minuteman Civil Defense Corps: Not a hate group That third one: I am not familiar with it, don't know one way or another. SPLC: A hate group. Why does the mayor associate with a hate group?

  33383
• 0 Reply Abuse Vote

  Joe on Fox

  Mark Anderson

  Joe's first line on his Fox TV show: "I'm not a racist, I just play one on TV."

  33316
• 0 Reply Abuse Vote

  I do not support

  PCUB

  illegals being in this country, and so many times I hear of the raids and misinformation thrown at our citizenry. You know, our own government just appointed a member of La Raza into the Supreme Court and we still argue about a small county sheriff and his tactics. Once they have reached Maricopa County (In the middle of Arizona) it is too late. Fight to bring back the National Guard on the border and do not tie there hands. We could end this in a few months if you all would stop going after eachother and start hitting up the politicians...

  33227
• 0 Reply Abuse Vote

  Go Joe!!!

  RRaines

  I googled this woman and found an interesting story. She is just another megaphone mouth for the pro illegal immigration machine. Check out this link: http://www.theamericanresistance.com/articles/art2005sep27d.html

  33198
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