Joe Arpaio to hold ‘Driving Liberals Crazy’ event in Nashville this year
Feb 1, 2018, 4:55 AM | Updated: Feb 6, 2018, 10:06 am
(AP Photo)
(AP Photo)
PHOENIX — Former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio may not be welcome in Spokane, Washington, but those in Nashville are waiting to see the lawman up close and personal.
The same week that a Washington state veterans group canceled its event featuring Arpaio amid public backlash, the former sheriff took to his social media accounts to promote a new event: “Driving Liberals Crazy.”
Driving Liberals Crazy- I'm in Nashville 3/31 at Limelight Event Center. Get your tickets now at eventbrite: Sheriff Joe Arpaio Nashville pic.twitter.com/PfkI3E6EZO
— Sheriff Joe Arpaio (@RealSheriffJoe) January 29, 2018
The speaking engagement will be held on March 31 at Limelight Event Center in Nashville.
According to the Tennessean, the event was originally going to benefit Gr8ter Veterans — which was also part of the Spokane event — but will now be a “for profit” event between event organizer Danny Atkins’ company, Market Trans Inc., and Arpaio. However, the event will not be connected to Arpaio’s U.S. Senate campaign.
Tickets for the event, according to Eventbrite, are on sale for anywhere from $65 for general admission to $250 for a VIP option. The publication said the VIP option includes lunch and meet-and-greet with Arpaio.
As for the name of the event, Atkins told the Tennessean that it was “meant to be more funny than anything.”
“It’s just a little jingle that we thought was cute, and again, I hope it doesn’t get misconstrued and blowed out of proportion,” Atkins told the publication. “It’s just meant to bring a smile to one’s face.”
While Atkins said he believes the event will be focused on Arpaio’s “amazing story,” he admitted that he worried whether the event would cause backlash like the Spokane one did.
“I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was a little concerned about it, but I’m hoping the same kind of backlash doesn’t hit Nashville,” he said.
“We’re a little more conservative down south here. It think the people of Spokane overacted. It’s not as controversial as they would have everyone believe.”
If the event kicks off, it would likely be the first public event since Arpaio announced his run for Sen. Jeff Flake’s seat in January.
He will face off with former state Sen. Kelli Ward and Rep. Martha McSally for the Republican seat. Rep. Krysten Sinema is vying for the seat on the Democratic side.
Flake announced last year that he would not seek re-election, citing the “Trump factor” as a big reason why.
