Just in case you

[Non-Typical Solutions]

Ariz sheriff says he's gay after misconduct claims

 

FLORENCE, Ariz. (AP) — A nationally known sheriff resigned from presidential hopeful Mitt Romney's Arizona committee and acknowledged he was gay amid allegations of misconduct made by a man with whom he previously had a relationship.

 

But Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu vowed Saturday to continue his bid for the GOP nomination in Arizona's rural 4th Congressional District race.

 

He denied claims he tried to threaten the man, a Mexican immigrant and a former campaign volunteer, with deportation if their past relationship was made public. The man's allegations were first published Friday in the Phoenix New Times, an alternative weekly magazine.

 

Babeu, a first-term sheriff who has gained widespread attention with his strong opposition to illegal immigration and smuggling, said the accusations were an attempt to hurt his political career.

 

He said he had called presidential candidate Mitt Romney's staff to say he would step down from his post as state campaign co-chair.

 

"This whole rumor, this whole of idea of who I am in my private life has been shopped around," Babeu told reporters during an hour-long press conference Saturday in front of his sheriff's office. "This was a way, the hook, of how this could be brought out, and to malign and attack a sheriff who does stand for conservative principals, who does enforce the law."

 

The man's lawyer, Melissa Weiss-Riner, released a statement Saturday saying the man retained her firm's services because he was contacted by Babeu's attorney and "felt intimidated."

 

"Jose continues to live in fear, and is currently in the process of moving again," she said. "Therefore, he is not available to speak with the media at this time."

 

Weiss-Riner earlier told the New Times that Babeu's attorney and campaign consultant falsely told her client that his visa had expired. Babeu told reporters he believed the man, identified only by his first name Jose, was living in the country legally.

 

The New Times posted a photo provided by the man of the two embracing. It also posted a cellphone self-portrait of a smiling Babeu in his underwear and another of what appears to be the shirtless sheriff in a bathroom, posted on a gay dating website. The man provided the magazine with photos of himself and Babeu and text messages between the two. Babeu didn't deny their authenticity.

[krp]

First came out in Huffington Post, twice actually. Funny how liberals celebrate gayness in their politicians and then attack a conservative on that same issue.

 

Kent

[Coach]

krp - you couldn't be more spot on. If you're on the left, all sins are forgiven. If you're on the right, your morals and integrity are always under a microscope. That, to me is the indication that you're on the correct path.

 

This is a subject I think about a lot as the hypocrisy of the left is the best illustration of the ongoing battle for truth. The very fact that they exploit every human weakness in their opponents and defend and downplay those same weaknesses in their constituents is a cornerstone in both politics and philosophy.

 

Just look at the examples set. JFK, Bill Clinton, Edwards, Ted Kennedy, all were womanizers. But look at how the media has treated Gingrich and Herman Cain.

 

The defense from the left is that their guys never made any pre-supposition of morals or emphasis on "family values". So it's OK for the dems to lie, cheat and steal because they never claimed to have morals in the first place. Those things are only bad if they are done by someone on the right.

 

Bottom line, we all have to choose a side, and I'm confident in the side I've chosen.

[azslim]

The left is just as or more bigoted than the right, if you don't see things their way you are totally wrong. And if you point that out to them stand by for fireworks. By their definition the only bigots and racists are white christians, and you can say anything you want about them, true or not, and not have to worry about being politically correct.

[ThomC]

The problem with the Republicans is they wrap themselves around the radical religious right. Suck up to the hypocrite Catholic church. Their stance on abortion and contraception is holier than thou. R's rail against gays. I am not a D or a R but a I. The R's and the D's are both wrong IMHOP.

[stanley]

Plenty of bigotry and hypocrisy on all sides of the political scene, for sure.....

 

If he really threatened his ex-boyfriend, then shame on him. Likely a witch hunt, but who knows.... He seems like he's a good sherriff and public servant though and that's what should count, IMO.

 

S.

[Coues 'n' Sheep]

So what if he is gay... he has a track record of being one of the top cops in the SW... now if he is fraternizing with illegals, we may have a problem... IMO. I'd still vote for the dude as long as he sticks to the issues and continues to conduct himself as a solid Repubilcan.

[Non-Typical Solutions]

So what if he is gay... he has a track record of being one of the top cops in the SW... now if he is fraternizing with illegals, we may have a problem... IMO. I'd still vote for the dude as long as he sticks to the issues and continues to conduct himself as a solid Repubilcan.

I am plus 1 on that one, he seems to fight the border issues without cowering down and I give him credit for that in a politically skewed society.

Lets face it, the political scene is corrupt D R or I........