ABC and NBC Tout Attacks on 'Bully' Joe Arpaio for 'Bigotry' and Racism
Both NBC and ABC's newscasts on Thursday highlighted outrage at the "accusations of abuse and bigotry" from "bully" sheriff Joe Arpaio. Faced with new claims from Barack Obama's Justice Department, the two networks played up dramatic attacks from critics. [See video below. MP3 audio here.]
"Nightly News" anchor Brian Williams flatly declared, "Tonight, the U.S. Justice Department says the sheriff and his deputies have gone too far. They have been systematically been violating the constitutional rights of Latinos." ABC's "World News" uncritically featured one of Arpaio's prisoners who hyperbolically insisted, "The food we eat is disgusting. It's more like a concentration camp than anything else."
"World News" anchor Diane Sawyer rattled off the incendiary claims, parroting that Arpaio "was slammed today by the full force of the U.S. government, which said his office deployed abuse, retaliation and discrimination against Hispanics."
She hyped, "All of it adding to the inflamed debate, is Sheriff Joe Arpaio a champion or a bully?"
In the ABC piece, Pierre Thomas only featured Arpaio defend himself, but in addition to the anonymous prisoner, also included Assistant Attorney General Thomas Perez claiming the sheriff "engages in racial profiling of Latinos and unlawfully stops, detains and arrests Latinos." He did allow that Arpaio is a "hero to hard-liners."
"Nightly News'" segment included Perez and Thomas Saenz, President of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, deriding, "I think that Joe Arpaio is a textbook example of how not to police consistent with the Constitution."
A transcript of the December 15 "Nightly News" segment, which aired at 7:09pm EST, follows:
BRIAN WILLIAMS: There is new trouble tonight for this country's best known sheriff, Joe Arpaio from Phoenix, Arizona, known for things like making prisoners wear pink underwear and putting them on chain gangs and more recently for his crackdown on illegal immigrants. Tonight, the U.S. Justice Department says the sheriff and his deputies have gone too far. They have been systematically been violating the constitutional rights of Latinos. We get more from NBC's George Lewis.
GEORGE LEWIS: Sheriff Joe, as he's known in Phoenix, is famous for his periodic raids on high crime neighborhoods, including places that have a lot of Latino immigrants.
JOE ARPAIO: This is our 17th crime suppression operation.
LEWIS: His tactics have put him at odds with the Obama administration and today, in a sharply worded 22-page rebuke, the Justice Department said the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, the MCSO, quote, "engages in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional policing," directed against Latinos.
THOMAS PEREZ [ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL]: Law-abiding residents of Maricopa County who were caught up in the web of unconstitutional activity and unlawfully stopped, detained and sometimes arrested.
LEWIS: The Justice Department said that in the Phoenix area, Latinos are four to nine times more likely to be stopped by deputies than non-Latinos. The Justice Department is giving the sheriff 60 days to change the way he does business. And if that doesn't happen, the department threatens to sue him. The Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund, MALDEF, is already suing the Sheriff.
THOMAS SAENZ [MALDEF PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL]: I think that Joe Arpaio is a textbook example of how not to police consistent with the Constitution.
LEWIS: The Sheriff has long accused the Obama administration of making him a scapegoat.
ARPAIO: We do not racial profile. When they can't get you on anything else they throw up the race card.
LEWIS: Late this evening, the sheriff called it a "sad day for America" as the Department of Homeland Security cancelled his authority to conduct immigration screenings in his county jail. George Lewis, NBC News, Los Angeles.
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Comments
racial profiling of Latinos
Submitted by vrwc13 on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 12:43pm.
...claiming the sheriff "engages in racial profiling of Latinos and unlawfully stops, detains and arrests Latinos."
This is the Mexican border right? This might be a valid argument at the Canadian border, but just who do you think comes across the southern border, Asians, Africans, Swedes, etc?
...common sense just isn't so common anymore.
btw: Joe advice from another Joe, just tell them "You Lie!" Joe Joe 2012?
v
The burden of life is from ourselves, its lightness from the grace of Christ and the love of God. - William Bernard Ullanthorne
4 to 9 times more likely.....
Submitted by MrLuigi on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 12:39pm.
"Latinos are 4 to 9 times more likely to be stopped by deputies than non-latinos." Question: How many more times likely are the latinos to be illegal aliens than non latinos?
All this media bias would reverse
Submitted by c5then on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 12:40pm.
If the "Hispanics" and/or "Latinos" started to vote Republican. If that ever happens then the MSM will be the first to demand that the borders be closed and any Illegal immigrants be rounded up and deported.
By the way, can someone explain to me the difference between a Hispanic and a Latino?
Madison and Jefferson and Franklin built a Republic - Roberts killed it!
Well one link -- they are
Submitted by Jack Bauer on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 12:50pm.
Well one link -- they are both caucasian (white) in racial origin.
And the term "Hispanic" was invented by Richard Nixon for the census!
All of the above Mr Obama? --- How about ALL OF THE BELOW, instead.
Janet Reno is needed...
Submitted by vrwc13 on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 12:44pm.
...to send in the tanks against this guy!
v
The burden of life is from ourselves, its lightness from the grace of Christ and the love of God. - William Bernard Ullanthorne
Coinidence
Submitted by Utherpend on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 12:51pm.
I find it funny that the Justice Dept is doing this when they have no compulsion to follow up on reverse racism claims against violent organizations like the Black Panthers.
Good luck trying to get legitimate charges to stick on someone who is running a model camp for prisoners.
Here's Sheriff Arpaio's response
Submitted by motherbelt on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 1:00pm.
Arpaio Responds
So, it's Arpaio's word against that of anonymous prisoners . . .
Submitted by Galvanic on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 1:01pm.
. . . and the Obama Justice Department. Who ya gonna trust?
If Arpaio is doing something illegal, then arrest him. But if he is acting within his legal authority and jurisdiction, GET OFF HIS BACK! Start enforcing control over the border!
I do understand that recidivism at Arpaio's jail is considerably less than those of other LE agencies on the Southwest Border.
I don't trust anything that
Submitted by ricklail on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 1:05pm.
I don't trust anything that Holder or his follower touch
You know what?
Submitted by StarAZ on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 1:12pm.
I don't like Holder, either--but Arpaio is a bully. There is so much more beyond the profiling--so much. So--get on it--I am a troll, an idiot, whatever. Please limit the name calling of me to those who live under this man's heel in AZ, though. The upshot of this morning's AZ Republic is that Holder's actions won't dislodge Joe--although many of his buds had to quit for being criminals themselves.
Arpaio is a tough man in a tough neighborhood
Submitted by Galvanic on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 1:28pm.
The drug cartels have reportedly put a bounty on his head, yet he's still on the job.
Prisoners complain because they work on chain gangs, wear distinctive pink overalls, eat plain food like bologna sandwiches for lunch, and can only watch CNN and the Weather Channel on cable TV.
If the Justice Department has a legal case against Sheriff Arpaio, why don't they arrest him and charge him with violating the law?
Yeah--he's so tough
Submitted by StarAZ on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 1:58pm.
The cartels rattle swords at everyone, leave heads lying around--this is getting old. Joe misspends money, can't find half the cash he charged with watching, his underlings are bums, he blusters around in a tank, he picks fights with officials (no bargains either) and this costs millions in this and that, he abuses prisoners in a jail, where they may have yet to be convicted, he runs over to Fox nightly to whine about how abused he is, what a macho guy he is, blah blah. Boss Hogg plus Bull Conner with a lot of bland and boring tossed in.
In my opinion this is what
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 3:05pm.
In my opinion this is what amounts to politics. Someone is trying to get Arpiao's job. It happens in these types of jobs. I saw it in the Tarrant County Sheriff's race. Same type of complaints of spending and overcrowding and such. The result the Sheriff was voted in again and it blew over with no problems.
So think about it and think critically about Arpiao and the job he is doing.
If he is guilty of the things you charge, then . . .
Submitted by Galvanic on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 3:46pm.
. . . Holder should arrest him and charge him. I find it interesting though that you watch Fox and catch him nightly on their programs. Did you get your copy of "Killing Lincoln" yet? :-)
As for the cartels, the heads, and all, I agree -- it's getting old. There is a virtual insurgency on our border, the Calderon government is bravely trying to battle it, and we act as if it's street crime. Yeah, I know, DoJ is working with the Mexican government -- well, except where they are "fast & furiously" working against it .
Oh--I forgot
Submitted by StarAZ on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 3:59pm.
Joe recently had to apologize for forgetting to even investigate 400 plus child abuse cases--he said IF this hurt anyone, he was sorry.
As for watching Fox--I do. Brazen, aren't I? As for Killing Lincoln--I seem to be missing an eye and have to listen, and Bill rattled along so fast I could not get through it. I enjoyed his other audios, though. (MacMillan sent me the audio to review--but I could not so do.)
Yes--the border is porous--everyone knows that. People are coming across not just from Mexico but from Europe and the Middle East...but Joe is not effectvely stopping any of this. He is a joke. He just goes into Mexican neighborhoods and chases people around who are looking for day work. Then climbs out of his tank for his next media blab show or reality show--he had one of THOSE, too. Like "Cops" only without a real cop.
It's not Arpaio's job to effectively stop illegal . . .
Submitted by Galvanic on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 8:18pm.
. . . immigration. That's Napolitano's job, and she ain't doing that very well.
Additionally, as you know, Arizona is being sued for trying to enforce Federal immigration laws -- by that same negligent Federal government that leaves Arizona vulnerable not only by letting the illegals in, but permitting over a thousand firearms purchased under Fast & Furious going south.
The Obama Administration has deliberately decided to selectively enforce our laws while prosecuting states that attempt to do so in their own self-interest.
The DoJ game with Arpaio is quite simple. Holder's activities -- which may ultimately included prosecution of Arpaio -- will leverage $ millions from the US Treasury up against the limited resources of that single county in the hope that the county will squash Arpaio rather than defend itself in court because it can't afford it.
This is the war that Democratic attorneys like Holder and the ACLU (working pro bono) wage against citizens and communities that stand up for themselves.
Sigh
Submitted by StarAZ on Sat, 12/17/2011 - 12:57pm.
We pay through the nose in Maricopa County to clean up Sheriff Joe's messes--now... Holder can get in line. Yes, Holder is a tool, has a hidden agenda, didn't go after the Panthers, etc.--but this doesn't mean Arpaio did not do everything-- and more-- that he is accused of. And, as I said, this clown will probably get re-elected unless someone figures out a way to make him resign--like his deputy had to and so many others. I think they even tried RICO.
If you're tired of Arpaio in Maricopa County . . .
Submitted by Galvanic on Sat, 12/17/2011 - 8:52pm.
. . . then why does he still have his job?
Because people vote for him
Submitted by StarAZ on Sun, 12/18/2011 - 12:35pm.
Their "romantic" vision of being cowboys, the old west, nailing people not like them, gooberism, who even knows. He is elected. Many people do not respect or even despise him--just not enough to get rid of him like we did Russell Pearce. This joint is not normal...not particularly smart...and can be dangerous and irritating. But I am here to take care of mother and I am stuck. I just send dispatches from the front--and you're welcome...
even if
Submitted by Mark81150 on Sun, 12/18/2011 - 6:08pm.
What you say is true, and I grant nothing, don't live there, just going by what those who do say..
You're way over simplifing the motives at work.
Maybe the reason he wins is that folks are sick of having the DOJ so worried about the safe arrival of all those undocumented democrat votes, that they steadfastly refuse to enforce the law, that people are desperate,... desperate for SOMEONE to do something, even if it is as flawed as you say. We had a local sheriff who started his career as a folk hero, and ended it as a reputed drunk. Twenty years,.. things change.
It may be less about who the sheriff is, than about the larger forces at work.
Like your counties being the target of the open border at any price crowd. Joe may just be a pawn benefiting from that, but if he is, run someone better, Joe can't be the only conservative living there, or the only one qualified to be sheriff. I wouldn't be so quick to label my neighbors goobers, when they may like any group in America, be picking the best out of a bunch of bad choices.
How about backing up your
Submitted by LAM SON 719 on Sat, 12/17/2011 - 4:02am.
How about backing up your statement with some facts, you sound like the DOJ.
OK--if you really care...
Submitted by StarAZ on Sat, 12/17/2011 - 12:16pm.
OK--here are a few cites...if you are really interested.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/2011/12/07/20...
http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/azelections/articles/2011/11/22/2...
Inmates, prisoner advocates & attorneys,---
Submitted by matthewdean on Sat, 12/17/2011 - 9:11pm.
indeed.
Why, the next thing you know, those inmates, prisoner advocates & attorneys will be saying that there is not a guilty person to be found in a holding tank, a detention center, or a courtroom.
Imagine that.
MD
Under his heel?
Submitted by vyger on Sun, 12/18/2011 - 9:32am.
Funny, I guess I don't live under his heel. Because I'm not illegal and haven't committed any crimes. Maybe those folks shouldn't either.
Lewis
Submitted by ricklail on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 1:01pm.
please explain "unconstitutional policing." As far as I can see the consitution does not say what they are to wear or eat.
Who's accusing whom of what?
Submitted by SaguaroJack on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 1:08pm.
It's the US Dept of Justice that has gone too far, that practices bigotry and reveres racism. We haven't forgotten, Eric Holder, that you don't prosecute black-on-white criminals, only white-on-black. Nor have we forgotten, Eric Holder, that you are so bent on taking away our self-defense (private firearms) that you literally gave assault weapons to known killers in Mexico, at least one of which killed an American border patrol agent. That is bigotry against Americans, Eric Holder. YOU belong in jail, you thug, with a whole batch of fellow bigoted, racist criminal politicians just like yourself.
Leave Joe alone, govt thugs
Submitted by SaguaroJack on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 1:14pm.
Joe Arpaio is about the only defense left in Phoenix against predatory, drug-running illegals out of Mexico and Central America. The federal govt under Obama and Eric Holder refuses to control the border, demonstrating thus their personal hatred of this country and particularly of white folks. Decent latinos here in Phoenix have no more use for thug latinos than decent people anywhere have for common criminals, and they side with Joe Arpaio, who helps keep their neighborhoods safe.
We are in a real war with our own govt, people. It's early innings right now, but will run increasingly out of control as time goes on. If Obama steals the 2012 election, get yourself ready to be overrun by thugs.
Only an administration as crooked as the Dear Ruler's...
Submitted by Dave. on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 1:40pm.
...would go after a law enforcement official for actually enforcing the law.
I can't wait to see Herr Erich von Holderen hauled away in handcuffs.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Dave
Submitted by grammajane on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 2:10pm.
If it happened, Barry would pardon him in a second and eric would live happily ever after
I'd like to see both of these
Submitted by killa37 on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 2:15pm.
I'd like to see both of these worthless posers sent to Gitmo and put in the stockyards with the mooooooooooooooooslems - I'm sure they'd make a lot of friends there with the proponents of the 'religion of peace'.
Dave, The high speed presses are printing the pardons already.
Submitted by upcountrywater on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 2:27pm.
When the O'bamicks, finally leave it should look like this.
However it will be More like this...
You Didn't Build That.
I"d say that the Obama REGIME
Submitted by killa37 on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 2:12pm.
I"d say that the Obama REGIME has been 'systematically violating the constitutional rights' of AMERICANS for the past 3 years.
The DC Show Of Jan & Eric
Submitted by desert3030 on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 2:43pm.
This is and organized effort at the Federal level to STOP LAW enforcement. Jan didn't and wouldn't when she was "playing" govenor (and poorly). Eric, the "hired gun" no pun, of 2 Presidents to play I see no evil, hear no evil, talk no envil. And I don't read reports.I f the Fed's win on this we might as well give AZ back to Mexico.
Do you believe this?
Submitted by Thalpy on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 3:11pm.
Examine with objectivity how Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez handled this investigation compared to his handling of the New Black Panther Party Philadelphia voter intimidation case. We must remember what a stellar job Eric Holder has done in Justice-pardons for Clinton and the Arizona nonsense.
If the Justice Department enforced U.S. law, Arizona and all of the other border states wouldn't be drowning. It's obvious to anyone that the Obama Administration has chosen a cafeteria approach to law enforcement. If the laws don't support their globalist world view, there is little or no enforcement. It has become a Cloward Piven strategy. They continue their betrayal.
Liar Obama and Holder
Submitted by Kleenex on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 3:39pm.
It's Holder and Obama that have gone too far. This is just a ploy to get the heat off Holder for Fast & Furious. Obama feeds the media these "stories" and they lap it up like pigs at a trough.
When guns are outlawed in America...
Submitted by bigdaddy on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 6:42pm.
...Only Mexican Drug cartels will have American guns....
The worst POTUS and his lackeys
Submitted by johnsonl on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 3:42pm.
are circling the drain. Liberals and socialists have no shame, no guilt, no regret. They will tell any lie and do anything to further their cause. They are losing it all and they know it. Young voters are turning away because they see that liberal/socialist ideologies don't work.
These are the death throes of progressivism in our country. College educations are worthless. The AGOTUS refuses to enforce the law of the land and sues the states that attempt to enforce voter I.D. and immigration laws. Investors and businesses are waiting patiently for Obamao and his minions to vacate the White House before they invest and hire.
A handful of hippies, anarchists and unemployed elitist brats, supported by unions failed to Occupt Wall Street, including it's rest rooms.
The great socialist revolution has failed with a whimper because that's not who America is.
A minority tried to bully the majority into a political system that the majority didn't want. That will never happen here.
Let's cut to the chase shall we?
Submitted by stage9 on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 5:38pm.
Do you REALLY want to know why the Media is soiling themselves over Arpaio?
EXHIBIT A:
Sheriff Joe to Obama: I'll keep doing my job
Immigration enforcement, (Obama) eligibility probe will continue despite federal investigation
http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=377865#ixzz1gjgLf7UM
Excerpt:
Sheriff Joe Arpaio told WND today he intends to fight Justice Department allegations that his office violated federal civil rights laws in enforcing immigration laws in Maricopa County, Arizona.
He further affirmed that his office will proceed with the Cold Case Posse investigation into the authenticity of Barack Obama's birth certificate and his eligibility to be president, which is scheduled to release preliminary findings in February.
In the Obama eligibility investigation, Arpaio's investigative team has amassed hundreds of pages of documentation and taken testimony from dozens of experts in preparation for a final phase of field investigation.
"If God is dead, somebody is going to have to take his place. It will be megalomania or erotomania, the drive for power or the drive for pleasure, the clenched fist or the phallus, Hitler or Hugh Hefner." — Malcolm Muggeridge
"The food we eat is disgusting."
Submitted by Huapakechi on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 6:30pm.
Hmmmmmm. Easily fixed. If ya want haught cuisine, don't be breaking the law and getting arrested. No more bad food unless ya be cookin' it yourself.
Stedman Holder and the DOJ...
Submitted by bigdaddy on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 6:39pm.
...need to dispatch the Nuevo Black Panzers to the southern border to make sure that illegals may cross without fear of being detained...
This entire story makes no sense
Submitted by Fredy on Fri, 12/16/2011 - 11:36pm.
WHEN did the justice department make press releases and not indictments? This 3 year investigation has not resulted in one single lawsuit. Clearly, this justice department has determined that a politically motivated press release is all they can do.
It is also incredibly stupid for homeland security to ABANDON that sherrif's office. IF there is some sort of problem, they should be getting MORE INVOLVED to correct that problem. Leaving that office makes absolutely no sense.
Clearly, the political hacks involved in this theater from both the justice department and homeland security need to be replaced PRONTO!
I despise illegal searches as
Submitted by RR GOP on Sat, 12/17/2011 - 12:40am.
I despise illegal searches as much as anyone, and would not be down with out and out racism...but when you live in that part of the country, and there's an illegal immigration problem, and those illegals are of a particular group, then they have to be cut some slack in ferreting them out. We wouldn't be having this problem including those who are here legally being targeted as possible illegals if the Feceral Government had dealt with this issue decades ago (both parties).
Anyone from anywhere, of any race, who are here legally should indeed be treated in accordance with the Constitution. But because of the illegals, drug addicts and other criminals who run rampant through this country, the law abiding have to endure increasing encroachments on our Liberty.
Obviously, those who want more and more Hispanics to make there way into the U.S. (they're betting on them being mostly future Democrats) because it fits into their "brown people"/Marxist meme, and adds to the chaos and confusion that Leftards seem to thrive upon, are going to attack Arpaio and those like him.
"Under Capitalism, man exploits man. Under Communism it's just the opposite."
"All that Communism needs to make it successful is for someone to feed and clothe it."