Members of the Pima County Republican Executive Committee have asked Sonoran Alliance to repost the statement originally issued by the committee on July 5th.
Here is the link to that statement/press release.
Congressman Flake: Cut, Cap, and Balance Bill is the Right Plan at the Right Time
July 15, 2011 By 6 Comments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 15, 2011
CONTACT: Genevieve Frye Rozansky
Legislation Offers Path to Balanced Fiscal Policy
Washington, D.C. – Republican Congressman Jeff Flake, who represents Arizona’s Sixth District, today praised House leadership’s decision to bring legislation focused on the “cut, cap, and balance” fiscal strategy to the floor next week.
The bill will cut spending in FY2012 by $111 billion, cap annual spending at 19.9-percent of gross domestic product by 2021, and will require the passage of a balanced budget amendment before raising the nation’s debt limit.
“The cut, cap, and balance bill is our chance to put policy in place that will help us climb out of the fiscal hole we’re in. This is the right plan at the right time,” said Flake.
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Pima GOP Good Ol’ Boys Bait & Switch Exposed – Manning House Tonight 4 PM
July 15, 2011 By 3 Comments
By Jill Henderson
Lies, Lies, Lies, Everyone, please watch/listen to the set-up by the rogue Pima GOP Executive Committee before attending tonight’s special meeting at The Manning House…
The Pima County Republican Committee collected petition signatures so that they can hold a special meeting. In order to address concerns that the Central Committee intended to use the meeting to remove current chairman, Brian Miller, from office, members of the Central Committee, and their associates, lie at Legislative District meetings in order to fraudulently induce precinct committeemen to sign their petitions.
LD-29 Chairman Jim Kelly and LD-28 Chairman Walt Stephenson brief the precinct committeemen of Legislative District 29 on a petition Mr. Stephenson circulated to call a Special Meeting in order to change the bylaws of the Pima County Republican Party Central Committee so that they may remove, “Any elected officer of the county Central Committee,” in the future.
They insist it has nothing to do with the removal of Chairman Miller and that to remove him it would take a second meeting.
The Call notice included the Chairmans removal.
A.J. LaFaro elected LD-17 Republican Chairman
July 14, 2011 By 1 Comment
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 14, 2011
Rob Haney, MCRC Chairman, on the left swearing in A. J. LaFaro (Photo credit: Chuck Kirkhuff)
(Phoenix) Maricopa County Republican Committee (MCRC) is pleased to announce that Mr. A. J. LaFaro has been elected Chairman of LD17 (Legislative District 17).
LaFaro indicated he is honored to be elected Chairperson of LD17 and is committed to helping defeat Obama and Democrats at all levels of our government in 2012.
He said “unfortunately LD17 is currently represented by progressive socialist Democrats at the State level – David Schapira, Eddie Ableser and Ben Arredondo, but Republicans and many Independents are going to work hard to change that in 2012.“ He went on to say “all three men have betrayed the public’s trust, especially Arredondo with the tens of thousands of dollars in gifts he received from the Fiesta Bowl and Ableser for having the worst attendance record of a House member in the history of the State of Arizona.”
Republicans who live in LD17, Tempe and South Scottsdale who want to get actively involved in helping take back our country should contact the LD17 Republicans at http://www.d17r.org/contact
America can’t afford four more years of Obama!
The geographic area LD17 covers is most of Tempe and part of South Scottsdale.
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(Gotta Press Release? Send it to sonoranalliance@gmail.com and we’ll consider posting it!)
Rep. David Schweikert Responds to Geithner’s Latest Debt Ceiling Statements
July 14, 2011 By 16 Comments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, July 14, 2011
CONTACT: Rachel Semmel
“This Administration, now to trying to play the blame game, is actually a little outrageous.”
Washington, D.C. – Congressman David Schweikert (R-AZ), a member of the House Financial Services Committee, discussed Treasury Secretary Geithner’s latest accusations on the debt ceiling, and what needs to be done to reach a deal on Reuters. Below is the video and excerpts from the interview:
REP. SCHWEIKERT: GEITHNER ‘STUNNINGLY PARTISAN’ AND ‘NOT HONEST ABOUT THE NUMBERS’
He’s right on one point, time is running out. But I have to express my frustration. If you’ve ever sat through one of the Secretary’s speeches or have been in some of the private meetings as I’ve had with him, he’s been actually very honest about the scale of the problem and how the markets will crush us if we don’t demonstrate we’re bending the debt curve. But then they come out with something that in many ways almost sounds petulant and is actually stunningly partisan. This really disappoints me because I thought he would be one of the point men out of the Administration who would actually keep this discussion somewhat honest about the numbers.
REP. SCHWEIKERT ON DEBT TALK COMPROMISE
Look, the Left has to understand that those of us Republicans believe that just to go out and raise taxes will crush economic growth. Though, both Right and Left around here seem willing to have an honest discussion about rebuilding our tax code. But this is something we should have done months ago. We stepped up as the Republican Majority in the House months and months ago, and did a budget. That would have been the time to embrace that and then do the discussion on rebuilding our tax code to create jobs. Now, to trying to play the blame game from this Administration is actually a little outrageous.
REP. SCHWEIKERT ON SEN. MCCONNELL PLAN
I appreciate his attempt to try to be creative. But you know people like me, we were elected to come here and do hard things but do the things that save this Republic. And postponing it or finding another gamesmanship way to move it off the books and push it to someone else’s responsibility, I believe is somewhat wrong-headed. Look, this is tough. There’s a lot of folks here who’ve been elected year after year, I believe, not telling the truth about the devastating amount of debt that has been piling up on us and now, to have to look into a camera like this and explain to the American people that we got to change it, we got to change this crazy spending.
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The Tail Wagging the Dog; Same-Sex Couples in Arizona
July 14, 2011 By 18 Comments
Population of Arizona? 6,392,017 souls or approximately 11 people per acre when spread out over the entire state.
Number of husband and wife households in Arizona? The 2010 U.S. Census counted nearly 1.15 million husband and wife households in Arizona. Number of same-sex households in Arizona? The 2010 U.S. Census counted nearly 21,000 same-sex couples in Arizona.
So how does that work out? About 1.83% of couples identified in Arizona by the U.S. Census Bureau are same-sex. Think about that. What does that figure suggest for the overall GLBT population of Arizona? Even being generous and posting that figure at 3% still only yields less than a single legislative district (there are 30 of those).
So what prompted this article? The fact that in spite of numbers so statistically small, the Associated Press, FoxNews Phoenix, ABC15, and the Arizona Daily Star actually expended time and space reporting this minor factoid. And, I’ll bet this isn’t over. By the end of the news-day today several more of Arizona’s MSM will have carried the same story. And by the end of the week, they’ll be editorials, commentary (like this one) to fill a book!
Why? How is a small stadium (about the size of Chase Field) of people among so many more millions a “news story”? How about how many children have a father living in the same household or how many female veterans are homeless in our state? Priorities. What’s important. That’s what the media reports. If they are simply keeping score then the numbers aren’t encouraging and perhaps don’t warrant the amount of attention given to GLBT issues in the media.
Are they a viable component of Arizona’s population? Absolutely. Do they receive more than their share of attention and political clout disproportionate to their numbers? Absolutely. In our state today aren’t there more important issues to address such as the growing influence of Chinese investment in U.S. resources?
And of course, maybe we should be paying attention to that whole Debt-Ceiling issue now raging in Washington. After all, $0.40 of each dollar spent by the federal government daily is borrowed. How sustainable is that?
(picture courtesy of the website Global Cocktails)
The point?
There are more important issues today than tracking same-sex couples, so why does the media expend the energy on this issue? How much energy and capital is expended on the GLBT community in Arizona and why given what a small segment of the overall population they truly are.
Ron Paul Releases New Ad: Conviction
July 14, 2011 By 6 Comments
I thought it only fair to give the Ron Paul supporters some space especially since this new ad is FANTASTIC!
So here’s your chance to comment away about the LOOMING ECONOMIC COLLAPSE and of course, Ron Paul’s terrific new ad.
Adams raises more than $230,000 in just 45 days!
July 14, 2011 By 1 Comment
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 14, 2011
“I am humbled by this show of support”
EAST VALLEY – Kirk Adams is proud to announce that just 2 months into his bid for Congress he raised an impressive $230,775.
The figure, a result of hard work by Adams and his finance committee, shows strong grassroots support and is especially impressive given that Adams did not enter the race until May. The money was raised in 45 days. That means that Adams raised more than $5,100 a day since entering the race.
Moreover, more than $130,000 was raised in the final 10 days of the fundraising quarter, and Adams has more than $203,000 cash-on-hand.
“I am humbled by this impressive show of support,” Adams said. “Our finance committee worked extremely hard. Coupled with the grassroots support we are seeing on the ground, this is the beginning of a very strong campaign.”
“Our finance committee is pleased to see the support that Kirk is receiving in the East Valley,” said finance committee member Ross Farnsworth, Sr. “He is a good man, and I look forward to seeing his hard work in Congress.”
A husband, father and small businessman, after joining the state House in 2006, Adams found himself so frustrated by the unwillingness and inability of Republicans in the Legislature to stand up for their conservative principals that he launched a long-shot campaign to oust the veteran Speaker of the House.
Adams shocked the Republican establishment and political class, winning the Speakership at only 35 years of age and one full term in office – making him the youngest Speaker in Arizona history.
Adams led the House back in a conservative direction with an aggressive reform agenda, taking on some of the most challenging issues in Arizona history – issues others were afraid to address because of the potential political fallout.
A native Arizonan, Adams and his wife JaNae live in Mesa and have five children.
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Don’t Let the Rogue Pima County GOP Executive Committee Shut You Out!
July 14, 2011 By 45 Comments
URGENT MESSAGE TO ALL PIMA COUNTY REGISTERED REPUBLICANS!
There is nothing written anywhere in the by-laws saying that anyone has the right to keep REGISTERED REPUBLICANS from attending this Friday’s GOP Special Meeting at the Manning House, 4:30pm, 450 West Paseo Redondo, Tucson, AZ 85701. Although the rogue Pima GOP Executive Committee would LOVE YOU TO BELIEVE OTHERWISE.
I ask each and every one of you today. Will you be bullied by this type of over abuse of power and “We speak for you” mentality or, will you stand up and defend liberty and justice and remind them that they work for us, WE THE PEOPLE??? I hope to see every single PIMA COUNTY REGISTERED REPUBLICAN AT THE MANNING HOUSE THIS FRIDAY. Our very freedom depends on it.
If not you, then who? If not now, then when?
I will now share all the specifics written by Ken Rineer with the Republican Liberty Caucus:
The Pima County GOP has mailed Call notices for a Special Meeting on Friday, July 15, 2011 at 4:30pm. It is imperative that you attend if you received your notice and/or you are an elected or appointed republican precinct committeemen in Pima County.
The purpose of the meeting is to debate and vote on a change to the Pima GOP bylaws, giving in effect a method to remove an elected officer of the Pima County GOP Executive Committee. If you are an elected or an appointed precinct committeemen, you are eligible to vote on the change to the bylaws.
If the bylaw change is passed, there will be a motion to remove Chairman Brian Miller from office immediately after the vote.
The Pima County GOP Central Committee has flubbed this effort to remove Chairman Miller right from the start. They are operating outside the bylaws of the Pima County GOP as well as Roberts Rules of Order.
Not only are ten of the twelve members of the Pima County GOP Executive Committee conducting a ‘witch hunt,’ they have gone rogue as well!
We need EVERY elected PC in attendance should the bylaw pass to defeat their effort to remove Brian Miller as Chairman.
Don’t let them get away with such egregious actions. Be there and make your voice heard.
If you are not a precinct committeeman, please contact me for more information and how to become one.
- Jill Henderson
========================================
Dear Precinct Committeeman:
I ask that you vote NO on the bylaw change and here is why:
By now you most assuredly have received your Call notice from the Pima County Republican Party for the Special Meeting Friday evening.
I noticed the Call presents us with two (2) questions:
- Adopt a change in the Pima County Republican Central Committee bylaws; and
- Entertain a motion to remove the Chairman.
I find it odd that the Call notice would include Question #2. When LD-28 Chairman Walt Stephenson attended our June legislative district meeting to ask us to sign the Petition for a Special Meeting, he assured us this was just to change the bylaws.
Did Mr. Stephenson lie to us? Did my ears hear something that wasn’t said?
No, my ears did not deceive me. It was stated on several occasions at our LD meeting that the petition for a Special meeting was not about removing the Chairman, it was about changing the bylaws so that the precinct committeemen could remove future elected Executive Committee members should they so desire.
Enough on that.
Today is day three (3) of playing Where’s Waldo. It has been seventy-two (72) hours and the June Treasurer report and the Secretaries Minute Book have yet to be made available so that I may review them. How can I make an informed decision as to the allegation(s) of financial misconduct if the Central Committee will not make them available for review by elected and appointed precinct committeemen?
UPDATE: SOME OF THE TREASURER REPORTS AND THE MINUTES HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE AS OF THIS AFTERNOON. It took a while, but I guess they saw the error of their ways.
The Minutes Book of Approved Minutes should be available at the Pima GOP headquarters building for elected/appointed precinct committeemen to review. I’m not asking for copies, I understand why they would not want them or the Treasurer reports to leave the office, but I do want to review them. Is that really too much to ask? Wouldn’t you like to make an informed vote on Friday? How can you if the Committee will not make the evidence available?
Now, let’s get on to this bylaw change. There are so many holes in this proposal I could drive a Mack truck through it (sorry Mack Inc.).
Let us remember that this change, if approved, will allow only twenty-percent (20%) of elected precinct committeemen, not just elected, but appointed as well, to call a Special meeting to remove any elected officer on the Executive Committee at any time and for ANY REASON.
Think about that for a minute. ANY ELECTED OFFICER could be removed without knowing the charge(s)/allegation(s), without an investigation by a non-partisan committee appointed by our Central Committee, without an opportunity to defend themselves, without any written findings by the committee in to the charge(s)/allegation(s)!
Is that really what we have become?
I APPEAL TO YOUR SENSE OF JUSTICE WITHOUT TAKING IN TO ACCOUNT LIKES, DISLIKES AND PERSONALITIES.
One of our Central Committee officer’s could initiate an investigation in to suspected financial wrong-doing. In order to end their investigation, the Committee members involved in the alleged wrong-doing could shut down the investigation without:
- The notifying of the elected Committee member investigating the alleged wrong-doing;
- Any charge or allegation against them;
- Any investigation;
- Any findings of fact;
- Any recommendation to the full Committee; and
- Any sort of trial.
In other words, they could shut down the inquiry in to the alleged wrong-doing. I know what some of you are thinking, oh, come on Ken, you don’t know what you are talking about. You’re just one of those theorists.
Really?
What did the Council do to the Mayor of Quartzite, who was looking in to a $250,000/year payment going to an unnamed source? The Council called a Special meeting without the required notice. They went in to executive session. The Council removed the Mayor. The Council declared a ‘state of emergency’ because of alleged death threats which were a result of the townspeople anger over the Quartzite police department’s removal of one of their own from the microphone during a call to the audience. The Mayor objected and ordered the police to stand down to no avail. She was arrested for disorderly conduct because her time had not expired and would not give up the microphone.
Here is the link to the full article: http://tinyurl.com/65gp9dv
In El Paso County Colorado, the County Republican Committee went in to Executive Session and held what is believed to be a verbal tongue lashing of the Executive Committee Secretary because she questioned a Republican legislature for pushing a bill to create Obama’s health care exchange. She survived their wrath for now; however, her eyes were watery and red as she exited the room. To what end? To bully a fellow republican who holds a more limited government belief than they?
Here is the link to the full article: http://tinyurl.com/5u6u73o
Are constitutional conservatives really the enemy of the GOP?
From the current Republican Party Platform: “As the party of ideas, rather than a mere coalition of interests, we consider vigorous debate a strength, not a weakness. Indeed, we are a party – as we are a nation – of mavericks.”
Call me what you wish but please call me fair. I wasn’t a supporter of CD-8 candidate Miller, but I don’t like ‘witch hunts,’ I don’t like being lied to and I certainly don’t like being called something I’m not.
As Always,
In liberty,
Ken Rineer
Peggy Neely Pledges to Repeal Food Tax
July 14, 2011 By 1 Comment
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 14, 2011
CONTACT: Paul Bentz
Pullen: Neely the Best Candidate for Fiscal Reform
PHOENIX – Last year, Peggy Neely opposed the food tax and voted against the budget because of the lack of transparency. Today, Neely pledged to repeal the food tax – a move supported by former Arizona Republican Party Chairman and former candidate for Phoenix Mayor, Randy Pullen.
“Peggy Neely is the best candidate to promote fiscal reform,” said Pullen, “Employee pay raises have been given in a time of national and local austerity while city services have been cut. It is time for someone to shine a light on the budget process and make sure that City Hall is serving the taxpayers instead of themselves. Peggy is the right person to get the job done.”
“The food tax was proposed on a Monday and voted on a Tuesday,” said Neely, “Revenue was found to fill the budget hole before other alternatives were even offered. It is time to repeal the food tax and give Phoenix citizens an honest budget that protects the services that are important to our residents and lives within our means.”
Peggy Neely has proposed extensive budget reforms in her comprehensive policy plan titled “The Phoenix We Want,” which includes zero-based budgeting, finding efficiencies within all departments, regionalization of public services, and other cost savings.
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Arizona GOP Kicks Off Freedom Festival!
July 13, 2011 By 3 Comments
The Restoration of Our Republic begins in Arizona on July 26th!
THE ARIZONA FREEDOM FESTIVAL!
Featuring
Joe “The Plumber” Wurzelbacher
&
A Special Surprise Guest!
Join Us for Freedom Festival 2011!
EVENT DETAILS:
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
VIP Reception: 5:30 PM
Festival: 6:30-8:30 PM
Scottsdale Plaza Resort
7200 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
EVENT COST:
Ticket to event only $25
Ticket to event with dinner $50 ($40 for Precinct Committeemen)
Ticket to event, VIP Reception (with photo) $100/person or $175/couple
Host Committee Sponsorship $250 (includes dinner & VIP reception)
BENEFACTOR LEVELS:
President George Washington $10,000
President Thomas Jefferson $5,000
President James Madison $2,500
Patrick Henry $1,000
Or call (602) 957-7770
This is your chance to take part in the
Restoration of our Republic!
Arizona Republican Party | 3501 N. 24th Street | Phoenix, AZ 85016 | (602) 957-7770 | info@azgop.org
Jeff Flake on ReasonTV
July 13, 2011 By 1 Comment
Our Congressman Jeff Flake recently sat down in late June for an interview with ReasonTV senior editor Tim Cavanaugh.
From ReasonTV’s description of the interview:
Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Arizona) has represented the Diamondback State’s sixth congressional district since 2001, cutting a pro-immigration, pro-trade, limited-government, anti-spending path that contrasts sharply with the mainstream of the Republican Party.
Flake’s campaign against “earmarking,” or larding up bills with giveaways for legislators’ home districts, brought national attention to this issue and inspired some important rule changes. He has been a lonely voice in the House calling for an end to the U.S.-imposed travel ban on Cuba. And in a state that has shocked much of the country with its intolerance toward both documented and undocumented immigrants, Flake has consistently argued for reducing obstacles to legal immigration and establishing more effective guest worker programs.
Now Flake has his eye on the Senate seat being vacated next year by the retiring Republican Jon Kyl. While there’s plenty of competition for his House job, Flake is so far alone in the race for Arizona’s junior Senate seat.
A former head of the Goldwater Institute and practicing Mormon, Flake is a leading voice for freer markets and more personal freedom within the Republican Party.
Rep. Schweikert talks default, debt, and deliberations on Fox News
July 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment
In case you missed it, our very own Congressman David Schweikert also appeared on Fox News this morning to discuss raising the debt ceiling:
Congressman Ben Quayle on CNN Tonight!
July 13, 2011 By 3 Comments
Be sure to tune in to CNN’s John King, USA tonight as he interviews our own Arizona Congressman, Ben Quayle. The show will air at 4 PM with an active discussion on the debt ceiling negotiations.
Here is the link to John King’s Show
UPDATE: Here is the video of Congressman Quayle’s appearance:
Kirk Adams Announces More Conservative Endorsements
July 13, 2011 By 2 Comments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, July 13, 2011
CONTACT: Chad Heywood
Conservative legislators endorse Kirk Adams
All Legislative District 21 lawmakers throw support behind Adams
East Valley — Kirk Adams is proud to announce that he has won the endorsement of three conservative East Valley lawmakers: State Senator Steven Yarbrough and Representatives Tom Forese and J.D. Mesnard.
The three lawmakers all represent Legislative District 21, which includes Chandler, Queen Creek, Gilbert and Mesa. They join a growing list of conservative leaders who are supporting Adams in his bid for Congress.
Senator Yarbrough, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said: “Speaker Kirk Adams is a gifted and effective leader. He is truly a man of integrity. We served in House leadership together and he will bring expertise, experience, courage, and wonderful family values to Congress. We need him there!”
Representative Forese, chairman of the House Higher Education Committee, said: “America is at a crossroad. Our leadership will determine whether our country continues to lead the world or whether we fade into obscurity. Kirk Adams is an honest, smart and hardworking conservative. He has spent the last 5 years putting Arizona in the right direction. Now it’s time to send him to Washington.
Representative Mesnard said: “There are four reasons why I’m supporting Kirk Adams for Congress: his values, his virtue, his vision and his victories. As Speaker of the Arizona House
of Representatives, Kirk modeled all four when tackling critical issues like balancing the budget, creating jobs, and reforming the state retirement system — the very issues that also need addressing at the national level. That’s what makes Kirk Adams the perfect candidate to send to Washington and represent our community.”
Adams thanked the lawmakers for their support: “These three men have provided great conservative leadership for our community and I’m honored to have their support. They join a growing grassroots movement that’s growing stronger by the day.”
A husband, father and small businessman, after joining the state House in 2006, Adams found himself so frustrated by the unwillingness and inability of Republicans in the Legislature to stand up for their conservative principals that he launched a long-shot campaign to oust the veteran Speaker of the House.
Adams shocked the Republican establishment and political class, winning the Speakership at only 35 years of age and one full term in office – making him the youngest Speaker in Arizona history.
Adams led the House back in a conservative direction with an aggressive reform agenda, taking on some of the most challenging issues in Arizona history – issues others were afraid to address because of the potential political fallout.
A native Arizonan, Adams and his wife JaNae live in Mesa and have five children.
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Representative Schweikert to Accept Fall Internship Applications
July 13, 2011 By 2 Comments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, July 13, 2011
CONTACT: Rachel Semmel
Scottsdale, Ariz. – Congressman David Schweikert (R-AZ) today announced openings for full-time, unpaid fall internships in his Washington D.C. office:
Congressman Schweikert and his staff are seeking full-time internship applicants for the 2011 fall term (September- December) in Washington, D.C.
The ideal candidate will be motivated, detail oriented, able to multi-task, possess excellent communication skills and interact well with constituents.
Responsibilities include answering the phone, giving tours of the Capitol and assisting with constituent correspondence.
Arizona ties are preferred, but not required. Interested candidates should email a cover letter and resume to az05internship@gmail.com with “Fall Internship Applicant” in the subject line as well as a preference for either a “press” or “policy” focused internship. Applications are due by August 12, 2011.
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Why do some conservatives keep believing the Arizona Republic?
July 13, 2011 By 14 Comments
As is covered extensively over at Espresso Pundit, fewer and fewer people read the Arizona Republic. There are a number of reasons for this, but one reoccurring theme is that the paper cannot be trusted to report facts and the vast majority of writers there exhibit a strong liberal streak that distorts their work.
I know of hardly any conservatives who read the newspaper anymore for just those same reasons. Yet for whatever reason, when something appears in the pages of the Republic, far too many self-proclaimed conservatives latch onto it without questioning the source. This has really been brought home to me this week with all of the noise surrounding State Senator Lori Klein and a piece that left-wing columnist Richard Ruelas wrote about her and the gun she carries.
For starters, the Republic has been running anti-gun material every day for several days now. This is no accident or coincidence. They have an anti-gun agenda and have for years and years. They also have a very strong bias against the conservative majorities in the State Legislature and are always doing what they can to create a perception that the Legislature is full of stark-raving mad right-wing crazies.
So in Ruelas’ column, he writes (of himself in the third person) “Oh, it’s so cute,” Klein said, before aiming the gun at Ruelas’s chest to show off the red beam of the laser sight.
Really? Let’s ignore for a moment that gun owners don’t just point guns at people simply as a matter of practice. Does Ruelas want us to believe that a politician, and a successful one at that, also doesn’t know better than to point a gun at a newspaper reporter in front of a photographer?
Yet with every reason to be skeptical, far too many smart conservatives fell for the story and turned their public wrath at Senator Klein. Even fellow Senator Ron Gould, relying solely on the Arizona Republic’s coverage, promised to give gun safety lessons to Klein. How delightfully superior and condescending.
What suckers.
Imagine what they might have known if they had waited to hear from Senator Klein? Does the story change if instead of “pulling a gun on a reporter” the entire reason for the interview is that the reporter wanted to see the gun? Does the story change if Klein clears the gun before the interview even starts? Does the story change if the photographer asks to see the laser sight demonstrated and Klein points it away from him? Does the story change if instead of Klein pointing it at the reporter, the reporter walks in front of the sight to sit down?
Of course it does. The real story is a competent gun owner obliging a newspaper reporter and his photographer. The gun is handled safely, the gun is cleared, Klein never gets anywhere near the trigger of the cleared gun, and even the reporter and photographer are not the slightest bit uncomfortable at any of the events that occurred.
Some of the audio is available on the Republic’s website and it is fun to listen to. Both Ruelas and his photographer are clearly strangers to guns and they are fascinated like little kids. What we have is basically no story at all, until Ruelas inserts a dramatic sentence to punch up his column and likely to suit his editors. Suddenly Klein is some gun-totin’ crazy, pointing loaded firearms into the chest of newspaper reporters, no doubt one-handed while her other hand strums a banjo.
So the left-wing blogs go nuts, Huffington Post goes nuts, and the Arizona Republic follows up with day after day of anti-2nd Amendment editorials castigating Klein as “Exhibit A” of Arizona’s unhealthy and irresponsible obsession with guns, etc. Of course they do, that’s what liberals do and we wouldn’t expect anything different.
But seeing so many conservatives take the bait is sad. Sure, some of these so-called conservatives are just using the opportunity to take shots at Senator Klein just because they don’t like her. But several good people have been taken in as well.
Personally, I love that Klein doesn’t apologize for defending herself and her family. I’m glad she carries and I’m glad that she can provide legislative and moral support to women across the state who want to be pro-active in their self-defense. I’m glad she cleared the weapon and did the things she should have to display the weapon in a manner that was both legal and responsible. But I hope she learns that the Arizona Republic can’t be trusted, and there really isn’t any point in trying to accommodate them by displaying her weapon for their benefit. Their agenda is as it always has been.
Something more conservatives need to remember the next time a sensational story breaks that demonizes a conservative lawmaker or cause.