Losing Their Heads: Fearmongering Republicans Damage Arizona On Their Own

Conservatives have been whining about the protests taking place in Arizona as a result of the ill-conceived SB-1070 (in essence a license to racially profile people of Latin American descent disguised as a method for combating "illegal immigration" in the state).

But, for as much as those on the right complain about the protests, some right wingers within the state of Arizona are doing more damage to hurt their state.

This is a small piece of what Republican Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer had to say as she was quoted in the Arizona Guardian.

Appearing on a local television show Sunday morning, Gov. Jan Brewer described how bad Arizona's illegal immigration problem has gotten.

"Our law enforcement agencies have found bodies in the desert either buried or just lying out there that have been beheaded," she said.

Doesn't that make you want to visit Arizona (as a note: Gov. Brewer's assertions have been strongly disputed by law enforcement officials)?

People who defend Jan Brewer generally will condemn liberals (who oppose this law) for demonizing Arizona. It seems Gov. Brewer is doing more to demonize Arizona than anyone else ever could if it was their sole objective in life.

The governor is talking about dead bodies buried or lying out and bodies that have been beheaded. With friends like this Arizona hardly needs protesters.

This is from Republican Arizona Sen. Jon Kyl as quoted by Think Progress:

Today, when pressed by guest anchor Harry Smith on CBS’ Face the Nation, SB-1070 supporter Sen. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) called the reports a “gross generalization”:

SMITH: One of the things that’s come to light over the past last couple weeks is that in some of these border towns that were thought to be susceptible to lawbreaking of illegal immigrants. Crime is actually down. Crime in Phoenix for instance is down significantly over the past couple of years.

KYL: Well, that’s a gross generalization. Property crimes are up, certain violent crimes on certain parts of the citizenry are up. Phoenix is a very large source of kidnapping. It’s called the kidnapping capital of the United States…So there’s a great deal of violence and crime associated with illegal immigrants.

Sen . Kyl seems a little overly excited to talk about crime being up and hailing Phoenix as the "kidnapping capital of the United States." Is this going to be a promotional tactic of a convention and visitor bureau in Phoenix ... Come to Phoenix and you too can be kidnapped? (Note: Sen. Kyl's assertions are strongly disputed).

Gov. Brewer and Sen. Kyl are going out of their way to make Arizona look like a frightening place with beheadings, dead bodies lying around, drugs, property crimes going up and violent crimes going up, Phoenix being the kidnapping capital of the United States, etc.

Hall And Oates To Arizona: No Can Do ... I Can't Go For That

I can't go for that...

Daryl Hall and John Oates made an important statement about the irresponsible allegedly "anti-immigration" law Arizona has championed.

Hall and Oates joined in the boycott of the state of Arizona in a wise and courageous gesture:

The rock duo Daryl Hall and John Oates announced Monday they will not be playing Phoenix next month following an Arizona Diamondbacks game.

Their manager Jonathan Wolfson told The Associated Press from Los Angeles that Hall and Oates will not play Phoenix July 2 because of their personal stance against Arizona’s new immigration law.

The pair issued a statement through Wolfson saying they stand in solidarity with the music community in boycotting Arizona at this time.

It's a much-needed statement by the group.

Gingrich Has Nerve To Accuse President Obama Of Racism

Fox News right-wing mouthpiece Newt Gingrich is at it again attacking President Obama using race as his weapon of choice. Like so many conservatives on Fox News, Gingrich comes unhinged when he begins to talk about President Obama.

As documented by Crooks and Liars:

Gingrich: Well, look, I assume that somewhere after he [Obama] attacked Arizona, engaged in what I think was a racist dialogue to try to frighten Latinos away from the Republican Party, stood next to the president of Mexico and said borders don't matter because we have strong bonds, had the president of Mexico get a standing ovation from Democrats for attacking an American state, and has his own State Department apologize to the Chinese for the Arizona law -- somewhere in that process his pollster came in and said, 'You know, maybe you're positioned a little bad on this issue.'

President Obama did not attack Arizona. He simply disagrees with the law, and seems to see it as (at best) divisive, problematic and counterproductive.

Gingrich is working from the Glenn Beck playbook ... or maybe vice versa. Does it really matter with these two men who have made a career out of hateful and divisive rhetoric?

A racist dialogue? The man disagrees with the law and is considered to be engaging in a racist dialogue. But, to extremists like Gingrich, those who are in favor of the law just care about their country. The bigot (Gingrich) is intolerant of those who disagree and that is proven by his own words in an effort to attack our president.

Once again, conservatives like Gingrich act as if Latinos are stupid and are simply going to follow orders because they are not smart enough to rationally judge the law.

Note to Gingrich: Latinos who oppose this law have done so because they have evaluated it and see it as wrong for them, wrong for Arizona and wrong for the country.

Democrats do not have to do anything to frighten Latinos away from the Republican Party. Republicans have done a proficient job of that on their own.

Crooks and Liars:
http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/newt-defends-az-law-obama-engaged-ra

Support Cuéntame's Effort To Move MLB All-Star Game From Arizona

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
Martha de Hoyos
(310) 204-0448, ext. 225
martha@bravenewfoundation.org

In Response to Arizona SB 1070, Cuéntame Launches “Move the Game” Campaign & Releases Statement

Campaign Aims to Move the Major League Baseball All-Star Game from Phoenix in 2011, Baseball Players Begin to Speak out Against Law

Los Angeles, Brave New Foundation’s Cuéntame, launches the “Move the Game” as part of its ongoing effort to force Arizona to repeal the most draconian anti-immigrant law passed to date, SB 1070. “Move the Game” will focus its efforts on getting baseball fans to pressure Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig to move the All-Star Game from Phoenix, Arizona in 2011.

Over 30 percent of Major League baseball players are Latinos and some of them are coming out against the law. To view the video that highlights what various baseball players on SB 1070, please click the link below:

http://act.bravenewfilms.org/go/107?akid=1099.781577.TLaUk1&t=3

Cuentame’s Statement to the Major League:

Brave New Foundation’s Cuéntame demands that Bud Selig move the 2011 All-Star Game from Phoenix, Arizona. While we applaud your accolade-receiving efforts for your diversity hiring practices, the real issue remains: 30% of all Major League Baseball players are Latino, as are a great majority of your fans. By keeping the All-Star Game in Phoenix, you are effectively condoning the law and sending a strong message to your players and fans that it is okay to discriminate against a group of people. The All-Star game will leave behind this legacy of discrimination. Cuéntame strongly urges you to move the 2011 MLB All-Star Game

“Arizona insists on legalizing racial profiling and discriminating against Latinos. We are sending a strong message that they can't play a double game, on one hand profiting from a sport that has a huge Latino following and a league where one-third of all players are Latino and on the other hand institutionalizing a persecution against our community.” Axel Woolfolk, Cuentame Co-Founder

The All-Star Game represents the most high-profile and prestigious game every season in baseball. It has been reported that as much as $60 million will be spent on the host region during the All-Star Game weekend.