Pearce Recall Update: Pearce Plagiarism Scandal

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Ol' Russell just loves him some white nationalists, doesn't he? He just can't quit them.

Jeff Biggers at Huffington Post has the latest "King" Russell Pearce Scandal. Jeff Biggers: New Arizona Recall Scandal: Did Tea Party President Pearce Plagiarize (Again) for "White Nationalist" Press?:

In a scandal-ridden recall election, Arizona state senate president Russell Pearce revamped his campaign website earlier this summer after I published an investigation on Salon.com that demonstrated the self-proclaimed "Tea Party President" had cut and pasted large sections of texts from some of the most notorious white nationalists and fringe third party candidates from across the country.

New evidence now raises further questions over whether the architect of Arizona's controversial SB 1070 immigration law also borrowed — in truth, plagiarized — significant parts of an outrageously inaccurate email on immigration from one of his state's own fringe lawmakers, state Sen. Sylvia Allen, for an article he authored in a widely denounced white nationalist publication.

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In the 2010 summer issue of the The Social Contract Press, which a Southern Poverty Law Center study found "routinely publishes race-baiting articles penned by white nationalists," Pearce authored an article, "Arizona Takes the Lead on Illegal Immigration Enforcement."

In the article, Pearce opines on "why we need SB 1070," and the need to follow the rule of law. He rails against "leftists here and in DC," and asks, "how long will it be before we will be just like Mexico? We have already lost our language; everything must be printed in Spanish. We have already lost our history since it is no longer taught in our schools. And we have lost our borders."

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However, earlier that summer, Sen. Sylvia Allen . . . had sent out a very public email on May 3, 2010, explaining her views on SB 1070.

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In her email, Allen also reported that "17 dead bodies and two Koran bibles" had been found on a rancher's property, and also stated without any factual evidence that "in the last few years 80% of our law enforcement that have been killed or wounded have been by an illegal."

Allen also asked:

"How long will it be before we will be just like Mexico, Canada or any of the other Central American or South American countries? We have already lost our language, everything must be printed in Spanish also. We have already lost our history it is no longer taught in our schools. And we have lost our borders." 

In fact, Allen's email and Pearce's article are nearly identical, which begs the question: Did Pearce plagiarize from Allen for his white nationalist publication, or did Allen plagiarize from Pearce for her public email?

Read the post with the text from the emails and articles in question. Jeff Biggers: New Arizona Recall Scandal: Did Tea Party President Pearce Plagiarize (Again) for "White Nationalist" Press? 

If you are an LD 18 voter and have not cast your early ballot in the recall election, go and vote for Jerry Lewis today. Voters will have to wait ubtil next year to toss Sylvia Allen out of office.