The Arizona GOP opts to become the party of hate

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Now the urgency of the "Republicans Hate Unions" special session to rescue the "save our secret ballot" proposition is becoming clearer — it was part of a broader GOP strategy to smear unions and the working people of Arizona by tying unions to the GOP's centerpiece anti-immigrant hysteria fear mongering over SB 1070. Unions are now "the other" along with Latinos in this smear campaign.

Politico reported Jan Brewer's new ad is a direct effort to tarnish a Democrat by tying him to President Obama and, in this case, to the SEIU and the "boycott cartel" that wants to punish Arizona for its new immigration law. In Arizona, Brewer runs against Obama – Ben Smith – POLITICO.com. You have to wait to the end of the ad for the crucial image: Democrat Terry Goddard transformed into an iconic "Hope" poster.

The use of the word "cartel" is a not-so-subtle attempt to create a false equivalency in the mind of the listener between unions opposed to SB 1070 on constitutional, civil rights and human rights grounds with the murderous drug cartels operating out of Mexico. (I am told that Republican lawmakers referred to union workers as "union thugs" in chambers during debate of the "Republicans Hate Unions" special session.)

So now Republicans hate Latinos, Muslims, African-Americans (Obama), and union workers? Let's not forget public school teachers. And gays. And liberals. And Democrats. Even moderate Republicans. A party built upon the foundation of hatred for their fellow man. Abraham Lincoln must hold his head in his hands in despair and weep for what his Republican Party and this nation have become under the control of these radical extremists.

The Associated Press reports today that this is a coordinated strategy for all GOP candidates in Arizona. Republicans hit Dems on union backing for boycott – East Valley Tribune:

Gov. Jan Brewer and other Republican candidates are moving to make controversy surrounding Arizona's illegal immigration law an election issue by putting a spotlight on Democratic rivals' backing by unions that support an economic boycott of the state.

Brewer was joined Tuesday by Republican candidates for statewide offices and congressional seats in issuing separate statements calling on their respective Democratic rivals to reject endorsements and other support from unions that support a boycott.

"Democrats like Terry Goddard can claim to be against the boycott, but when it comes down to it, he embraces the union interests who are leading the effort to kill Arizona's economy," Brewer said in a statement released by her campaign.

Goddard campaign spokeswoman Janey Pearl said Goddard opposes the boycott but can't control who endorses him. "But unions endorse him because he stands up for working people which is something she doesn't do," Pearl said, referring to Brewer.

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The Republicans' move was coordinated by Brewer's campaign, Brewer campaign spokesman Doug Cole said. "We are working together as a Republican ticket to contrast our ideas and value against our opponents."

Besides Brewer, participating Republican candidates included several congressional hopefuls and candidates for secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer, superintendent of public instruction and mine inspector.

Governor Brewer has opted to follow in the footsteps of other demagogues who opposed the federal government's enforcement of federal laws on civil rights and desegregation: Gov. Orval Faubus of Arkansas (Little Rock Central High School 1957) and Gov. George Wallace of Alabama (University of Alabama 1963). It's only a difference of kind and degree with respect to federal immigration laws.

What is killing Arizona's economy is 44 years of failed leadership under Republican rule, and 20 years of fiscally irresponsible supply-side "trickle down" GOP tax cuts that has crippled this state with a structural revenue deficit. Our schools are failing, our infrastructure is crumbling, and public safety is threatened by a prison system so overwhelmed it cannot keep prisoners from escaping.

What is killing Arizona's economy is Jan Brewer scaring away businesses and tourism with her fear mongering lies about headless corpses in the desert and out-of-control violence in Arizona. What business in its right mind would relocate to a failing state under the insane leadership of Jan Brewer and the Republican radical extremists in the Arizona Legislature?

Arizona has gone backwards so far we have regressed to the point of becoming Alabama circa 1963.