Political Hotsheet
By

Rebecca Kaplan /

CBS News/ December 16, 2011, 9:43 AM

Perry defends Joe Arpaio

Joe Arpaio, rick perry

Republican presidential candidate, Texas Gov. Rick Perry listens as he gets the endorsement of Maricopa County, Ariz. Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Nov. 29, 2011, during a campaign stop at Joey's Diner in Amherst, N.H.

/ AP Photo/Jim Cole
SIOUX CITY, Iowa -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry is defending one of his more controversial surrogates, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, against a report by the Justice Department issued on Thursday that accuses him of committing civil-rights violations against Latinos in the Arizona county he oversees.

Justice's Civil Rights Division alleged that Arpaio's office has committed a wide range of violations, including following a pattern of racial profiling and discrimination, and carrying out heavy-handed immigration patrols based on racially charged citizen complaints.

"I would suggest to you that these people are out after Sheriff Joe," Perry said, though he acknowledged he didn't know the details of the charges. "He is tough. And again, when I'm the president of the United States, you're not going to see me going after states like Arizona or Alabama, suing sovereign states for making decisions."

Perry also told Neil Cavuto of Fox News that he has no plans to get out of the race, even if he should wind up with a fourth-place finish in Iowa. Most Hawkeye State polls show him well behind Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, and Rep. Ron Paul.

Although the goal is to get one of the proverbial three tickets out of the state, Perry said, "You'll still see me in New Hampshire and South Carolina and Florida."

He predicted that he will have a good showing in the state, bolstered by a bus tour he just began that will take him across over 40 Iowa cities. Perry said that Iowa voters "want to touch you, feel you, and sniff on you."

Full CBS News coverage: Rick Perry

© 2011 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
46 Comments Add a Comment
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writewhatsright says:
Sheriff Arpaio has been quoted as saying, "This is a sad day for America as a whole," suggesting that the federal government's suit against him is tantamount to setting up a neon welcome sign for illegal immigrants.

I don't think it's fair to bash Arizona's illegal immigrants, per se. However, I think our federal government is violating the human rights as well as the civil rights of immigrants by using the Justice Department as a conduit to encourage trafficking in illegal immigration. That's right trafficking. People are being brought into this country illegally by sophisticated means, and the beneficiaries of this people-cargo are the businesses that underwrite the trafficking, the criminal underworld that abuse and intimidate the illegals, the non profit organizations that stereo type them, and the attorneys that make a living on their continued illegal existence in the United States. It is a travesty, so why does the federal government feel that the poor and desperate of Latin America deserve to enter the United States in such a repugnant way? Why does the federal government feel that these desperate people are beneath legal entry into the USA?

Most of Arizona's illegal immigrant population is native American or native American mix from Mexico, so how is it that the federal government is racially describing illegals as "Latino." Having a Spanish surname has nothing to do with Latin Americans' biology because everyone baptized in colonial Latin America was forced to have a Spanish or Portuguese(christian) surname. The political label "latino" has no racial characteristics attributed to it, therefore one can only GUESS if a person driving a car is politically labeled "latino"? So, if it's a guessing game then it is a 50/50 chance that the person stopped isn't politically labeled "latino." Latin Americans are as diverse as non Latin Americans, so what is Sheriff Arpaio's racial criterial for selecting and stoping individuals driving cars? If, in its suit, the Justice department is suggesting that all Latin Americans are racially the same and therefore are easily identifiable a singular biological race, then it is the United States Justice department that is violating the civil rights of everyone politically labeled Latino.
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Blackandtandog says:
"when I'm the president of the United States, you're not going to see me going after states like Arizona or Alabama"

Truly delusional.
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mzhi808 replies:
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Perry really needs to lay way off on the BOOZE. Rehab not White house.
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theselloutofamericans says:
Controversial subject of illegal immigration and the Iowa Debate


Birthright citizens, and naturalized citizens have the ability to vote for to change America forever, but we must scrutinize voting registrations for the 2012 election cycle for a President. Over and over again Democrats with Liberal ties have been caught numerous times, using such radical groups such as Acorn to steal political races with illegal alien registrations. Voter fraud is here to stay, unless the federal government makes it impossible to defraud citizen voters of their inherent rights, by demanding the use of a National ID card that could be used for many other purposes. The old Social Security number has been badly compromised, as we have seen with a yearly tally of hundreds of thousands of Americans fighting to save their credit, as its been procured by foreign nationals to steal jobs, as well as peoples good credit, then using it for nefarious purposes.


The Department of Justice, Eric Holder has showed his noticeable mark by mirroring the NAACP that having to show official picture ID is racist. Holder has shown his true colors as a far left progressive, by propelling his judgment against the right of sovereign states to identify registered voters with government documents like an ID card, and his now relentless pursuit against Arizona, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Utah and in probability North Carolina for adopting policing laws within their borders against illegal aliens. I THINK MOST PATRIOTIC AMERICANS WAOULD LIKE TO SEE ERIC HOLDER IMPEACHED, for his unnecessary impact of suing states, trying to stop illegal aliens squatting there and the 'Gun Walking' storm. If holder joins the jobless lines, maybe he would have a better understanding of Americans looking for work, while company owners are still employing foreigners who should not even be here? Soon—these unconcerned businesses will be in the spotlight, when ICE raids uncover the scheming in unlawful employment and have to face harsh sanctions if caught. Not excluded is the irrational "witch Hunt" against steely Maricopa Sheriff Joe Arpaio, that the Obama administration has using intimidation along with radical open border organizations.
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theselloutofamericans says:
In the Iowa nationally televised debate yesterday evening I did not see Rep. Michele Bachmann brought into the discussion on illegal immigration? Was it by chance I missed it, while digging in the refrigerator for Soy milk or was the TEA PARTY chairperson deliberately left out of this most controversial issue, that is vastly becoming manifest amongst the tens of millions of physical Conservatives? Newt Gingrich had his say relating to the 20 million illegal migrant and immigrant population already residing here and that it was unreasonable to deport foreign nationals who have lived in America for 25 years. Gingrich also added that the administration should get off the back of States that are being persecuted for their stand against illegal immigration; included he said that the fence would be completed between US-Mexico by 2014 (Is that the real 2006 Secure Double layer border fence) and that Sanctuary Cities (State such as California, Nevada, Colorado and New York) would be punished with loss of federal funds.


Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who has been Gingrich's main political principal rival partner in recent debates, defended the U.S. Immigration and citizenship Services E-Verify program proposing identification cards for all "non-resident aliens" working here. Texas Gov. Then Rick Perry who was attacked by verbal flak last September for defending in-state university tuition to illegal immigrants, who were either smuggled into the US, as the unborn or who were brought into the country as children and attend public schools in Texas. Romney concluded on this heated subject, "I've sent Texas Ranger recon teams there. Our law enforcement men and women face fire from across the border, or in the U.S. side, from the drug cartels," Perry said. "It is not safe there."



Both Gingrich, Romney has forgotten one important factor; that these words are the initiative that will draw even more illegal aliens if we don't enforce our laws; finding a way to get to public welfare and entitlement America? As I have already mentioned, unless I was absent from the TV set at the time, that Michele Bachmann was left out of this part of the commentary. As the Major TEA PARTY leader her resume has proven her worth to stifle spending in Massachusetts, as well been an arbiter of reducing the $15 Trillion treasury deficit and has a commanding vote in opposition to superfluous issues in the House of Representatives. She is a strong opponent of the archaic tax code, which must be replaced with fair taxation for all; without any exemptions, subsidies for the wealth corporations and industries of special interests lobbyists.



Rep. Dan Boren (D-Ok) is the third Democrat cosponsoring Chairman Lamar Smith's Legal Workforce Act (H.R.2885.) Originally Smith required 100 co-sponsors to pass the bill. The numbers have currently grown, 72, so as a result all we need to get this extremely important bill to the House chambers is just 28. The bill would require 100% of businesses to begin using E-Verify for all new hires within 2 years and require all federal, state, and local governments to check new hires and existing employees within 6 months. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has launched Records and Information from DMVs for E-Verify (RIDE), a new aspect which allows USCIS's E-Verify plan to approve the validness of Mississippi driver's licenses used by employees as Form I-9 identity documents. RIDE mirrors a obligation to continually improving E-Verify," said USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas. "This important enhancement strengthens E-Verity's anti-fraud capabilities and will introduce a key role in helping employers in the United States to maintain a legal workforce."
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mzhi808 replies:
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You know, at this point, your comments are mute!!Move on
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theselloutofamericans says:
Make yourself known by contacting Washington at 202-224-3121, or you can read about this indignation at NumbersUSA website of the $113 billion dollars spend yearly on illegal immigration

The bill is a concrete proposal and has a lot of support in the U.S. House, with 80 co-sponsors. It is one of the "five great immigration solutions" many politicians are standing for this year. THE GENUINE 2006 SECURE FENCE ACT; double 15 foot high fence, for fast track lanes in between for the US Border Patrol to use. However, they need a lot more momentum to win. Rep. King's bill, H.R. 140, that would require Congress to elucidate the meaning of the 14th Amendment and thereby ending the practice of automatically granting U.S. citizenship to all U.S.-born children of illegal aliens. We don't need a Constitutional amendment. Without an amendment the US taxpayers are the recipients of the law, which allows an estimated 340.000 babies to become instant citizens annually adding to the growing deficit, to support these children and the Mother. This is the most expensive entitlement law attributed to illegal immigration occupation.

Other than Rep. Steve King's (R-IA) Birthright Citizenship Act of 2011, that would stop the misinterpreted practice of instant citizenship to children of illegal alien parents, the Mandatory E-Verify will end incurable business owners from hiring cheap foreign labor, instead of the 22 million American workers looking for a 'Help needed" Sign. Now there's more proof that Americans want to abolish automatic citizenship for the children of illegal aliens. .A new Rasmussen poll shows that 65% of likely U.S. voters oppose birthright citizenship.
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mzhi808 replies:
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Again, your comments are mute! This sheriff is the "boyfriend" of Perry.
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sandiegopete says:
The activites of Sheriff Joe Arpaio merely reflect the standards and beliefs of the european descendants who control the government in Arizona. People who enter into Arizona from Mexico without proper documentation are overwhelmingly descendants of the indigenous people of the Americas. Arizonans have a long and shameful history of discrimination against indigenous peoples of the Americans. Arizona fought against giving the vote to native Americans and was the last state to do so. Arizona was a major supporter of Operation ******* in the 1950's. Today, Arizona continues with its discusting policy of discrimination against indigenous people of the Americas.
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mknghorn replies:
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never mind martin luther king day.
sandiegopete replies:
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Read what EnricoMartinezSanchito wrote. In addition to the slur against indigenous Americans he admits that he discriminates against anyone who enters the country without proper documentation. He also wrote that Americans don't discriminate against immigrants. Americans? The indigenous people who are crossing our southern border are real Americans. They have the blood of indigenous Americans coursing though their arteries. If one was to believe the eminent historian Newt Gingrich the Americans Enrico refers to are an invented people.
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hilario3 says:
Perry admits not 'knowing all the facts' but still insists on defending the sheriff. He defends him because of racial bias that
is part of the Repubulican agenda. The sheriff violated the civil
rights of US Citizens and non-citizens only because their skin was
of a different color. Perry's bigotary,ignorance,self-rightous
and stupidity were hidden in Texas but it is now apparent he is
a disgrace to the people of Texas. I hope we remember his foolish
words and actions in the next Texas election.
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SOFOM1 replies:
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What "rights" do "non-citizens" have in America? Do laws mean anything in American anymore? What if these so called "non-citizens" were actually terrorists who meant to do harm? How does he know who is a citizen and/or a "non-citizen" without checking their status?
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cockroachcrusher says:
Sick Perry would also have supported another racist sheriff, sheriff Theophilus "Bull" Conner and his attack dogs as he, too, fought civil rights in Alabama in the 60's.
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ICStupidPepl says:
DOJ Pulled this publicity stunt on the ANNIVERSARY of Agent Brian Terry's MURDER by a DOJ Fast & Furious gun, to bombard the media so America would forget. Prosecute Eric Holder! We will not forget, regardless of the DOJs witch hunts, publicity stunts, and refusals to take accountability for putting America into greater danger! We will not forget you and your family Agent Brian Terry!!!!!!
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ICStupidPepl replies:
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Prosecute Eric Holder!!!!!
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jeannettelj says:
Birds of a feather flock together.
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