Joe Arpaio will chair Perry's Arizona campaign

By: Rebecca Kaplan
Topics: Campaign 2012

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.

(Credit: AP Photo/Jim Cole)

AUSTIN, Texas - In a move to reassure conservatives who think he's soft on illegal immigration, Gov. Rick Perry announced Friday that controversial Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio will chair his campaign in Arizona.

Although admired by conservatives for his get-tough approach to controlling illegal immigration in his Southern Arizona county, Arpaio is facing allegations by the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division on a wide range of issues, including claims of practicing a pattern of racial profiling and discrimination and carrying out heavy-handed immigration patrols based on racially charged citizen complaints.

Arpaio endorsed Perry in the Republican primary before the federal investigation surfaced, and he campaigned for Perry in both Iowa and New Hampshire.

Since the Justice Department probe came to light, Perry has defended Arpaio, telling Fox News in December that "these people are out after Sheriff Joe." The sheriff's support is meant in part to bolster Perry's record as tough on immigration. He has taken heat from conservatives for a Texas law he signed granting in-state college tuition to the children of illegal immigrants.

Also on Friday, Perry filed the required documents to get on GOP primary ballots in Arizona, Illinois, Ohio, Vermont and Washington, D.C.

"As my campaign for president moves forward, our superior organization and resources allow me to compete nationwide, where I'm confident our unmatched jobs record, conservative fiscal and social policies, and status as the only Washington outsider can win over Republican voters," Perry said in a statement.

Perry's campaign suffered a setback when he failed to submit the required number of signatures on to get on ballot for the Virginia primary. Perry has sued the state to get his name added.

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Rebecca Kaplan
Rebecca Kaplan covers the 2012 presidential campaign for CBS News and National Journal.
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by Robert_M1 January 10, 2012 7:52 PM EST: Arpaio with all of the accusations against him, civil rights violations, profiling latino's, police brutality, etc. Why is this man not in jail?; Reply to this comment


by Robert_M1 January 10, 2012 7:49 PM EST: Perry probably takes Joe A hunting all the time to his N...head mountain retrieve in West Texas. Wish he would he would come to his senses and just drop out of the GOP races. I think being in last place would be reason enough to know he probably stands a better chance in being elected president of LULAC than winning the Presidency for 2012. 4 more years for President Obama! Be ready to go out and vote!; Reply to this comment


by Casca0001 January 7, 2012 5:33 PM EST: President Obama has persistently promised that his aim is to pass any form of Amnesty, and that he is accomplishing this without the consent of Congress. It is obvious that this has been approved for the abundant votes for President Obama's reelection, as this will accommodate all those here illegally and favorable to families with roots here. I just want to know how the Obama administration is going to add $2.6 Trillion dollars to arrange this covert amnesty, since Robert Rector of the prestigious Heritage Foundation has reported. For decades now the majority of Americans have been blatantly clear, that they don't want any amnesty and just to follow the law. Not only is this a key issue--but in a Rasmussen national telephone survey released in November shows that 65 percent of voters oppose birth-right citizenship, for babies of illegal alien mothers.

Of course now we have to depend on the new presidential candidates, to rescind any laws that are inherently not constitutional? We have already seen the court-forced appropriations of taxpayers' money to support not only the 20 million illegal aliens who have arrived here and stayed, but the most deplorable judicial response to the 14th amendment. It's clear that Americans are angry at having to pay for the smuggled babies of illegal alien mothers. These Individuals have violated our laws to enter the United States and in thousands of cases intentionally becoming pregnant, so they have a chance to override the citizenship law and able to stay. Once pregnant, illegal females are usually not applicable for deportation, so then they can take full advantage of the child's right to citizenship. Owing to the massive expenditures to county and municipal hospitals, each year over 300--to 450.000 illegal alien mother or parent can ride the child's welfare, food stamps, low income housing. That only 'Birthright Citizenship Bill' (H.R.140) can rescind this judicial misinterpreted assessment piece in the 14th Amendment.

Along with 'Legal Workforce Act,' (H.R. 2885) or publicly known better as Mandatory E-Verify, we can begin to arrest and eventually halt illegal immigration. If our incoherent lawmakers introduce the Lamar Smith bill in the House, then aliens now working illegally throughout the United States will be unable to find work. The core problem is that businesses have ignored these laws, because they were able to strongly influence Congress. But with H.R.2885 passed in Washington, these company owners will be facing harsh penalties, including prison. There is relevant information for you to read at the pro-sovereignty and limited legal immigration at NumbersUSA web-pages.; Reply to this comment


by Casca0001 January 7, 2012 5:32 PM EST: The liberal press and open border opponents have in desperation tried hard to asphyxiate these mentioned laws, explicitly Mandatory E-Verify. This is predominant policy of the Left wing in the Democrat party who has been incessantly pressing to stifle the TEA PARTY. They cannot comprehend that tens of millions of people are joining the TEA PARTY or that the TEA PARTY is succeeding in its recruitment of uncountable numbers of ordinary voters. Thousands of citizens and legal residents of all nationalities have been greeted and are now paralyzing the 'Pro Quid pro', or simple put "favor for a favor"; what has always been the established way of corruption in Congress. The TEA PARTY is 'everybody' in America, which is an every racial mix and not just white people? Although special interests have rotted away at our politician's sense of integrity, a new hierarchy of earnest TEA PARTY leaders is overhauling the House, with their honest tenancy. Long term career politicians have seen the writing on the wall and packing their bags, already assured of a new job at the distasteful K street lobbyist Den. The legislator favor-buyers have already made millions from their special privileges, but the door is closing and a new 'hopefully' honest tier of fresh faces are in the Senate and House, by the behest of the peoples vote.

Everybody is complaining about both parties in Washington, but are hesitant to find a few minutes to contact their Senators or Congress persons at 202-224-3121, demanding their lawmakers vote for both federal mandatory E-Verify and amending the 'Birthright Citizenship' Bill. These two laws must find passage before the offset of the 2012 election. Once enacted into law a massive exodus will commence, as illegal aliens and family members will return to their country of origin. The average American does not seem to understand they have all the power in their VOTE? They remain unconvinced that their angry voice can change the insidious direction we are facing in a Socialist inspired future, evident of this engorged current government who are changing the 'Rule of Law'.

To ALL CITIZENS! BE WARNED! ILLEGAL ALIENS DO VOTE AND WILL DO IN UPCOMING ELECTIONS.; Reply to this comment

by pardon123 January 7, 2012 8:46 AM EST

Watch on youtube "Aztlan Rising"

and you'll begin to understand that this wave of MILLIONS OF illegal aliens from Mexico, are invading the nation under a false belief that this is their land, which was stolen by the white man, so they are simply taking it back. So, how can anyone that loves this blessed nation, support such an anti-American movement? AMERICA, YOU BETTER WAKE UP, BEFORE YOU LOSE IT ALL. And by the way, I am hispanic and I can tell you this, I've never met a group of people more racist against blacks, than Mexicans. Unbelievable, when I hear African Americans politicians (Democrats), supporting the same people (MExicans) that hates them so much... unbelievable!

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