Arpaio Blasts McCain's "Liberal" Policies
Arpaio Blasts McCain's 'Liberal" Policies
February 9, 2010 1:20 PM Comments (12)
By Reid Wilson
Maricopa Co. Sheriff Joe Arpaio is urging GOPers to shelve Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) in favor of ex-Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R), a challenger attacking from the right, in a new letter sent to primary voters.
"Senator McCain has served this country admirably but it's time to replace his moderate or even liberal positions on taxes, the border, social causes and big bank bailouts with a consistent conservative like J.D.," Arpaio writes in the letter. ""I just wish Senator McCain had run as hard against Barack Obama as he is against a conservative like J.D. That could have prevented the harmful, liberal agenda we are all now suffering through."
"Indeed, Senator McCain is already attacking J.D. by name in advertisements because [McCain] knows [Hayworth] is the type of exciting, principled conservative that excites people like you and me," Arpaio adds. "And he knows that after years of running over Republican principles his entire career no election year conversion to our way of thinking will save his campaign from voters that want conservatives to be a part of the solution rather than part of the problem."
Arpaio sent the letter to his own fundraising network, hoping to rake in big bucks for Hayworth's bid against McCain. Known as an anti-illegal immigration stalwart and an unorthodox sheriff who has made his prisoners live in a tent encampment and wear pink uniforms, Arpaio has a national following that could help Hayworth make up ground.
Arpaio and McCain have had their run-ins over the years, and McCain's push for a comprehensive immigration reform system is not something Arpaio and his backers want to see.
"[W]e must stop Senator McCain's policies to open up our borders," Arpaio writes, citing a Heritage Foundation report that highlighted the cost of McCain's plans. In a statement of his own, Hayworth echoed the immigration hits: "Sheriff Arpaio and I agree that John McCain's open borders approach for America is wrong," Hayworth said.
Hayworth is set to announce his challenge on Feb. 15.
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