Thread: Poll shows Arpaio's more popular than Obama in Arizona

Friday, April 24, 2009

Sheriff Arpaio defends latest raids, derides appointment efforts; poll shows he’s more popular than Obama in Arizona Phoenix Business Journal - by Mike Sunnucks

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office arrested 22 people yesterday, including 14 illegal immigrants, as part of a crime sweep in the West Valley.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio said at least two of those arrested were violent criminals. The crime sweep is continuing Friday.

Arpaio has conducted similar sweeps in Mesa, Phoenix and Guadalupe. Critics of the sheriff, including the American Civil Liberties Union and Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, charge the actions unfairly target Hispanics. The ACLU and Hispanic activists filed a federal lawsuit against MCSO’s sweeps, and the U.S. Justice Department is investigating its sweeps and raids.

Some of those raids have been conducted at businesses suspected of hiring illegal immigrants.

The sheriff has said many times that criticism of his actions is unjustified and he’s simply enforcing the law.

Arpaio on Friday derided attempts by political opponents to move forward some kind of county or state measure that would make sheriff’s positions appointed rather than elected. Some Arpaio critics are looking at a statewide referendum that would make sheriff and perhaps county prosecutor positions appointed by their county boards, not chosen by voters.

Arpaio was elected to a fifth four-year term in November.

“It’s never going to happen,â€

Sixty-eight percent of state voters have a favorable view of Arpaio, compared with a 53 percent approval rating for Obama and 57 percent for new Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer.

Boy ain't that a kick in the shorts for Obama and the Gov. Brewer.

Yeah, Sheriff Joe and his Deputies.

Who's Obama?

Read em and weep!

W

Sheriff Joe Arpaio has he always been this pro-active on securing our Country? Why didn't we hear about him fifteen years ago?