Posted on 02/18/2012 6:11:41 PM PST by SmithL
A sheriff seeking the GOP nomination for an Arizona congressional seat was forced to confirm he is gay Saturday and resigned from presidential hopeful Mitt Romney's Arizona committee amid allegations of misconduct made by a man with whom he previously had a relationship.
Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu denied claims he tried to threaten the man, a Mexican immigrant and a former campaign volunteer, with deportation if their past relationship was made public. The man's allegations were first published Friday in The New Times, a Phoenix alternative weekly magazine.
Babeu, a first-term sheriff who has risen to national prominence with his strong opposition to illegal immigration and smuggling, said the accusations were an attempt to hurt his political career.
He vowed to continue his campaign in Arizona's rural western 4th Congressional District seat, but said he had called presidential candidate Mitt Romney's staff to say he would step down from his post as state campaign co-chair.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Evidence that being a homosexual is a huge disqualification for public service. Especially a Sheriff.
Most homosexuals were molested when young.
Another article said that the Mexican former sex partner is illegal and that Babeau threatened to have him deported.
Babeau is a POS.
New Times, the free newspaper doing the reporting that the ones you pay for are afraid to.
Rock solid except that his Mexican former sex partner was illegal, Babeau threatened to have him deported.
Yeah. Admitting to a relationship of anal and oral sex with a Mexican man is a shocking revelation alrighty.
Being a homo is by definition mentally ill. County Sheriffs should not be mentally ill.
Paul Babeu's Mexican Ex-Lover Says Sheriff's Attorney Threatened Him With Deportation
“I don’t think being homo disqualified him from holding public office or from running under the GOP banner.”
It should, if he hides it. Then he’s no different than having a felony arrest in his background, or a fake college degree - all it takes is someone to out him, or threaten to (example, look at what’s going on with Lindsey Graham).
We can do better. There are a lot of STRAIGHT conservatives not subject to this kind of blackmail.
He’s not hiding it now.
He “caught” it from the dyke behind his left shoulder.
No problem. I know the guy and I like him. I spent some time with him last month and he is charismatic. he lights up a room. I knew he was gay a long time ago and I don’t care. HOWEVER, it appears he is a bit reckless and that is what gets politicians in trouble.
There is a real conservative in the Congressional race. His name is Senator Ron Gould. Google him and I think you will be impressed.
A liar who hides who he is and threatens those who get in his way should not be in government - especially law enforcement - regardless of charisma. In fact the charisma is a big part of how he got away with his vile mode of operating - a tough-on-immigration sheriff whose has homosex with an illegal immigrant and then threatens him with deportation only because he might expose the sheriff’s homosex.
What goes on in your head to “know” he was closeted (thus deceptive all day long every day, and asking those who figured it out to prop up the lie) yet to trust that somehow he and his inner circle and underlings would have integrity in their duties?
Paul Babeu's Mexican Ex-Lover Says Sheriff's Attorney Threatened Him With DeportationIn one series of texts Jose provided, the sheriff himself appears to be threatening his former lover:
Babeu: "You can never have business after this and you will harm me and many others in the process . . . including yourself & your family."
Babeu followed with: "And you say you have loved me? Papi . . . this is no good."
Jose responded: "Good threats. Wont work. Im already hurt me . . . and you didn't care."
Then later:
Jose: "Dont threat me. Thats illegal. Im just speaking . . . true."
Babeu: "You have crossed the line. Better get an attorney. You brother will also be contacted."
Soon after, DeRose sent an e-mail directly to Jose ordering him to "cease and desist."
Babeu contended during the press conference that his attorney was contacting Jose and Jose's lawyer about Jose's tampering with campaign websites, that there were never any threats about Jose's getting deported -- but Jose and Weiss-Riner dispute the sheriff's claim.
I don't see any threat to deport him in that but if that's good enough for you then what the hey!
“It also sounds as if the guy he hooked up with was a pretty bad pick, a lying blackmailer.”
I’m sorry but I can’t let this comment stand in the light of the facts. I read the whole article in the Arizona papers.
The Mexican kid was being used. He suspected his lover Babeu was cheating on him so he used an alias on some gay website and chatted with Babeu. Babeu didn’t realize he was chatting with his lover, the Mexican kid.
Babeu sent naked pictures of himself to this ‘alias’ and when he arranged to meet him discovered it was his lover. That ended the relationship.
If there was any blackmailing going on, it was mutual. The Mexican kid was hurt and deceived and wanted to get back at Babeu, but Babeu, with the force of the law on his side, counter-blackmailed him with threats of deportation. That’s real blackmail.
I’m totally against illegal immigration, but there is no need to exploit these people. Babeu knew what he was getting into dating an illegal in the first place.
Babeu may be a great sheriff, but he’s not a good person in my book; and it’s not because he’s gay. It’s about how you treat people.
Exactly! I also live in AZ and ILLEGAL immigration is at the top of my issue list. Sheriff Babeu has been rock solid on this issue. As long as he is not an IN-YOUR-FACE gay person, he still has my support.
Isn't it amazing how many narrow-minded FReepers there are.
A lot of straight conservatives not sticking their necks out, like this sheriff is. That’s the problem.
I don't know if this story is true, I am suprised his camp wasn't ready for it. Obviously, by the response here, there are a lot of Republicans who still will judge only on that. My problem, besides the fact I support someone else of course, is that all of it seems so reckless. I personally believe homosexuality is a sexual deviance, and that urge seems to trump everything, including good sense. Trolling for anonymous sex on the internet when you plan on running for a Federal position just doesn't seem like good sense. Right? And the stuff I read on his profile there is more than I really ever needed or wanted to know about him, if you catch my drift. That all being said, I don't take what a jilted lover says at face value either, man or woman.
I don't know how this will end or if it will cripple him. We live in a strange time. Maybe if he were running back East it wouldn't be a big deal. But this is Arizona, and not just Arizona, but Mohave County which is one of the most Conservative Counties in the Country. I just don't know.
But the best man for Congress is Ron Gould. And he needs money, so if anyone here wants to guarantee a good, Conservative, 100% Goldwater Institute record Conservative, help him out. You won't regret it.
RON GOULD FOR CONGRESS
My comments primarily and unabashedly decry the sheriff’s lifestyle of deception.
I also noted it would be “especially” problematic if the sheriff was also abusing his office by threatening to deport one of his former homosexual lovers.
For most common-sense people, a lifestyle of deception is a vice that disqualifies a person for public office.
Your comments primarily and unabashedly swallow and regurgitate an evidence-free accusation made by a jilted lover as reported by a far-left rag.
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