Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik has never lost an election, but that was before his remarks assigning blame for the deadly Tucson, Ariz., shooting to political "vitriol" and calling Arizona "a mecca for prejudice and bigotry."
Now it's Sheriff Dupnik who finds himself on the public-opinion hot seat. A group opposed to illegal immigration has begun an effort to recall the sheriff in a special election. Meanwhile, a Pima County tea party group is planning on holding a "Dump Dupnik" rally next week outside his office.
"I haven't been a fan of Dupnik's for a long time, but this really was the straw that broke the camel's back," said Tom Rompel, co-owner of Black Weapons Armory in Tucson. "He's law enforcement. We expect 'the facts, ma'am,' not his opinion. He leans far left, always has, and frankly, people have had enough."
I don't blame them for being angry. Americans expect their local sheriff to uphold the law, and not rush to judgment in ANY criminal matter. Dupnik's drama-queen grab for the spotlight was unprofessional, and his vocal personal prejudices have no place in an investigation. I can't imagine his deputies have much faith in his leadership abilities after the Giffords media spectacle, and Pima County needs a strong and cohesive sheriff's department. Organizers of the recall should strive to keep politics out of the equation, and approach the recall from a bi-partisan community safety viewpoint.
I doubt they will. This recall attempt, mounted on a purely political platform, AGAINST a purely political platform, will only serve to increase tensions. We're one match-strike from a conflagration, and I'm hoping that cooler, smarter heads will prevail.
As everyone saw, he was totally unprofessional injecting his political speculation into this tragedy. I hope he's defeated in the next election; I don't want to hear political spin from EITHER side from our law enforcement officials.
ReplyDeletelady red, your writing is excellent and your articles are more thoughtful and interesting than much of what I read from the people writing copy for the news outlets. I'm not saying this because your my friend, you truly have lots of talent as a reporter.
I wrote that I hope he's defeated in the next election because I don't think this recall attempt will go anywhere.
ReplyDeleteI'd be happy if it did, though :-)
your=you're
ReplyDeletesheesh
*wandering away now*
That's okay florrie, she knows you like her alot.
ReplyDeleteYes, I do like her allot. ;;)
ReplyDeleteI heard a retired Pima County deputy on Rush today. He said that the department handbook specifically prohibits giving "opinions" under the guise of being with the department.
ReplyDeleteI do have a question, though. Why is it being political and therefore wrong to point out that the guy is a political hack? Being against illegal immigration is a political stand. Being for the Second Amendment is a political stand. What are they supposed to do, say "We think he should be recalled just because?" We can't fall into a trap similar to those who say "The US should not waterboard because it APPEARS to be torture and the US shouldn't do anything that appears to be torture." All we get from taking the high road is oxygen depravation. That is not to say we should be slimey, but we can't let the left define how we do things, either. Nothing conservatives do will ever be OK in their eyes -- so lets quit worrying about what they think.
Matt, I understand what you are saying, but I think there are bigger issues involved. The residents of Pima County need a functional sheriff's department for their security and safety. Plastering the Tea Party label all over a potential recall petition (and piggy-backing it with the illegal alien debate) is counter-productive. The recall will fail, and they'll be stuck with a sheriff's department in disarray, led by a yo-yo.
ReplyDeleteA coalition of concerned citizens, leading the recall against Dupnik because he has betrayed the trust of the people and is unable to run the department, may succeed. He's an idiot, and too dangerous (and unstable) of a personality to wear a badge. No politics, just simple facts that can bring citizens together in a common cause.
If conservatives and Tea Partiers want to throw tomatoes at Dupnik, have at it! But leave the recall out of the circus; it's far too important to be dragged down into the fray. Does that make sense?
Don't misunderstand my position; I could care less what the screeching progressives think. They aren't reasonable or logical. They don't have the best interests of our country at heart. They are selfish and narcissistic, and altogether repulsive. I have grown to loathe them, and all they claim to represent.
ReplyDeleteI don't want to wallow around in the gutter with the little trematodes; I just want the good people of Tucson, and their children, to be safe from the bad guys.