Arpaio and the posse held an hour-long press conference earlier this month describing their belief that the online version of Obamas long form certificate is a fake. Arpaio began investigating at the request of the Surprise Tea Party. Its members recently listened to a speech by a writer from the anti-Obama, conspiracy theory-laden website WorldNetDaily (Which once published a six-part series of commentaries under the headline, Soy is making kids gay.) The media all came to make fun of me, the sheriff said of his birther press conference. I'm a little concerned that all of their questions were zeroed in on credibility and that this has been rehashed. They didn't even ask about the proof of the case. They didn't ask about the facts that we had.
I suggested that perhaps it is because most people believe questions about the document have been answered. In addition, Hawaiian officials have verified Obamas citizenship. Arpaio is unconvinced. He believes that the experts used by his volunteers are correct and, while not directly accusing officials in Hawaii, said, You know theres corruption everywhere. Im not saying theyre corrupt. Im not saying theyre lying. But we have to look into it. The sheriff is contemplating his next move, which he said could involve taking his findings to law enforcement officials in Hawaii or Washington, or working with local legislators. Im not going to drop this, he said. You dont think I did a press conference and let it die? Ill make a decision real quick where to send the evidence we have. There are not many options. You do know this is complex. Many conflicts of interest from the White house to the Attorney General. I can go on and on.
Of course, while Arpaio says we should be suspicious of federal authorities he sees no reason why anyone would question his motives, even though the sheriff has been in conflict for years with U.S. Justice Department, which is negotiating with Arpaio's attorneys over how to address alleged widespread discrimination in his office. I dont care about the politics, the sheriff told me. That has nothing to do with it. Im guessing politics had a little bit to do with the decision by Republican state Rep. Carl Seel, who appeared at Arpaios birth certificate press conference, to introduce a bill in the Arizona legislature that would require political parties to file an affidavit swearing under penalty of perjury that their presidential and vice presidential candidates were born in the U.S. If approved, the law would allow any voter in Arizona to challenge the affidavit, opening up the possibility that the birth certificate controversy could end up in court.
The sheriff believes something like THAT would force the media to end its cover-up. Arpaio is even having trouble with right-leaning media like the conservative National Review, which published an editorial about Arpaios latest escapade that read in part: Republicans who have chosen to associate with the birthers have done their party and their country a disservice. And as Sheriff Arpaio settles comfortably into that political mental ward, the same must be said of those Republicans who choose to associate themselves with him more broadly. Those who cannot distinguish between the birthers flim-flam and the critical questions that face our nation in 2012 will not win and do not deserve to.
azcentral.com blogs - E.J. Montini's Columns & Blog - EJMontini - Arpaio sees media conspiracy against birthers