Arizona's Babeu caught up in scandal

[ProSense]

Arizona's Babeu caught up in scandal

By Steve Benen

Arizona Sheriff Paul Babeu has been widely hailed in far-right circles as a rising star in Republican Party politics. The Pinal County sheriff has been a Fox News darling for quite a while; he's parlayed his celebrity status into a congressional campaign; and when John McCain's re-election campaign ran his "complete the danged fence" ad in 2010, the spot co-starred Babeu.

In light of new revelations, however, it seems likely that Babeu's career is finished.

The Phoenix New Times broke the news on Friday that the Republican sheriff has been romantically involved with a campaign volunteer, and that Babeu reportedly tried to intimidate his boyfriend about keeping their relationship secret.

The New Times reported that a Mexican man identified only as Jose alleged that Babeu and his attorney, Chris DeRose, threatened that he could be deported if he didn't sign an agreement not to disclose his romantic affair with Babeu, who has a national reputation as a border-security hawk. Babeu said Saturday that he had "a personal relationship" with Jose, who volunteered on his political campaign, and acknowledged that provocative photographs of himself that accompanied the story on the New Times website were authentic.

One of the photographs, reminiscent of former Rep. Chris Lee (R-N.Y.), shows Babeu standing in front of a bathroom mirror wearing nothing but his underwear. It's generally not the sort of thing congressional candidates want to see in the media during a Republican primary.

For his part, Babeu held a press conference on Saturday, in uniform, acknowledging that he's gay, but denying making any threats towards Jose. The sheriff's attorney also said Babeu had no reason to question his boyfriend's immigration status during their relationship.

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http://maddowblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/20/10457018-arizonas-babeu-caught-up-in-scandal

This is just what the party of hypocrisy needs in the middle of its ongoing assault on women's rights.

[madokie]

1. Serves him right

He's been living a lie. He should be rode out of town on a rail, as the old saying goes, to be honest about it.

[ProSense]

2. He's

a "rising star," talking shit Republican hypocrite.

[madokie]

3. Yup their kind of man

sick sick puppies the whole lot of the reptilicons. Talking about some weird assed mo fo's here too and not just odd ones.

[ProSense]

4. Here's an

intriguing question:

Why did Sheriff Paul Babeu leave Mitt Romney's campaign?
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/02/20/1066589/-Why-did-Sheriff-Paul-Babeu-leave-Mitt-Romney-s-campaign-