Sheriff Dupnik Steps Forward With a 'Back To Basics Message'!

[sabrina 1]

Arizona's back-to-basics sheriff

Tucson, Arizona (CNN) -- A little-known sheriff has stepped into the national spotlight with a back-to-basics lesson for America:

Treat people with respect; engage in civil discourse; be nice.

Those aren't the sexiest talking points. But in the wake of Saturday's mass shooting in Tucson in which six people were killed and a congresswoman was critically wounded, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik says a little moral fortitude is what America needs.

And as if to prove him correct in his concerns, his remarks on Saturday were met with a torrent of vitriol from the Right.

He is a good man by all accounts. As a child he witnessed prejudice against Hispanics and did not like then and does not like it now:

In high school, he boycotted his town's yearly dance because Latinos were not allowed to attend. His best friend was Latino. It didn't seem right to go without him, he said.

"I didn't stand up for anything," he said, noting that he didn't try to draw attention to that decision. "I just refused to go."
Racial discrimination reared its head again when Dupnik worked in Bisbee's copper mines, which he said would not let Latino workers advance into management roles.

Seeing such bigotry helped shape his current disdain for prejudice.

The reaction from the 'left', having no reason to be offended by his words, and with average Americans in general was to agree with him.

The 'Right' however, proceeded to demonstrate exactly what he was talking about by launching yet another tirade against someone speaking the truth about the climate of violence they have helped to create.

Why not just agree with him like everyone else? What sensible person could not? Unless they were the guilty party!

No matter what the media says, 'both sides' are not 'doing it'.


Sheriff Dupnik says he doesn't have a political agenda. All he wants is for some people in the media and in politics to examine their behavior and think about improving it.

"I think most people understand, and my heart tells me that millions of people feel the same as I do. I don't have a political agenda. I don't have any kind of agenda," he said. "Hopefully, next week, people will forget who this idiot sheriff is in Tucson."

I think his heart is telling him the truth.

[DearAbby]

1. Sheriff Dupnik, I don't think anyone will forget you

I hope you are the man who stood up and said "HAVE YOU NO DECENCY SIR?"

Stay safe sir, and thank you.

[malaise]

11. I love him

He's a decent human being

[TBF]

46. Same here - we need more Clarence Dupniks in this world - and fewer Sarah Palins. nt

[sabrina 1]

13. Isn't that what he is saying?

He says Americans need to have some 'moral fortitude'. That is certainly lacking in our MSM. But then, they helped create the monster they are now trying to defend.

I hope you are right, and that his words will resonate enough to marginalize these hate-mongers.

[Tikki]

2. Clarence Dupnik you are amazing

Tikki

[sabrina 1]

32. Yes, he is. I see he went after Rush Limbaugh also.

It's about time this happened and where are the rest of the Dems standing behind him? Now is the time to take a stand if ever there was a time.

[patrice]

3. JL is OUR monster. Think of the billions&billions of "small" aggressive behaviors that have turnedus

into the dog-eat-dog culture that we are.

Sheriff Dupnik is right. No attempt to understand cause and effect is valid if it is only directed at others. Everyone wants to say their own "small" aggressions, rudeness, gossip, hate does not matter, when, in fact WE CAUSED THIS THING TO HAPPEN right along with Sarah Palin. We helped her.

Hell, our entire country went to war against an innocent nation known as Iraq and no one wants to admit the crime that is. Why is anyone surprised by what JL did? He IS our monster.

[pacalo]

5. Hate radio & Fixed News created the monster.

Blaming "us" for speaking against their lies, propaganda, & hate talk is off the mark.

[patrice]

7. I am not blaming anyone who speaks out against hate. I AM blaming a culture that condones

and even esteems ALL kinds of aggressive behaviors, like those I listed, because people assume their own behaviors are so "small" that they have nothing to do with the environment that produces what we saw Saturday in Az and in which there is NO FUNCTIONAL RESPONSE to the pathology that JL and those like him display.

Americans disavow fundamental systemic connections to one another and that's why things are the way they are.

[sabrina 1]

6. As a society we have created a monster. But within that

society, like all others, there are those who are most responsible.

I take no responsibility for Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck or any of the other hate-mongers. I do not listen to them, I condemn their vitriol and if I could, I would relegate them to the irrelevancy they deserve.

I do not take responsiblity for the wars we are engaged in or the torture either. That is on our leaders and every single elected official who ever cast a vote to fund them. And those who did nothing, in positions of power, to hold accoutable those responsible.

IF I were in Congress, my conscience would never allow me to vote for those atrocities and I would demand accountability for the criminals who actually are responsible.

Anyone with the ability to vote and a microphone to use who does not do that, helped create the monster you are talking about.

The only blame I will accept is not being able to do enough to stop it.

But the actual blame goes to all those who participate in the creation and cheer it on, excuse it, apologize for it and who remain silent about it.

Sorry, but I do not accept your premise that everyone is guilty.

[pacalo]

4. He said he thinks the majority of people in this country believes the same as he does.

I believe that, too.

[lpbk2713]

14. The tragedy is it's the Limbaughs, the Becks, and the Hannitys that get noticed.

Even though they are the vocal minority.

I couldn't agree with the Sheriff more.

[sabrina 1]

24. You are right. There's a lot of money behind the Becks et al

keeping them in front of the microphone day after day indoctrinating the weak-minded and influencing how they vote.

If the American people were to hear more from people like Sheriff Dupnik the country would be a lot better off.

But even though his time on the air has been so short, he has a huge impact. If any of the other fools had only been heard from as briefly, no one would even remember them. It is the daily drumbeat that makes it work. And there is nothing to counter it.

[tavalon]

36. I actually do too

When that bozo whose name blessedly escapes me coined the phrase "The Moral Majority", I countered with "The Immoral but loud Minority". I believe that to this day. I think I've outlived the other guy.

[rbixby]

8. He speaks to both sides that reasonable discourse is important

but only one side is super guilty of it. I just think that instead of the right getting angry that the blame for this is falling on them, that maybe they should take these words to heart and actually back off on the hateful and violent rhetoric. The left has generally stayed away from that kind of thing, why can't they do it as well?

[Waiting For Everyman]

9. K&R The voice of sanity, Sheriff Dupnik.

It's refreshing to see someone stand up to the political bullying. Too bad we don't have a sheriff for all of American. Dupnik would be a good one.

[upi402]

10. I learned to not stereo type cops

I know some really good ones, good people. Not popular with some here, but it's my truth.

[sabrina 1]

12. I agree, I have met some very nice cops. He's like an old

school, down to earth, sensible, rational, no-nonsense cop who won't take excuses from anyone for bad behavior whether they are his own kids or anyone elses. But he cares about people, and I'm sure he does his job, but doesn't give up on kids who get in trouble either.

He's tough, a lot tougher than the ones running around acting tough.

I love him and wish there were more like him ... even though I bet he'd give you a ticket no matter how much \you tried to flatter him, if you deserved it. :-)

[PSzymeczek]

48. That's why he's been

Pima County Sheriff for 30 years.

[steve2470]

15. k&r nt

[joe the nerd]

16. nice post

we need to have this guy;s back.

[sabrina 1]

18. Thank you, and yes we do need to defend him. He has received

so much vitriol, something he's apparently used to because of his support for minorities for one thing.

I just saw this as a way to support him on Face Book from DUer Kas125 http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x171182

[Little Star]

17. America needs to clone this man.

[upi402]

19. I wonder which party he'd run in

Indy I'd wager. Sure wish he'd run against Jan Brewer. She needs time to hunt for all the severed heads she ran on anyway.

Rush better shut up cuz the Sheriff is in town.

[sabrina 1]

20. He's a Democrat, so I imagine he'd run as a Democrat.

[Little Star]

21. Indy would be ok. Bernie Sanders is Indy and he is great.

[upi402]

22. Whatever party Bernie is in

is the party I'm in. He's a real Democrat but there's no love for Democrats in the Democratic Party these days. I hear plenty of hate for Kucinich from "Democrats". Kucinich was black-balled from Democratic debates. Not one "Democrat" stood up for him either. Bernie speaks for me and so does the Sheriff.

[sabrina 1]

23. You have a point. The way Kucinich is treated even here sometimes

has really turned me away from this Party.

Maybe a Democratic Independent Party would be a good idea. And FDR wing perhaps. A party for demorcrats who believe in the Party PLatform, who are for the working class and who will fight to preserve The New Deal. Because right now I don't see many of these Democrats fighting for it.

[upi402]

25. Very few fight for traditionally Democratic issues

I've been trying to hope that we can take our party back. I've lost all hope for change, however. Now with the campaign-cash floodgates wide open I think media reform is first.

[sabrina 1]

26. Democrats could seize this moment to once and for all

end the poisonous atmosphere created by the rightwing noise machine. Even a few Republicans, one Senator eg, who has remained anonymous, seems to have taken a lesson from this.

There is no sane reason NOT to condemn those who have manipulated our electoral system with violent, bigoted and hateful rhetoric and the corporations who fund it.

But I won't hold my breath, I expect the president to use the 'both sides' meme and warn Liberals about 'toning it down'.

If only we had a president as honest as this Sheriff, what a different country this would be. This WH will no doubt protect the Sarah Palins, Becks from the 'left' and play the role of 'peace-maker' without asking anything of the haters. And before long, things will return to normal and another great opportunity will be lost.

[Little Star]

28. Me too!

[tavalon]

37. Then you are a Democratic Socialist

Welcome aboard, friend.

[CLANG]

27. Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik is my new hero!

:fistbump:

[The Wizard]

29. How come

right wingers get insane at the suggestion of civil discourse? It's because this is how they succeed politically.
Reasoned arguments are not on their agenda. They don't have any. All they have is wild assertions rooted in fear, paranoia and bigotry.
How can anyone forget the screaming banshees at the 2009 town hall meetings?

[bobzilla69]

30. Hannity telling Dupnik to do his job?

Sean Hannity makes his living doing nothing to serve mankind,Sheriff Dupnik puts his life on the line protecting us.Hannity isn't half the man Dupnik is,Fox News will get hit with this one,they keep alienating everyone,no more Fox for me!

[sabrina 1]

31. Hi, welcome to DU. You must have incredible fortitude to

be able to watch Fox at all, even for entertainment purposes. Did you know that watching Fox can actually make people stupid?

But yes, you are right, it is funny to think of a useless moron like Hannity (why do these 'love the troops' phonies never join the military, btw) telling a courageous and intelligent person like Sheriff Dupnik how to do his job.

Hannity is a very stupid man. I once tried to listen to his program on the radio and I was stunned at the stupidity of the show. If there were laws against stupidity, that show would be a major felony.

Glad you decided not to watch them anymore.

[tavalon]

38. Good choice on the Faux "News" ban, bobzilla

Welcome to DU. Unfortunately, I have no where else to point you, stateside. There is no fair and balanced in the corporate controlled American news conglomerate.

[Super Bobo]

33. What does that mean?

What is a 'right winger' or a 'left winger' or a 'progressive' anyway? I claim bits of all of these and find the hyperbole obnoxious on all sides. Hannity is an idiot. Olbermann is an idiot. Beck a fool. Matthews, about the same. Limbaugh is shameful. Ed Schultz, 'ditto'. There truly is a middle ground, available to all interested parties, to discuss completely different views of the same subject.
So much noise around these labels I can't tell what folks mean with any of them.

In this short time since the shooting, I've come to 3 conclusions:
1 - better controls around gun purchases makes sense - and I'm a card carrying NRA member
2 - the shooter was a drug user, interested in the occult with one main driver - lucid dreams - the guy liked tripping out. he killed because he craved it. he's sick. he's exhibit ## to support the death penalty.
3 - this sheriff needs to do his job. first he said he was aware of threats the shooter made, that were reported to his office. now he doesn't know of any. while making oblique observations concerning the shooters motives, he didn't do his job. its good to hear the obvious from our civil servants. its much better to hear them after being successful in doing for the citizens what they are paid to do. this knuckle head has failed.

Things are screwier than ever these days.

[sabrina 1]

34. First, the shooter, according to someone who knew him well,

had given up drugs after which he appeared to deteriorate mentally. He is mentally ill, but a drug addict, apparently not.
So, I have to disagree with your #2, on that and on the death penalty. Civilized societies have all abandoned that barbaric practice. But since we are alone among civilized societies that still practice it, we are not supposed to condemn mentally ill people to death.

I agree with #1

#3, the Sheriff is absolutely correct in what he says. I am not going to post again the number of violent acts that have taken place in recent times perpetrated by individuals who list among their heroes, Glenn Beck, Hannity, Limbaugh among other rightwing talk show hosts, but they are numerous.

If you have a link to where the Sheriff stated he had received information about threats from the shooter, please post it. He may have been familiar with him since he did have a couple of minor run-ins with the law. But that is not the same as the Sheriff being told he was threatening people. This is a tough, respected Sheriff who has told the truth about the political climate creating by the Right.

As for people not being labeled, movements are labeled. If you feel better hanging out with a Sarah Palin Fan Club than you would with a Sheriff Dupnik fan club (if he had one) then it's a pretty safe bet you are politically on the right.

Welcome to DU ~

[Super Bobo]

40. hello du

Thanks for the 'welcome' and thoughtful comments.

It is still early in this mess, so we are all speculating on this mans motives. I don't see how anyone can peg him to the 'right' or the 'left'. He may or may not have stopped abusing drugs, but given his isolation from almost everyone, seems difficult to say.

I watched one of the sherrifs first press conf. He answered a reporters question about rumored death threats made by the shooter, against others. He said he couldn't get into detail but did say that he knew of these. Now his office says ther e were no such threats.

So its Palin or some hard lefty? Pretty chunky excluded middle, no?

The sherif does seem to be a good man.

[sabrina 1]

44. The reason he said he would look into them was because

he was not aware of them. After checking the police have most likely given him the facts which appear top be that Loughner had a few minor run-ins with the law. So a reporter most likely had wrong information.

Fox is spreading this smear and as usual the rest of the rightwing noise machine will pick it up as instructed. But all they are accomplishing now is to make everything their critics have ever said about them, true. People are sick of their kind of divisive, factless smears against good people and we are a lot more informed now and far less likely to fall for their tactics. They should give it up. They appeal now only to the fringes of society.

[TBF]

47. If you can find some hard lefties on this site please send them my way -

I know about 10 or so.

You'll fit right in here. Welcome to DU.

[tavalon]

39. Where is this middle ground you speak of, Bobo?

I'd like to visit sometime.

[tavalon]

35. He is a really good man

[lumberjack_jeff]

41. Isn't amazing how such common-sense advice attracts such a vitriolic reaction?

"The wicked flee when no one pursueth"

[sabrina 1]

42. Yes, and now Fox is working hard to try to smear him.

Their very reaction to his words proves their guilt. They are fighting hard to try to keep from having to give up their hateful script.

[The Stranger]

43. Run, Clarence, run.

[sabrina 1]

45. I wish he would, he's driving them nuts.

I hope he keeps talking because the more he does, the more the reveal their pathology. From O'Reilly to Malkin to Limbaugh they are practically apoplectic over his calm, fact based statements about their behavior.

[rasputin1952]

49. There is often great eloquence in brevity...

"Treat people with respect; engage in civil discourse; be nice."

How is it possible to argue with that?

Sheriff Dupnik, a humble man from a relatively small place on the planet...and he gets it. How can so many others miss it?

[sabrina 1]

50. Maybe it is how someone is raised?

He came from an ordinary, working class background. He seems to have learned good values growing up. He knew the difference between right and wrong.

I definitely like his simplicity.