Ariz sheriff says he's gay after misconduct claims

AP via SFGate ^ | 2/18/12 | BOB CHRISTIE, Associated Press

[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.

[American Constitutionalist]

Which way will Romney go with this scandal ? Pretend he is very conservative ? or not upset his gay lobby friends ?

Will the REAL Mitt Romney stand up and make it plain to everyone in what you stand for ?

[narses]

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[Irish Eyes]

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.

I did not think much of Babeu ever since he made an ad touting McCain. It was an ad with them walking along the border. Nothing to do with his being gay.

[freedumb2003]

>>Ariz sheriff says he’s gay after misconduct claims <<

So he was straight before the misconduct claims?

[MissesBush]

The same gay lobby that routinely disrupts Romney’s campaign events? I don’t think the gay lobby has much use for Romney.

[Cicero]

He doesn’t seem to be a gay activist, and he appears to be a good sheriff, who does his job. But his conservative credentials and anti-illegal immigrant position would seem to be undermined by his endorsement of first McCain and then Romney.

It also sounds as if the guy he hooked up with was a pretty bad pick, a lying blackmailer.

[Mariner]

I don't think being homo disqualified him from holding public office or from running under the GOP banner.

Now, if he had a "Gay Rights" agenda that would be much, much different.

[biggredd1]

What will hussein dunham do about the larry sinclair, donald young scandals??

[Norm Lenhart]

If this very scenario does not spell out in 50 foot letters exactly WHY closeted/Homosexual GOP and even DEM members are a problem, I am not sure what does.

Think maybe there are a few at the congress/Senate level and perhaps blackmail is the reason they are so quick to roll over to Dem/Lib demands?

I do.

[Mariner]

"If this very scenario does not spell out in 50 foot letters exactly WHY closeted/Homosexual GOP and even DEM members are a problem, I am not sure what does."

I didn't think of that angle, and I think you're RIGHT.

That's why homos didn't used to be able to get security clearances.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks SmithL.

...amid allegations of misconduct made by a man with whom he previously had a relationship.

Mitt "Gay Marriage" Romney needs to dump or get off his rump; instead, he'll either ignore it, or less probably double down.

[MestaMachine]

First of all, agenda or no, the man destroyed himself by not being honest. I agree he has had a spotless career, military and otherise, but if a man’s soul is set out to rot, only rot can come of it. He gave in to his basest instincts and in the process, erased all the good he has ever done.

And Hildy, I was upset that you posted this originally because I don’t think the man did what he was accused of, but that is neither here nor there. To thine own self be true, and if he wanted our trust, he should have been honest with us. So I apologize for my anger.

[Norm Lenhart]

Yup, exactly. History is filled with examples. Most people never stop to think about where the old phrase “Caught with a dead girl or a live boy” came from. It came from Politicians being caught with dead girls and live (IE Homosexual) ‘boys’.

The incentive for a closeted or even open homosexual to give in to blackmail is myriad. Thats why Sec clearances were only given to the most ‘stable’ and upstanding - once upon a time. One practically had to out-straight and narrow the Pope to get one. Today, they are seemingly given for the opposite - and so you get compromised/compromisable people in positions they ought not be in.

By design.

[GoMU]

Babeu was rock solid on immigration. Rather shocked by the revelations.

[Whenifhow]

Breitbart Video of Paul holding a press conference.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DLsq1LZkfU

[BlazingArizona]

“Babeu was rock solid on immigration. “

So now we’re going to throw away another conservative all by ourselves, no actual election necessary. The liberals win again.

[Rebelbase]

[CurlyDave]

To me, being a closeted gay disqualifies him immediately. You see the reasons. And, being a closeted gay who was forced out also disqualifies him. What else will he lie about?

[kactus]

Call me conservative and not McCain supporter nor Romney, but I still support Sheriff Paul as he supports his county, our State and our Nation. Sexual orientation doesn’t play into that. Sexually molested as a young boy for years by a priest could well have scarred him.