Joe Arpaio, Arizona Sheriff, Endorses Rick Perry

Controversial Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio announced on Tuesday he will officially endorse Texas Governor Rick Perry for the Republican presidential nomination, which could give Perry something of a credibility boost on immigration and border issues.

Arpaio is a hardliner on immigration, leading a push in Maricopa County for more enforcement. He is famous for pushing worksite raids and creating a "Tent City," a military-style holding ground for inmates, now in its eighteenth year.

His endorsement of Perry comes after the candidate was criticized for his immigration platform, which rests on the idea that deportation of all 11 million undocumented immigrants in the country is impractical and unlikely. Perry also opposes a full border fence, although he calls for more enforcement along the southwest border with Mexico.

"The federal government has failed on border crime and border enforcement, and no candidate for president has done more to secure the border than Governor Rick Perry," Arpaio said in a statement. "I have been watching Governor Perry and Texas closely and know his border surge operations with state, local and federal law enforcement officials have helped shut down the illegal trafficking of weapons, drugs and people. I'm endorsing Rick Perry because we need a tough-on-crime president who will champion and fund full-time border security operations from Brownsville to San Diego. Governor Perry has a superior border security record and plan to make our border and our nation safer."

Perry said in a statement that if elected president, he would "secure the border within a year." As Texas governor, he directed funds to enforcement along the border and requested more National Guard troops from President Barack Obama.

"Sheriff Arpaio knows the struggle border states face as Washington politicians and bureaucrats fail time and again to properly secure our nation's southern boundary with Mexico," Perry said in a statement. "I am honored to have Sheriff Arpaio's support for my presidential campaign and our shared goals of fighting border crime with more personnel, border fencing and surveillance. A secure border is vital to protecting America's national security, public safety and jobs. As president, I will secure the border within a year putting thousands more federal boots on the ground, strategic fencing and aerial resources to fight border crime and make our states and nation safer."

Arpaio endorsed Mitt Romney in 2008, choosing him over eventual nominee and fellow Arizonan John McCain. He held a joint press conference with Herman Cain in October after the two met to discuss immigration enforcement.

Comments

[UTARebel]

01:43 AM on 12/16/2011

Okay, I MIGHT support Perry if he would put Sheriff Joe in Eric Holder's old position. :)

[BobbyNCorpus]

06:10 PM on 12/15/2011

Well, he was admired by a lot of people until he supported teh dumbest politician since Christine Odonnald. Now he can go sit in teh back of the bus

[PMVB]

04:09 PM on 12/06/2011

Arpaio + Perry---imagine that. Given Arpaio,s lack of action on raped children in his area etc. + etc., I would have thought that someone wanting to be President, wouldn,t be seen dead with Arpaio.

[Michele Bennington]

09:04 AM on 12/05/2011

Arpiao, just accused of ignoring sexual assaults on children in his jurisdiction because he suspects their immigration status?

...and I'm surprised, why? Lets see, mmmmm, Perry grew up vacationing on a ranch called, N.........head. Arpiao targets brown complected people as they must be, undocumented.

Okay, the Universe is right again. Skin complection unites them, (their own that is)

[JETexas]

07:53 PM on 12/03/2011

He can not even think for himself he has followed what everyone one else is doing and jumped on the immigration wagon thinking he will get more votes. This Arpiao stunt shows it. To use that man of all the people in the world who is a known for all kinds of inhuman treatment of others , is big into hate groups, accused of stealing millions of dollars from the state of AZ and the list goes on . He will never be president he is a follower we need a leader a strong leader. Has he got any brains at all? I don’t even want him in Texas.

[dbrett480]

06:43 PM on 11/30/2011

This doesn't even matter as Perry is on his way out.

[reeblite]

02:44 PM on 12/01/2011

at 79, so is arpaio!

[tgonz37]

12:24 PM on 11/30/2011

LOL! That'll put Perry over the top, especially with Latino voters!

[UTARebel]

01:46 AM on 12/16/2011

You might be surprised who legal Latinos will vote for. Illegals hurt them the most.

[tgonz37]

08:48 AM on 12/17/2011

Um, no I won't be suprised. Trust me, most minorities in general, and Latinos in particular, vote Democrat. That is undisputable. Your claim that "illegals" hurt "legals" the most is just more idiotic unfounded generalization that bigots like to trot out. You obviously miss the point - no endorsement from anyone, especially the likes of Perry, could mask the stench of this old geezer sheriff's obvious bigotry.

I'm so called "legal" and I don't feel the least bit threatened or "hurt" by so-called "illegals". Ill take the hard working, productive, family-oriented ones who don't bother anyone other than the bigots over many of the so-called "legals" in this country who do nothing to contribute and commit their own crimes and havoc.

[l78lancer]

02:31 AM on 11/30/2011

This should generate some excitement amongst the Birther Wing of the GOP.

[l78lancer]

02:25 AM on 11/30/2011

Rick Perry has gone from the front row to the cheap seats. Next he will be out completely. Who cares who Arpaio endorses? No one will care about who Perry endorses.

[l78lancer]

02:22 AM on 11/30/2011

If Arpaio is a hardliner then his views on immigration clash with Perry by default. So He can't be endorsing Perry because of that issue. If that is the case,what is the real basis of the endorsement?

The bottom line is that the basis is bogus, the endorsement is political, and Arpaio is an irrelevant bigot.

[pinetrale]

02:17 AM on 11/30/2011

Hold the Phones!

[SKamath]

01:54 AM on 11/30/2011

This is like Jack Abramoff endorsing Darrell Issa

[mialma Teve]

01:30 AM on 11/30/2011

"How funny! Arpio is Italian many Mexicans allege to be Italian descendant. Hmmmm"

Arpaio was born in Springfield, Massachusetts to Italian parents both from Avellino, Italy.[8] Arpaio's mother died while giving birth to him, and Arpaio was raised by his father, a grocery store owner. Arpaio completed high school and worked in his father's business until age 18 when he enlisted in the United States Army.[9] Arpaio served in the Army from 1950 to 1954 in the Medical Detachment Division and was stationed in France for part of the time as a military policeman.[10]

Following his discharge in 1954, Arpaio moved to Washington, D.C. and became a police officer, moving in 1957 to Las Vegas, Nevada. He served as a police officer in Las Vegas for six months before being appointed as a special agent with the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, which later became part of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).[11] During his 25-year tenure with the DEA, he was stationed in Argentina, Turkey and Mexico, and advanced through the ranks to the position of head of the DEA's Arizona branch.[12]

In 1992, Arpaio successfully campaigned for the office of Maricopa County Sheriff. The voters of Maricopa County re-elected him in 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008.[13]

Arpaio married his wife, Ava, in 1958. Together they have two children and four grandchildren.[14] They currently reside in Fountain Hills, Arizona.[15]

NO COLLEGE EDUCATION!

[l78lancer]

02:26 AM on 11/30/2011

No degree required to qualify as a goon.

[mialma Teve]

03:37 AM on 11/30/2011

Cierto, muy cierto "Es un Imbecil"

[basshawgnc]

09:00 PM on 12/04/2011

Okay, I'll ask. What does not having a college degree have to do with anything? I have a degree and after 4 years and $28,000 of debt, all I can say is Arpaio didn't miss much. Furthermore, he was fortunate to miss the liberal mind bending that goes on in higher educational institutions.

[mialma Teve]

11:16 PM on 12/04/2011

Well you do not have much of a debt. We and said we because I have to help my husband to pay, have 200,000 thousands dollars in debt. How is that? Having a college degree have to do with everything in this country. Without it, you can not for the most part have a decent job.
Arpio work in Mexico, I wonder what happen there, that he dislike them so much. He is a lucky dog for sure.

[mary1016]

04:49 PM on 12/15/2011

I think the sherrif should be congratulated for all he has done with out the college degree. He is the kind that dose not let others tell him what to do. Obama appointed another Mexican (according to his name) to go after the sherrif. It is awful that you have a president who cnnot stand up to issues. congrats to the sherrif for doing his job. Well done,Sherrif. wish you was in NC.

[ddeanfountain]

12:54 AM on 11/30/2011

Hey Joe, what's the voting age in Arizona? You might want to rethink your endorsement. You endorse Perry for the benefits and public monies he continues to give illegals in this state. Perry has been an avide supporter of illegal immigration for years. How else are all of Perry's big business campaign contributors going to find employees willing to work for minimum wage or less to fill all those jobs Perry allegedly created!

[Tony Sanchez]

11:53 PM on 11/29/2011

The really important endorsement will come from Mr.Ed tomorrow.