Remember last week when Maricopa County Republican Committee Chair A.J. LaFaro stirred up a nationwide shitstorm by claiming that a young Hispanic "thug" was stuffing the ballot box? It turns out, of course, that what the graduate student was doing is perfectly legal, even though Fox News, World Nut Daily and their ilk went hair-on-fire bonkers. The young man, who was doing his civic duty by delivering ballots, something we should applaud, even received death threats online. Today in protest Citizens for a Better Arizona dropped off more ballots; they've also threatened a lawsuit because some members were harassed following LaFaro's dumbfuckery.
That's the Republican Party here in Arizona, with bigots like LaFaro as chair and recalled Senator Russell Pearce, author of SB1070, the former vice chair. So, you can imagine they're not real tolerant guys, even though they talk about creating a Big Tent party that's welcoming to Hispanics, women, and even the LGBT community, while they pass laws and say stupid shit that flies in the face of any Big Tent strategy.
LaFaro has struck again, this time sending a threatening letter to GOP precinct committeemen and women who don't toe the party's hard-right line. It turns out not all Republicans are fond of Doug Ducey, the GOP candidate for governor. There are lots of reasons not to like the sleazy businessman and Koch Brothers butt-kisser, especially if you support voters' rights, women's choice, quality jobs, good schools or affordable healthcare, and a few GOP officials have endorsed his opponent, Democrat Fred DuVal. Uh-oh!
The Maricopa County Republican Committee will decide whether to strip the voting rights of precinct committeemen over their support of Democratic candidates this election cycle. The move is the latest effort by a wing of the county party to purge members who don't strictly support GOP candidates and adhere to the party platform.
It's a common party bylaw, and a real dick move. LaFaro's letter to the turncoats says they can attend a Nov. 6 meeting "to defend" their violation, but in addition to losing voting privileges they may be deemed ineligible to run for any district or state office in the future.
GOP activist and blogger Barbara Espinosa also received a letter from LaFaro. She's been a vocal DuVal supporter and has been critical of his rival Doug Ducey in her writings. She is a precinct committeeman in Legislative District 23. Using LaFaro's "nonsense," she said, the county committee would expect Republicans to support a GOP drug cartel member over a Democratic minister.
Ducey isn't a drug kingpin and DuVal isn't a minister, but the choice is nearly as stark. GOP officials who support DuVal are thinking and caring Republicans, an endangered species here, a group LaFaro wants to eradicate.