By welcoming Trump, Ducey trashes Arizona
During the last race for governor of Arizona, optimistic voters noted that one Republican candidate spoke Spanish, had done business in Mexico and had received an award from the Latino Leaders Network for “bringing diverse communities together.”
Unfortunately, primary voters didn’t elect former Mesa Mayor Scott Smith, but instead chose Doug Ducey, who bowed at the altar of Sheriff Joe Arpaio, mimicked former Gov. Jan Brewer and made ridiculous claims about the border, like telling The Arizona Republic’s Bob Ortega that “the southern border is unsecured and wide open,” adding, “I will do everything possible under the law as governor, fencing, satellites, guardsmen and more police and prosecutors.”
It worked. Not the irrational policies, of course, but the empty promises. Ducey got elected.
Now he’s sucking up to Donald Trump, who makes the same ugly, outrageous claims — times 10.
Gov. Ducey agreed to offer “welcoming” remarks for Trump’s Wednesday speech in Phoenix.
This is Trump, who began his campaign sounding much like former state Sen. Russell Pearce, author of the disastrous (for the state) State Bill 1070 and a man who spoke fondly of bringing back a wicked 1950s immigration roundup called “Operation Wetback.”
When Ducey was elected, he spoke of trying to revive Arizona’s reputation and to mend fences with our Mexican neighbors. He seemed to drop the nasty rhetoric and pursue public policy appealing to businesses and tourism. And he’s been going along that way. Until now. We should have seen it coming, I suppose. A few months back, Ducey made a pilgrimage to Trump Town in New York, along with several other governors, where they humbly genuflected at the altar of The Donald.
Ducey’s spokesman said afterward, “Governor Ducey shared that his goal is to keep Arizona in the Republican column, in the presidential race.”
Now, he welcomes Trump, who loves Arpaio, a sheriff reviled by the Latino community and who may be facing criminal charges for ignoring a judge’s order in a racial-profiling case.
He welcomes Trump, who loves Jan Brewer, who signed SB 1070 and claimed (well before Trump) that the “majority” of undocumented immigrants were “bringing drugs” into the country, “extorting people” and “terrorizing” families.
He welcomes Trump, who insults U.S. Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake. As well as our intelligence.
Ducey chooses to stand with the Republican nominee, a gesture of respect and acceptance for all the ugliness that this particular candidate stands for.
And in doing so, the governor ditches any sense of inclusiveness, grace or common sense, and instead allows Arizona to be the welcome mat onto which Donald Trump wipes his dirty feet.