Another coward folds up like a lawn chair…
An apology from Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu today. While he’s not exactly a border sheriff, Babeu is getting a lot of air time on the border issue. He’s one of the strongest advocates for SB1070, as well as a fence. And, these days it seems like he’s all over CNN and Fox News.
But it’s his recent appearance on a talk radio show that has Sheriff Babeu saying he’s sorry. Babeu now says he regrets appearing on the radio show, The Political Cesspool, because he says he rejects bigotry.
Babeu claims he was “hoodwinked” into an interview after a show co-host portrayed the program as a legitimate media organization.
The Political Cesspool airs weekly on WLRM 1380AM radio in Millington, Tennessee. During its July 10th show, co-host Eddie Miller lined up Sheriff Babeu to appear as the program’s guest.
Minutes before the interview Miller said this: “I would say the only people that came close to getting me this excited would be doctor David Duke.”
Duke is a former Ku Klux Klan leader. Minutes later, Babeu then called into the show, “Hey Eddie, its Paul Babue, how are you doing my friend?” Babeu asked.
The interview focused on SB1070 and border security. Babeu described the border as being dangerous and porous. He explained to the program’s hosts, “What we’re facing is 2,600 illegal’s coming through our county everyday.”
But, the Southern Poverty Law Center lists The Political Cesspool as a hate group affiliated with the “White Nationalist” movement.
Babeu claims he didn’t know the program’s affiliation. “I reject any hate or bigotry,” said Babeu.
He also denied having any previous contact with the show.
Nine On Your Side’s Steve Nunez asked: “Sheriff Babeu, the fact that you appeared on this radio station, does that make you a racist?”
“Obviously not,” said Babeu. “I’m consistent not only in my message but my beliefs and we did not know that this person is affiliated even though he claims he’s not affiliated. We found out later.”
Babeu says the media tipped him off to the program’s affiliation when reporters began questioning him late Monday evening about his appearance on the radio show.
But in a statement on his website, program host James Edwards says his co-host, Eddie Miller, had multiple conversations with Babeu prior to the show.
Edwards also called Babeu’s claim that he did not know the program’s ideology, “A lie.”
Instead, Babeu says his public information officer, Tim Gaffney, did a cursory search of the radio station’s website but did not discover the program’s affiliation to a hate group.
Nine On Your Side also checked out the website and links to the program. It’s web page clearly addresses the issue of race and racism.
Babeu says he is not worried that appearing on the show, many see as racist, will cast doubt on whether race is a factor in enforcing SB1070.