FLORENCE -- Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu built a reputation as a rising, conservative star by taking a hardline stance against illegal immigration, attacking the Obama administration and appearing alongside Sen. John McCain in a 2010 re-election ad in which McCain urged federal officials to just "complete the danged fence."
But, on Saturday, Babeu's conservative image took a beating as he was forced to confirm publicly that he is gay and was involved in a relationship with a Mexican immigrant who claims the sheriff threatened to have him deported if he revealed their relationship.
Babeu denies any wrongdoing, and has vowed to continue his battle for the GOP nomination in an extremely conservative rural congressional district. He recognizes he is fighting an uphill battle, especially in a state where family values, as defined by a large evangelical Christian and Mormon population, often battle fierce, anti-immigrant beliefs to define conservatism.
At a lengthy press conference, Babeu said he hopes voters will stick with him.
His competitors think that's unlikely. Arizona Sen. Ron Gould says Babeu is sure to lose major support among the family-values voters who oppose gay marriage.
Babeu previously avoided a public stance on gay rights, but came out in favor of them on Saturday.
"I can be a supporter and get out there and help articulate as we progress as a culture and a society, that there should be individual liberties and there should be individual freedoms," Babeu said. "For any other person to define somebody else's relationship and say it not OK, that is not who we are as Americans."
Saturday's revelation already led Babeu to call presidential candidate Mitt Romney's staff to say he would step down from his post as state campaign co-chair. Babeu campaigned with Romney and was featured in robocalls in Iowa attacking Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who was then seeking the GOP nomination.
"Sheriff Babeu has stepped down from his volunteer position with the campaign so he can focus on the allegations against him. We support his decision," Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul said in a statement.
Some political observers think Babeu's career could be over.
"There is no question that his budding congressional campaign is over," longtime Arizona Republican political consultant Sean Noble wrote on his blog. "Because it is a Republican primary in a conservative district, it's likely that the thing that hurts him the most is that he was in a gay relationship."
Others aren't sure it's the end, but they said there's no doubt he will be hurt.
"It obviously has implications for a congressional race. There's just no question about it," said Bruce Merrill, an Arizona State University political science professor emeritus and a longtime pollster. "I don't see how any reasonable person cannot think that this is going to hurt him, particularly with the constituency that he has built, which is a very evangelical, right-wing, family oriented conservative constituency."
Babeu's acknowledgment that he is gay came after a story in the Phoenix New Times, an alternative weekly magazine that quoted a former lover as saying Babeu threatened his immigration status if he revealed their relationship.
Babeu denied claims he tried to threaten the man, a former campaign volunteer. He said the accusations were an attempt to hurt his political career. The legal status of the man, identified only as Jose by the New Times and Babeu, was unclear. His lawyer said he was unavailable for comment but might be available in a few days.
Jose provided the New Times with photos of him and Babeu embracing. It also posted a cell phone self-portrait of a smiling Babeu in his underwear and another of what appears to be the shirtless sheriff in a bathroom, posted on a gay dating web site. Babeu didn't deny their authenticity.
Babeu made national headlines soon after his 2008 defeat of an incumbent in his rural county south of Phoenix by jumping on the anti-illegal immigration bandwagon led by longtime Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and berating the federal government for allowing human and drug smuggling to go unchecked.
Then in 2010, he was tapped by McCain to help champion his border security plan during McCain's re-election effort.
McCain, asked Sunday on ABC's "This Week" about Babeu, said he thought of him as a friend.
"I do not know the details, except what has been published in the media," he said. "And I'm sure there will be a thorough and complete investigation, if there is any allegation of wrongdoing. All I can say is that he also deserves the benefit, as every citizen does, of innocence until proven guilty. But I appreciate the support that he gave me in my campaign and always will."
Arpaio, a longtime ally, distanced himself.
"All I can say is he's the sheriff of Pinal County, and it's up to him to face his issues, not me," Arpaio told The Arizona Republic. He said Babeu has been "begging" for an endorsement in the congressional primary.
"I don't even think I'm going to get involved," Arpaio said. "We'll see what happens with Babeu."
Just last weekend, Babeu gave a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C., reiterating his criticism of Obama, the Justice Department's failed "Operation Fast and Furious" gunrunning investigation and seeking support for his congressional campaign.
Babeu has been something of an enigma since he appeared on the scene. He was elected to the city council of his hometown of North Adams, Mass., at age 18, and came to Arizona shortly after losing an election for North Adams mayor in 2001.
He became a Chandler police officer and in November 2008 defeated a Democratic incumbent to become sheriff.
Along the way, he served in the Army National Guard as both an enlisted man and an officer, retiring from the Arizona Guard as a major after serving stints in Iraq and along the U.S.-Mexico border.
DrJCA1 posted at 3:20 pm on Mon, Feb 20, 2012.
I couldn't care less, but I think that coming out in a very conservative area was a huge mistake. He's probably done for in AZ.
DavidNichols posted at 3:33 pm on Mon, Feb 20, 2012.
Its not so much that he looks like a duck, and now we know he quacks like a duck.
It is the Fact that he has thrown himself into the Media spotlight as the New Pretty Boy Poster Child against illegal Immigration, all the while he was hving a torrid sexual relationship with a Male Immigrant.
Threatening to Deport His former Gay Lover is Blackmail, which if it occured is a Crime.
He wasn't honest about coming out of the Sick Closet, he was cast out!
His Elicit Photo's on Gay web sites show a scary Personality, which I think has No Place in Public Service whatsoever.
He could endorse Preperation H?
Or Perhaps Design his own line of European Male Purses?
Politics?
No Thanks Sick-O
Masterrogue666 posted at 6:14 pm on Mon, Feb 20, 2012.
I guess DavidNichols believes guilty until proven innocent....
phxvato1202 posted at 6:48 pm on Mon, Feb 20, 2012.
I guess monsterrogue believes ??? who cares??
mesadog posted at 9:32 pm on Mon, Feb 20, 2012.
I find many things interesting about this story. Everyone seems to be giving New Times a pass on this story where about the only things coming out to be true are that the he is gay and had a relationship with the man. No one can believe the man can have any conservative values because he is gay. No civil liberty or gay group will come to his defense. So the only way a gay man can receive support is to be liberal? I am sick and tired of the people in this country that demand tolerance and acceptance only being so if you have their views.
Does it matter he is gay? No but to a small percentage it will. The smear against him and is what the real battle is. It should only matter that he does a good job and if it is proven he has done something illegal then he should suffer the consequences. Until then, innocent until proven guilty and judge him on his work
Rich posted at 10:30 pm on Mon, Feb 20, 2012.
mesadog,
"Until then, innocent until proven guilty and judge him on his work."
In the first place you have it wrong, a defendant has a presumption of innocence that, in order to be convicted the prosecution must overcome. Anyone can assume guilt at any time based on how they see the case. In short it is not incumbent on anyone to pronounce him innocent. If a investigation ends up indicting him the assumption my be carried to a trial, in which case the presumption may be tested. All it really means is that a tie goes to the runner.
And his work, aside from running around making ridiculous claims, mostly outside of Pinal County, is pretty much non-existent. He has garnered more state funds, which, if you don't care about law enforcement, might be termed a plus, but that does have a negative effect outside of Pinal County. As to his record as a crime fighter, not so hot. Face it, you bought a phony. If you live in Pinal, you don't need a phony, you need a sheriff. Probably someone whose name slips your mind, but can lower the crime rate is the best bet.
azman posted at 12:41 am on Tue, Feb 21, 2012.
So now we see that Radical Hispanic activists (New Times reporter) and AZ liberal press, print and TV, hate gay people, if that person believes in law and order. Babeu's accuser should be forced to answer questions to clear things up about his actions. I do not believe anonymous accusers. Where are the McCain mother & daughter team with NO H8 painted on their faces? This is just a political take-down attempt. Let's give them with zero score.
soricobob posted at 4:25 am on Tue, Feb 21, 2012.
I wonder what else he isn't telling us?
AZMomma posted at 5:21 am on Tue, Feb 21, 2012.
Looks like my prior post in support of Sheriff Babeu has been pulled. Interesting.
His interview with Wolf Blitzer (CNN) on Monday was forthright, showed no evasions or clues (tells) as to cover ups.
I find the timing of this 'outing' to be something to note. Jose (the lover boy) interview, on the other hand, comes across as a cross between Jose Jimenez and Jose Jalapeno. Dumber than a box if rocks.
Perhaps THAT is the greatest lapse in Babeu's judgment. He chose a back-stabbing Drama Queen with an IQ below room temp. who found some Pro-illegal lawyer to do pro bono (and publicity-worthy) work. [wink]
Dale Whiting posted at 7:15 am on Tue, Feb 21, 2012.
Looks like we won't be building that "Dang fense" any time soon!
Masterrogue666 posted at 7:41 am on Tue, Feb 21, 2012.
phxvato1202: Thanks for showing everyone here that you aren't here to debate, but that you're here to attempt childish insults just like a proper "Troll" would do. [beam]
gonetothedogs posted at 9:24 am on Tue, Feb 21, 2012.
I don't care that he is Gay. The last I knew, being Gay didn't interfere with one's ability to do their job. We are all human. What I do care about, is that he appears to have been dishonest and very hypocritical about this situation. I wonder now what else he may not have been honest about? His ethics (or lack thereof) is what concerns me.
mesadog posted at 12:25 pm on Tue, Feb 21, 2012.
@ Rich - thanks for writing out the long version of innocent until proven guilty.
If he is proven guilty he should pay for what he has done wrong. I would not expect anything less.
I have a problem with the fact that these days we are increasingly assuming everyone guilty of the slightest accusation and convicting them in the news and then when fact proves otherwise it is too late and no one pays attention to it and lives are ruined. I would concede it easy to go this way as it appears at times too many people do not disappoint either.
I do not live in Pinal County and have no dog in that fight. It seems that of everything I have heard or read about him and how he has done his job, there is more good than bad and not enough to oust him. I do not think he would have been voted out of his job for a long time if he had wanted to keep it. I do think there was motive to cas enough dirt on him to ruin him in that district because he was a threat to win.
sdjtaz posted at 1:37 pm on Tue, Feb 21, 2012.
Just a couple of observations on some of the comments. First, I also don't care that he is gay. However, he is in a tight race with two other conservatives and some (many?) conservative voters will vote against him because they do care and do not like the fact that he is gay.
Regarding "innocent until proven guilty". First, this is a legal phrase that extends only to the jurors and/or judge that is hearing the case. Newspapers have for centuries tried individuals in the court of public opinion. After all, the more outrage and discussion that they can build, the more copies of the papers they sell. This has always been true. One prime example was the Lizzie Borden trial, in which newspapers spread every piece of gossip as fact and sensationalized everything to sell more papers. In fact, they were so successful that most people don't realize that Lizzie Borden was never convicted of any crimes.
Third, of course the New Times is biased. They are an alternative newspaper that is far more liberal than the other area newspapers and will run articles based on that point of view. However, many other media outlets are also biased and will run or slant coverage in accordance to their viewpoint. All you have to do is watch how a news story is covered by Fox and MSNBC to see how the same story will often be slanted based upon the political leanings of the organization.
Final observation, I wonder if the same people who are stating "innocent until proven guilty" would say that if Babeu were a liberal Democrat. I often find that one's own worldview changes how individuals react to the news. I admit that I am often guilty of this myself. Just ask yourself whether you automatically thought that OJ was guilty when the news first broke about the Nicole Simpson murder case.
Hellraiser posted at 2:07 pm on Tue, Feb 21, 2012.
I really don't care if he is Gay. Am I disappointed in him, yes. However, bottom line is he has done a great job as Sheriff and I support him for that reason. I don't condone his life style but what he does on his own time in his own privacy is none of my business. I am pretty sure none of this would have been brought up if he wasn't running for a new office. So do you think the Dems had something to do with this???
How deep did they have to dig? Anyone can accuse someone of doing something but they don't have to prove it, just say it happened and the happy press will jump on it.
asuaguila posted at 4:07 pm on Tue, Feb 21, 2012.
It's an issue because his party, the Republican party has made it an issue. The main reason the Romney campaign dropped. him. If he were a Democrat, it would be an even bigger issue...hypocrites. Nonetheless, his ethics are in question for abuse of power, not for being gay.
And if his partner was here illegally or on a tourist visa, then why did Babeu's campaign employ him? Did it hire an illegal Mexican worker?
Rational Human posted at 8:01 am on Wed, Feb 22, 2012.
Look, everyone who counts knew he was gay a few weeks after he first declared to run as sheriff, so it's no secret. Everything else is just a smear tactic by the liberal press. Even davidlucifer, the liberal tail wagger, even refers to the man's sexual orientation in the most undignified manner a marxist agitator can muster.
Masterrouge666, phxvato1202 is an avowed Vato. Vato is what mexican'ts use in place of homeboy. He is a racist American who lives for La Reconquest of Aztlan. Everything he says will be slanted for his anti American agenda. He is highly uneducated and ignorable.
Masterrogue666 posted at 4:46 pm on Wed, Feb 22, 2012.
I'm aware of the term Vato or homeboy. I've have many friends, from all over the globe. Many of my close friends here in AZ just HAPPEN to be of Mexican ancestry. But then, I'm suppose to be a racist just because I don't support ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. What's most amusing to me is that those same friends don't support it either. I wonder what phxvato1202 would call them? Traitor? LOL [beam]
Rational Human posted at 11:07 am on Thu, Feb 23, 2012.
Yes, MonsterVato would call any American of Mexican origin a traitor who did not support La Reconquest of Aztlan from the bad white man who stole it from them. People like that are so quick to call anyone who supports the rule of law concerning illegal migration a racist yet cannot see what obvious racists they themselves are.