Another Republican Goes Down in Flames

**ArcticSplash** · 02-19-2012, 08:43 AM

This one is unique. Instead of taking the family-values tack, he was Mr. Immigration. Unfortunately the rumor mill is that his boyfriend is a Mexican national and after a quibble, he threatened to deport him.

I guess that's a refreshing departure from the usual "protect marriage/family-values" type (hint: Mark Foley).

Maybe one day the national GOP will adopt "sensible gays". Like... I dunno, Dick Cheney's daughter. While Sheriff Babeu put in 20 years in the military under DADT and I'm sure he's an OK sheriff for a rural AZ county, the scandal over using his threat of deportation to keep someone's mouth shut is interesting to say the least and it's not the kind of quality you'd want for someone running for Congress.

Arizona Sheriff Paul Babeu denies threatening to deport alleged ex-lover - KFOR

**ArcticSplash** · 02-19-2012, 08:48 AM

While Sheriff Babeu put in 20 years in the military under DADT and I'm sure he's an OK sheriff for a rural AZ county, the scandal over using his threat of deportation to keep someone's mouth shut is interesting to say the least and it's not the kind of quality you'd want for someone running for Congress.

**Hospitalitygirl** · 02-19-2012, 11:17 AM

Originally Posted by ArcticSplash

While Sheriff Babeu put in 20 years in the military under DADT and I'm sure he's an OK sheriff for a rural AZ county, the scandal over using his threat of deportation to keep someone's mouth shut is interesting to say the least and it's not the kind of quality you'd want for someone running for Congress.

I saw this story last night. It's unfortunate, since he now comes across as too stupid to make important decisions. At some point I would like for everyone to stop caring what people do in their bedrooms and just focus on the jobs that they're supposed to be doing and do them well. He also exhibited some poor judgment by getting involved with a Mexican National and then threatening to deport him.

Too many people never learn....

**ArcticSplash** · 02-19-2012, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by Hospitalitygirl

I saw this story last night. It's unfortunate, since he now comes across as too stupid to make important decisions. At some point I would like for everyone to stop caring what people do in their bedrooms and just focus on the jobs that they're supposed to be doing and do them well. He also exhibited some poor judgment by getting involved with a Mexican National and then threatening to deport him.

Too many people never learn....

Well, I happen to not be entirely straight and I do happen to vote for Republicans for ideological reasons; just as I do not blanketly vote for some Democrat because "oh he's gay" like a certain someone canvassing Washington Square West for state rep pushing his gay cred. Where you put your penis is no concern of mine, but what button you intend to push when votes are called on the House floor DOES affect my life and if you consistently push the one I don't want you to push, I don't want to vote for you.

That being said, this Sheriff put himself in this dilemma. So a Mexican national former lover outed him. That's not much of a concern as to WHY he outed him, and that's because he did it to defend himself from a deportation threat his ex made.

THAT's reason enough to cast doubt on whether Sheriff Babeu should be sent to Washington.

Sure, there's going to be gays that will vote for him simply that he's openly gay now. I feel bad for these people who pull a lever for somebody because they happen to be black, or gay, or a woman, or quote Bible versus on TV. If you're that shallow that you base your voting decisions on that, perhaps you should just stay home and not bother to vote.

**Hospitalitygirl** · 02-19-2012, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by ArcticSplash

Sure, there's going to be gays that will vote for him simply that he's openly gay now. I feel bad for these people who pull a lever for somebody because they happen to be black, or gay, or a woman, or quote Bible versus on TV. If you're that shallow that you base your voting decisions on that, perhaps you should just stay home and not bother to vote.

You said a mouthful there!

**ArcticSplash** · 02-19-2012, 12:15 PM

On the positive side, I'm sure Sheriff Babeu can look forward to being sheriff all through this year and next year, plus after this flap I'm quite certain he's available, fellas:

7". Not bad. Wouldn't date him if you got citizenship issues; or expect him to delete his Grindr/Scruff/Adam4Adam profiles if it turns into a relationship either:

Paul Babeu's Mexican Ex-Lover Says Sheriff's Attorney Threatened Him With Deportation - Page 1 - News - Phoenix - Phoenix New Times

So it appears that Jose was the webmaster for his lover's campaign (that's always a bad move). Jose knew about his boyfriend's online dating profiles and didn't think that was a good idea to keep them around while running for Congress. Sure being in law enforcement nobody cares if you got your nudie photos out on Adam4Adam, but for a legislative job that's probably not a smart move.

After Jose told him to delete them, he checked later and saw they were still there, so he did the stupidest thing of all: creating a sockpuppet and soliciting his boyfriend for sex through the sockpuppet account. I dunno why he even bothered because if he kept the profiles up it's clear he's still interested in seeing other dudes, and their "relationship" derailed from there until it eventually blew up into this.

I think Sheriff Babeu is smart enough to figure out how to recover from this and get back some cred with his public. He should probably focus more on his community rather than clawing for a cush job in Washington and acting a phony in front of the cameras.

**It'sJessMe** · 02-19-2012, 01:42 PM

My understanding (i.e. I read it in an article but am too lazy to find it to quote a source) is that Babeu's orientation was known in his native Massachusetts but his political ideology wasn't as welcome so he moved to Arizona for a better chance at getting elected, and kept his orientation quiet there. And that he was a victim of a pedophile priest in Massachusetts, another reason he moved pretty far away.

**mixiboi** · 02-20-2012, 02:13 AM

Originally Posted by ArcticSplash

After Jose told him to delete them, he checked later and saw they were still there, so he did the stupidest thing of all: creating a sockpuppet and soliciting his boyfriend for sex through the sockpuppet account. I dunno why he even bothered because if he kept the profiles up it's clear he's still interested in seeing other dudes, and their "relationship" derailed from there until it eventually blew up into this..

Isn't that how it always goes?