Tuesday, April 1st, 2008...7:13 am
Breaking: Pearce Party Switch?
From this morning’s Phoenix Gazette:
Pearce Mulls Party Switch
M. Piltdown and Bob Oso
Special to the GazetteCapitol observers were shocked today by rumors that conservative lion Russell Pearce (R - Mesa) is considering a move to the Democratic Party.
Some lobbyists noted a change two weeks ago during an exchange at a meeting of the House Appropriations committee, chaired by Pearce. Two administrators from the Department of Weights and Measures were ready to testify when Pearce began by saying, “I have always believed that you folks are doing a great job for Arizonans. I don’t get why we don’t pay our state employees better so we can keep quality people like you.”
Sen. Paula Aboud (D - Tucson) reported a call from Pearce last week asking for how he could secure a speaking role at an upcoming event for the Stonewall Democrats, a gay and lesbian organization. Rep. Kirsten Synema (D - Phoenix) had a long talk with Pearce about his new found support for gay and lesbian rights. When asked about this, Pearce told the Gazette, “I have always believed live and let live. Follow your bliss.”
Several Hispanic leaders and legislators were shocked during an informal meeting at Capitol area restaurant Oaxaca to discuss strategy on immigration issues when Pearce showed up.
“He even hugged Alfredo Gutierrez. I wasn’t sure what to think,” said Steve Gallardo (D - Phoenix), who attended the meeting.
Given Pearce’s strident support of “get tough” laws on illegal immigration, this is the conversion that people find most suprising.
“I love our Hispanic brothers and sisters. No human being should ever be called ‘illegal’,” Pearce reportedly told the stunned meeting.
“He even ordered tripas. I couldn’t believe it,” Gallardo reported about the meeting. He also asked Gutierrez where he buys his guayaberas.
A confidant of Pearce says his switch on this issue came after viewing several hours of a marathon of the program Mind of Mencia on cable television.
“Until I saw that ‘Barato’ sketch, I had no idea how tough those guys had it,” Pearce told the Gazette.
Asked about upcoming budget negotiations, Pearce said, “It’s time we work with the Governor. We need to make sure that we can keep these programs funded for our poorest citizens. It’s the only moral thing to do, isn’t it?”
Pearce will reportedly be appearing at the Cesar Chavez march this weekend in Tucson with Congressman Raul Grijalva (D- Tucson). Pearce said, “I am a great admirer of Chavez and what he did for labor in this country.”
When asked for comment, Grijalva spokesperson Natalie Luna said that the congressman is still trying to figure out what to think of his new found friend. “Candidly, he’s a bit put off by Pearce calling himself ‘Raul’s BFF’ and ‘Su Amigo’.”
Pearce has been spotted in his office, learning to play the Lalo Guerrero song “El Chicano” on the vihuela and trying on various brown berets.
11 Comments
April 1st, 2008 at 9:09 am
Odd that today’s Scottsdale Progress didn’t mention anything about this. Regardless, I regret to inform you that Pearce and Arpaio are a package deal.
April 1st, 2008 at 9:15 am
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Gazette:
The Phoenix Gazette was a newspaper published in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. It was founded in 1881, and was known in its early years as the Phoenix Evening Gazette.
In 1930 it was purchased by Charles Stauffer and W. Wesley Knorpp, the owner of its one-time rival Arizona Republic. Both papers were subsequently acquired by Eugene C. Pulliam in 1946.
Under Pulliam’s management it continued to operate as the main evening paper for the Phoenix area for several decades. During the 1970s and 1980s it was published weekday and Saturday afternoons.
In August 1995, the staffs of The Republic and The Gazette merged, and The Gazette mostly became an afternoon edition of The Republic with few updates. Eventually its circulation declined and it ceased publication in January 1997.
April 1st, 2008 at 9:30 am
come on guys… remember the days when april fools day tricks were less transparent?
April 1st, 2008 at 10:00 am
Great April Fool’s blog. Congrats!
April 1st, 2008 at 10:14 am
You could’ve picked a better, more realistic April Fools topic, Tedski.
But thanks anyway. Russell should stay where is is, ironing his bedsheets and loading his muskets.
April 1st, 2008 at 11:01 am
gee… I guess he’ll have to edit his crAZyspace profile.
www.crAZyspace.org
April 1st, 2008 at 1:42 pm
I figured it was fake because Pearce didn’t refer to Chavez as “a great American.”
April 1st, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Nice one Ted - definitely made me look!
April 1st, 2008 at 3:14 pm
I enjoyed the chuckle.
April 1st, 2008 at 9:25 pm
LOL - you had me until “tripas”. That’s when I started doubting the whole damn thing, ha.
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:00 am
Hey…they don’t serve tripas at Oaxaca…what is going on here?
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