Whoops. The other day I wrote that an Arizona Senate Committee on border security had invited Glenn Spencer, the leader of American Border Patrol, to testify. Spencer is well-known nationally for his work with Stormfront, the National Alliance, and other white supremacist organizations, as documented by the Southern Poverty Law Center and Anti-Defamation League.
There could be only one reason for the Senate Committee to call Spencer, because they know he'd confirm the "invasion" story that Senate President Russell Pearce and other wingers have been telling since before SB 1070.
[Spencer] said he does believe Mexicans are trying to reconquer the U.S. and that a "bloodbath" between the two countries is inevitable. Arizona Republic
Even though illegal immigration is down, as is crime along the border, Pearce, Spencer, and others have continued to scare Arizonans with the "invasion of brown hordes" meme, as justification for a new shit load of Mexican-bashing bills before the legislature.
But today, without any formal explanation during the hearing, the Chair of the Committee, Senator Sylvia Allen, said she had uninvited Spencer.
The chairman of a civilian border watch group described by a watchdog organization as a "vitriolic Mexican-basher" who courts white supremacists said Thursday that he was uninvited to speak to an Arizona Senate committee on border security. Arizona Republic
Naturally, this kicked off a flurry of activities on the local blogs. Spencer feels "They deprived the people of Arizona of this hard work and important information," and the anti-immigration crowd complained that the Senate wants to censor "the truth." Some even suggested that the Committee will call La Raza instead because, you know, the Arizona Senate is controlled by lefties. As Spencer tells it:
"They don't want the American people to know the truth about the border," he said. "They're part of a globalist effort to erase the border, to essentially merge the U.S., Mexico and Canada into a North American union." Arizona Republic
Actually, though, a great deal of skepticism for the uninvitation came from progressives, many who wanted to see Spencer testify because he'd lay bare the bigotry that underlies his vigilantism -- and connect it to Pearce and the GOP. It's not like we need Glenn Spencer to tie Russell Pearce to racism; he's done a good job of that himself, hanging out with brownshirts and other swell guys. One of Russell's supporters wrote as much on the Arizona Republic blog today:
Since when has Pearce ever shied away from letting people know that he wants all the illegal Mexican vermin residing in AZ deported PRONTO?
Answer: NEVER.
No, we're not racist, this is just about "the rule of law." Still, chances were pretty good that old Glenn would pop a mighty fine racist rant today, for all the local news to see. So, later today when Senator Allen explained to the media that she uninvited him to "avoid a circus," you can take that a lot of ways.
As recent as yesterday Senator Allen told the Arizona Republic, when the controversy over Spencer's appearance surfaced, that she didn't really know the guy, and she invited him only because she saw his name on an agenda:
Allen, R-Snowflake, said she invited Spencer to appear before her committee because his name was on a list of speakers who attended an anti-immigration rally last summer with Senate President Russell Pearce, R-Mesa.
Allen said she was unaware of the racially charged comments attributed to Spencer until contacted by reporters but added that that isn't enough reason to stop him from speaking to the committee.
She was "unaware" of Glenn Spencer?! -- the only person she invited to testify before a Committee on border security, the Committee she chairs. Really? Are you telling me that's how Committee Chairs determine who to call to testify? They just willy-nilly grab names from a rally list without talking with them or checking their backgrounds? If you've ever testified before a legislative committee, you know how hard it is to get even 5 minutes, let alone a front-row plum seat. No, she knows who Spencer is -- certainly her boss Russell Peace does -- and she called him because he'd tell the Committee exactly what they want to hear.
But let's assume for a second that until yesterday Allen didn't know Glenn Spencer hangs with the KKK or convicted child-murdering MinuteWoman Shawna Forde (who sought refuge at Spencer's ranch immediately after the killings). It still doesn't sound as if that would've kept him from sitting before her Committee because, she says, being a racist "isn't enough reason to stop him from speaking." Her logic here is that "President Pearce is accused of being a racist all the time." Well hell, if one racist can lead the Senate, surely another can testify.
But today at the Committee hearing, Senator Allen simply announced that Glenn Spencer would not be speaking. But she may have him back another time.
We can hardly wait.
In the meantime, the Committee did manage to pass HCM 2002, which removes the gray wolf from the Endangered Species List and returns its management to the state. You know, border security.
HAPPY UPDATE: H/T AgavePup. Here's a Twitter from Senator Sinema: Pearce's SB 1611 ("SB 1070 on steroids") just failed, with 9 Republicans joining all Dems:
Az Senate just defeated SB 1611, a mishmash of 16 of Pearce's past failed immigration bills.
Also going down was Pearce's assault on the 14th Amendment. Happy St Patricks Day!