So yesterday, after we learned of Prince’s untimely death, much of the civilized world mourned together, remembering the artist’s music, movies, political activism, and fantastic stage performances. Thousands of Tweets expressed disbelief, sadness, and appreciation for Prince’s monumental contributions to popular culture.
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, never one to turn down an opportunity to say something assholish just to get his name in the media, Tweeted his own “condolences”:
"Condolences to family of Prince who allegedly died of overdose. Just celebrated 20 yrs of drug rehab in my jails. Drugs destroying our nation.”
That was quickly taken down and replaced with:
"Condolences to Prince family. He allegedly was treated for a drug overdose days ago. I celebrated 20 yrs of drug rehab in my jails today.”
He then followed that with another Tweet:
“Drugs are killing our nation!”
Yeah, life is just great in Tent City, ain’t it? Shitty food, terrible healthcare, chain gangs, 140 degrees in the shade—unconstitutional conditions according to a federal judge. TBOGG captures my sentiments exactly:
What makes his extreme dickishness so goddam awful is that it is highly unlikely he gives a damn about Prince — with Sheriff Joe’s Twitter account primarily used to promote himself and his goon squad.
So why did he do it? Simple, like I said: he’s an asshole. He’s always been an asshole and he’ll always be an asshole. Combine that with his bigotry and you can see why he’s a racist rock star in his own right for conservatives all across the country.
Joe Arpaio doesn’t know a thing about Prince’s life, music, or the reason many people are in pain today. His death is simply a tool for this bigoted jackass to smear Prince and publicize himself—inserting his concentration camp in a story that has nothing to do with him.
Predictably, many of the Twitter responses, which both linked stories above include, were not exactly PG rated, and do not wish happy things for the pompous sheriff. Just, sometime, shut the fuck up, eh?