Late Thursday night the Arizona legislature became the first state to pass a law requiring presidential candidates to show proof of citizenship before their name will be placed on the state's ballot.
House Bill 2177 got final approval Thursday night from the House. It will be transmitted to Gov. Jan Brewer, who will then have five days to sign it, veto it or do nothing and allow it to become law. Arizona Republic
Anyone wanna bet Brewer doesn't sign the bill? She likely would not have won the Republican primary for Governor last year, let alone the election, had she not kowtowed to Senator Russell Pearce and the anti-Mexican crowd. Arizonans saw what her spine was made of then, and we haven't seen any indication that it's not the same gelatinous substance.
Yippee! Arizona gets to be "first" at something again. High school graduation rates or clean air or high-tech job growth would be really keen "firsts." But, hey, if we can't have them we'll take Birther Bills, Official Weapons, Ethnic Studies bans, Nullification laws, and Papers Please.
The Arizona legislature -- like a laser beam, zeroing in on jobs and economic development.
"It's essential that we bring back the integrity to the office," Rep. Judy Burges, R-Skull Valley, said during a recent debate on one of the so-called "birther" measures.
Yes, indeed. Let's return to the "integrity" that George W. Bush bestowed upon the office. Let's thumb our nose at the Geneva Conventions, lie the nation into war, and preside over the country's economic collapse.
The bill, introduced by Representative Carl Seel, requires both presidential and vice presidential candidates to produce documents proving they are US citizens. I never knew there was such a thing as a "circumcision certificate," but that'll suffice. Speaking of dicks, Seel was the fellow who visited Donald Trump last Friday because
"Mr. Trump researched it and realized that there is a question about whether the current president is qualified."
There's that "integrity" Representative Burges was talking about! When you need an answer about policies that will help the Arizona legislature dig the state out of the economic cesspool it's drowning in, travel across the country to meet with a huckster and TV personality. Who's next, Regis?
The bill's sponsors were quick to point out that the law has nothing to do with Obama being the first African American President, or with his Kenyan father, or frankly with anything Obama:
Supporters of the bill said it had nothing to do with Obama but is a way to assure Arizona voters that presidential candidates meet federal requirements for the position.
Apparently the US Constitution's provisions, which have worked okay for over two centuries, are not good enough for Arizona, and we wouldn't want to allow a sullied candidate to besmirch our state's hallowed ballot. You know, the one that also includes names like Russell Pearce and Joe Arpaio, those paragons of virtue, those models of integrity.
During the vote, Democratic Representative Ruben Gallego said he was embarrassed:
"We look pretty much backward. You might as well change Arizona to Alabama."
I think you'll hear a word or two from Alabama, Ruben. We can only wish Arizona was as backward as Alabama.
UPDATE: Here is a link to the bill.