Narratives in the News: SB 1070 in Political Campaigns

By Curtis Prendergast

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News headlines in Arizona during the summer of 2010 were dominated by SB 1070.  The Chronicle gathered articles published during April 2010 by the Arizona Daily Star, the Arizona Republic, and the Nogales International that covered the impact of SB 1070 on political campaigns.

News coverage in April 2010 of SB 1070 in political campaigns began with a report on April 1, Pueblo Politics: Giffords, GOP spar over immigration, in the Arizona Daily Star about Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) calling a town hall meeting in Douglas, Ariz. near where rancher Robert Krentz was killed on March 27. The Pima County Republican Party accused Giffords of using Krentz’s death for political gain. The following day, the Star ran a report, Maricopa’s Thomas running for state AG, about the Maricopa County attorney, famous for his hard-line stance on immigration, leaving his post in order to run for Arizona Attorney General.

On April 11, the Star ran Sen. John McCain Interview: Immigration, in which the editorial board asked Sen. McCain about immigration and border security.

On April 19, the Star ran Selected quotes from debate on SB 1070, which listed opinions of Arizona lawmakers on SB 1070. The same day, the Star ran a report by Howard Fischer of Capitol Media Services, Goddard: AZ immigration bill is questionable, about Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard’s opposition to SB 1070. Goddard was running for Arizona governor at the time. The Star also ran Border Boletín: McCain, Kyl call for troops, in which Sen. McCain, who was running for re-election, called for increased border security.

Two days later, on April 21, the Star ran Pueblo Politics: McCain on intentional car wrecks, about comments Sen. McCain made regarding illegal immigrants intentionally causing car wrecks. The same day, the Star ran Poll finds AZ voters like new immigration measure, about popular support for SB 1070. The next day, the Star ran Most callers to Gov. Brewer favor SB1070 veto, which indicated that although poll results suggest that most Arizonans favor SB 1070, the governor was receiving feedback from opponents of the law. On April 22, the Star ran Pueblo Politics: Giffords says no to boycott, about Rep. Giffords refusing to join the boycott of Arizona.

On April 23, the Arizona Republic ran Reactions to Gov. Brewer’s decision to sign SB1070, which quoted Arizona lawmakers’ opinions of SB 1070.

On April 24, the Star ran Hundreds turn out to hear GOP candidates for governor, about SB 1070 being addressed at a debate for Republican candidates for governor. That same day, the Star ran Threats lead Grijalva to close Tucson, Yuma offices, about threatening phone calls to Rep. Raul Grijalva’s (D-AZ) offices.

On April 25, the Star ran 400 protest at rally; voices of support at McCain forum, about opponents of SB 1070 at a rally for the Grijalva campaign and supporters of the law at a forum for the McCain campaign.

On April 27, the Republic ran Palin: Attacks on AZ. law are politically motivated, about former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s comment that President Obama’s criticism of SB 1070 was meant to support Democratic political candidates.

On April 28, the Star ran Pueblo Politics: The intersection of immigration and Prop. 100, which showed a possible political repercussion of SB 1070.  The report indicated that opponents of SB 1070 might vote against a proposition that would enact a temporary sales tax. The sales tax was the brainchild of Gov. Brewer, who signed SB 1070 into law five days earlier.

An opinion piece in the Republic on April 28, Grijalva worried about rights threat, supported Rep. Grijalva’s call for a national boycott of conventions in Arizona.

On April 29, the Republic ran Arizona immigration law boosts Gov. Brewer’s rating, which showed the political gains made by Gov. Brewer as a result of signing SB 1070 into law.

On April 30, the Star ran Pueblo Politics: Giffords on 1070, about Rep. Giffords saying that the law was “extreme,” but was the fault of the federal government for not securing the border.

News coverage in April 2010 of SB 1070 in political campaigns concluded with a report in the Republic, first published by Politico, GOP worries Arizona immigration law could hurt party, about the popularity of the law with the Republican base and its unpopularity with potential Hispanic Republican voters.

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Below are the articles published by the three newspapers in chronological order:

Arizona Daily Star: Pueblo Politics: Giffords, GOP spar over immigration (April 1, 2010)

“With tensions high along the border following the murder of Douglas rancher Robert Krentz, the Pima County Republican Party sent out a press release accusing Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords of trying to “get ahead” of the atrocity with a community town hall in Douglas.”

Arizona Daily Star: Maricopa’s Thomas running for state AG (April 2, 2010)

“PHOENIX – Andrew Thomas is quitting as Maricopa County attorney to run for attorney general. In an announcement by his campaign Thursday, Thomas said his last day in office will be Tuesday. The Arizona Constitution forbids elected officials to run for another office before the last year of their terms. And Thomas, re-elected in 2008, has a term that is not over before the end of 2012.”

Arizona Daily Star: Sen. John McCain Interview: Immigration (April 11, 2010)

“The Star editorial board met with Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain on April 1. Excerpts of the conversation were published April 11 in the Star print edition, and we’ve collected segments, organized by topic, of the wide-ranging interview online:”

Arizona Daily Star: Selected quotes from debate on SB 1070 (April 19, 2010)

“Sen. Thayer Verschoor, R-Gilbert: “We’ve had an abdication of our federal government’s responsibility to enforce immigration laws here, protect our borders, protect us from the criminals that are crossing our borders, who are killing our citizens, who are robbing their homes, invading their homes.”

Sen. Linda Lopez, D-Tucson: “This bill actually legalizes racial profiling.”

Arizona Daily Star (Capitol Media Services): Goddard: AZ immigration bill is questionable (April 19, 2010)

“PHOENIX – Attorney General Terry Goddard said anti-illegal-immigrant legislation awaiting final Senate action is “troubling.” Goddard, speaking last week, also said SB 1070 may have “civil-rights implications” due to provisions that could be seen as an excuse to stop and question Hispanics.”

Arizona Daily Star: Border Boletín: McCain, Kyl call for troops (April 19, 2010)

“Arizona Republican senators Jon Kyl and John McCain released a 10-point border security plan today:”

Arizona Daily Star: Southern Arizona law enforcement reacts to SB 1070 (April 20, 2010)

• “Roberto Villaseñor, Tucson police chief: Withholding public comment to see the final version of the bill and what Gov. Jan Brewer decides to do, said Sgt. Diana Lopez, a Tucson Police Department spokeswoman.

• Richard Muñoz, South Tucson police chief: Opposes the bill, citing concerns about racial profiling and saying it could hinder catching criminals. “With the majority of our population in South Tucson being Hispanic, I think they’ll fear reporting crimes to us,” Muñoz said. “That will hurt our ability to bring a lot of those criminals to justice.” Even if the bill becomes law, he’ll make sure officers aren’t pulling people over just to check their immigration status.”

Arizona Daily Star: Pueblo Politics: McCain on intentional car wrecks (April 21, 2010)

“U.S. Sen. John McCain today clarified comments he made Tuesday in support of the controversial new immigration measure authorizing police to question people if they suspect they’re undocumented. McCain, during an appearance on “The O’Reilly Factor,” was asked about the possibility of racial profiling under SB 1070, which awaits Gov. Jan Brewer’s signature.”

Arizona Daily Star: Pueblo Politics: Poll finds AZ voters like new immigration measure (April 21, 2010)

“Seventy percent of likely voters in Arizona support a measure that authorizes police to stop and check the immigration status of anyone they suspect of being in the country illegally, a new poll shows.

Critics, who have maintained it will lead to racial profiling, have staged rallies and protests. The Border Action Network invited opponents to a mock funeral for the state Monday to mark its passage, saying the son of “responsibility and common good” had passed, but was survived by “hope, mercy and justice.”

Arizona Daily Star: Pueblo Politics: Giffords says no to boycott (April 22, 2010)

“U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is distancing herself from her Southern Arizona counterpart’s call for an economic boycott of the state if a controversial immigration measure becomes law. Her repudiation of U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva’s call for conventions to steer clear of Arizona if the measure becomes law came as Congressional District 8 Republican hopefuls Jonathan Paton and Jesse Kelly called on Giffords to reject his comments.”

Arizona Daily Star: Pueblo Politics: Most callers to Gov. Brewer favor SB1070 veto (April 22, 2010)

“Green Valley resident Martha Belle Fray has been trying for three days to tell Gov. Jan Brewer to veto Senate Bill 1070, authorizing police to question residents about their legal status. Just this morning the 71-year-old retired therapist tried three times and still she hasn’t been able to get through.”

Arizona Republic: Reactions to Gov. Brewer’s decision to sign SB1070 (April 23, 2010)

“Andrew Thomas, Former Maricopa County Attorney: “This will give state and local law enforcement officials important new tools for the fight against illegal immigration. I strongly support its passage and look forward to defending the law in court next year should I be elected Attorney General.”

Arizona Daily Star: Hundreds turn out to hear GOP candidates for governor (April 24, 2010)

“About 600 people turned out Friday night to hear from the Republican candidates for governor. Gov. Jan Brewer was not in attendance at Sabino High School, but state Treasurer Dean Martin, Tucson attorney John Munger and businessman Buz Mills answered questions on issues from energy to immigration.”

Arizona Daily Star: Threats lead Grijalva to close Tucson, Yuma offices (April 24, 2010)

“Despite being forced to close his Tucson and Yuma offices in the wake of death threats, Democratic U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva continued his opposition to the state’s controversial new immigration enforcement law, saying it has made Arizona “a pariah among state governments.”

Arizona Daily Star: 400 protest at rally; voices of support at McCain forum (April 25, 2010)

“Immigration continued to dominate the political conversation Saturday at a rally with U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva, in a town hall with U.S. Sen. John McCain – and in a Twitter posting from President Obama.

As many as 400 people – some carrying signs with slogans like “Deport the Arizona Legislature. They are the Real Danger to Our Community,” and “This is what happens when we don’t vote” – showed up at Grijalva’s campaign headquarters on South Stone Avenue to protest Arizona’s new immigration law, which authorizes police during any lawful contact to determine a person’s legal status if reasonable suspicion exists.”

Arizona Republic: Palin: Attacks on AZ. law are politically motivated (April 27, 2010)

“Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on Tuesday criticized attacks on Arizona’s controversial immigration-enforcement law by President Barack Obama and others as politically motivated to stir up Democratic voters in a tough election year.”

Arizona Daily Star: Pueblo Politics: The intersection of immigration and Prop. 100 (April 28, 2010)

“Arizona’s controversial new immigration law could have an impact on the May 18 sales tax election. Farrell Quinlan, an opponent of the sales tax measure and the state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, said he’s hearing that people mad at Gov. Jan Brewer’s signature on the immigration bill are flirting with sending her a message with a “no” vote on Prop. 100, the temporary sales tax increase that she ushered to the ballot.”

Arizona Republic (Opinion): Grijalva worried about rights threat (April 28, 2010)

“I applaud U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva’s request that the nation boycott Arizona because of the racially discriminatory and unconstitutional Senate Bill 1070. The federal government, not state lawmakers, is responsible for enforcing immigration laws.”

Arizona Republic: Arizona immigration law boosts Gov. Brewer’s rating (April 29, 2010)

“Signing the nation’s toughest immigration legislation into law has thrust Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer into the national spotlight, and recent polls suggest the move has given her job-performance ratings a boost.”

Arizona Daily Star: Pueblo Politics: Giffords on 1070 (April 30, 2010)

“Earlier this week, in the midst of the furor over Arizona’s new immigration law, CNN reported U.S. Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords said her constituents were “sick and tired” of the federal government failing to protect the border and called the current situation “completely unacceptable.”

Arizona Republic (Politico): GOP worries Arizona immigration law could hurt party (April 30, 2010)

“Arizona’s immigration law has been an immediate hit with the Republican base, but some of the party’s top strategists and rising stars worry that the harsh crackdown may do long-term damage to the GOP in the eyes of America’s Hispanic population.”

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