By Michael Bryan
Why is Jesse Kelly so freaked about being endorsed by Americans for Legal Immigration (ALIPAC)?
Maybe because the Anti-Defamation League reports ALIPAC is backed by white supremacists, neo-Nazis and anti-Semites? Maybe because Senator John McCain demanded J.D. Hayworth renounce his own endorsement by ALIPAC during his Sentorial primary challenge to McCain, because of those associations the ADL reported?
KGUN 9 Reporter Jennifer Waddell asked Jesse Kelly a viewer's question about his endorsement by ALIPAC in 2010 - and just weeks ago in 2012, and walked into a buzzsaw.
"If you're a journalist in Tucson and you dare to ask that question, be prepared to have angry fingers jabbed in your face and interviews canceled.
Around midday Wednesday, KGUN9 News posted a story on line previewing an upcoming sit-down interview with Kelly. The preview noted that when KGUN9 News anchor Jennifer Waddell asked Kelly a tough question that a KGUN9 viewer had submitted, Kelly's spokesman became outraged and interrupted the studio session.
Within 30 minutes of that preview story going live on KGUN9.com early Wednesday afternoon, the aide in question called the KGUN9 newsroom to continue the attack. John Ellinwood accused 9 On Your Side of "gotcha" journalism, then canceled a pre-debate interview that had been previously scheduled for 3:00 PM Wednesday afternoon."
In the interview footage on the KGUN 9 site, Kelly's press flack freaks out and tries to stop the interview. Kelly goes on to tell Waddell that the endorsement was in 2010 and thus not relevant, and "completely out of bounds".
Well, Jesse. It wasn't just 2010. ALIPAC has endorsed you again for the 2012 race on 5/18/12. I haven't seen any disavowal from you. How is a current endorsement "completely out of bounds" for the press to ask you about?
McCain's campaign said the following about the ALIPAC endorsement of Hayworth:
"Let's be clear: Congressman Hayworth's continued flirtation with extreme groups that condone racism only opens the door for liberals to falsely paint all opponents of illegal immigration as bigots. Congressman Hayworth should immediately disavow this group’s support and commit to never again associating himself with groups that accept this kind of hateful and counterproductive rhetoric."
Now, however, McCain seems to have nothing to say about ALIPAC's endorsement of Jesse Kelly, both in 2010 and 2012.
So, how about it Jesse? Why are you accepting the endorsement of an racist organization that even Senator McCain disapproves of?
Are you willing to denounce that endorsement, or do you approve of ALIPAC's racism and extremist ties? Or is the fact that you accept the support of racists and hate-mongers "completely out of bounds"?
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