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VIDEO: Interview With Vernon Parker, AZ-3 Republican Candidate

Posted on | April 3, 2010 | 20 Comments

During a fund-raiser Tuesday at his home in Paradise Valley, I interviewed Mayor Vernon Parker, who is running for Congress in Arizona’s 3rd District.

Please excuse my usual “uh-ahh” stumbling — the Detective Columbo style as an interviewer works better in print than on video — and also please excuse the poor lighting. Sundown was rapidly approaching when we arrived at the event and I kept trying to get Vernon away for an interview before it got too dark. But it was a fund-raiser, and the people with the money are ultimately more important than a mere reporter, so it took a while to corner the candidate. Some photos:

Vernon and Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. The slightly irritated look on Sheriff Joe’s face is probably a result of his being introduced to a guy named “McCain.” I’m lucky he didn’t have me arrested.

Vernon talks to two supporters at Tuesday’s fundraiser. It was a $50 per-person event and at one point during the reception, I saw Vernon’s wife Lisa advising him to spend a little extra time talking to certain guests who, according to campaign sources, could afford to “max out” their contributions. That’s the kind of political savvy every candidate’s wife needs.

Of course, our good friend Barbara Espinosa has already “maxed out” to the Parker campaign, and is encouraging all her friends to do likewise.

The candidate checks his e-mail prior to our interview last week at his campaign headquarters. Despite his youthful appearance, by the way, Parker is 50 years old.

The big news for the Parker campaign last week was that the candidate raised $230,000 in the first quarter, putting him well ahead of the field. Parker had originally been campaigning for governor, but switched to the congressional race in January after Rep. John Shadegg decided to retire. For a more professional-quality video than my interview, try this:

Interesting quote from that video:

“When people tell me that you can’t do this or you can’t do that or we have no options — no, that’s not right.”

Or, as my father always said, “Can’t never could.”

VERNON PARKER FOR U.S. CONGRESS

UPDATE: Welcome, Instapundit readers!

Category: Arizona, Congress, Election, Republicans

Comments

20 Responses to “VIDEO: Interview With Vernon Parker, AZ-3 Republican Candidate”

  1. Instapundit » Blog Archive » ED DRISCOLL: In the future, everyone will be a Klansman for 15 minutes. And Steve Cohen’s already …
    April 3rd, 2010 @ 1:29 pm

    […] Meanwhile, a lot of Tea Party folks seem to like Vernon Parker. […]

  2. Steve Burri
    April 3rd, 2010 @ 6:43 pm

    Of the irritated Sheriff Joe Arpaio: “I’m lucky he didn’t have me arrested.”

  3. Steve Burri
    April 3rd, 2010 @ 1:43 pm

    Of the irritated Sheriff Joe Arpaio: “I’m lucky he didn’t have me arrested.”

  4. M. Simon
    April 3rd, 2010 @ 8:25 pm

    Joe Arpaio has a bad record. He has cost his county tens of millions for the abuse and death of prisoners.

    One of the most appalling cases occurred in Maricopa County, Arizona, the home of Joe Arpaio, self-proclaimed “toughest sheriff in America.” In 2004 one of Arpaio’s SWAT teams conducted a bumbling raid in a Phoenix suburb. Among other weapons, it used tear gas and an armored personnel carrier that later rolled down the street and smashed into a car. The operation ended with the targeted home in flames and exactly one suspect in custody—for outstanding traffic violations.

    Cato Institute

    Arpaio’s thugs threaten to arrest a New Times reporter for looking at public records

    I’d watch out – there was once an Bohemian Corporal who promised law and order. Things were very orderly in the police state he delivered. Until they weren’t.

    Lawsuits Against Sheriff Joe Settled

    More at Classical Values

    There are statists on the right.

  5. M. Simon
    April 3rd, 2010 @ 8:25 pm

    Ah. Too many links.

    Joe Arpaio has a bad record. He has cost his county tens of millions for the abuse and death of prisoners.

    One of the most appalling cases occurred in Maricopa County, Arizona, the home of Joe Arpaio, self-proclaimed “toughest sheriff in America.” In 2004 one of Arpaio’s SWAT teams conducted a bumbling raid in a Phoenix suburb. Among other weapons, it used tear gas and an armored personnel carrier that later rolled down the street and smashed into a car. The operation ended with the targeted home in flames and exactly one suspect in custody—for outstanding traffic violations.

    Cato Institute

  6. M. Simon
    April 3rd, 2010 @ 3:25 pm

    Joe Arpaio has a bad record. He has cost his county tens of millions for the abuse and death of prisoners.

    One of the most appalling cases occurred in Maricopa County, Arizona, the home of Joe Arpaio, self-proclaimed “toughest sheriff in America.” In 2004 one of Arpaio’s SWAT teams conducted a bumbling raid in a Phoenix suburb. Among other weapons, it used tear gas and an armored personnel carrier that later rolled down the street and smashed into a car. The operation ended with the targeted home in flames and exactly one suspect in custody—for outstanding traffic violations.

    Cato Institute

    Arpaio’s thugs threaten to arrest a New Times reporter for looking at public records

    I’d watch out – there was once an Bohemian Corporal who promised law and order. Things were very orderly in the police state he delivered. Until they weren’t.

    Lawsuits Against Sheriff Joe Settled

    More at Classical Values

    There are statists on the right.

  7. M. Simon
    April 3rd, 2010 @ 3:25 pm

    Ah. Too many links.

    Joe Arpaio has a bad record. He has cost his county tens of millions for the abuse and death of prisoners.

    One of the most appalling cases occurred in Maricopa County, Arizona, the home of Joe Arpaio, self-proclaimed “toughest sheriff in America.” In 2004 one of Arpaio’s SWAT teams conducted a bumbling raid in a Phoenix suburb. Among other weapons, it used tear gas and an armored personnel carrier that later rolled down the street and smashed into a car. The operation ended with the targeted home in flames and exactly one suspect in custody—for outstanding traffic violations.

    Cato Institute

  8. M. Simon
    April 3rd, 2010 @ 8:26 pm

    Arpaio’s thugs threaten to arrest a New Times reporter for looking at public records

    I’d watch out – there was once an Bohemian Corporal who promised law and order. Things were very orderly in the police state he delivered. Until they weren’t.

  9. M. Simon
    April 3rd, 2010 @ 3:26 pm

    Arpaio’s thugs threaten to arrest a New Times reporter for looking at public records

    I’d watch out – there was once an Bohemian Corporal who promised law and order. Things were very orderly in the police state he delivered. Until they weren’t.

  10. M. Simon
    April 3rd, 2010 @ 8:29 pm

    * Charles Agster, a 33-year-old mentally handicapped man, died in the county jail three days after being forced by sheriff’s officers into a restraint chair and placed in a “spit hood” when he suffered a seizure. He was declared brain dead three days later and a jury awarded his parents $9-million.
    * Scott Norberg, a former Brigham Young University football player, died after detention officers shocked him several times with a stun-gun. According Amnesty International, Norberg was already handcuffed and face down when officers dragged him from his cell and placed him in a restraint chair with a towel covering his face for the electrocution. After Norberg’s corpse was discovered, deputies accused Norberg of attacking them, overlooking the fact that he was handcuffed at the time. The county settled a lawsuit for $8.25-million.
    * Brian Crenshaw, a legally blind and mentally disabled inmate, suffered fatal injuries while being held in Maricopa County Jail. Crenshaw’s family filed a lawsuit which resulted in a $2 million award. As in the Norberg case, Arpaio’s office was accused of destroying evidence.
    * Richard Post was a parapalegic inmate arrested for possessing marijuana. He was placed in a restraint chair by guards and his neck was broken in the process. The event, caught on video, shows guards smiling and laughing while Post is being injured, which cost him the use of his arms. The now-qualrapelegic Post settled for $800,000.
    * Jeremy Flanders, an inmate at Tent City, was attacked with rebar tent stakes which were not concreted into the ground. Although these stakes had been used as weapons in a previous riot at the facility, Arpaio chose not to secure them properly. During the trial, the plaintiff argued successfully the sheriff and his deputies knew that prisoners used rebar as weapons and did nothing to prevent it. Flanders suffered permanent brain damage as a result of the attack. He was awarded $635,532, of which Arpaio was held personally responsible for 35%.

  11. M. Simon
    April 3rd, 2010 @ 3:29 pm

    * Charles Agster, a 33-year-old mentally handicapped man, died in the county jail three days after being forced by sheriff’s officers into a restraint chair and placed in a “spit hood” when he suffered a seizure. He was declared brain dead three days later and a jury awarded his parents $9-million.
    * Scott Norberg, a former Brigham Young University football player, died after detention officers shocked him several times with a stun-gun. According Amnesty International, Norberg was already handcuffed and face down when officers dragged him from his cell and placed him in a restraint chair with a towel covering his face for the electrocution. After Norberg’s corpse was discovered, deputies accused Norberg of attacking them, overlooking the fact that he was handcuffed at the time. The county settled a lawsuit for $8.25-million.
    * Brian Crenshaw, a legally blind and mentally disabled inmate, suffered fatal injuries while being held in Maricopa County Jail. Crenshaw’s family filed a lawsuit which resulted in a $2 million award. As in the Norberg case, Arpaio’s office was accused of destroying evidence.
    * Richard Post was a parapalegic inmate arrested for possessing marijuana. He was placed in a restraint chair by guards and his neck was broken in the process. The event, caught on video, shows guards smiling and laughing while Post is being injured, which cost him the use of his arms. The now-qualrapelegic Post settled for $800,000.
    * Jeremy Flanders, an inmate at Tent City, was attacked with rebar tent stakes which were not concreted into the ground. Although these stakes had been used as weapons in a previous riot at the facility, Arpaio chose not to secure them properly. During the trial, the plaintiff argued successfully the sheriff and his deputies knew that prisoners used rebar as weapons and did nothing to prevent it. Flanders suffered permanent brain damage as a result of the attack. He was awarded $635,532, of which Arpaio was held personally responsible for 35%.

  12. M. Simon
    April 3rd, 2010 @ 8:30 pm

    The above was from Classical Values.

  13. M. Simon
    April 3rd, 2010 @ 3:30 pm

    The above was from Classical Values.

  14. Candidates Of The Restoration: Parker And Murray « The Camp Of The Saints
    April 3rd, 2010 @ 4:36 pm

    […] He is running in Arizona for the seat being vacated by Rep. John Shadegg.  Stacy McCain has up here pictures and videos and reports on the fundraiser he attended for Mr. Parker last […]

  15. Barbara Espinosa
    April 3rd, 2010 @ 10:27 pm

    Mr. Simon interesting that your entire rant is about Sheriff Joe. Joe is not the Candidate. Mayor Vernon Parker is. Stay focused. Vernon Parker was raised by a mother and grandmother who worked cleaning houses because they had to much pride to accept handouts from the government. He learned at an early age if he wanted to get out of a crime infested crazed drug environment he needed an education. Worked sacking groceries to go school. He bought a one way ticket to Washington,D.C. because to him FAILURE was not an option. He ultimately attended Georgetown University finishing in the top 1/3 of a class of 500-+ students, graudating in 1988 with a law degree.Please Concentrate on Vernon Parker.He believes in America and the American people. I know Vernon Parker and he is one of the good guys that puts family and country first. http://www.parker2010.com

  16. Barbara Espinosa
    April 3rd, 2010 @ 5:27 pm

    Mr. Simon interesting that your entire rant is about Sheriff Joe. Joe is not the Candidate. Mayor Vernon Parker is. Stay focused. Vernon Parker was raised by a mother and grandmother who worked cleaning houses because they had to much pride to accept handouts from the government. He learned at an early age if he wanted to get out of a crime infested crazed drug environment he needed an education. Worked sacking groceries to go school. He bought a one way ticket to Washington,D.C. because to him FAILURE was not an option. He ultimately attended Georgetown University finishing in the top 1/3 of a class of 500-+ students, graudating in 1988 with a law degree.Please Concentrate on Vernon Parker.He believes in America and the American people. I know Vernon Parker and he is one of the good guys that puts family and country first. http://www.parker2010.com

  17. Sara Bradley
    April 4th, 2010 @ 4:15 am

    Conservatives should rally behind candidates like Vernon Parker. It completely destroys the liberal narrative that conservatism is inherently racist.

    Candidates like Parker will open the conservative message up to new audiences and destroy the Democrat stranglehold on minorities.

  18. Sara Bradley
    April 3rd, 2010 @ 11:15 pm

    Conservatives should rally behind candidates like Vernon Parker. It completely destroys the liberal narrative that conservatism is inherently racist.

    Candidates like Parker will open the conservative message up to new audiences and destroy the Democrat stranglehold on minorities.

  19. Rick D
    July 4th, 2010 @ 7:38 am

    Vernon Parker is the right person for the job. While the other keystone candidates Waring and Quayle are fine people, one has been at it for a while and never really caught fire, and the other is a family name. I don’t know about you all, but I was kindof surprised that cwe could’ve gotten a Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton scenario after the last election. (Not that it would have been any worse than where we are now). I just think it’s time to look beyond the legacy candidates. Parker has what it takes, he’s a true conservative and he needs our support. Let’s give it to him.

  20. Rick D
    July 4th, 2010 @ 3:38 am

    Vernon Parker is the right person for the job. While the other keystone candidates Waring and Quayle are fine people, one has been at it for a while and never really caught fire, and the other is a family name. I don’t know about you all, but I was kindof surprised that cwe could’ve gotten a Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton scenario after the last election. (Not that it would have been any worse than where we are now). I just think it’s time to look beyond the legacy candidates. Parker has what it takes, he’s a true conservative and he needs our support. Let’s give it to him.