Politics of an Arizona Crime Scene: Guns and Borders
“We’re the state of Barry Goldwater, Mo Udall and Janet Napolitano,” Arizona Democratic Party spokeswoman Jennifer Johnson said. “It’s an interesting mix of government minimalism, yet also wanting government responsibility for things like education and caring for people. A Western value of independence is at the core of how people view politics in Arizona.”
Kenski said Giffords, a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, typified this characterization of a unique politician. “If you look at Gabby’s voting record, it’s very interesting. Like Mo Udall, Gabby is a very strong supporter of gun rights. She supported the compromise tax package, but she also supported the health care reform bill and bigger government.”
Much of the political debate in Arizona last year focused on the state’s new illegal immigration law, which broadened the enforcement powers of police, made it a state crime to be in the country
illegally and required immigrants to carry the paperwork to prove their legal status.