The FBI has released crime statistics for 2009, but you won’t hear about them from Jan Brewer, John  McCain or supporters of SB1070.  The overall rate of violent crime in Arizona declined 14%, with murder type crimes falling a whopping 22%.  These are the kind of numbers that office holders used to trumpet on their campaign stump, but 2010 is no ordinary election year.  Today’s right wing catch-word is fear.

 

Good news of any kind is “off message” for Republicans, and not a few Democrats as well.  Conservatives want to talk about how bad things are in this country, as if they had not held power recently and bear no responsibility for creating the current circumstances.  The issue of immigration reform is a perfect example.