Baldenegro took exception to Cajero-Bedford’s statement to Steve Gallardo, that he should “act more gay.”
Gallardo, who had not been very open about his sexuality, only announced that he was gay when he announced last month that he would run to fill the spot that will be left upon Congressman Ed Pastor’s retirement this year.
Gallardo was called one of “Arizona’s strongest leaders,” by Baldenegro in his statement. Gallardo has certainly been one of Arizona’s strongest hate mongers, never missing an opportunity to use epithets and accuse nearly anyone and everyone of being racist.
Baldenegro’s father Solomon Baldenegro Sr. called the Democratic Party a group of racists when they did not support his daughter-in-law’s candidacy for Congress.
In Gallardo fashion, Baldenegro makes the claim that Cajero-Bedford’s “demonstrated homophobia is one of many reasons why I seek to replace her, this year. In addition to this, I am deeply concerned about some of her previous actions and votes, including her vote to cut Medicaid, her opposition of energy-efficient light bulbs, and her vote for Joe Arpaio/Russell Pearce-supported anti-immigrant bill SB1225.”
Baldenegro is reaching. Cajero-Bedford’s had mistakenly voted in 2011 to allow a bill to move forward that would authorize the state to ask for a Medicaid waiver request from the federal government.
While stretching credulity in finding fault with Cajero Bedford, Baldenegro claimed that as an LD3 Senator, “I will bring integrity to this position, and I will be a strong leader for the people of Tucson and Southern Arizona.”
According to the Cap Times, Cajero Bedford said it was an issue of “honesty.” Democrats voted 8-5 in October 2013 to oust Sen. Leah Landrum Taylor, D-Phoenix, from her post as Senate minority leader, citing her decision at the time to run for Secretary of State, Cajero Bedford said. Cajero Bedford, who voted against ousting Landrum Taylor, said Gallardo was now in the same situation.
“(Gallardo’s) just now saying he’s gay, and I was questioning why he put out Landrum Taylor because she was running for office,” Cajero Bedford told the Capitol Times. “He’s running for office and staying in leadership, and he wasn’t (at the Capitol) all last week. He voted to put Landrum Taylor out, and now he’s doing the same thing. That’s a question of honesty.”
Cajero Bedford said that she felt his keeping his sexual orientation a secret was a matter of honesty, According to the Cap Times, “Why was he hiding it? It wouldn’t have made any difference,” she told the Times.
Leah Landrum Taylor, who is an American of African descent, was ousted from her position as Senate Minority Leader. At the time Landrum Taylor was ousted, fellow democratic senators who supported her, believed she was ousted because she was not a male and not Hispanic. Others believe that unlike Gallardo, Landrum Taylor was a moderate who sought to work with all lawmakers.
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