DiscussMormonism.com

Evan Mecham, 83; Arizona governor was removed from office

http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/ ... 4430.story

"Some said Mecham, a Republican, brought out the worst in Arizonans: racism, bigotry, intolerance. After taking office in January 1987, Mecham rescinded a Martin Luther King Jr. state holiday, saying its creation had been illegal.

In addition to canceling the holiday, Mecham said working women caused divorce and that he saw nothing wrong with calling black children "pickaninnies."

Others called him one of the last politicians gutsy enough to stand up for traditional family values and turn the state from liberal government interference. Mecham said his primary goal was to "return government to the people."

Also See

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... 22-ON.html

RIP

Others called him one of the last politicians gutsy enough to stand up for traditional family values and turn the state from liberal government interference. Mecham said his primary goal was to "return government to the people."

I'd say this is more likely the case. Those who prefer style over substances (such as the typical leftist) might think otherwise.

bcspace wrote:

Others called him one of the last politicians gutsy enough to stand up for traditional family values and turn the state from liberal government interference. Mecham said his primary goal was to "return government to the people."

I'd say this is more likely the case. Those who prefer style over substances (such as the typical leftist) might think otherwise.

I do not wish to be thought to be posting in support of either rightists or leftists. But in a long life I have seen nothing to show that there is an uneven distribution over the political spectrum of concern (or lack of it) for substance as opposed to style. There are many different axes useful for the analysis of political discourse and practice. The left-right axis is one of them, as is the style/substance axis, the authoritarian/libertarian axis, and so on and so on. Position on one axis does not reliably predict position on another.

But one thing I have found to be general: everybody, left, right or whatever, loves to describe their political opponents by using diminishing or demeaning stereotypes. What a waste of time and what a poor substitute for actual thought.

bcspace wrote:

Others called him one of the last politicians gutsy enough to stand up for traditional family values and turn the state from liberal government interference. Mecham said his primary goal was to "return government to the people."

I'd say this is more likely the case. Those who prefer style over substances (such as the typical leftist) might think otherwise.

Do you remember Evan Mecham? When he was governor of Arizona back in 1987 were you even born yet ? or were you old enough to form an opinion of him? You'd do well to inform yourself before making comments like those above. Otherwise you just look foolish.

bcspace wrote:

Others called him one of the last politicians gutsy enough to stand up for traditional family values and turn the state from liberal government interference. Mecham said his primary goal was to "return government to the people."

I'd say this is more likely the case. Those who prefer style over substances (such as the typical leftist) might think otherwise.

I guess Bigotry, sexism and ignorance have a place in some peoples heart.

I was in a position to watch all the hearings (they were all televised). At the time, I supported him.

Bottom line, he was railroaded out of office for his conservative financial decisions more than anything. He upset the banking industry in Arizona by placing the government on a pay as you go program. He also balanced the budget for the first time in ten years.

He was accused of funnelling less than a hundered thousand dollars out of his campaign for personal use and was impeached for it. Oddly enough, later on he was exonerated by the courts and the money was returned to him several years later. Also, several of the most viceral of the house representatives that stood against him were convicted of bribery (in a non related sting operation) a few years later and served prison time.

He probably could have made it if he weren't so confrontational and combative. He never backed down in any fight - to his fault. Even Mormon representatives cast their vote to impeach this governor.

The MLK paid holiday issue was declared by the previous governor to cause this extreme conservative difficulty. Mecham was told by the attorney general's office that it was an illegal declaration and his administration would be held liable if it were not rescinded. So he pulled it the first day he was in office (damned if he did, damned if he didn't). Then they accused him of racism. Whether he was or wasn't should not have even been a question - but he didn't help much by the matter of fact no-nonsense way he did it.

Steve Benson was our stake representative at the time when he published the "book of moron" cartoon lampooning Mecham for his ultra conservative/zealous views. It offended not a few people in our ward to make a mockery of some views that even ET Benson held sacred (keeping in mind ET Benson was a Bircher and a conspiracy theorist). A handful of members stood up in protest and walked out when Steve Benson began his assigned talk that week. Those members always considered Steve a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Strange times they were.

RAJ wrote:After taking office in January 1987, Mecham rescinded a Martin Luther King Jr. state holiday, saying its creation had been illegal.

In addition to canceling the holiday, Mecham said working women caused divorce and that he saw nothing wrong with calling black children "pickaninnies."

He must not have gotten the memo about the 1978 revelation on blacks. Did he pray about any of these ideas before opening his mouth in public? Obviously not. Rescinding MLK day? WTF. That's a sure way to draw national attention to yourself and piss a LOT of people off, and for what?

Inconceivable wrote:I was in a position to watch all the hearings (they were all televised). At the time, I supported him.

Bottom line, he was railroaded out of office for his conservative financial decisions more than anything. He upset the banking industry in Arizona by placing the government on a pay as you go program. He also balanced the budget for the first time in ten years.

He was accused of funnelling less than a hundered thousand dollars out of his campaign for personal use and was impeached for it. Oddly enough, later on he was exonerated by the courts and the money was returned to him several years later. Also, several of the most viceral of the house representatives that stood against him were convicted of bribery (in a non related sting operation) a few years later and served prison time.

He probably could have made it if he weren't so confrontational and combative. He never backed down in any fight - to his fault. Even Mormon representatives cast their vote to impeach this governor.

The MLK paid holiday issue was declared by the previous governor to cause this extreme conservative difficulty. Mecham was told by the attorney general's office that it was an illegal declaration and his administration would be held liable if it were not rescinded. So he pulled it the first day he was in office (damned if he did, damned if he didn't). Then they accused him of racism. Whether he was or wasn't should not have even been a question - but he didn't help much by the matter of fact no-nonsense way he did it.

Steve Benson was our stake representative at the time when he published the "book of moron" cartoon lampooning Mecham for his ultra conservative/zealous views. It offended not a few people in our ward to make a mockery of some views that even ET Benson held sacred (keeping in mind ET Benson was a Bircher and a conspiracy theorist). A handful of members stood up in protest and walked out when Steve Benson began his assigned talk that week. Those members always considered Steve a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Strange times they were.

One of his biggest problems was his tin ear. He couldn't seem to keep his foot out of his mouth. One of my favorites at the time was the "pickaninnies" comment.

He was quoted as saying:

"As I was a boy growing up, blacks themselves referred to their children as pickaninnies. That was never intended to be an ethnic slur to anybody."

C'mon now.

I assume that in 1987, a bologna sandwich could have been elected the Governor of Arizona if it first secured the Republican nomination. Perhaps there should be a historical inquiry into what stopped the campaign and subsequent benign rule of that sandwich. No doubt Arizonians look back on this oversight with regret.