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| Joseph Cervantes |
News New Mexico enjoyed a visit from Representative Joseph Cervantes (Dona Ana)
Friday morning. As we covered a wide range of current events in New Mexico the subject of House Majority Whip Sheryl Williams Stapleton came up. Stapleton made national news recently when she referred to Governor Susana Martinez as “the Mexican on the 4th Floor.” When asked if he was offended by Stapleton’s remarks, Cervantes indicated that he was. But Cervantes also suggested the incident was overblown and over-covered by the state’s media.
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| Susana Martinez |
Since News New Mexico also spent considerable time over the course of several days discussing and commenting on the racially charged rants of Sheryl Williams Stapleton, we felt it might be a good time to reflect and carefully consider what Representative Cervantes had to say about too much coverage. Our reflections were quickly interrupted by one of our News New Mexico posse members. She reminded us of how the state’s most prominent Republican elected officials dealt with another racial rant that took place three years ago by a person in a leadership position.
It seems that once upon a time back in September of 2008, Bernalillo County GOP Chairman Fernando C. de Baca opened up his mouth, and like Sheryl Williams Stapleton did earlier this month, jumped in with both feet.
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| Fernando C. de Baca |
Fernando C. de Baca's comments drew immediate calls for his resignation. Where did the calls come from? They came from none other than fellow Republicans Pete Domenici, Steve Pearce, and Heather Wilson (read story in Albuquerque Journal
here). Not only did these prominent fellow Republicans demand de Baca’s resignation, they received it quickly. Coincidentally and ironically, House Majority Whip Sheryl Williams Stapleton also felt compelled to weigh in on de Baca’s hurtful comments. According to the Journal Stapleton had this to say about the de Baca rant:
"Someone who holds those thoughts in such a public and open forum should not be allowed the platform of the chair of the Bernalillo Republican Party. Period. End of story."
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| Demesia Padilla |
And shortly after discovering that Fernando C. de Baca had resigned his leadership position in the Republican party Stapleton had this to say:
"I am glad he stepped aside — so we can have an electoral process in New Mexico without the stigma of racism" (read story in the Albuquerque Journal
here).
Other instances also make the record even more clear that Sheryl Williams Stapleton is a person who charges others with racism as a matter of routine, whenever it suits her purposes. She has hurled racist accusations in the media at former Senator Lee Rawson (
here) and current Secretary of Taxation and Revenue Demesia Padilla (
here).
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| Sheryl Williams Stapleton |
During every election cycle the issues are framed by Stapleton in racial and ethnic terms. With the record growing clearer every day the question is pretty simple. Will the leadership and caucus of the Democratic Party hold Sheryl Williams Stapleton to the same standards as Fernando C. de Baca was by members of his party? Or is there a floating tolerance standard when it comes to the consequences of making blatantly racist and divisive racial comments in New Mexico? Stay tuned.
Will the Ghost of Fernando C. de Baca Come Back to Haunt Sheryl Williams Stapleton?
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