When I heard the news earlier this week that Reverend Al Sharpton was flying to Arizona to demand the resignation of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio (story here), I laughed at the idea that Sharpton has such little credibility no one will even notice this story.

Sheriff Joe is a hero in Phoenix because he stands up against the scourge of illegal immigration that threatens this nation's security and economy. Now, before you get all hot and bothered and start screaming about how this country was founded on the backs of immigrants, remember I am talking about illegal immigration. Does this target mostly the Hispanic community? Yes, it does. But that doesn't make this a racial issue any more than forcing teenagers to pay a higher premium for auto insurance.

The reason this targets Hispanics more than any other people is because the majority of illegal immigrants to this country is Hispanic - just like the majority of Islamic Supremacists are Arab. Not all are and no one is saying they all are.

Now I know that Sheriff Joe is a no-nonsense individual and I was amused at his initial reaction to Sharpton's threat ("Arpaio needs to be confronted, he needs to be removed..."). His first response was:

"I'm never going to resign," he said. "The guy is living in a fantasy land if he thinks he is going to pressure me into anything. He doesn't even know where Arizona is."

I figured that was the last of it.

But on Tuesday, Sheriff Joe took it one step further and really hammered Sharpton better than anyone has before:

Reverend Al Sharpton
106 West 145th Street
Harlem, New York City, New York 10039
Fax: 212 690 3070

Dear Reverend Sharpton:

I have read about you with much interest since learning of the protest you plan to lead against me in Maricopa County in June as a way to force my resignation or removal from office.

Your public proclamation leads me to the conclusion: not only do you not understand Arizona; you also do not understand democracy. As the elected Sheriff who, so far has been elected to five consecutive four-year terms, I answer to the four million residents of Maricopa County. I do not answer to the whims of the media, or locally and nationally elected officials who want open borders and who have their own agendas. Nor do I answer to a publicity hound outside interloper who has demonstrated no interest in looking for the truth before making loud uninformed noises.

While your public outcries are colorful, there are several instances where you have inserted yourself into other people's affairs without knowing any of the facts. Poor judgment has caused you plenty of trouble in the past and promises to do so again. Most earnest people want to learn by their mistakes. You seem to glory in repeating them.

I would like to help you avoid further embarrassment by assisting in your understanding of the illegal immigration problem here in my county. When and if you do make the trip here, I invite you to call me to talk about these false allegations.

We can discuss how my deputies are extensively trained by the federal government to properly combat illegal immigration and how the laws of this state allow this Sheriff's Office to question and investigate the immigration status of those people deputies detain in the course of our everyday law enforcement duties.

Don't make the same mistake made by the four Democratic Congressmen calling for a U.S. Department of Justice investigation of this office. They and other politicians relied solely on media reports and anti-law enforcement handouts that are replete with inaccuracies. They have brainwashed a handful of local residents to believe these lies. Rest assured that the men and women of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office do not racially profile anyone.

However, we do enforce the state and federal illegal immigration laws. And we will continue to do so as long as these laws are on the books. You can parachute into town, stomp your feet up and down and hold more press conferences against me -- that is a hallmark of democracy too -- but you will not stop me, nor slow me down for one second, from doing what is right.

Before you bring your circus to town and take to our streets by marching against this Sheriff, let's get you fully informed for a change. Congressman John Conyers did not have the courtesy to respond to my invitation to visit with me personally. I hope you will consider my invitation. Surely, a man like yourself -- a reverend -- who famously preaches from the church pulpit understands the infinite wisdome of these words: You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free. Let's talk about the truth, Reverend. I await your response.

Sincerely,

(signature)

Joe Arpaio
Sheriff, Maricopa County

Van Helsing at Moonbattery summed it up best: "My guess is the Valley of the Sun won't be getting a visit from Reverend Al after all. Direct challenges tend to send bullies back under their rocks."

I especially liked Sheriff Joe's use of the term "interloper" in his description of Sharpton. Again from Van Helsing:

""Interloper" is what Sharpton calls Jews trying to create jobs in black neighborhoods by running businesses — before his followers kill them."

The hope of Obama was that we have moved past the issue of race in America. But as long as goons - like the Reverend Sharpton, or Louis Farrakhan or even Jeremiah Wright, have an audience (or the ear of the President), a post-racial America will never be accomplished.

But we already knew that Obama was not about closing the racial divide and this survey proves it.

Once again, we are told that liberals are trustworthy and want what's best for America. Once again, we are too stupid to know they are liars. Will we ever learn before it's too late?