Stapleton confronts Espinoza: “You’re carrying the Mexican’s water” UPDATE: Espinoza says “That is totally wrong,” Gov’s office says it’s “sad and disappointing”
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During a break in Wednesday’s Legislative Education Study Committee, Rep. Sheryl Williams Stapleton (D-Albuquerque) angrily confronted Rep. Nora Espinoza (R-Roswell), shouting “Don’t mess with me” and accusing Espinoza of “carrying the Mexican’s water on the fourth floor,” referring to Gov. Susana Martinez.
Back on Oct. 28, KRQE-TV aired an investigative piece from Larry Barker that said Stapleton did not take leave from her job as an administrator at the Albuquerque Public Schools system and received pay while attending legislative sessions. (You can click here to see that story.)
Rep. Sheryl Williams Stapleton (D-Albuquerque)
“I’ve been falsely and biasly accused,” Stapleton told reporters a few minutes later. “It was a biased story and my colleague added to it by saying I committed corruption.”
Stapleton said she believes Espinoza was set up by people in the governor’s office to criticize Stapleton because she has resisted many of the governor’s educational reform bills. “From what I’ve heard from the blogs across the state,” Stapleton said, “the fourth floor [where the governor's office is located] is behind it.”
When asked about the comment, “carrying the Mexican’s water,” and how some people could consider that offensive, Stapleton said, “If it is, I didn’t mean it to be inflammatory,” adding that she is part Spanish.
As for the story that sparked the controversy, Stapleton said, “I have all the documents to show … I had permission to work at the legislature” from authorities at the Albuquerque Public School system and said of Espinoza, “she lives in Roswell, she’s not part of the Albuquerque school district.”
In regards to the confrontation, Stapleton said, “I think I was civil to her” and insists she and Espinoza can still have a good working relationship. “It’s not personal,” Stapleton said. “Once I told her how I feel, it’s through.”
The LESC meeting has resumed. As soon as it ends, we’ll talk to Rep. Espinoza.
Rep. Nora Espinoza (R-Roswell)
Update: Just got done talking to Espinoza, who said she was startled by Stapleton’s outburst.
“It caught me by surprise,” Espinoza told Capitol Report New Mexico. “I was shocked when she came and attacked me. She doesn’t feel that she did but … everyone there could see it, the loudness of her voice … That’s an ethics violation, first of all, being a legislator. That is wrong, that is totally wrong.”
Stapleton is part of the Democratic House leadership, holding the position of Majority Whip.
Espinoza said she was surprised because, “I never mentioned her [Stapleton] in my criticisms. My comments were aimed at Winston Brooks,” who is the APS superintendent who told Barker in his Channel 13 report that he was changing the school district’s policy about granting leave with pay to APS employees and administrators.
Back on Nov. 3, Capitol Report New Mexico interviewed Espinoza who said: “The bottom line, that’s what it is — corruption. Winston Brooks justifies [the decision to change policy] and makes it look like there’s nothing wrong … He looked the other way.” Looking over our notes, Capitol Report has no quotes where Espinoza mentioned Stapleton.
Espinoza said she had no conversations with Gov. Martinez or anyone in her administration about the APS controversy. “Where she got that is beyond me,” Espinonza said.
Asked if she was offended by the the comment about “carrying the Mexican’s water,” Espinoza said: “It does … that’s something that just doesn’t come into the conversation and should not come into the conversation at all.”
The only comment from the governor’s office came from spokesman Scott Darnell who said, “we certainly view her statement as sad and disappointing.”
Posted under Capitol Report.
Tags: Albuquerque Pulbic Schools, KRQE-TV, Larry Barker, Legislative Education Study Committee, Nora Espinoza, Sheryl Williams Stapleton, Susana Martinez, Winston Brooks
11:30 pm on December 14th, 2011
Unbelievable behavior! A sorry excuse of a legislator!
9:14 am on December 15th, 2011
“If it is, I didn’t mean it to be inflammatory,”………..and we are expected to believe that? How dare she! The cope out is insulting …adding that she is part Spanish.
What a great example to the school children…NOT
10:14 am on December 15th, 2011
Racist? I wonder what Lujan would have to say about this one? I guess us gringos and our Guv (who’s doing a great job ) can sit back, take care of business, and watch the circus in our spare time.
10:37 am on December 15th, 2011
Just another reason why our schools are so bad, either she (stapelton) thinks that every person in this state is stupid and she is smarter, or she is just another biased school board member that is stealing money from the children and tax payer. Her comment “If it is, I didn’t mean it to be inflammatory,” How stupid does she think people are. Again this prejudiced uninformed person should be kept away from our kids. I hope they turn up the heat on her so hot she will leave the state! And how does Brooks just change the rules? he needs to answer to that. We do not need anymore embarrasment from our schools.
11:37 am on December 15th, 2011
This excuse for a state legislator is a prime example of failing public schools which she so vividly exemplifies with moronic outbursts. Sadly, she’s pretty typical of the mentality of our majority in the legislature.
11:45 am on December 15th, 2011
Hostility of blacks against Hispanics is old news. The Liberty City riots in Miami were founded on the hostility of the welfare-loving blacks hating the Cuban emigrants who kept their families together, educated their children, and moved up socially. This resentment is fueled by the likes of Sharpton. Jackson, and Rangel who have money in the game keeping the blacks in the ghetto. Some of the most racist people I’ve ever met were black.
1:27 pm on December 15th, 2011
The Democratic party is the “party of hate”. They specialize and foster hatred between men and women, black and white (fill in your own race or religion) men and women etc. So, this broad is simply representing here true self; full of the hate that helped her to select her political party.
In the meantime, the “mexican” is a terrific governor (no, I’m a gringo) and I”ll support her completely.
2:05 pm on December 15th, 2011
Your comments are all correct. It is nauseating how many, caught by their own wrongdoing, blame others and angrily deny the truth. This is getting old, a stale childish approach. Own up to your underhanded activities, all of you. Grow up. Take responsibility for your actions. The “nu-uh, YOU did it,” “no YOU did it” “this is outrageous” “unfounded!” blah blah gradeschool bickering is a waste of time and money. Hopefully under the Honorable Susana Martinez’ watch, your days of power are dwindling.
2:14 pm on December 15th, 2011
But don’t you all understand, when a person on the Right says such things then it’s Hate Speech & Racism. But when a person on the Left says such things then the recipient of the vitriol had a misunderstanding.
As radio talkshow host, Dennis Prager, frequently says: “The beauty of being on the Left means never having to apologize [for anything].”
2:29 pm on December 15th, 2011
This story’s going viral. http://www.smalldeadanimals.com/ just linked it.
Scratch a liberal, find a racist underneath. I guess Stapleton’s angry that the Hispanics escaped the left’s wholesale destruction of their race?
6:54 pm on December 15th, 2011
What’s more offensive is a Hispanic Republican….
8:27 pm on December 15th, 2011
Why is it that when LIBS do it, it’s ok. Her employer doesn’t signal this RACIST JERK out, but sends out a memo saying it ‘won’t’ be TOLERATED; while saying it’s through HIS INACTION that for HER to do it ……it’s OK!
IF a Conservative/Republican had said this … the libjerks would be up in arms. First of all the lying hypocrites would be saying ALL GOP/Teaparty/Conservatives think this way.
They would be demanding the offending GOP member Resign, and screaming that it would be a HATE CRIME.
BUT because this happened to a GOP member, it’s OK in their eyes!
The libs/democrats are the party of hate, lies, and hypocrisy. And today the have proven that once again!
1:04 am on December 17th, 2011
Stapleton takes us for fools on many fronts. She eagerly defends getting paid for missing work for over 100 days per year, accepts the healthy per diem from the legislature and she is angry because Nora called her on the APS corrupt cover-up and Stapleton reveals her true character by calling our highest state level official “the Mexican on the fourth floor.” Undaunted by her slur, Stapleton then begins a dance of denial, apology and laughable claim to be Hispanic herself.
She worked so hard to get the monument of a waisted multimillion dollar theatre erected in her name on San Pedro. Currently no one remembers what piece of legislation carried the tax dollars to create an uglyand useless
facility. Maybe dear old Winnie Brooks knows that Stapleton delivers the federal Carl Perkins grant right to APS where she administers the same grant! No big deal
11:26 am on December 17th, 2011
To all those who don’t see what the fuss is about,You just don’t get it. The word “Mexican” in itself is not a slur. However, the context in which stapleton used it is DRIPPING with bigotry. She could have said “…carrying the Governor’s water”, “carrying Martinez’s water” or even “carrying Susana’s water”. But referring to her as just another “Mexican,” totally disrespectful. It exposes her to be the racist that she is. To those of you who still don’t get it, how do you think the Left would respond if a white Republican were to refer to Obama as “the mulatto in the White House”? See my point? The people of NM need to recall this bigot. Gather signatures, spread this story, see to it that it goes viral (props to Jason M!), anything to get this racist out of government. Let’s make sure that this story is not swept under the rug. Call talk shows around the country. Spread it on social media. Let’s not rest until Stapleton steps down.
6:36 pm on December 17th, 2011
This arrogant person needs a wake up call, she thinks she can do anything now that she laughed at Barkers investigation and got Brooks to change the rules just for her and has appropriated thousands of dollars for own vanity! Only in New Mexico can someone with such a fat head name a building after herself when the only thing shes done is steal the money from other more important projects. What an EGO! Everything she does is suspect, why do people like these keep getting elected? I just don’t get it!