Many would like to believe that even the most guileful and nefarious of individuals are capable of compassion, particularly toward the weakest among us.

Sadly, human behavior argues otherwise. To rationalize away the sufferings of others is a fairly easy mental trick, and when the payoff for doing so is political power, pangs of conscience are like pinpricks, at best.

So I’d argue that if Sheriff Joe Arpaio or President Barack Obama had been around Phoenix’s Cesar Chavez Plaza Friday afternoon for a rally of moms and kids sponsored by the local human rights group Puente, the sight would not have moved them to reconsider their respective policies toward the undocumented.

Read the complete article at http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/bastard/2012/05/joe_arpaio_barack_obamaed_by_puente.php