On Aug. 28, as Arizona voters went to the polls, TalkingPointsMemo broke the story of a video interview with Tea Party Congressional candidate Gabriela Saucedo Mercer in which she claims “Middle Easterners” are sneaking across the Mexican border, mixing into society as “Mexicans or people from South America,” and trying to “cause harm to the United States.” During the interview, conducted in 2011 with a local conservative Web site, Mercer said, “Why would we want them here, legally or illegally?”

Rep. Grijalva released a statement denouncing her comments as “reckless hate speech” and calling on “everyone who has endorsed Gabriela Mercer to withdraw their support immediately.” The story has received significant media attention. This page will be updated as more print, online and radio coverage becomes available.

Local

Phoenix New Times – “GOP Candidate Scared of ‘Middle Easterners’ in U.S., Especially Since They ‘Look Mexican’”

Phoenix New Times (followup) – “Gabriela Saucedo Mercer Attempts to Clarify Anti-’Middle Easterners’ Comment, Says She Mentioned Chinese People Too”

KVOA (NBC affiliate) – “Saucedo Mercer slams opponent Grijalva ahead of race for CD3″

KGUN (ABC affiliate) – “Campaign is already heating up”

Arizona Republic – “CD 3 candidate blasted for ‘Middle Easterners’ remark”

Arizona Daily Star – “Grijalva slams Saucedo Mercer on ‘Middle Easterner’ comments”

Arizona Daily Star (followup) – “US-Arab group demands apology”

Arizona Public Media/NPR – “Arizona Public Media Election Coverage 2012″ (begins around the 1:35 mark)

Arizona Daily Star/Associated Press – “CD 3 Hopeful Saucedo Mercer Explains Mideast Remark”

National

Associated Press – “Grijalva slams rival for views on some migrants”

Reuters – “Arizona Republican’s ‘Middle Easterners’ comments spark debate”

Huffington Post – “Gabriela Mercer, Arizona GOP Candidate: Middle Eastern Immigrants Want ‘To Harm’ The U.S.”

TalkingPointsMemo – “Arizona GOP Favorite Doesn’t Want Middle Easterners In U.S. ‘Legally Or Illegally’”