The pardon of Arpaio was motivated by the same Republican spirit of hate that gave us Reagan’s embrace of “state’s rights” in Philadelphia, Mississippi, the Willie Horton ads and the McCain-Palin rallies. It was motivated by the same spirit of hate that fueled anti-Latino rhetoric on right-wing radio. In fact, it would not have raised an eyebrow if any other Republican who won the presidency in 2016 pardoned Arpaio, the perfect symbol of the prejudice and scorn Republicans have embraced ever since Barry Goldwater gave the finger to black and brown Americans by opposing the 1964 Civil Rights Act.