Bobby Pulido has voiced his irritation with repeated questions about his past social media posts, stating they distract from issues voters care about. His campaign faces criticism regarding past associations and alleged inconsistencies.
The controversy surrounding Bobby Pulido's past statements and associations highlights the evolving nature of political scandals and voter tolerance, potentially impacting election outcomes.
Bobby Pulido has expressed significant irritation with repeated inquiries into his past social media posts, arguing that such distractions divert attention from pressing issues like affordability and immigration that are of greater concern to voters. He has previously voiced his frustration, particularly with the New York Post, calling the persistent questioning "recycled tabloid nonsense."
In a July video, Pulido stated, "We’ve been getting the same recycled tabloid nonsense since last October." He further elaborated in Spanish, directing a colloquial phrase at reporters that roughly translates to "don’t be jerks, assholes" or "don’t be stupid, assholes."
The campaign of his opponent, De La Cruz, seeks to capitalize on these controversies. James Shook, De La Cruz's campaign manager, described Pulido as a "product of the corrupt compadre system" and criticized his alleged lack of transparency. De La Cruz's campaign has pointed to perceived inconsistencies in Pulido's statements, such as his claim to have fired Caballero in 1996 while Caballero appeared on Pulido's albums until 1999. Pulido's past suggestion that he helped Caballero out of jail was called "hyperbolic" and a "misspoke" statement by Pulido to Bloomberg.
Shook specifically accused Pulido of bringing an individual convicted of child molestation to a middle school event and hiding the person's status from parents, noting that Pulido had toured with the individual for years and bragged about bailing him out of jail. Shook questioned why Pulido believed he could evade consequences for such actions.
However, there are indications that voters may be growing desensitized to political scandals. A recent POLITICO Poll revealed that a substantial portion of voters, across both Republican and Democratic parties, would remain loyal to their chosen candidate even if faced with accusations of accepting lobbyist gifts, exploiting tax loopholes, or making antisemitic posts. The poll did not include questions on homophobic or gender slurs, or relationships with sex offenders.
Some of Pulido's supporters, particularly those with personal connections to his family, appear unfazed by the negative headlines. Hairstylist Esmeralda Knapp stated she would vote for Pulido because his uncle, a former county judge, had previously helped secure her brother's release from prison. Retired teacher Bob Villarreal recalled Pulido's father, a musician, substitute-teaching his class and dismissed Pulido's association with Caballero as "guilt by association," stating, "It wasn’t Bobby."
Maria Dominguez, who runs a wellness club, cited her knowledge of Pulido's "working people, good people" family background as a reason to view him as "a good person."