Posted Jan 25, 2012, 6:54 pm
President Obama was met with a bit of an Old West showdown Wednesday when he arrived in Phoenix and was greeted by Gov. Jan Brewer with what appeared to be a terse exchange of words.
Obama, who was in Phoenix to speak at an Intel plant in Chandler, stepped off Air Force One around 3:30 p.m., when Brewer handed him a handwritten letter in an envelope and was seen shaking her finger at him as they spoke, Politco's Carrie Budoff Brown reported.
Brewer later told Brown, a pool reporter on the trip, that she and Obama discussed Brewer's book, "Scorpions for Breakfast." The governor said the president brought up the book.
"He was a little disturbed about my book... I told him that I have all the respect in the world for the office of the president. The book is what the book is. I asked him if he read the book. He said he read the excerpt. So."
Brewer explained what part of the book bothered Obama: "That he didn't feel that I treated him cordially. I said I was sorry he felt that way but I didn't get my sentence finished. Anyway, we're glad he's here. I'll regroup."
Brewer told Brown that she gave the president a letter extending an invitation to sit down with her to discuss the "Arizona comeback."
"We had a wonderful comeback here and I want to share that with him."
Brewer's office later issued a press release about the interaction.
"Don't be mistaken, I'm bullish on our nation's future. But I'm convinced the path the President has pursued is the wrong one. I hope he takes some of the lessons of Arizona back with him to Washington," she said in the release.
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@Roberto De Vido
I bought a Kindle copy of “Scorpions for Breakfast” this afternoon after the story broke and have been reading it. The President should read it! All of it! And then he should be very very ashamed of himself and “HIS GOVERNMENT”
For those of us who haven’t read either the book or “the excerpt”, it would be good to have additional context in this piece.
I guess Barry isnt used to anyone calling him out. This Prez has been given a free pass for so long it must have been a shock to see a Governor that doesnt agree with his policies. It would seem that he thinks Arizona is just a stupid renegade outpost that shouldnt dare do the job he thinks is reserved for the Feds. even though he wont do that job (illegal immigration). Congrats to Jan Brewer and everyone else in Arizona that refuses to let the Federal Government try to trample on states right to defend its citizens and stop the costly deadly invaders.