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Governor Jan Brewer of Arizona apparently forgot her manners, again, and pointed her finger in the face of the President of the United States on the tarmac during President Obama’s latest trip to Arizona. Governor Brewer later told the press that she felt threatened by the President. A picture speaks a thousand words.
I don’t know what Governor Brewer thought the President was going to do to her. They were in plain view and the secret service security team was right there.
Sadly, this encounter is just another example of the breakdown of protocol and manners in the country. Pointing or wagging one’s finger in the face of the President of the United States, regardless of who he is is simply not acceptable. I feel certain that Brewer is now the darling of those Obama haters who feel she ‘told him off good.’
I think that protocol needs to be taught in every classroom across America. Obviously much has been forgotten or in Brewer’s case, never learned. There are just certain behaviors one upholds when speaking to the President of the United States. We use terms like’ Mr. President’ when addressing him. We even do that if he is our best friend when in public. (or her if that should ever come to pass)
Brewer set a bad example for everyone who sees this picture and is an embarrassment to our country. The eyes of the world are on us. What must they be thinking?
Disrespect in general has been going on for many many years. Ironically I think it started with political correctness. Society was, and still is, so focused on the rights of those who have either not succeeded in life or who lack some type of authority due to age or minority status that those in authority have been reduced to un-respectable thugs. We use to respect those who have become successful in their career, business, or leadership rolls. Now, those same individuals are looked upon as nothing more than the people who have abused all those around them who haven’t succeeded in life. Even the president is projecting the disrespect for those who have been financially successful within the legal rules established by this country. The major turning point in disrespect for the presidency came when the media stopped respecting the personal privacy of everyone in general including the president (Bill Clinton’s publicized dealings didn’t help). We’ve even spent some time trying to tear down the life stories of our respected founding fathers just so certain groups can feel better about their own past history. Name one recent political race that didn’t involve the attempted degradation of the person’s personal history. Respect is dead I’m afraid.
Did you actually read or hear about the exchange? Where the President started chastising her upon arrival for a book she wrote and he didn’t like what she said about him? That he did this even though he just read an excerpt? That he turned his back in mid sentence and walked off. Where he casually tossed a hand written invitation to him into the limo and started in on her? She admits that she doesn’t even remember doing the above. Fingers get pointed when you’re angry.
He’s a President. Not a king. She’s a Governor. He’s a guest.
People die every day over there because of his politics. I support confronting him with that.
What a despicable way for an elected official and host to treat the President of the United States, who was also a guest to her state. Where’s her broom – did it fall up her butt? She looks like Endora of Bewitched nagging at Darren. I’m sure the President was tempted to go upside her head with the back of his hand, but he handled the situation coolly and calmly, just as a statesman and gentleman should do. Chivalry lives.
What a contrast in a span of a few hours. Gabby Giffords resigning brought out the best in everyone. I usually mock Boehner as the Weeper of the House, but I respected his genuine emotion when Giffords handed him her resignation.
Hours later Brewer shows up to greet POTUS with her note in hand and a finger cocked and ready to wag in the President’s face. She immediately brought up having a meeting and then he responded with how she told the media after there last meeting that it went great and then later wrote in her book that it was a bust and the President was condescending. Who in their right mind (which eliminates many like Brewer) would say “oh yeah, let’s do that again real soon … and I hope you’ll feel free to misrepresent it later in another book.”
So, in one afternoon the country got to see Arizona’s class and Arizona’s ass.
Probably because he didn’t have a teleprompter.
I don’t think I can come up with a better answer than Moe’s.
Cargo, I was counting on you to try to defend bad behavior. Yes…I did my research. Remember that there is a protcol that is used with the President of the United States that has nothing to do with one’s personal opinion or political party.
SA, as for general respect, I thought for a minute yoiu were on to something and then you got side tracked with politics. I think actually the problem with manners in general happened when people stopped making their children have good manners.
When I was growing up I was taught that my behavior was a reflectioni on my parents. If I went somewhere, especially to school, and acted bad, talked back, or didn’t show respect, then everyone would think my parents were white trash. Children who are raised with that responsibility on their backs tend believe that over all good manners are the key to getting along in society. Word also got back to your parents if you let them down. Back in those days adults felt comfortable telling someone’s parents about the sins of their children (think Christmas Story) Today it might get you cussed out and punched in the nose.Then the parents would start making up the 40 million excuses as to why their Tommy didn’t do it or if he did, he was just ______ (fill in the blank).
I think part of the problem stemmed from TV. Kids had role models that made it ok to be rude. Parents stopped holding their kids responsible for upholding the family name.
This dispute between Arizona and the Obama Administration isn’t a disagreement that can be resolved in a civil manner. The Federal Government is dishonorable, and oppressive.
Everything can be handled in a civil manner. Check out the surrender of the Nation of Japan aboard the USS Missouri. That was civilized, even after all that had gone down.
I refuse to believe political adversaries can’t behaved briefly in public.
Is there protocol for not getting in a Governor’s face upon greeting him? Is there protocol about not being rude to your host? He did this with Perry and Jindal too.
He’s thin skinned, narcissistic and rude.
When will you call him out on HIS rude behavior or is his being the President supposed to excuse all?
You hear only what you want to hear. You read only what you want to read. @Cargo
Jan needs to put the finger down.
I guess since you were present at all three meetings then I should have checked with you before posting, so I could get the real straight skinny on the matter.
My bottom line is, it is rude to point your finger in the face of the President, even if it is Barack Obama or Bill Clinton. Its rude to throw a show at President Bush and its equally rude to refuse to shake his hand. You can hate all their guts and you still behave appropriately and adhere to certain protocol unless you were raised in a barn.
You failed to say how he was threatening her, since you were there soaking it all in.
Just out of curiosity, why do you think your sources are better than mine?
Brewer was getting good photo op for her base. Why should the Prez go set himself up again to be lied about? He isn’t stupid. Brewer on the other hand…..
@Morris Davis
Superbly put!
If anybody, even the President, put a finger in my face the way this woman did to Obama, I would have slapped the hand away and turned on my heel.
The picture says more than words! Nastiness just oozes out. What a worthless worm!
Didn’t we just cover how unacceptable it is to call the President rude names?
But you’re right; he is a worthless worm. I would have perhaps used another four letter word, but we’re in mixed company.
Some of these Governors are a little bent out of shape also – they are complaining about spending out of control, but want more money spent in their state.
Brewer – not happy that Obama has more boots on the border than any other President in the past, but want more money spent.
Jindal – not happy that Obama would not spend more money on the Gulf clean up (something that was BP’s responsibility), but hammers him for the spending.
Christie, not happy about FEMA money not coming to Jersey fast enough, but wants spending cut.
Why did Brewer rush out on the tarmac to confront Obama as he had just landed? (I have not seen the video) – why not approach him like a professional would? For the camera’s perhaps? Confrontational politics will not solve any issues.
Jindal was unhappy because the President’s orders prevented some of Jindal’s efforts to clean up the Gulf from being used.
Brewer’s unhappy because the Obama’s Justice department is selectively enforcing federal laws. Brewer went out to greet him. He confronted her. She went to give him this:
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2012/01/26/20120126brewer-obama-letter-photo-exchange.html
I don’t know anything about Christie.
And I said nothing about Obama threatening her. Set himself up to be lied about? Really? That’s what you think? Ok, then….never mind. He’s a saint.
Here’s the Washington Post’s report of the event and Obama’s history of being “prickly”.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-exchange-with-arizona-gov-jan-brewer-reveals-his-testy-side/2012/01/26/gIQA8mU3TQ_print.html
@Cato the Elder
A rather inane comment IMHO.
Jan Brewer said she felt threatened. Oddly enough, there is another source other than you, Cargo, 😉
Jan Brewer was wrong to point her finger in the face of the POTUS. However, a more balanced discussion would also mention that Obama’s behavior was decidedly un-presidential as well. It should be noted that the White House did not dispute Jan Brewer’s account.
A leader, especially the POTUS, should be granted respect and the protocol that comes with the office. However, a good leader does not behave in such a way that people have to stop and remind themselves of the person’s position. A good leader behaves with humility and grace that combines with the awe and inspiration of the office to make people WANT to grant the privileges of the office to the incumbent.
Obama has demonstrated once again that his leadership is lacking.
I am not really sure what Obama did other than Brewer’s account of what happened, which she has changed several times since I started following the story. I don’t know what you are basing your conclusion on, Kelly.
as for walking off, do you blame him? He might have been given a secret service directive to do so. I see no reason for him to dispute her account since there are several versions. I would think that a gentleman would just say it wasn’t important and move on.
Arguing with someone of Brewer’s stature really isn’t a winning situation. She got her photo op. Her lackluster book sales are way up amongst people who would even buy the book because she told off the president and all is good in AZ.
@Cargosquid
Everyone has a right to his or her delusional viewpoint; some see “job creators” where others see malingerers, for example. As for who turned what is normally a brief grip & grin into a confrontation, Obama didn’t come off the stairs armed with a handwritten letter for the Governor. You raised protocol; is shoving a letter in the President’s hand in his first 30 seconds he’s on the ground the protocol for a governor to try to arrange a meeting?
@Morris Davis
Again, suberbly put!
Funny, for a minute I thought this post was dated January 27, 1775, and King George had paid Arizona a state visit. This is the same president who said “If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun.” Sounds kinda thuggish to me.
Referring to comment #21. Thinking back of how Bush presented himself no matter how bad the press or rude the comments from congress members, it makes me think that he truly displayed the way our nation’s leader should act. Obama on the other hand……not so much.
When you point your finger at someone else, three fingers point back at yourself. In national and local politics, people need to grow up, quit trying to blame and take responsibility for your own behavior.
Did you see Brewer’s facebook post (see below)? She is just shamelessly pimping her book.
I greeted President Obama today in Arizona with the intention of talking to him …about jobs and the economy.
However, after I greeted him, the President immediately turned the conversation to my book, Scorpions for Breakfast (www.scorpionsforbreakfast.com), criticized it and then walked away. He let me know that he didn’t like the way I recounted our meeting in the Oval Office after I signed SB 1070 in 2010.
The bottom line is our border is not secure and I again invited him to visit the Arizona border.
I believe America wants a secure border before addressing “comprehensive immigration reform” and granting amnesty to illegal aliens. On this issue, we’ll have to continue to disagree on what’s best for America.
I’ll keep fighting for Arizona and the rest of America who want a secure border.See More
By: Governor Jan Brewer
.
@clueless
Now that is some REAL pimping a book!!! No kidding.
That was truly a photo op moment for Brewer. It will probably ensure that she wins the next election also.
it was probably her photographer and prearranged. I doubt she can think and chew gum.
ghostwriter for the book?
You know, I have been thinking about Jan Brewer and the Prez. I sure am glad he turned his back and walked off. Why should anyone stand there with some semi illiterate woman’s finger in his face, all while using him as a prop to pull in her base and sell a few books.
I give him kudos for responding in a dignified manner to a shrill harpy. Just leaving was the best way to handle it.
He and the rest of the world have seen the Republican demeanor during the debates. Poor dignified Mitt Romney has even had to get down in the trenches to stay afloat. Thank goodness the real GOP is coming out and saying enough! The real class warfare is taking place within the Republican Party. I am rooting for the Old Guard.
Moonhowler, you need to figure out how to put a “like” button on here…like Facebook. :)Thumbs up to Moe’s post!
So, its ok to attribute malice, illiteracy, and deception to Republicans, but not to Democrats. Its not hate when you call Brewer names, but if I criticize Obama’s POLICIES and the apparent dishonesty and hypocrisy illustrated by those polices and statements, I’m just full of hate…..
Ok. Nice to see the double standard out in the open.
@Cargo, its your track record.
I didn’t attribute malice, illiteracy and deception to all Republicans. The illitaracy was directly aimed at Jan Brewer, mainly because I have heard some of her incredibly bad grammar on more than one occassion. Why would I bring them upin a discussion about Brewer and the Prez? I have never heard Democrat Obama use bad grammar. I don’t recall calling Brewer any names. I believe a did use a few unflattering adjectives.
Didn’t you just recently call the POTUS a liar? Is that a policy? Yes, you do appear to hate all Democrats. Not so sure about Independents. But we are only talking about 2 people. Brewer and Obama. Brewer is not my idea of what a good governor is. I think she plays to her base way too much and was more concerned about getting elected to office than she was what was in the best interest of her state.
Yes..I called the POTUS a liar. Its been proven that he does.
I don’t call ALL Democrats liars. But I also hold Republicans to account for what I consider problems too. I’ve yet to see Obama held to any sort of accountability by anyone here but conservatives.
I happen to agree with you on Brewer playing to her base too much. I believe MOST politicians are more concerned about elections. However, I believe that many do so because they consider the alternative candidate to be worse for the respective constituents.
I don’t like socialist policies or crony capitalism. Current Democrats, like Pelosi, Reid, Schumer, etc., are statist, big government, anti-Constitutional apparatchiks. They are more interested in power than in helping the country. That said, if they believe that THEY are the saviors of the country from the “terrorist” Republicans, as the GOP has been described by the Democrats on the House floor, then they are just incompetent vs evil. Who forces through bills that they don’t read? Who scoffs at questions of Constitutionality? I also call out Republicans that do such.
Brewer’s book jumped to 7th place on the best-seller list overnight!
She got her wish. She stirred up her base. They are probably still all salivating.
@Cargo
Socialist policies or crony capitalism. You know, I am not sure what you mean. Is crony capitalism one of them new-fangled republican sound bites?
Funny, I just started hearing that expression fairly recently and I bet I heard it 15 times today on Faux News. It has gone from famine to feast.
Crony capitalism is when you loan money to donors for failed green businesses, hire Goldman Sachs employees to run programs that put competitors out of business, put union concerns above the rule of law, have GE on the presidential advisory boards, set up gov’t programs that help your buddies. Its famine to feast because the trend has escalated.
Socialist policies are where you decide that wealth is yours to redistribute because the wealthy have to pay their “fair share.” And the socialist decides whats “fair.”
Hi hO silveraldo…now I gets it. Sorta like that Halburton guy did.
@Moon-howler
Yeah….kinda….
Never said it wasn’t. Of course, Halliburton, KBR, and a French company were, at the time, the only companies available to do the things that they do. And Halliburton was working for no-bid contracts way before Cheney was VP.
That’s what I keep hearing….cough-sputter-choke. Now did I mention Cheney?
Is Cheney the only crony around? usually birds of a feather flock and crony together. In this case, people who live in glass houses shouldnt throw boulders, Cargo. Republicans are on pretty thin ice walking about crony anything, much less capitalism. I would just avoid that topic if I were you.
I am sure that the 1% are spending their cash on Brewer’s book so let the trickle down begin.
@Moon-howler
Halliburton…Cheney… Know any other Halliburton guy?
You haven’t noticed that I hit the Republicans too for crony capitalism? Why should I avoid that topic. I hit Bush for spending and creating gov’t programs that I feel are excessive too.
Just because their Republicans don’t mean that I won’t criticize them. I’ve done it here. Or agreed with yours. Or did not defend them when you attacked them. So….what’s the point of that statement.
I’m against all crony capitalism. Its dishonest.
@Cargo it is a term that is just bandied about way too much these days, sort of like a whole host of other sound bites.
I would rather just deal with a specific incidence. Also, I don’t hit Republicans just for being Republicans. Bush also ushered through a critical bill with the medicare rx. It could have been done differently and it still could if the legislators wanted to grow some nads and take on the drug companies to ante up more.
You gotta admit, that was a brilliant PR move on Brewer’s part. You can’t buy imagery like that.
@Cato, opportunistic–yes., Brilliant–perhaps. 😈
@Cato the Elder
Splendid, indeed!
Wonder whether she had her on photographer
snap the picture? The picture is almost too good to just have happened.
I am late to the game on this thread, but Moe, you wrote exactly what my first reaction was to this debacle by the govenor. Here is the entire chamber of the house,standing to applaud Gabby Giffords, even Boener is fighting back the tears, and yet, within hours, you have complete disrespect for the President.