AZ-Gov: Jan Brewer's rough debate outing

Daily Kos Staff

Thursday September 02, 2010 · 9:46 AM PDT

2010/09/02 · 09:46

It was the first debate of the Arizona governor's race, and likely the last, as there's no way incumbent Republican Gov. Jan Brewer chances another disaster like this one.

It started out embarrassing enough:

Brewer, who has gained national notoriety for signing into law the country's toughest provisions for illegal immigrants, awkwardly paused twice during the opening statement of the Clean Elections Debate broadcast on the state's PBS affiliate.

"I have ... done so much and I just cannot believe that we have changed everything since I've become your governor in the last 600 days. Arizona has been brought back from its abyss," Brewer said, after appearing to lose her train of thought.

Then, after saying, "We have cut the budget, we have balanced the budget and we are moving forward. We have done everything that we could possibly do," the governor paused for a 10 seconds — an eternity in a live televised debate — before looking down at her notes.

Video of that giggly 10-second pause:

Ouch.

But even worse was the substance, as the local media gangs up on her for her refusal to admit that her alarmist story about beheadings in the Arizona desert is bullshit:

The transcript is below the fold, but needless to say, it's brutal. Her refusal to own up to her misstatement is inexplicable, generating hostility from the local press and stepping all over her message. But maybe that's good for Brewer, as it's one less question about her blatant conflict of interest in signing SB 1070:

Gov. Jan Brewer took center stage last Tuesday night after she officially clenched the Republican nomination. Standing just behind her was a man most Arizonans would not recognize.

He’s Chuck Coughlin, Brewer’s campaign chairman, policy adviser and a lobbyist for the largest private prison company in the country. And he’s one of two people in the Brewer administration with ties to Corrections Corporation of America.

The other administration member is communications director Paul Senseman, a former CCA lobbyist. His wife still lobbies for the company [...]

Isaacs said private prison companies have been buying influence in Arizona politics for years. The number of private prisons and jails operating across the state shows the result of that influence, he said. Currently, there are at least 12 for-profit prison, jail and detention facilities in Arizona.

Isaacs said the state has something else that attracts these companies.

“The other Holy Grail, if you will, of private prison construction is immigrant detention,” Isaac said.
Corrections Corporation of America holds the contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to lock up illegal immigrants picked up in Arizona. Tough immigration laws like Arizona's SB 1070 could send thousands of new bodies its way, and millions of dollars.

Update: Flashback to New Mexico Democratic House candidate Patty Madrid's debate meltdown in 2006. She went from front-runner to loser.

Transcript of post-debate ABC 15 news report:

KATIE RAMMEL: But all new at 10 right now, tonight’s governor’s debate takes an ugly turn minutes after it ends.

BOOMER: Brewer, why wouldn’t you recant the comment you made earlier about the beheadings in the desert?

(Cut to studio)

KATIE RAMMEL: Wait until you see what the governor does next. Thanks for choosing us, I’m Katie Rammel.

STEVE IRVIN: And I’m Steve Irvin. Tonight: immigration and the economy, front and center, at the first debate in the race for governor.

KATIE: But in Democracy 2010 tonight, ABC 15’s Christina Boomer breaks down what we never expected to happen, next.

BOOMER: Republican Jan Brewer claimed union-orchestrated boycotts of Arizona following SB 1070 hurt Arizona’s economy.

JAN BREWER: Talk about tourism, when we talk about driving the economy down – it’s because people, like Mr. Goddard’s a supporter of the unions, who are calling out and screaming out for the boycotts, you know, driving – they want to drive our economy down.

BOOMER: After saying he’d never supported the boycotts, democrat Terry Goddard argued the governor has also played a role.

GODDARD: What is hurting us right now, economically, are statements, false statements made by Jan Brewer, about how Arizona has become so violent, that we are a place of fear, that we have beheadings in the desert. Those are false statements, they cause people to think that Arizona is a dangerous place, and they don’t come here and they don’t invest here because our governor has said such negative things about our state and Jan, I call upon you today to say that there are no beheadings. That was a false statement, and it needs to be cleared up right now.

BREWER: And you know, Terry, I will call you out. I think you ought to renounce your support and endorsement of the unions that are boycotting our state.

BOOMER: She sidestepped the question about the beheadings several times. So as soon as she emerged from the debate, I asked her.

(Cut to footage outside debate)

BOOMER: Brewer, why wouldn’t you recant the comment you made earlier about the beheadings in the desert?

REPORTER: Seriously, that’s a serious question, Governor.

BREWER: Well, this was an interesting evening tonight ...

BOOMER (Voice over): She doesn’t answer, instead reiterates the debate’s talking points, charging that Goddard doesn’t have a plan.

BOOMER: Brewer, why won’t you recant the comments about the beheadings?

REPORTER: Governor, seriously ...

BOOMER (Voice over): As other reporters chime in demanding an answer, this happens:

REPORTER: Governor, please answer the question about the headless bodies. Why won’t you recant that? Do you still believe that? Come on, Governor?

BREWER: (Pause) Okay, thank you all. (Exits)

GODDARD: I’m astonished, frankly. Everybody who’s studied this knows there are no beheadings. Arizona has the lowest violent crime rate we’ve had since 1983. Our law enforcement has done a great job, and why the Governor won’t simply say “I was wrong, there were no beheadings, Arizona is safe” I do not understand. This is hurting us incredibly.

AZ-Gov: Jan Brewer's rough debate outing

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