[AZ Governor] Brewer calls [Gov.] Palin in for immigration spin

The Arizona Daily Star ^ | May 14, 2010 | Rhonda Bodfield

[2ndDivisionVet]

Gov. Jan Brewer is recruiting the help of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to help tamp down the furor over the state’s controversial new immigration law.

The two will team up for a press conference tomorrow in Phoenix, at which they will announce a new website and a national effort to “educate America on border security and encourage support for Arizona.”

Brewer’s campaign spokesman, Doug Cole, said Palin is an obvious choice since she’s been opining on the issue with some regularity.

Right after the law passed, she went on Fox News to criticize President Obama for perpetuating a racial profiling “myth” in his portrayal of the law. Most recently, Palin encouraged an Illinois girls’ hoops team to “go rogue” after an administrator canceled their sports trip to Arizona.

No statements from Palin were immediately available, although she reportedly flew into Arizona Friday afternoon.

This is the second time she’s been to Arizona recently, having traveled to both Tucson and Mesa in late March to stump for her former running mate, U.S. Sen. John McCain.

Cole said the website will try to correct what he said is wrong information about the law, and will also provide additional information on the longstanding immigration battle, by posting all of the letters sent to the federal government in the past eight years by Brewer as well as her predecessor, former Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano, who now heads up the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

“Obviously, we’ve had people like Congressman Grijalva who have gone around trashing our home state and encouraging a boycott, so she feels it’s important to stand up for Arizona and what we are,” Cole said.

Brewer will also announce at least one appointment to the 12-person joint border security advisory committee, which was established as part of the law to analyze border crossing statistics, as well as any related crime statistics, and make recommendations to the Legislature and Governor on ways to increase border security.

Grijalva could not immediately be reached for comment.

Jennifer Johnson, spokeswoman for the state Democratic Party, dismissed the announcement as Brewer’s bid to strengthen her election prospects in the upcoming election cycle. “Sarah Palin is neither an expert on border security nor on tourism. This is a transparent political stunt by Gov. Brewer under the false pretense of helping Arizona.”

[2ndDivisionVet]

Any more doubts about who should be the Republican standard-bearer in 2012?

[Publius]

They’re certainly bringing in the heavy artillery. That there’s an eight inch gun, sonny.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Maybe even 16 inch. She’s an Iowa class heavyweight.

[Nitehawk0325]

Having Palin called in is just going to really piss off the left. I'm all for her going to help Jan Brewer and the State of Arizona.

[Uncle Ivan]

Ping!

[SoConPubbie]

Any more doubts about who should be the Republican standard-bearer in 2012?

For the Anti-Palin crowd on FreeRepublic this won't mean a thing.

They'll dismiss this as they have dismissed every other positive conservative thing she has done and focus on the one or two things she has done they think overshadow every thing else.

I don't think there is an honest person in that bunch.

[Niteflyr]

They’re certainly bringing in the heavy artillery. That there’s an eight inch gun, sonny.

[Niteflyr]

For the Anti-Palin crowd on FreeRepublic this won't mean a thing.

Yep I'll make a supporting comment and then get outta Dodge before they show up..and they ALWAYS do....;o)

[Hildy]

I’m in Phoenix for a Republican event tomorrow..I hope they show up to do the press conference here!!! (doubt it!).

[kabar]

Brewer and Palin have endorsed McCain. I would rather that Palin stay out of AZ.

[SoConPubbie]

Brewer and Palin have endorsed McCain. I would rather that Palin stay out of AZ.

Yup, didn't take that long at all.

[Niteflyr]

Yup, didn't take that long at all.

[DB]

So do you support McCain?

[SoConPubbie]

So do you support McCain?

Check out my profile page, it should be all you need to look at to figure out that question.

[DB]

Well that does answer that question ;-)

I like Palin. I’ve sent money to her earlier defense fund.

It greatly pains me that she supports McCain.

My guess she has a feeling of obligation to him. The price McCain demands of her is too high.

[SoConPubbie]

It greatly pains me that she supports McCain.

It pains me too, however, it does not define the woman like many here at FreeRepublic falsely post.

Reagan had an extremely liberal VP during his first run at the Presidency and then he went with the moderate George H. Bush.

Every single politician has at some time endorsed somebody who was less than acceptable for one reason or the other.

I'm not happy she endorsed Carly either, but I do believe it was a matter of her believing that Chuck could not win given his low poll numbers.

I live here in CA, and will be voting for Chuck, however, I don't expect him to win and we'll be stuck with the worst possible candidate in Tom Campbell.

[Frantzie]

Maybe she can talk about how illegal aliens are bankrupting or bankrupted America and how McCain is an evil idiot.

[Bigtigermike]

You have one of the post of the year....great explanation

[SoConPubbie]

Maybe she can talk about how illegal aliens are bankrupting or bankrupted America and how McCain is an evil idiot.

Hey, I've got a question for you, have you ever heard a successful conservative candidate for any office higher than US House of Representatives get "Hired" by that kind of talk?

Not that I disagree with you on your sentiments against illegal Immigration, I personally liked Fred Thompson's plan the best, the one where he wanted to effectively cut off all means of government assistance and require all employees to go through e-Verify, thereby forcing them to deport themselves thereby diffusing the cries of you can't deport them. They basically self-deport. No muss, no fuss.

But anyway, I'm not sure that either Chuck DeVore, whom I will be voting for, or J.D. Hayworth have every come out and said anything comparable to what you would have Sarah say.

If you can provide some links, I'd appreciate it.

The only person I've heard that from is Tancredo

[SoConPubbie]

You have one of the post of the year....great explanation

Thanks BTM.