It's debatable whether arguing with the president of the United States is a bad move politically.
But it appears it can be financially beneficial.
On Wednesday, sales of "Scorpions for Breakfast" were tepid. Amazon.com, where Gov. Jan Brewer has been marketing her political screed on border security, federalism and the "liberal media," reported that sales ranked it No. 285,568 of all the titles on its list.
By Thursday morning though, it had skyrocketed to No. 56. And by late Thursday afternoon it had made it all the way to No. 20 on the bestseller list.
No other book on Amazon's list increased its sales by such a large percentage in the last 24 hours.
That sudden demand to see what Brewer wrote coincides with the highly publicized on-the-tarmac confrontation Wednesday between the governor and the president as he stepped off Air Force One to make a speech in Arizona.
When Brewer handed him a note asking for a meeting, the president took the opportunity to complain to the governor that he felt a bit burned after the last time they met nearly two years ago.
According to the White House, the president described that conversation as "a cordial discussion in the Oval Office." Brewer's recollection - at least as told in her 228-page book - was quite different.
"It was as though President Obama thought he would lecture me and I would learn at his knee," the governor wrote. "He was patronizing."
Brewer told Capitol Media Services on Thursday she was surprised by the president's decision to confront her over the book, which has been on the shelves since early November.
Their brief airport conversation ended, Brewer said, when the president walked off while she was in mid sentence. But that was not before a photo of the two of them nearly toe to toe, with Brewer pointing her finger at the president's face, went viral.
That generated extensive nationwide coverage about the dispute. More to the point, it shined a spotlight on the book, with many video news reports even including screen shots of its cover, complete with a photo of Brewer with her hand over her heart.
The White House, clearly surprised over all the publicity, is trying to downplay not only the whole incident but also discourage further news stories.
"I really assume you guys have more important issues to cover," press secretary Jay Carney told reporters traveling with the president on Thursday as he continues his multi-state tour.
But the story continues to develop on its own. Even Sen. John McCain added fuel Thursday with a comment that what happened at the airport confirms that the president "has a prickly personality."
And the governor herself is doing nothing to quell the publicity. In fact, she has been fanning the flames a bit, telling Capitol Media Services on Thursday the president is "a little thin-skinned and a little over sensitive.''
Brewer laughed off a question of whether she engineered the whole incident to bolster book sales.
"We could have never been this successful at it," she said. Anyway, the governor said, it was the president who brought up the subject of the book, not her.
"It's unfortunate we couldn't have talked about jobs and the economy," Brewer said of her brief time with the president at the airport, saying Obama was more focused on how he was portrayed in the book. "But if he wanted to talk about my book, I think it's sad that he didn't want to talk about the issue the book is about," Brewer said, meaning border security.
The governor is not disclosing how much all the additional book sales will be worth to her, saying that is a private contract between her and her publisher.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 6:34 pm on Thu, Jan 26, 2012.
The President of the United States in full view of the cameras of the World showing not only disrespect for a Governor but for a lady also.
If this doesn't confirm the President's Muslim upbringing contempt for women....nothing will. Would he have disrespected a "male" Governor in this manner....no way.
IceCat posted at 6:53 pm on Thu, Jan 26, 2012.
Leon, how did the President disrespect the Governor? Mayor Smith is quoted on TPM that the Governor is not telling the truth about what happen. (Mayors Smith and Stanton were standing right there). The Governor is lucky the Secret Service didn't slam dunk her when she raised her hand towards the President.
Masterrogue666 posted at 6:55 pm on Thu, Jan 26, 2012.
"By Thursday morning though, it had skyrocketed to No. 56. And by late Thursday afternoon it had made it all the way to No. 20 on the bestseller list."
and
' "I really assume you guys have more important issues to cover," press secretary Jay Carney told reporters traveling with the president on Thursday as he continues his multi-state tour. '
What might have been a slight irritant has overnight become an open wound. Last I checked, ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION WAS/IS an important issue to cover. Seems like Obama's damage control of that event has failed just like all his other policies have failed....
Cerulean posted at 9:57 pm on Thu, Jan 26, 2012.
Jan must have been trying to improve the Valley’s poor reading averages. A study called America’s Most Literate Cities by CCSU (Central Connecticut State University) ranks Phoenix literacy at 56th and Mesa is at 70 on the list. [sad]
Another study suggests that New York is the rudest city. Maybe Governor Brewer should have the honor of rudest Governor. [wink]
http://www.ccsu.edu/page.cfm?p=11096
Masterrogue666 posted at 11:50 pm on Thu, Jan 26, 2012.
CeRUDEan: Check out the letter that Brewer gave the President. It wasn't rude whatsoever. You should apologize for your comment, but I doubt you have the integrity.
http://eastvalleytribune.com/arizona/article_5c5bf364-4888-11e1-9257-001871e3ce6c.html
Masterrogue666 posted at 11:52 pm on Thu, Jan 26, 2012.
By the way, do you like that maybe the fact that AZ has MORE ILLEGAL ALIENS has anything to do with such a low rating?
soricobob posted at 4:38 am on Fri, Jan 27, 2012.
I'm so glad the book sales increased, because I had heard she was meeting with John Huppenthal to make it required reading in High Schools.
k33j88 posted at 7:20 am on Fri, Jan 27, 2012.
The president turned away from Governor Jan Brewer in the middle of a sentence. This is part of the Islamic idealology and sharia law. Women are second-class citizens and the president showed his true colors.
abimopectore posted at 8:44 am on Fri, Jan 27, 2012.
There was no need for the letter or show of disrespect. Everybody knows the Governor's position since it's been incessantly used by the Governor politically since her re-election effort. It was disgraceful and unnecessary, all to make political points for her future plans and to prop the sales of her book. If she respected the Presidential office as she claims, she wouldn't have attempted to make this about her and would have afforded the sitting President the respect that such an office commands.
Cerulean posted at 9:15 am on Fri, Jan 27, 2012.
Albuquerque New Mexico ranks at number 38, pirate devil. Albuquerque is a city of similar demographics as Mesa, yet has a much higher literacy rating. If you had *read the study you might have figured that out.
Ok Jan’s antics sold some books. Her letter says “Today, we have a balanced budget . . .” and “I’m proud of that hard-won recovery - - the result of many tough decisions,"
I wonder if she would be talking about the fact that she SOLD State property to a real-estate franchise with a $25 million guaranteed return plus rent. She could have sold bonds to the public giving Arizona residents an opportunity to invest in our State.
Jan is more than rude, but I will allow others to make up their own curses.
Buck30 posted at 2:15 am on Sat, Jan 28, 2012.
Number 6 now. http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books/?ie=UTF8&tag=janeburgess-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=390957