If Jan Brewer is upset because she didn’t know Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano was going to be in Nogales on Thursday to talk border security, she has no one to blame but herself — or, at least, her staff.
Gubernatorial press aide Matthew Benson admitted Friday that Brian McNeil, Brewer’s deputy chief of staff, had been informed of the event. In fact, Benson said, McNeil got not only a note but a phone call from Napolitano’s staff.
That’s not all.
Matt Chandler, Napolitano’s press aide, pointed out that Robert Guerrero, who heads the border health office of the state Department of Health Services, actually participated in the Thursday event. And Chandler said Homeland Security also invited a host of other state officials, including Gilbert Orrantia, Brewer’s homeland security adviser, and Robert Halliday, director of the state Department of Public Safety.
Brewer lashed out at Napolitano’s agency and the Obama administration Thursday for deciding to update its border counternarcotics strategy at a Nogales event but not inviting her, or even telling her about it.
“Every time I find out anything about our border, I read about it in the paper or I hear about it on television or I hear about it on the radio,’’ the governor said Thursday. “I wish they would notify me to let us know exactly what they’re about to do.’’
That statement — and a Capitol Media Services story about Brewer’s complaints — resulted in Chandler coming up with a list Friday of exactly what his agency did to keep Arizona officials in the loop.
In a response, Benson continued to point out that his boss “did not receive a direct invitation to attend or participate’’ in the event. But he acknowledged that Homeland Security did notify senior gubernatorial staff and several state agencies about it.
“The governor typically would have been alerted through these channels,’’ Benson said. “In this case, due to an unintentional internal communications gap, she was not.’’
But Benson sidestepped the question of whether Brewer was apologizing to Napolitano. Instead, he said that members of the governor’s staff “regret’’ the fact their boss was not told “and take responsibility for the internal notification problem in this matter.’’
Benson stressed, though, that Brewer spoke honestly on Thursday when she said she was not aware of the event.
NothingButTheTruth posted at 6:13 pm on Fri, Jul 8, 2011.
I don't think this new info means diddly squat. The manly pig witch should have called the governor directly.
PeacefulCat posted at 7:38 pm on Fri, Jul 8, 2011.
Hog wash all around-this goes to show you how ineffective the governor's office is....and how separate the state and feds can be when they want to be.
Ugly politics instead of actually accomplishing something
The worst of 2 evils is still evil. Vote None of the Above.
NothingButTheTruth posted at 6:06 pm on Sat, Jul 9, 2011.
The Obamanation's head illegal alien facilitator just needs to stay out of the way and quit trying to prevent us from controlling illegal immigration. Nappy has no credibility here at all, and has no business coming to Arizona. Go back to selling guns to the Mexican cartels Nappy
Masterrogue666 posted at 8:08 pm on Sun, Jul 10, 2011.
INVITING the GOV directly vs having an aide inform another aide would probably be the better way to make sure the message was received. Especially if it would directly concern the GOV on such a volitile issue.
Both camps made errors in this one it seems....
DaveKAz posted at 4:46 pm on Mon, Jul 11, 2011.
Look, this isn't the same as an invitation to a birthday party. This shows a severe communication problem in the governor's office. If messages from Janet Napolitano don't get delivered to the governor by her own staff, how can we as citizens of the state of Arizona ever be certain that our concerns would be communicated? The fact that Brewer made a false accusation to the media and has failed to try to correct the record and to apologize speaks more to the character of this vicious old woman who rides a broom to work every day than it does to anything that Janet Napolitano should have done. This act also clearly demonstrates the elitist attitude from the governor's office that has characterized her vicious attacks on ACCCHS patients, illegal aliens, and medical marijuana patients. She viciously attacks those less fortunate than herself and has the audacity to blame others for her own actions. She clearly believes that she knows better than both the federal government and the voters of our state. How else could you explain how she as an individual could derail a voter initiative based upon concerns that have never manifested themselves in any other states? Janet has given us more than ample indication that she selectively interprets what communications she does receive and totally ignores those that might prevent her from being able to complain about others from her high perch in our state capital.[wink]
In_God_We_Trust posted at 10:40 am on Tue, Jul 12, 2011.
DaveKaz, it's hard for anyone here in Arizona to take anything seriously coming out of nappy's office. Your vicious attack on our governor is totally without any merit at all.
Juggernaut6000 posted at 4:31 pm on Tue, Jul 12, 2011.
Janet has completely and utterly failed US taxpayers.