Brewer admits goofs, says no more debates

PHOENIX -- Gov. Jan Brewer says her first debate with challenger Terry Goddard was not her finest hour, but says she is moving on with her campaign, standing on her record, and she does not expect to debate Goddard again.

Brewer joined News/Talk 92.3 KTAR's Bruce St. James Thursday to discuss what many in the media called a "meltdown," especially during her opening statement in Wednesday night's televised debate. The debate pitted the Republican governor against the current state attorney general, a Democrat.

Brewer appeared to lose her train of thought, looking down, wringing her hands and giggling in a pause of several seconds as the debate got underway.

"My opening was not my finest hour," Brewer told St. James. "It was the longest 16 seconds of my life. But, I'm human, I'm human."

The governor defended her refusal during the debate -- and in an encounter with reporters afterward -- to discuss her comments a few weeks ago that illegal immigrants were responsible for "beheadings" and other violence in the desert. During the debate, Brewer changed the subject when asked about the "beheadings." She refused repeatedly to discuss that comment after the debate and finally said, "Thank you" and walked away when reporters persisted.

Brewer told St. James, "The bottom line is that there have been beheadings in the border region in Mexico. We all should be concerned about the drug cartels and what's going on and the spillover into the state of Arizona."

The flap over the beheadings comment "is just getting blown totally out of proportion," Brewer said, when the concern is the spread of Mexico's violent drug cartels into more than 100 cities in America.

Brewer said she knew her actions with reporters after the debate was going to be a story.

"I think it's unfair when you come out of the debate, the first thing you're approached with is people yelling at you about beheadings, given the fact that we had a lot more important things to discuss."

She said, "I'm human. We all have our levels of tolerance if you will." She said she responded because of the way she felt at the time and that she might have had a different reaction on a different day. But, she said, it happened, and, "I'm moving on."

She said she does not intend to participate in any more debates before the November election.

"I've been in office for 28 years and have a long record. Terry's been in office for nearly as long, and I think people know what we stand for and which way we want to lead the state of Arizona. Mine is on a conservative streamlining government and his is on a tax and spend and regulate agenda. People can make their decision."

The difference between her and Goddard, Brewer said, is "I've done something. Terry hasn't did anything. He can talk all he wants, but he doesn't have a record."

She said she has worked "very diligently and hard" to improve Arizona's economy and create jobs -- citing a moratorium on rules and regulations and establishing the Arizona Commerce Authority to look at new industries for growth. Brewer said she hopes to address tax reform in the next legislative session.
LISTEN: Brewer discusses debate gaffes on KTAR