Leave it to President Obama to keep things calm, cool and collected.
In an interview with ABC’s Diane Sawyer Thursday, he discussed his exchange with Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer Wednesday night on an airport tarmac.
The picture (left) and video that circulated thereafter is what Obama calls “a classic example of things getting blown out of proportion.”
But Brewer has a side to the story as well. Despite her finger wagging, she felt she was disrespected.
“I respect the office of the president. I was there to welcome him. [...] It is what it is. I proceeded to say that to him, and he chose to walk away from me. [...] I would never have walked away from anybody having a conversation. And, of course, that is what it is. It is disrespectful for me.”
Obama told Sawyer that it is “always good publicity for a Republican if they’re in an argument with me,” but it’s clearly not the tallest order on his agenda.
“This was really not a big deal,” Obama said. “She wanted to give me a letter, asking for a meeting. And I said, ‘We’d be happy to meet.’ “