Brewer calls Obama offensive on CNN, defends Trump's comments

Former Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer ripped President Barack Obama's criticism of GOP presumptive nominee Donald Trump on a national news show Sunday, saying Obama has a history of going after Republicans.

Brewer left office in 2015 and is an ardent Trump supporter; she appeared on CNN's State of the Union with Jake Tapper Sunday and has been making the national news rounds since endorsing Trump in February. She said she isn't paying "a whole lot of attention" to polls that show Democratic presidential presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton leading Trump.

On Friday, Obama went after Trump, saying the U.S. doesn't have time for "hatred," "bigotry, or "time for flimflam." And, he added, "we don't have the luxury of just popping off and saying whatever comes to the top of our heads."

Brewer said she didn't think the president's comments would damage Trump's bid, saying Obama "always comes tearing after Republicans constantly, calling names, and calling people bigots and racists ... and it's absolutely ridiculous.

"To see a president speak like that is offensive."

Former Democratic Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, who this year unsuccessfully tried for his party's presidential nomination, countered that Obama doesn't say such things about all Republicans, but that they are warranted in Trump's case because he is "making fascist appeals."

O'Malley said Trump is a "unstable charlatan who is appealing to the worst instincts in people."

Brewer fired back by saying Obama and Democratic presumptive nominee Hillary Clinton call their critics "bigots" or "racists," no matter the topic.

Later, when asked by Tapper if Trump has said anything she would consider racially-tinged or offensive, she responded: "I think Mr. Trump is new to the political arena, and he has things that he had to walk back a little bit, things that I wasn't comfortable with, but dang it, I get fed up that we hear over, and over, and over again from the president of the United States, that every time somebody wants to support the Constitution and the rule of law that we are out there because we are racists, and we are bigots and we in Arizona have lived with diversity our whole lives."

She did not specify which of Trump's comments have made her uncomfortable

O'Malley cornered Brewer on Trump's comments about an American-born judge he accused of treating him unfairly in a case because of his Mexican ancestry and perceived opposition to Trump's plan to erect a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. O'Malley turned to her, their faces inches apart, and said "Because Donald Trump hates Mexicans, that means that judge can't do his job. Now surely, Governor, you can't believe that is proper behavior for a man who's running for president."

Brewer, smiling, retorted, "In that respect, I think that Judge Curiel has a stunning reputation, and I don't believe that Donald Trump meant it in the manner that he said it."

"Because he hates Mexicans," asked O'Malley.

"No," Brewer said.

Silence ensued for five seconds as they stared each other down.

"I can't believe you're supporting Donald Trump, Jan," O'Malley said.

"Believe it," she said.

Follow the reporter on Twitter and Facebook. Reach her at yvonne.wingett@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4712.