After their heated tarmac encounter, both Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer and President Obama are in explaining mode about what lead to that much-discussed Associated Press photo. Brewer's office had at first resisted calls to release the letter that she had given the president just before things got tense, but they provided a copy to The Arizona Republic on Thursday night. Meanwhile, Obama sat down with ABC News' Diane Sawyer to refute Brewer's claims that he was "tense" or "thin-skinned," and insinuated it was all a publicity stunt. "I think it’s always good publicity for a Republican if they’re in an argument with me," he said.

Dear Mr. President,

Welcome to Arizona!

You've arrived in a state at the forefront of America's recovery -- and her future. We were at the brink. We were at the bottom of the list in job creation. Today, we have a balanced budget and we're in the top 10 for job creation.

I'm proud of that hard-won recovery -- the result [sic] of many tough decisions, courage and perseverance.

My hope is while you are here you will have a chance to see our tremendous results first hand.

We both love the great country, but we fundamentally disagree on how to best make America grow and prosper once again. I'd love an opportunity to share with you how we've been able to turn Arizona around with hard choices that turned out to be the right ones.

And, of course, my offer to visit the border -- and buy lunch -- still stands!

With respect,

Jan

Perhaps Obama read some passive aggression in the letter, or didn't read it at all before, as Brewer has claimed, laying into her for her description of him in her book Breakfast for Scorpions.

Below is Obama's interview with Sawyer.

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