SIERRA VISTA, ARIZ. – They say some people can't handle being a celebrity, but apparently that is also true of folks who aren't really celebrities, but are perhaps little more than legends in their own minds. That phenomenon is true of Glenn Spencer, founder of the American Border Patrol judging by the way he treated me earlier this week.

In the course of researching a project on illegal immigration and the impact it is having on border areas, I went to considerable expense, time and effort to meet up with the man who has brought so much attention to the cause on Wednesday, only to be banished from his home for the "crime" of wanting to cover his exploits.

Bear in mind that this publication, if not this writer personally, has been especially "kind" to ABP, its cause, its fundamental purpose for existing and its own efforts to shine a light on the legitimately out-of-control immigration problem infesting our borders. As Mr. Spencer himself would attest – were he to be honest – not all publications can make that claim. In short, Spencer and his group don't have so many friends in the media that they can afford to lose any. Until this week, I counted ours as one of them.

Nevertheless, after introducing myself to Spencer, telling him who I represent and why I was there, he shook my hand, then curtly asked the friend who graciously brought me there to step out of the room so he could speak to him privately.

After a few moments of embarrassed silence standing in Spencer's living room with a reporter from Esquire – also there to cover Spencer – my friend, a card-carrying member of Spencer's group, emerged from the private room and said Spencer demanded that my friend and I both leave. Spencer himself didn't have the moxie to tell me that himself, mind you.

In the car as we were leaving, I asked my friend what had happened. He told me that Spencer merely asked what I was doing there, then said, "I don't want WorldNetDaily here." No other reason was given.

Upon further questioning of others who have had dealings with Spencer, I found that this kind of rude, obnoxious and – yes, arrogant – behavior is not an aberrancy. Apparently it is quite common. I wouldn't know if that is true, but based on my personal experience, I'd have to say that's accurate.

Spencer – whose organization is the recipient of lots of donated money – is free to behave anyway he chooses. It's his show, so to speak, even if someone who is behaving exactly like the egomaniacal control freak who exudes an "It's my way or the highway" mentality depicted by his press enemies. That's his prerogative.

Thing is, he's not going to win many converts that way. Oh, and here's another hint to Mr. Spencer: This "border thing" isn't about you, it's about the "cause."

Most of the people I've met who are involved with helping make our borders safer or who are trying to educate others about the sad state of our borders in regards to illegal immigration and national security, are fine upstanding folks who aren't interested in the limelight or in getting newspapermen like me to spell their names right. But they have helped me immeasurably during my research, and I'm eternally grateful.

That's because they want anyone – everyone – interested in the cause. They want the American people to become better informed about what is really going on down on the border. In short, they are more than eager to show the press around, to educate reporters who are then responsible for educating readers. And that's not easy because so many reporters show up with pre-conceived (read liberal) notions about the border and immigrants in general.

Spencer, who's been burned by reporters before, knows that. Which means he knows who are the friendly publications vs. the unfriendlies. I was counting on my publication's reputation for being fair to break the ice when I met with him, but that didn't matter.

The project I'm working on will get finished with or without Glenn Spencer. And I learned a personal lesson – that despite fairness, friendship isn't a given. So, from now on I'll stick with talking to people who feel the issue of illegal immigration is bigger than their reputation, donations or organization. Bigger than them, in other words.