'Cute' e-mail lands state Repub. in hot water [View All]

[KG]

'Cute' e-mail lands state Rep. in hot water
By STEVE BOUSQUET and ALEX LEARY
Published April 13, 2007

TALLAHASSEE -- State Rep. Don Brown thought he was being "cute." His fellow Republicans in the Florida House had another word for it: racist.

Brown, a DeFuniak Springs Republican, apologized Thursday for sending an e-mail to his colleagues that noted the April 17 federal income tax deadline.

"Don't forget to pay your taxes -- 12-million illegal aliens are depending on you!" Brown wrote in a message to his colleagues on a state-issued email account.

What Brown meant as a joke wasn't interpreted that way. The strongest criticism came from his fellow Republicans -- Hispanics with large immigrant constituencies in South Florida.

The Florida Hispanic Legislative Caucus issued a statement saying it "took serious offense."

"It was wrong. It was offensive," said House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-Miami, the son of Cuban immigrants.

Rep. Rene Garcia, R-Hialeah, said the Brown e-mail showed "an ignorance as to the founding of both this state and our country. It deeply saddens me that this mentality still exists in what we consider to be a forward-looking government."

Rep. Juan-Carlos Planas, R-Miami, said Brown's remark was "not just racist on its face, but it's not true."


MORE>>> http://www.sptimes.com/2007/04/13/State/_Cute__e_mail_lands_s.shtml

a racist repook who just doesn't get it? i'm shocked, SHOCKED! :eyes: