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Bush blasts couple's comments

Mary Ann Hogan responds that she’s been left cold by some of the governor’s statements, too.

By ASJYLYN LODER
Published November 1, 2006

Gov. Jeb Bush on Wednesday strongly condemned a Hernando County commissioner and his wife for calling Islam a “hateful, frightening religion.”

“There is no room for bigotry and hatred in the state of Florida,” said Alia Faraj, Bush’s communications director.

“The governor is extremely disappointed in their inappropriate comments.”

Bush appointed Commissioner Tom Hogan Sr. in August. Hogan is a prominent Republican activist, co-founder of Hernando County’s Republican Party, and a GOP state committee member for four decades.

Faraj said Bush is “outraged” and found the Hogans’ comments “extremely offensive.”

“That’s too bad,” countered Mary Ann Hogan on Wednesday, defending her views. “But I’ve been disappointed in some of the things he’s said as well.”

Tom Hogan said, “I’m not seeing that as bigotry, because I don’t feel bigoted on it. It’s just a matter of fact.” He also said many people had called him Wednesday to voice their agreement and support.

Meanwhile, the nation’s largest Islamic advocacy group called on politicians to condemn the couple’s remarks.

“Anti-Muslim rhetoric in our society is growing to alarming levels. This disturbing trend can only get worse unless top religious and political leaders speak out strongly against Islamophobia,” said Ibrahim Hooper, communications director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

“What we’re seeing nationwide is a tremendous uptick in anti-Muslim rhetoric,” Hooper said, citing vandalism of mosques in Maine, Texas and Missouri. The rhetoric leads anti-Islamic extremists to lash out violently against Muslims, he said.

The Tampa chapter of CAIR asked Gov. Bush to remove Tom Hogan from office, said executive director Ahmed Bedier. Given that Hogan has less than a month left in his term, it’s unclear whether the governor’s office would pursue removing him now.

The group also said it would call on gubernatorial candidates Charlie Crist and Jim Davis to condemn the couple’s remarks.

The Hogans are widely considered the first couple of Hernando County’s Republican Party. Tom Hogan Sr. co-founded the county Republican Executive Committee in the 1960s and served as its first chairman.

Mary Ann Hogan served as a state committee member, then as the party’s chairwoman during the 1970s. A former School Board member, she remains active in the party and Republican clubs and serves as a GOP precinct captain.

The other county commissioners, including two fellow Republicans, blasted the remarks. Commissioners Chris Kingsley and Commission Chairwoman Diane Rowden, both Democrats, said Hogan should resign his seat.

Commissioner Nancy Robinson, a recent Republican convert, said, “It’s an unfortunate occurrence because we are a very diverse community with people from all backgrounds and religions.”

A letter by Mary Ann Hogan to the St. Petersburg Times touched off the furor. She objected to the county’s assistance to a local mosque’s celebration of the Muslim holiday Eid al-Fitr, marking the end of Ramadan on Oct. 23.

“Don’t the administrators of this county know that in honor of Ramadan the Muslims in Iraq have killed an even greater number of our soldiers and Marines than in the preceding months?” she wrote. “The stated goal of the Muslim faith is to kill us, the 'infidels.’ By providing county employees for their use Hernando County is sanctioning this hateful, frightening religion.”

Dr. Adel Eldin, a local cardiologist and Muslim community leader, helped organize the mosque event. He donated $200 to the county parks department to borrow some outdoor children’s games, explained Pat Fagan, director of parks and recreation.

The games are available to any group for a $50 deposit, Fagan said, adding that a county employee dropped off and picked up the games, but the delivery took place during regular business hours and didn’t cost the county any overtime pay. The department planned to send one staffer to help out. After a complaint by Tom Hogan, the county decided that it was inappropriate to use county resources to staff a religious event, Fagan said.

Eldin said he’s met the Hogans on several occasions and found them unfailingly polite. He said Tuesday their comments shocked and saddened him but declined to condemn the couple, saying he would pray for them instead.

Mary Ann Hogan said Wednesday, “I’d just as soon he didn’t call me to the attention of Allah, since Allah wants to kill all infidels. I’d just as soon he didn’t pray for me.”

Asjylyn Loder can be reached at aloder@sptimes.com or (352)754-6127.

[Last modified November 1, 2006, 21:21:28]