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Candidates are wasting our time

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published November 24, 2006

Re: Candidate controversy:

Let's see. On one hand we have a turncoat Democrat who changes to the powerhouse Republicans halfway through an elected term. This alone should have been cause for her to resign.

On the other hand, we have a turncoat Republican whose political affiliation apparently changed with the tides to the Democrats. A candidate whose faith in herself evidently isn't as strong as those who voted for her, considering that she didn't even live in the district.

A little advice to both candidates: Stay home, spend time with your grandkids, learn bridge or catch the early bird at Cody's. At least this would be something useful to do with your time.

(I am a registered Republican who voted for Rocco. An absolute waste of my time!)

Mark Gongre, Spring Hill

Robinson trying to steal election

I have followed the story about Rose Rocco's residency since Election Day. It is interesting to me that Nancy Robinson is attempting to steal the election from the voter, similar to what happened in 1982.

I also was accused of not living in the district, even though my voter's card and driver's license said I did. I was a qualified candidate and did take office. I also believe Rocco was and is a qualified candidate under existing law.

The law was changed in the early '80s, after my election, to allow a candidate to qualify to run without living in the district, but one must live in the district once elected. The intent of the Legislature seems clear: once you know you are elected, but prior to being sworn into office, you must reside in the district you are elected to. Why didn't Robinson bring this up before Election Day?

Bill Koenig, Spring Hill

Board must stop mourning past

Re: Coalition told it needs healing, Nov. 10 Times:

Perhaps it is time for the board members of the Early Learning Coalition of Pasco and Hernando Counties Inc. to stop mourning the way things used to be and the loss of Youth and Family Alternatives Inc.

It is time for the board members to embrace with enthusiasm and the spirit of cooperation the way things are today by supporting the executive director and staff of the Early Learning Coalition and the staff of Childhood Development Services Inc. in their efforts to provide quality child care for the children in Pasco and Hernando Counties.

Mary Anne Nowak, New Port Richey

Brown-Waite puts herself first

Re: Brown-Waite blisters Muslims, Nov. 10 Times:

U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite's diatribe in defense of reckless statements of ignorance made by MaryAnn Hogan, in addition to her FOX television interview, was not surprising. Brown-Waite's propensity for the inflammatory and the outrageous is well known to this writer, after having spent the past few weeks opposite her and her like-minded miscreants on the campaign trail.

Our "representative" loves the headlines. Throughout her tenure she has used fear to fuel the ingrained prejudice of certain segments of our community who happen to also be her core supporters. Her thoughtless grandstanding in seeking to exhume America's fallen heroes in Normandy was my first exposure to her mendacity, which was an insult to the tremendous sacrifice made by the veterans of D-Day.

Several months ago the Times published her derisive harangue of condemnation of those like me who were calling for a reversal of America's failed policies in Iraq. While she unerringly supported the Bush Iraq policy throughout her tenure in Congress, calling opponents of the Iraq policy unpatriotic and worse, she adjusted her position on Iraq to better coincide with public opinion pre-election.

The chameleon, true to form, has now returned to course. All of the major newspapers enabled and endorsed her. Brown-Waite's demonstrated record of fomenting hate and prejudice in our community, briefly noted above, was undeniably glossed over by the establishment media throughout the course of our campaign. She may be Catholic, but is decidedly un-Christian in her use of deceit and prejudice to fuel the xenophobic tendencies of her core supporters.

The Muslim community's experience with Brown-Waite is but another example of the "congresswoman's" use of fear and hate for personal gain. The people she and the Hogans characterize as terrorists are the same people who care for them when they are ill, and who donate their time and money to the poor. While speech may be free, yelling fire in a theater is lawlessness. She is gutless on the one hand, cunning and calculating on the other, and first and foremost does whatever is best for Ginny, not her constituents.

John Russell, Dade City

Editor's note: Russell, a Democrat, ran unsuccessfully against Brown-Waite, a Republican, for the 5th Congressional District seat.

[Last modified November 23, 2006, 22:30:27]