State: 'Cute' e-mail lands state Rep. in hot water

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."

"It's that type of mentality that is prohibiting passage of a reasonable compromise immigration bill in Washington," Planas said. "As long as that festers, we're losing what the American spirit was all about."

A contrite Brown expressed regret. In a follow-up email, he wrote: "Please accept my sincerest apology."

"I wish I had not sent it out," Brown said in an interview. "I have apologized, and I will apologize again. In fact, I had not given it a whole lot of thought, which was my fault."

It's the second time in recent months that Brown has found himself at the center of controversy in the House.

In January, Brown, an insurance agent known for his outspoken style, was stripped of his chairmanship of the House Jobs & Entrepreneurship Council after he was one of only two lawmakers who opposed a major piece of insurance legislation.

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by Pat	07/08/08 04:05 PM
Why does America have to try and protect criminals? thats what they're doing. My mom is on a greencard. I have nothing against immigrants but growing up with my dad in INS I can tell everyone damn straight Brown has nothing to be sorry for.

by Josh	05/05/07 01:19 PM
It's true. Illegal immigrants are criminals. How dare hispanics say it is offensive. The illegal immigration problem is what is offensive! Brown should stand by his "joke" and say, yes sir, illegal immigration is of grave concern to Florida residents

by Bob	04/20/07 08:36 PM
Tired of hearing you can't deport 12 million illegals. It's not that hard. You deport 12 million illegals the same way you eat an elephant sandwich. ONE BITE AT A TIME.

by Jerry	04/20/07 07:47 AM
enter the U.S. illegally, march and protest in our streets under the cover of the Mexican flag and demand services they are not entitled to. The bottom line is that the truth hurts and we as Americans must put a stop to his nonsense.

by Jerry	04/20/07 07:40 AM
The people who are screaming the most are of course, Hispanics. The ILLEGAL ALIENS

by Marjorie	04/20/07 02:40 AM
Apologize? Maybe the parents of the two teenagers who were killed in Virginia by the drunk illegal should apologize for their children getting in the way of his car. That will be next. All illeals need to leave this country.

by Jessica	04/19/07 11:34 AM
I'm really sick of people making stupid comments like this it gets old after a while i am a proud MEXICAN who was born in CAlifornia.. the US is made of immigrants and the process to become a citizen is rediculous..we're still a segregated country..!

by Roxanna	04/18/07 12:51 PM
I see nothing wrong with his comment. I am tired of paying benefits for legal and illegal immigrants. We work hard to get where we are.My mom is from another country and never asked for a penny from the US government.

by Lisa	04/17/07 01:52 PM
His statement was true. He should NOT have apologized! America, Land Of The Free.....lunch, public assistance, medical care, education...you get the idea. Work hard and pay your taxes, ILLEGAL ALIENS ARE COUNTING ON YOU!

by Vanessa	04/17/07 11:22 AM
It's a shame that he is a represenative for the State of Florida. I saw nothing "cute" about his statement and I found it to be a very ignorant remark. We'll see if his "cute" e-mail will cost him his seat for re-election.

by Eileen	04/16/07 02:07 PM
Illegal is the main word. Taxes are real with real penalties. Everyday that I work a portion of my paycheck goes for taxes. No free ride here. Every paycheck would look better without taxes. What portion of the Illegal paycheck goes to taxes.

by Chris	04/16/07 08:58 AM
I don't see the real problem because I a hard working American can not afford health insurance and many of the illegals get better health care then I do. I say its about time that someone in government states the faacts with out everyone getting p.o

by steve	04/15/07 10:40 PM
I'm personally for open borders (Telling me who can and cannot be on land that _I own_ is a violation of my property rights), but I see nothing racist/offensive/worthmentioning in what he wrote.

by David	04/15/07 12:55 AM
Leonard, Your arguement is very flawed, the Indians lost the war, fairly or not, and as wars are won or lost, land changes hands.... the government that controls the country makes the laws concerning who is a citizen and who is not.

by David	04/15/07 12:48 AM
Wow, he should of just stood up for himself..... Why do people defend ILLEGAL immigrants, they are here against the law and they should be deported. Legal immigrants are not a problem in this country, illegal ones are.

by Gerry	04/14/07 11:02 PM
Now we must apologize, for making a true statement. I'd say find out who, in the house, does not understand this is a problem and vote them out.

by Bob	04/14/07 06:08 PM
Nothing "RACIST" about his comment. Law breakers come in all races.. ILLEGAL ALIENS ARE JUST THAT.. ILLEGAL, and they dont belong here. Let the hispanic caucus of leftists pay their way not my tax dollars.

by Mitchell	04/14/07 05:28 PM
I dont see whats racist in Mr Browns comments,we are in fact subsidizing illegal immigrants, he did not say hispanic immigrants ,asian, cuban or any other group were singled out so how can he be criticised and called racist for truth telling?PC crap

by Jim	04/14/07 05:10 PM
Racist How? It's the truth!Tax payers are paying for programs for the illegal aliens.The only thing Brown did wrong was not stand by his E-mail. The illegals put a burden on tax payers by being here. The only thing offensive is the borders failing

by BlackBuc	04/14/07 04:47 PM
Err... I think the illegal immigrants should all be thrown out of this country unless they pay their back taxes and server prison time for violating the law. THEY ARE CRIMINALS

by N.D.	04/14/07 02:17 PM
His thinking is RIGHT ON! In my opinion. Here in MI,we also have a large ?(not documented) number of people who are not here legally.My father,his parents,my grandparents,uncles,and aunts,came on the boat from Barbados, became a citizens,thrived.

by Will	04/14/07 01:34 PM
Political Correctness is a form of social tyranny and should be resisted at every opportunity by those who value their freedom.

by Doug	04/14/07 12:00 PM
Let's get this straight. Don Brown basically said sorry if you were offended. He never apologized for saying illegals such up tax dollars which they do. Give them hell Don Brown!

by Ronald	04/14/07 11:28 AM
GOOD HEAVENS, what was the legislation anyway? IT must have been to help Insurance companies to further build on its profit margin. BUT, all in all, it is the republican way, kick'm OFF if they don't do it our way.

by James	04/14/07 09:55 AM
I can't believe that you have to apologize about a real problem. The statement is true and only because he is in the public eye is he having a problem. I agree with him and we should enforce the LAW, Americans have to each day.

by drinklime	04/14/07 02:48 AM
The first amendment is dying a slow death

by Michael	04/14/07 12:51 AM
Since it is such a sensitive issue then maybe only illegal aliens should hold office.

by Larry	04/13/07 11:27 PM
Brown was right, no apology necessary, too many illegals already in this Country.

by Leslie	04/13/07 11:19 PM
Mr. Brown was right! And as another writer stated, the only people who should be offended are the illegals. What's up with all this "they may not like us" bull. Jimmy Carter thoughtfully arranged for them to receive Medicare right off the boat. Ha

by David	04/13/07 11:16 PM
The man said illegal aliens, not legal immigrants. The first should be deported, the second embraced. Isn't it time that the oversensitive among us simply shut up?

by S heldon	04/13/07 11:13 PM
Can any white person make any kind of statement without the PC Police attacking him or her?

by leonard	04/13/07 11:07 PM
unless you can claim that you're 100% Cherokee, Mohawk, Navajo, Ute, Sioux, Delaware, Cree or Huron...you're all illegal aliens...

by Mike	04/13/07 11:01 PM
The truth Hurts.

by your mom	04/13/07 10:44 PM
Are you kidding me?? Ok it wasn't the most politically correct, WWJD statement to make. But HOW is that racist? Are all illegal aliens of one race now? So the undocumented caucasians are now all legal?

by Diane	04/13/07 10:40 PM
I found nothing offensive about his e-mail. He did not specify any ethnic group. I think most Americans don't have a problem with immigrants; we have a problem with "illegal" immigrants. Come into the country the right way.

Politics

'Cute' e-mail lands state Rep. in hot water