75 march against Rep. Brown-Waite

By John Frank, St. Pete Times Staff Writer

February 29, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Puerto Rican civic groups and Democrats from across Florida rallied outside U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite's office Thursday, demanding an apology for her statement labeling residents of Puerto Rico and Guam "foreign citizens."

Holding handmade signs that read "Puerto Ricans are Americans too," about 75 people marched two blocks to the steps of the Historic Courthouse where several speakers led the crowd in English and Spanish chants of "Vote her out."

"Where does she get the nerve to speak that way?" said Manny Mojica, a retired police officer who lives in Spring Hill. "What does it cost her to apologize? She's stirred up enough trouble already."

The crowd was smaller than the hundreds initially expected and the bulk - all but 15 or so - came from the Orlando and Melbourne areas, well outside the Brooksville Republican's district. The turnout disappointed local Democrats who sponsored automated phone calls to 3,500 Hispanic and African-American households in the five-county district inviting them to the rally.

Brown-Waite, who stayed home with her family Thursday, triggered a torrent of criticism on Jan. 29 when her office issued a news release announcing her reluctant support for President Bush's economic stimulus package.

In the release, Brown-Waite took issue with the original version of the bill, which gave rebates to residents of the U.S. territories and not those who live on Social Security, a major part of her constituency.
The next day, Brown-Waite's office issued a clarification saying "territorial citizens" would have been a more accurate description of Puerto Rico and Guam residents.

The argument became moot after Congress amended the bill to include rebates for Social Security recipients and the president signed it into law Feb. 13.

But ahead of Thursday's demonstration, Brown-Waite issued a dismissive news release about the protest that declared her first remarks were "entirely accurate," citing obscure U.S. tax code language.

"It is disappointing that the Orlando partisan race hustlers who traveled to Hernando County today have chosen to continue the politics of division," the statement read.

But it's not the issue that angered the crowd so much as the wording of Brown-Waite's original statement.

Raul Ramos said he agreed with her position but considered her words offensive.

"I'm here with a lot of us who feel bothered by the word 'foreign,'" said the 56-year-old Spring Hill resident. As a Republican, he voted for Brown-Waite in the last election but now he called it a "wasted vote" and vowed to support her opponent.

Many in the crowd promised political retribution, even those from outside the 5th Congressional District who can't vote against her.
So far this election year, Brown-Waite has competition from a unconventional Republican challenger, Jim King of Land O'Lakes, and if she wins the primary, two little-known Democratic opponents.
"We have the capacity to change the political scene in the state of Florida," said Jose Fernandez, president of the Orange County Democratic Hispanic Caucus.

It's a tough sell in Brown-Waite's district, where only 3 percent of residents claim Puerto Rican ancestry, according to the latest Census Bureau estimates from 2006. In general, Latinos of all ancestries total about 9 percent of her electorate, figures show.

But the uphill battle didn't deter the crowd.

"This is going to continue until she apologizes to the people in Puerto Rico and the people here," said Ernie Reyes of Spring Hill.