Posted on 09/25/2004 8:27:38 AM PDT by nypokerface
Calling the federal agents who seized Elián González ''armed thugs,'' the campaign of Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mel Martinez chided Democratic opponent Betty Castor on Friday for campaigning with the U.S. attorney general who sent the shipwrecked boy back to Cuba four years ago.
The language provoked outrage from Castor's campaign and from the national union that represented the immigration officers who took Elián from his Miami relatives and returned him to his father at the behest of then-Attorney General Janet Reno.
''Those were law enforcement officers doing their jobs, risking their lives,'' Castor spokesman Dan McLaughlin said of the ''armed thugs'' comment. 'Regardless of anyone's politics, I think it is outrageous to think someone would call police officers working under those conditions `thugs.' ''
Castor said Friday that Martinez's comments sounded ``like a partisan political thing. I have a lot of support for Janet Reno and her work over the years.''
Reno, attending an event with Castor in Miami Friday, defended her decision in the Elián case, saying it had nothing to do with ``an election issue.''
While Martinez's comment may resonate with some Cuban-American voters, it could cost him support among moderate Democrats and Republicans.
Friday evening, Martinez spokeswoman Jennifer Coxe backed away from the ''armed thugs'' comment used in an e-mail to reporters, and called it a ``regretful term.''
``We have the utmost respect for the law enforcement community.''
The explanation did not satisfy Charles Showalter, president of the National Homeland Security Council for the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents 18,000 law enforcement workers.
'I'm very disturbed that anyone would call any federal law enforcement officers `thugs' '' he said.
Yeah... "risking their lives" to take a boy out of a closet.
'I'm very disturbed that anyone would call any federal law enforcement officers `thugs' '' he said.
Guess he's never been rousted out in the dark of night.
I'm sorry but in that situation they were thugs just like WACO.....
The agents were errand boys sent by the real thug Reno. Reno's actions resulting in Waco and the Elian travesty should earn her a toasty place in hell.
If the jack boot fits.
How about jack booted thugs?
Don't forget Ruby Ridge.
Darn tootin! Why in the world would make anyone think Fed agents are thugs??
Oh sure. Their lives were in danger. Donato might have hit them with a high-heeled shoe from that closet he was standing in. Elian could have poked the thug in the eye with a coat hanger between terrified sobs.
Don't get out much do you?
Martinez should publicly disavow it and fire whoever made it.
You are right-- RR was another Reno slaughter. I really consider her to be a sociopath.
Elián is the latest hurricane, right? Because I know NObody could still be talking about that little Cuban boy.
Any comments on this in the Cuban Americn community?
Martinez just lost my vote.
Exactly. The real thugs were Reno and Clinton.
'I'm very disturbed that anyone would call any federal law enforcement officers `thugs' '' he said.
I voted for Martinez in the primary, but wasn't aware of these comments.
Now, I will DEFINITELY vote for him in November.
The truth in your statement is exactly why our political system is broke. The balatant truth is too much for "moderates." Better to sugarcoat it. :<
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