Comments:Furor continues a week after Rep. Brown-Waite's "foreign" comment

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Left-wing bias anybody?

She wasn't spreading hate speech. She was just pointing out that residents of Puerto Rico don't pay income taxes, so she feels they shouldn't get a refund they are not due, just as illegal immigrants shouldn't get a refund they are not due since they don't pay taxes. --Kitch 03:42, 5 February 2008 (UTC)

She said "foreign citizens," which they're not. And I'm actually a registered Republican, so you can kindly stop with accusations on my writing or what you perceive my politics to be. Thanks! TheCustomOfLife 04:21, 5 February 2008 (UTC)

It appears to be just a matter of an official completely screwing up a matter of established fact and then refusing to issue a correction. She could be meaning something else, but if that's the case it appears that she hasn't done a very good job of getting it across (IE. If she thinks they are really "foreign" and should be classed as such, she would need to say something like that ("... should repeal the Jones Law."). 68.39.174.238 15:29, 5 February 2008 (UTC)

I think she did herself in...

I'm going to bet that more or less, she's finished this year in Congress. Alienating a major minority in your constituency is a guranteed way to lose your seat. --TUFKAAP 04:30, 5 February 2008 (UTC)

A lot of her constituents are also in rural areas, where those kinds of comments, insensitive as they may be, do pretty much sum up opinion there. She'll have a hard time keeping her seat even with her supporters behind her, I believe. TheCustomOfLife 04:37, 5 February 2008 (UTC)

I think she 'got it right'

Upon reflection I think the Hon. Congresswoman got it right. They are 'foreign citizens' - the term at first caught my eye as a probably 'poor use of English', but upon consideration it may be the most correct term available.

Unlike 'Domestic Citizens' they either don't pay federal income tax, OR have it retained for local use only.

Could some one explain to me why she should apologize for getting the facts straight?

24.129.114.64 05:02, 5 February 2008 (UTC)

It's a bad choice of wording, I believe. When the Sentinel told her that her wording was poor and showed her that her words meant this, and they were untrue, the Congress-y thing to do would have been to release a clarification. She didn't do that, which just inflamed people further. TheCustomOfLife 05:08, 5 February 2008 (UTC)

The 'domestic citizen' vs. 'foreign citizen' seems almost exactly like the wording used by the IRS to determine tax status. foreign citizen ISN'T foreign national. (I'm Bo, just not signed in..) 24.129.114.64 05:27, 5 February 2008 (UTC)

I can sympathize, but you know, her point was also to go "Americans need the money HERE, not THERE." Those words can be (and were) interpreted in an offensive manner. Personally, I can see both sides. She handled it very badly, though. When a sizable minority of her constituency wanted her blood in unison due to her words, that's not really the time for her to get indignant over semantics.

TheCustomOfLife 05:29, 5 February 2008 (UTC)

But her constituents are those HERE not THERE ! When a 'sizable minority' want her blood for indicating that taxes collected 'HERE' should stay 'HERE' (like happens normally in Guam), not be sent to places where they aren't collected (PR), it may be exactly the right time to stand up for truth and the proper (not PC) use of the English language.

I'm sure a better way of saying it might have been found, but I'd not recommend backing down at this point. She'll not get back the PR vote, (if she ever had it), and would likely drop some points among the 'native Americans'. (Still Bo) 24.129.114.64 05:38, 5 February 2008 (UTC)

Many of her constituents are Puerto Ricans, and they are very passionate about their identity, whether they are living away from the island or not. I don't think anyone, you, I, or anyone else should tell them they're "wrong" for feeling that way. We're not them. TheCustomOfLife 05:57, 5 February 2008 (UTC)

Actually, that isn't the point you first brought up. Your first point was that she was 'wrong' in identifying Puerto Ricans as 'foreign citizens' - when in fact residents of Puerto Rico are 'distinct' in fact and in law from 'domestic citizens'.

How you can say I don't have right to tell the 'Puerto Ricans' that they are 'wrong' when they wish to export income tax dollars to a commonwealth that doesn't pay into the income tax system, while feeling perfectly at east telling the Congresswoman she is 'wrong' to publicly comment on their special tax status.

I have no problem telling them it is wrong to expect my income tax dollars to be exported to a commonwealth whose citizens don't pay into the income tax system.

By-the-way, wouldn't they have had to become, at least technically, Floridians to be her constituents? You can't still be 'Georgian' and vote in a Florida Congressional election - but I suppose that may be another way the citizens of the 'commonwealth in free association' with the US is different from the 'Domestic Citizen'. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.129.114.64 (talk) 06:10, 5 February 2008 (UTC) (sorry, I'm still Bo!)

Unfortunetly Bo, your are as confused with the English language as the congresswoman. Luckily for us, you can retain your citizenship and still not know the english language. So lets drop the politics and get down and dirty with, I don't know, how about the definitions of the words the congresswoman used (and the one you addded "national" and "domestic") for•eign–adjective of, pertaining to, or derived from another country or nation; not native: foreign cars. do•mes•tic-adjective of or pertaining to one's own or a particular country as apart from other countries: domestic trade. cit•i•zen–noun a native or naturalized member of a state or nation who owes allegiance to its government and is entitled to its protection: (distinguished from alien) na•tion•al–noun a citizen or subject of a particular nation who is entitled to its protection: U.S. nationals living abroad. : U.S. nationals living abroad. hmmm. It would seem to me that taxation has nothing to do with citizenship. Additionally it seems that national and citizen are synomus. Let me know if you need me to define that word as well. So the term "foregin citizen" as you try to describe as a foreginer American is actaully nonsense. Let me define that for you: non•sense-noun: 1. words that make no sense. 2. foolish or unacceptable behaviour. 3. an absurd or unthinkable scheme, situation, etc. So it can only be interpeted (if you care about the english language and all) is to mean a citizen of a foreign country... which Puerto Ricans, Guamanians, and everyone else the congresswoman was refering to are not, per US law. Sorry folks, no matter how you spin it the congresswoman was wrong. -- I do not know how to sign but I want to... I am more adept and the Enlish language than wikinews

Liberal or conservative, most people wouldn't consider Puerto Ricans to be citizens. I see no problem with her comment. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 216.2.193.1 (talk) 14:18, 5 February 2008 (UTC)

Is that because of a sincere belief of that, or because PR (Along with the even LESSER known USVI) is rarely brought up or remembered (A genuine question, I'm not being rhetorical)? 68.39.174.238 15:31, 5 February 2008 (UTC)

RIOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is all. -161.88.255.240 15:41, 5 February 2008 (UTC)

Guam, a U.S. Territory, home of American citizens

Are you kidding me?!

Tax rebate or no tax rebate.......what is most offensive is the remark referring to Guamanians (and Puerto Ricans) as "foreign citizens." Guam, a small island in the middle of the south pacific, has incredible strategic significance for the United States. The island, which is only 30 square miles in size, will soon be home to approximately 20,000 marines via Okinawa. This means practically a 20% increase in population that local residents have no choice but to support. Not to mention multitudes of young Guamanian men that have enlisted their lives to serve with in the U.S. military to protect life and liberty. Approximately 1/3 of the island is owned by and dedicated to U.S. military use, including pristine beachfront and cliffline properties considered to be the most valuable and sought after real estate. These sacrifices on the part of the Guamanian (and Puerto Rican) people should be proof enough of their patriotism. The remark that Guam (and Puerto Rico) residents are foreign citizens indicates the most embarrassing kind of ignorance on the part of U.S. Rep. Brown-Waite. A formal apology should be sent to the citizens of Puerto Rico and Guam who are just as American as Rep. Brown-Waite herself.

Born and bred American.... Beverly Brady, Tumon, Guam —Preceding unsigned comment added by 202.123.148.65 (talk) 03:35, 6 February 2008 (UTC)

Ginny Brown-Waite Comments

I am totally upset at Mrs Waite's comments toward U.S. citizens that she has labeled "Foreign". I am a native of Guam, a U.S. territory which on my birth certificate it indicates that I am a U.S. citizen, not "Foreign Citizen". Everyone of my family members and friends also have the same birth certificates that indicate they too are U.S. citizens. How could someone that is supposedly educated and responsible for making laws be so irresponsible in making such inappropricate comments like Mrs Waite? I'm sure she is smart enough to check all her facts and the fact that "Foreign Citizens" don't pay federal taxes is not true. I have paid federal taxes all my working life and continue to pay. Now I see a couple issues with Mrs Waite's comments, first she targets groups of U.S. citizens and labels them as "Foreign Citizens", secondly she makes them less important by indicating they don't deserve part of the Stimulus because they don't pay taxes, which we do. I am very disappointed with her comments and I would hope she does something to correct her remarks and give an apology to all the U.S. citizens from the U.S. territories like Puerto Rico and Guam. I'm sure this is going to be a topic of discussion during the next election year for Mrs Waite.

Richard Wesley Chapel