England's Gordon Brown Dubs Concerned Citizen a Bigot for Asking About Immigration

England's Prime Minister Gordon Brown pulled a "Jesse Jackson" yesterday, when he said something into a microphone he did not know was on.

During a public "meet the people" opportunity, Brown encountered a British senior citizen and gave her a chance to ask him some questions.

Upon getting back into his vehicle, he muttered to one of his companions that she was a bigoted woman.

The woman, now known to be one Gillian Duffy, heard the remark. And so did the British media.

Duffy told the BBC and the United Kingdom's Telegraph that she had asked Brown questions about the national debt and immigration. Apparently, she pointed out her disappointment with the number of immigrants.

Duffy was upset to hear Brown's remark. She described herself as an ordinary woman and long-time supporter of Brown's Labour Party, who should be allowed to ask questions.

Brown's remark parallels America's Pro-Amnesty Legislators

Brown issued apologies today. But his comment that the woman is a bigot for asking about immigration is similar to those by Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and other U.S. pro-amnesty legislators who claim that citizens against open immigration for illegal aliens are unpatriotic and bigoted.

The "Tea Partiers" are often called bigoted because they do not want illegal immigration running rampant at the cost of their own taxpayer dollars; but this does not seem to be a legitimate argument to be coming from American citizens.

According to multiple sources (this report from The Weekly Standard remains online), Speaker of the House Pelosi and other legislative leaders have called the Tea Party movement and people who speak out against illegal aliens or healthcare reform everything from paid wealthy lobbyists to neo-Nazis.

Florida Representative reputed to be afraid to face the Tea Party crowd

Here in the Tampa Bay area last summer, the movement of citizens which was just beginning to be dubbed "tea parties" got a bad reputation coming out of the gate.

Tampa Bay's St. Pete Times reported that a meeting with U.S. Rep Kathy Castor (D) was supposed to be for a Service Employers' Union only. But one poster was mistaken as inviting the public. When the public was not allowed in, the crowd became angry.

Because of a few people who became physical, the image of those who are peaceful conscientious objectors became tarnished. Name calling like bigots, gun-toting extremists and worse were thrown around town.

Castor's office then gave confusing messages about other public meetings she would hold to discuss issues like healthcare and immigration reform. Several meetings were cancelled, and Castor scheduled an open Web telephone call in their place. But when people called in, no discussion ever came on the line.

Around that time, a Tampa branch of the national 912 Project was formed so that Tampa area citizens could get an audience with government officials and candidates. The members actively promote and attend meetings, public hearings.

Sources:
-"Profile of Gillian Duffy, the voter PM called bigoted," BBC Election 2010 coverage, 4/28/10,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/election_2010/8649476.stm.
-"Gordon Brown gaffe: Gillian Duffy's reaction..." 4/28/10,
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/7645349/Gordon-Brown-gaffe-Gillian-Duffys-reaction-to-Gordon-Browns-bigoted-woman-comment.html.-"House Democrat Leaders: Tea Partiers are Racists, Nazi, Gun Nuts," Weekly Standard, Brian Faughnan, 4/16/09, http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2009/04/house_democrat_leaders_tea_par.asp.
-"Protestors in Ybor City drown out healthcare summit..." Adam C. Smith, St. Pete Times, 8/7/09, http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/article1025529.ece.
-Tampa 912 Project, http://www.meetup.com/tampa912/.