Florida GOP Lawmaker Resigns After Scandal

(AP)  A state lawmaker under fire for leaving a message filled with obscenities and a racial slur on a colleague's voice mail resigned Wednesday from the Florida Legislature.

State Rep. Ralph Arza had been urged to step down by fellow House Republicans and by Gov. Jeb Bush.

In a news conference Wednesday, Arza apologized for his actions and said he didn't want to distract from the work of the Republican-led Legislature.

"I do not want to be the story," he said.

Arza had acknowledged leaving the message on fellow Republican Rep. Gus Barreiro's voice mail last month, but said he was drunk.

He said he had learned that Barreiro had filed a complaint alleging he had earlier used a racial epithet when referring to Miami-Dade County school superintendent Rudy Crew, who is black. He used the same epithet in his phone message to Barreiro, who is Hispanic.

Arza resigned about an hour before a special House panel was set to begin hearings on whether to expel him.

"It's not really a happy day for anybody, I don't think," said Barreiro, of Miami Beach. "I think he made the right decision, the right decision, not only for himself, but I thought he looked at the bigger picture, which is the institution he represents. I wish him the best."

The Republican Party gets to choose a replacement for Arza in the general election, less than a week away, but Arza's name will still be on the ballot. The situation would be similar to what has happened in former U.S. Rep. Mark Foley's district, when the GOP replaced him with Joe Negron.

"Any vote for Arza would be contributed to the new nominee," said state Division of Elections spokeswoman Jenny Nash.

[bluestardad]

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST

[linfinster]

bunch of sheep being led to the slaughter, all of ya! when are u gonna get it thru yr *** heads that politics is all about money and power, the rest is all show. I make no correlation to this story, but that is my opinion.


Agnim, you're such an a hole sometimes!

[j-whitman]

And another one bites the dust

[Geneius]

Aw come on, The guy was drunk. That excuses everything. He just needs to check in to rehab with Foley.

[huskerarmy]

"...can't even use the N-word these days without everyone giving him a hard time.
Whatever happen to the good old days?"

They're alive and well in some corners. Just as Harold Ford, Jr.

[agnim]

Dam!

A guy hispanic guy (who will swear that he's white) can't even use the N-word these days without everyone giving him a hard time.
Whatever happen to the good old days? LOL


http://cbs4.com/topstories/local_story_299225653.html

[gtorlando]

Republicans in Fla having a problem with booze and *** these days. I almost feel sorry for them .............not really.

[huskerarmy]

I've been living here in Texas, listening to this carp behind closed doors for years. But this year they seem to have gotten so comfortable with power that they are saying it publically and getting caught. Every time one of these biggots is outed, our country is all the better for it. About time...

[getcentered]

Republicans everywhere take note; your party is corrupt.

The GOP/Republican/conservative movement has lost ALL sense of what it is to be a Republican.

If your a CEO of GM or something or a blind follower of right wing media, then you'll probably still vote for a GOP'er, but you are just perpetuating the corruptness and the ignorance. Don't do it!

Complacent Republican fools.

Mr. President and GOP/Republicans everywhere:
You and your talking point robots of a constituency have lost my confidence. My vote is not going to be aligned with the GOP. Your party shows no willingness to show individuality, intelligence, and a freewill.
Mr. President, you and the GOP have failed us. WE WILL REMEMBER.