Reaction To Florida Congressman's "Crazy" Comments

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FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM ) - Disparaging remarks during a congressional committee meeting are drawing the ire of many Texans tonight. The exchange came as Congressman Michael Burgess (R Texas) and Congressman Alcee Hastings (D Florida) debated health care issues. Here's an excerpt as the two disagree over whether the states or The White House are to blame over impasses in the debate:

Burgess:  "We might be talking about a entirely different situation..."
Hastings: "Had the administration worked with the governors? Had the governors worked with the administration we might not be in this position. I don't know about in your state, which I think is a crazy state to begin with, and I mean that just as I said it."

It's not what people expected to hear at The Fort Worth Livestock Show as we asked them to listen to a recording of the hearing.

"He's talking some ____!" exclaimed Yafa Ezra from Houston as she heard the first exchange.

Everybody who listened had an opinion about exchanges like the following:

Burgess: "Mme. Chair, he made a defamatory statement about my state which I'm not going to stand here and listen to."
Hastings: "Well fine then you don't have to listen. You can leave if you choose. I told you what I think about Texas. I wouldn't live there for all the tea in China and that's how I feel."

"I can't say my comment," said Natasha Simmons, a native Texan. "I'm thinking what an ass!"

"It's indicative of what politics have turned into," said Dale Pedretti, visiting the show from Wisconsin. "Just name calling and finger-pointing."

"The whole attitude in general against the state," Simmons said. "And then turn around and not having enough respect to apologize and be civil when they're sitting right there?"

"This is part of the United States," Ezra said. "This is not some Middle Eastern country! This is bad what he is saying. I love Texas. I say don't mess with Texas."

It seemed how much the exchange offends people, though, depends on what side of the Texas border they're from.

Matt Bennett from Oklahoma said, "If the gentleman thinks he needs an apology then I agree. But, then again if that's his opinion that's his opinion."

Mark Hollar from Brenham, Texas said, "I think he needs to come to Texas and he'll get a little answer from us about that."

When asked if it would be a good or bad answer the Floridian would receive Hollar said, "Probably not something he'd like I don't imagine!"

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