politics

WASHINGTON — Michael Brown rips one of his former inquisitors, Sen. Norm Coleman, in the upcoming issue of Playboy magazine.

Brown, the former head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, was criticized by Coleman, R-Minn., at a Senate hearing in February looking into the government's sluggish response to Hurricane Katrina last year.

"He came in there and started saying I didn't show any leadership,'' Brown recalled. "He kept chastising me. I said, 'OK, now ask me a question. Give me the specifics so I can respond to it.' And he turned and said, 'Well, I'm sorry. I'm out of time, and I've got to go.' He got up and left.

"What kind of man is that? If you don't have the guts to sit there and listen to my response and ask me questions about my leadership, then screw you!''

At the hearing, the transcript shows, Coleman told Brown: "You didn't provide the leadership. Even with structural infirmities, strong leadership can overcome that, and clearly that wasn't the case here.''

Brown responded that he resented that comment.

"I've admitted to those mistakes. And if you want something else from me, put it on the table and you tell me what you want me to admit to,'' he said.

"A little more candor would suffice,'' Coleman said. "Thank you, Madame Chair.''

"How much more candor — what more candor — ask me the question, Senator. Ask me the question,'' Brown said.

"Thank you. I think my time is up. Thank you, Madame Chair.''

Asked for comment Wednesday, Coleman issued a brief statement: "The facts show that Michael Brown didn't do his job. End of story.''

In the same Playboy interview, Brown called Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., "that little twerp'' for harshly criticizing him in another hearing.

Responded Taylor: "Brown is an incompetent fool, and everyone in South Mississippi knows it.''

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Fred Frommer can be reached at ffrommer(at)ap.org