Campaign Crawlers
Charlie Sees Red
In the ultimate tribute to his opponent, Charlie Crist is suddenly pretending to be the true-blue conservative in the Florida Senate race.
(Page 2 of 2)
Lakeland is a civilized place where visitors are treated graciously. This may be the only reason that no one in the audience yelled out, "You lie!" Crist's record as governor, the office he was elected to in 2006, cannot be tortured into a conservative mold. Even Crist wasn't trying to do this in December of 2007 when he was asked by a Sarasota Herald- Tribune reporter if he was a conservative. His answer was, "sure." Asked what being conservative meant to him, his less than reassuring answer was, "I don't know. It doesn't really matter to me. I'm not absorbed much by what labels people put on me."
But it matters now, when it appears conservatives are deserting him in division-sized units. Crist is spending some of his substantial campaign war chest on radio ads, some of them airing in Ft. Myers, where Crist went on stage to plight his troth to Obama's stimulus piñata. The ad says:
"Washington is out of control. Yet the president has the same tired answer for every problem: to spend more of your money. I'm Charlie Crist. I'm running for the U.S. Senate because Washington needs a dose of Florida common sense… In the last two years federal government spending has grown by over 25 percent. Here in Florida, I've slashed government by 10 percent. That's $7 billion…. Less government, less taxes. It's more than a slogan. It's my commitment and the record I bring from Tallahassee to Washington. We can't spend our way into prosperity or tax our way into growth. Let's cut the size of the federal government and return your family's money so you can decide how best to spend it. I'm Charlie Crist and I approved this message. "
Even for a political ad this is truly breathtaking in its hypocrisy and dishonesty. In addition to the about-face on Obama's stimulus, most folks paying even minimal attention know that Florida's constitution requires a balanced budget. So the $7 billion in reduced spending Crist is claiming credit for came about because the recession reduced the state's revenues and the Florida Legislature was obliged to cut spending. Newspapers and other media across Florida called Crist on this one.
If Crist had been saying things like he's saying now in his ads from the start of his governorship, and then following up on his rhetoric, he could now put his Senate campaign on cruise control. It's doubtful Rubio would even be in the race.
Instead Crist has been a political chameleon, changing colors every time the political winds change direction. More and more Floridians have begun to notice this. So another change from blue back to red may be problematic for Crist. If this is the case, it increases the chance that the U.S. Senate may have another conservative member beginning in 2011, rather than just someone for Olympia Snowe to go to lunch with.
About the Author
Larry Thornberry is a writer in Tampa.
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Pingback| 10.19.09 @ 6:51AM
Twitter Trackbacks for The American Spectator : Charlie Sees Red [spectator.org] on links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
drudge ette obama| 10.19.09 @ 7:03AM
I am still chapped over Crist and his sneeky support of Huckabee, that pushed out Romney, the better of the bunch last year.
Will the Republicans ever learn? They like getting gored by the RINOs.
Al Adab| 10.19.09 @ 3:25PM
Sorry Drudg ette,
Romney is a RINO. He signed state sponsered health care in Mass and don't forget his father's position vis a vis Goldwater. That being said, we hurt our cause by paying too much attention to the "who" and not enough to the "what". The priniciples are what matter not so much the spokesman.
loulou| 10.19.09 @ 6:48PM
Al Adab: You are correct. Romney is a RINO. He may be a good, smart businessman but he is a RINO nonetheless. As is Tim Pawlenty.
Melvin| 10.19.09 @ 7:50AM
With any luck the people of Florida will recognize Crist for what he is. A silver haired,botoxed, spray tanned carpet bagger that needs to be packed up and shipped off to Maine.
He'll be in good company with Olympia, and Miss Susan.
WhiteBikerTrash| 10.19.09 @ 9:35AM
The problem with this pairing of candidates is the people who have a stranglehold on the Republican party. They don't want Conservatives, they want control! Just like the Democratic party, and are willing to share with their brethren. They believe that they can control the election cycle! What they miss is that 23% of the voters are Conservative in belief, and will prefer to vote for no one, if a true Conservative is not put forward by the party. So, they lose the seat but hold the control, and the Democrats do the dirty work for them!!
Northern Rebel| 10.19.09 @ 11:02AM
He can't fool me! There are small piles of moderate shit everywhere he goes!
Red in WV| 10.19.09 @ 11:03AM
So sticking to conservative principles actually works? Would someone please explain this to idiots like Peggy Noonan and Susan Eisenhower? This RINO bimbos are like eighth grade girls, Snowe and Collins too, and Crist is their Prom King. Sorry, Obama is their Prom King, Crist is Student Council President.
Al Adab| 10.19.09 @ 3:23PM
Red:
What we all call RINOs actually are the Republican party. The Conservative base is only a minority within the GOP. Although we have been the source of whatever success the party has enjoyed over the last 30 years. Electing accomodationists works to our disadvantage.
Pingback| 10.19.09 @ 11:28AM
Political Wisdom: Are Young Votes Checking Out on Obama? - Capital Journal - WSJ links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
AL | 10.19.09 @ 11:42AM
This article forgot to mention the $800 billion in new fees that Charlie Crist signed off on to balance the state of Florida's budget. These fees targeted everyone from small business, to Joe Blow 6-pack.
Crist also should be chastized for not keeping his campaign promise when he ran for governor to lower taxes and fix the property insurance problems in this state; property insurance that includes a public option with Florida's own Citizen's Insurance, crippling the property owners with huge increases in premiums.
M Jackson| 10.19.09 @ 12:31PM
Check me on this but shouldn't Crist have said "less spending and fewer taxes" not "less spending and less taxes"?
jj| 10.19.09 @ 2:32PM
I'm not a Floridian, but I hope the good folks down there throw Crist out on his butt. All states need to be holding their RINO's accountable moving forward. Let's get them out and keep them out of Washington. We have got to have an opposition party.
Steve in Fla| 10.19.09 @ 2:51PM
I have been pissed off about "Charlie" for quite a while. He created our revenue shortfall by lowering property tax millage rates as the housing bubble was bursting. My taxes went down about $76! Wow, a dinner for four at Red Lobster. The impact on education was devastating!
Al Adab| 10.19.09 @ 3:20PM
This behavior is one (if not the main) reason Conservatives are tired of the GOP. Pretences in election years to salve the feelings is no longer enough, if it ever was.
The Conservative movement brought the GOP success in 1980 and 1994. Without that leadership the GOP just falters in a sea of accommodationism.
Unless the movement re-invigorates the GOP and shows adherence to strong principles there is little future left to any of us.
Louis Jenkins| 10.19.09 @ 3:36PM
Miami Herald 10-19-09
``The governor clearly has a problem with the base of the Republican Party,'' said Sid Dinerstein, chairman of the Palm Beach County party. ``The first question you have to ask in a primary election is: Are voters ready to get rid of someone they once favored? The answer is yes, the Republican Party is willing to get rid of Charlie Crist.''
Anything 'Obama' is a negative for a conservative or RHINO. Adversity from the base affects aspirations to an office and can change the attitude of a politician in a hurry. Mission creep affects all politicians in some form or fashion, but its worse when its a so called Conservative!!
Jim O'Brien| 10.19.09 @ 3:52PM
Rubio supports the Fair Tax legislation, already introduced in Congress, which would eliminate the federal income tax, eliminate the IRS, and result in unprecedented economic growth. (See www.fairtax.org)
If Crist announced his support for the Fair Tax, I might even vote for him. Still, I am suspicious that he would be just another fake conservative.
2Anglico| 10.19.09 @ 4:00PM
Steve in FLA, would you have us believe that a dinner for 4 at Red Lobster ($76), per house in Florida would solve the education funding "crisis" you lament?
Orlandocajun| 10.19.09 @ 4:25PM
2Anglico, maybe if you multiplied that $76 times several million homes we might. 5million homes at that rate is $380million. Yes, I would have to say that the education funding crisis would be solved.
Dunnellonrider| 10.20.09 @ 7:45AM
380 million out of a state and local education budget of 18,386,876,554 is 2% of the total. A 2% reduction in a recession with revenues falling at a much higher rate os good management.
I am sure there is 2% of waste that can be found in any budget. Also if you don't want the $76 send it to you county I am sure they will take it!
jr| 10.19.09 @ 5:24PM
As governor, Crist had a line item veto choice to spend or cut. He chose spend. Democrats choose spend. Crist is quiet about off shore drilling. I guess we don't need oil, there is plenty in the arab-islam world. Is that a major contributor to the trade deficit? I forget.
John OB| 10.19.09 @ 6:11PM
Snap shot: Barack Obama and Charlie Crist share the same podium. Plaster that picture around the state for the next two weeks. It's worth a million words-oops-I mean votes.
Richard Baker| 10.19.09 @ 7:08PM
Crist is a serial political chameleon who needs to leave. As a Florida voter, I want him GONE.
kerry| 10.19.09 @ 9:25PM
we need to remove and/or prevent RINOs from getting into office. Put your email where your mouth is and go to removerinos.com and help support a better candidate!
北京汽车租赁| 10.19.09 @ 11:23PM
The first question you have to ask in a primary election is: Are voters ready to get rid of someone they once favored? The answer is yes, the Republican Party is willing to get rid of Charlie Crist.''
Pingback| 10.20.09 @ 12:08PM
Twitter Trackbacks for The American Spectator : Charlie Sees Red [spectator.org] on links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Repubtallygirl| 10.20.09 @ 12:47PM
This Conservative from North FL will be voting for RUBIO!
Crist - At the last minute got into bed with McCain, hoping for a VP bid, when he didn't get it, the RPOF did nothing for McCain.
Crist has expanded gambling, after campaigning that he wouldn't.
Crist signed a budget including $2.2 billion in new fees and taxes.
Crist appointed 2 liberal judges to the FL Supreme Court.
Crist has been slowly undoing all of JEB's policies.
CRIST is NO conservative.
CurlEgirl| 10.20.09 @ 1:43PM
I am a conservative that has HBO and they are airing a movie "OUTRAGED". Charlie Crist will NEVER have my vote......NEVER.
Debbie| 10.20.09 @ 8:51PM
I will be looking into this Maro Rubio. I will try my best to work for anybody that opposes Crist. He fell all over himself with the governator or California came to Florida and talked about he wanted to adopt California's environmental policies. The same policies that are killing California.
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