Campaign Crawlers
Crist and Rubio Joust
If their debate on Fox News Sunday settled anything, it’s that there could be a place for Charlie in the Obama cabinet.
The full-contact race for a U.S. Senate seat between former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, a red-meat conservative, and Charlie Crist, Florida’s ideologically agnostic governor, threw off a few sparks Sunday morning in a lively 40-minute debate on Fox News Sunday. Chris Wallace asked the questions, refereed, and broke the clinches.
Sunday’s match-up gave viewers across the nation a close-up and personal look at this high profile race, and instructed them as to why Crist has steadily lost ground to his conservative opponent in a pro-conservative, anti-incumbent year where big-government Republicans are as out of style as leisure suits.
Both fighters were standing at the end. But conservative Florida Republicans, those most likely to vote in the August primary, would find it difficult to conclude that Crist won even a single round. What they saw was a desperate Crist, behind in the polls and hobbled by having to run on a moderate-to-liberal record as governor, swinging wildly on credibility charges against Rubio. Charges that are themselves of questionable credibility.
Asked what was at stake, Rubio focused on his pledge to oppose the leftward lurch of the Obama administration and the Democratic Congress. He talked about the threats from the left to all things that have made America the free and prosperous country that it has been (though less free and less prosperous when the left, or compassionate conservatives, call the shots). He painted Crist as an Obama enabler. Asked the same question, Crist talked about Rubio’s haircuts and tax returns.
I’ve done an exhaustive review of the list of 100,000 top concerns Floridians have for their potential U.S. Senators. I was unable to locate “where the candidate gets his haircut and how much he pays for it” on the list. But Crist has been in politics for 18 years now, and may be on to something the rest of us just haven’t realized yet.
The haircut issue comes from a $134 charge Rubio placed on a Republican Party of Florida credit card when he was Speaker of the Florida House and traveling the state to recruit and support Republican candidates and causes. Of the $134 spent in a salon in Miami, Rubio has said $20 went for a haircut and the rest was for gift certificates purchased in the salon to be used as silent auction items at a Republican Party event. Crist knows this.
So the guy who supported Obama’s $787 billion “stimulus” slush fund before it was adopted and attempted to saddle Florida with its own carbon cap and trade program wants to turn trifling items such as this “haircut” charge into evidence that Rubio is untrustworthy and fiscally unsound. Good luck with that.
Crist also charged that Rubio was a lobbyist while he was in the Florida Legislature. Technically true because of a peculiar ordinance of Miami-Dade County, where Rubio practiced law, that obliges attorneys arguing land use cases before the county commission to register as lobbyists, though clearly they are not engaging in lobbying as that vocation is usually understood. Crist knows this. Even the reliably liberal St. Petersburg Times, which rarely misses an opportunity to criticize Rubio, says the lobbying while legislating charge is nonsense.
When Wallace was able to nudge the issue-averse Crist back to the subject of what voters are actually interested in, Crist didn’t help his case. He conceded that had he been in the Senate in 2009 he would have voted for Obama’s budget-busting slush fund saying, “It was the right thing to do at the time. The economy was literally falling off a cliff.”
And it continued over the precipice after the slush fund was adopted and $8.2 billion of “stimulus” money was spent in Florida. Crist makes the comically precise claim that 87,000 jobs in Florida, including the jobs of 20,000 teachers, were saved by slush fund spending. This has to be a dazzling example of new math (perhaps Democrat math), as 211,000 Floridians have lost their jobs since the slush fund was adopted, and Florida’s official unemployment rate is 12.2 percent, the highest rate since the state began keeping these statistics in 1970.
The national unemployment rate is 9.7 percent, more than two points higher than when Crist was trying to get the Florida Congressional delegation to vote for Obama’s hyper-spending plan rather than the targeted tax cuts and more seemly federal spending other Republicans were supporting. The slush fund was so popular in the Senate, which Crist wants to join, that only three Republicans voted for it: Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine, and Arlen Specter of Planet Specter, who is now a Democrat.
While we’re dropping names, Crist said that the U.S. Senators he admires most, and who he would presumably emulate if he went to the Senate, are John McCain (who Crist endorsed for president in 2008) and Lindsey Graham. Both are quirky guys who give conservatives the fantods, night sweats, large bowel complaints, and the odd case of lockjaw. Both are supporters of cap and trade. Both whooped up a 2007 immigration law, fortunately beaten back, which would have effectively given every person on Earth and on the closer planets a get-into-America-free card. They both gave speeches saying anyone who opposed their awful bill, which was a clear majority of Americans, were nativist yahoos.
Rubio says his favorite senator is conservative icon Jim DeMint, the South Carolina Senator who gets it. Gets it so well that he is one of the few to have earned a 100 percent rating from the American Conservative Union for his voting record.
Unlike Crist, Rubio said that had he been in the Senate he would have voted against the slush fund and instead would have lowered capital gains taxes, corporate taxes, and flattened tax rates. “The Stimulus was a failure,” Rubio said, demonstrating a firm grasp of the obvious.
Crist also bobbed and weaved on Social Security and other entitlement reform. He said he’s opposed to raising the retirement age for SS and claims we could fix things by eliminating that hardy Washington perennial (all together now), waste, fraud, and abuse. Rubio conceded that the retirement age for his generation — he will be 39 in May — may have to be raised, cost of living indexes recalibrated, and perhaps even means testing introduced to ensure Social Security will survive. It takes a sturdy testosterone count to say these sorts of things in retirement-haven Florida.
Other issues were touched on, but these are probably enough to demonstrate why Crist trails Rubio, depending on which poll you believe, between 11 and 32 points. And to understand why Crist is going negative, even though the stuff he’s going negative on is thin gruel indeed.
Perhaps when Crist loses in August, which barring a miracle he will, a grateful Obama will recognize the early support Crist gave his administration and will reward Crist with an appointment to the newly created post of Secretary of Haircuts.
About the Author
Larry Thornberry is a writer in Tampa.
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Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 3.29.10 @ 7:33AM
Just last week, Little Turbo Tax Tim Geithner released a report which shows Social Security is indeed in bad shape, currently looking at 15 trillion in unfunded liabilities. The same report shows that Medicare is looking at 45 trillion in unfunded liabilities. What does that harken for the health care unfunded liabilities? Unless these entitlement programs are required to be funded, we are headed for a greatly reduced standard of living. All collectivism leads to fraud, waste and abuse.
http://www.fms.treas.gov/fr/09frusg/09frusg.pdf
Howard| 3.29.10 @ 11:02AM
Of course facing this demographic and fiscal crisis, what is the Democrats answer? Of course, more entitlements. It is like the movie Animal House, when the frat members got their grades, the response was "toga, toga, toga."
Periwinkel| 3.29.10 @ 7:37AM
I listened to every word of that interview and am still amazed that Crist did not knock down Chris Wallace's description that Crist is "a John McCain/Lindsey Graham Republican." I have to ask if Charley Crist lives under a rock? Talk about out of touch.
Ret. Marine| 3.29.10 @ 7:43AM
I watched this interview and immediatly walked away, oh about after the second question for Christ, with the feeling of, if this is the best Christ can do he's toast. Rubio is a young gun, appears to more inclined to take risk and back up his rhetoric with simple and well thought-out plans that actually make some sense, good for him. It's time to get more of these young-guns where they belong, in a leadership position. Maybe We the People will get some real work done instead of all this division going n these days with the goats living off the lies. Hello, McLame.
ShopWholeFoods| 3.29.10 @ 7:54AM
Charlie Crist is Thelma to Obama's Louise. Guys like him are why the clowns on the Left are now running things.
Cris Worth| 3.29.10 @ 9:08AM
RINO Trifecta...Goodbye Charlie Crist/Lindsey Grahamnesty/Willard "The Rat" Romney
loulou| 3.29.10 @ 10:12AM
Unfortunately, we will be saddled with Grahamnesty until 2012. Or is it 2016?
Mel Torme| 3.29.10 @ 10:40AM
2014
Louis Jenkins| 3.29.10 @ 9:09AM
Fox and Friends is about the only national newsmedia program that I watch. Crist was petty with accusations about haircuts, were $6,000 went, etc. Rubio stayed on his cutting edge message while Crist just didn't seem to be in the fight. Rubio no doubt would be the better of the two representing Fla. in the District of Criminals.
Ryan| 3.29.10 @ 9:10AM
There's a few Crist supporters who are around, and it will be interesting if they show up to try and do some damage control.
Ken (Old Texican)| 3.29.10 @ 10:08AM
Yeah Ryan,
damage control like cleaning up the oil slick where Christ's ship went down, heh.
loulou| 3.29.10 @ 10:13AM
The Crist supporters are in reality Kendrick Meeks supporters. Trolls.
Anthony| 3.29.10 @ 11:32AM
Frankly, I don't know who made me sicker, Crist, or Juan Williams.
Fortunately, Crist is crispy done, as in toast. Apparently he knows it, because all he could do was resort to John Corzine like tacits, (fat jokes about Gov. Cristy, before Cristy finally kicked Corzine's corrupt ass out of office).
That said, unfortunately, Fox News Sunday is becoming harder and harder to stomach, as I just can't take the increasingly insufferable,"Clueless" Juan Williams any longer. Apparently, his NPR task masters have told Williams to crank it up a notch.
Williams' stupidity is matched only by his increasing arrogance and rudeness. Brit Hume and Bill Kristol should receive hazzard pay to put up with this partisan Obama shill. I love the looks Brit gives Williams, they say, "are you really that big of a F.... moron"?
Oh well, "fair and balanced" doesn't mean we all have to treat everybody equally in the smarts department, not yet anyway, that's coming.
Cincinnatius| 3.29.10 @ 6:55PM
Here, here Anthony! I continually wonder if Juan is actually stupid enough to believe the drool that he puts out. Maybe you have broken the code, NPR is leaning on him hard, because I can remember a few comments he has made in the past that have been lucid. He is a pitiful excuse for an analysis, he would bend kiss his own backside before he would say anything negative about Obozo though. However, Juan is a rocket scientist compared to the "wonderous" Marc Lamont Hill! NOW that's stupidity incarnate.
David| 3.29.10 @ 12:02PM
Chris Worth, don't leave forget about McCain, Bob Bennett in Utah, Kay Bailey in Texas, and Huckabee. Unfortunately, there is not much we can do about the Maine senators, but the others we can certainly marginalize in repub politics.
Oldefarte| 3.29.10 @ 12:43PM
I agree wholeheartedly with Larry's opinion of this debate. Crist should be toast, unless Floridians are morons. We need fighters, not enablers, pragmatists, and compromisers; and Rubio appears to fit that mold!!!!!
GW| 3.29.10 @ 12:51PM
Watched most of the debate, but was surprised with regard to both on immigration (which this article fails to bring up). Crist repeated that whatever efforts we do combating illegal immigration are in vain until the border is sealed (although he failed to say how he'd do so), and Rubio was in favor of offering illegal immigrants in state tuition rates at Florida universities. Rubio also offered this gem..."Republicans aren't the party of anti-illegal immigrantion, they're the party of pro-legal immigration." As a conservative, I can truly say I'm not. Maybe the Repubs are. But Republicans who think unrestricted immigration, even if it is legal, is a good thing are unaware of the social/economic problems brought about by the massive, 3rd world, unskilled immigrants who take full advantage of our entitlement programs, and then vote Democrat for added benefits.
Legal immigration still imports poverty. Back in the 1890s, we didn't have welfare or Medicaid or food stamps. Poor immigrants could not sneak back to their home country as it was across the Atlantic, not the Rio Grande. Republicans should not close the border, they should restrict legal immigration from non-European countries.
Ryan| 3.29.10 @ 1:49PM
It's a constituency issue in Florida. There is too much riding there, that an anti-immigrant stance is a losing one for any candidate.
I'm not quite in Rubio's camp on the matter, but to completely shut off the valve from Mexico is a bad idea. A legal immigrant solution with an expanded green card program is what we need. We NEED the cheap labor to some extent.
I would also state that the far-east Oriental population is much more productive than many European immigrants (of which there aren't many).
Northern Rebel| 3.29.10 @ 1:22PM
Old Tex:
Funny stuff, friend! I think Rubio should investigate where Crist gets the money to pay for all the tanning booth visits. Maybe Crist will come home to us now that they're being taxed.
Unfortunately, Jeb Bush supports Crist, in another political Palin/McCain type IOU. It's too bad because Jeb is the most conservative of the bunch, although One of the sons, a dark skinned stud who's name and parent escapes me, is said to be a rising star.
Don L| 3.29.10 @ 1:50PM
Northern Rebel, I don't know where you get your information, but you are incorrect regarding Jeb Bush supporting Crist. To this point, he has not formally endorsed anyone but behind the scenes, his son is actively supporting Rubio. Had a fund raiser for him. The belief here in Fl is that Bush will soon come out for Rubio.
Ron| 3.29.10 @ 2:45PM
Through the magic of reruns I watched that encounter a couple times yesterday. There is breaking the 11th Commandment and then there is obliterating it. What Crist engaged in made obliteration seem pale in comparison. If I were Rubio I would have left the studio and gone straight to a lawyer's office to discuss a libel/slander suit against Crist. What Crist did is exactly why so many people have disengaged from the political process.
Richard Baker| 3.29.10 @ 6:18PM
I love it when the supporters of illegal immigration keep calling those against it as being anti-immigrant. If you're legal and here then I'm glad to have you and thanks for choosing my country. We have MILLIONS on a seemingly permanent welfare payment status and we need illegal Mexicans? Not hardly. Go into Mexico illegally and see what the Mexicans do to you. The advantage for them is money sent to Mexico and getting the peons out of the country as a safety valve against Revolution. Send them home and let them fix their own pesthole country. Quit screwing mine up with your crimes, non-payment of taxes, and ghettos.
JmsA| 3.29.10 @ 9:10PM
What I can't fathom is how the great state of Florida elected governor someone like Mr. Crist? I also wonder whether or not GatorMom watched the debate, and if so, why she's holding back her anti-Rubio wisdom?
Run| 3.29.10 @ 9:38PM
Go into Mexico illegally and see what the Mexicans do to you. The advantage for them is money sent to Mexico and getting the peons out of the country as a safety valve against Revolution. Our online shop sales GHD range of GHD Hair Straighteners products. If you are buying GHD Straighteners and Ghd flat iron online through the internet, then we will give you more discounts.In addition, free postage.
Northern Rebel| 3.29.10 @ 11:43PM
Don L.:
Northern Rebel| 3.29.10 @ 11:44PM
Don L :
Jeb Bush was on Cavuto, saying he was in Crist's corner.
Bob| 3.30.10 @ 9:14AM
If you're a fiscal conservative, Rubio is the only choice here. While I give you guys a hard time here, listening to Crist make me ill. The problem is that Crist has a lot more money than Rubio and the seniors in Florida might not trust a young looking guy like Rubio. Crist has probably done some research that shows personal attacks against Rubio will get him some votes. I don't like it when you guys go over the top with Dem attacks and and I don't like it when Crist did the same with Rubio. Remember that most seniors are not fiscal conservatives -- they just don't want their social security and medicare cut and don't trust anyone that doesn't look like them.
Nick| 3.30.10 @ 10:58AM
Hey folks, in another thread, 3/5 Bob messed up and used his real name!
Ooops!
A quick google search found this entry at a classmate directory, along with his e-mail address:
"Robert Vollowitz Sparta NJ robert@vollowitz.net
After graduation I attended USC and obtained a degree in Mathematics. I then served in the Army and went to Vietnam. Upon my return, I attended Harvard Business School and received my MBA. I have four children from my first marriage. Three of them are married and have advanced degrees. I now live in NW New Jersey with my wife Stephanie. I am semi-retired having spent most of my career with a number of large corporations. My hobbies include cars, computers, and remodeling homes."
Bob| 3.30.10 @ 12:46PM
Congratulations, you now win the prize.... While you're at it, you can see my business site at www.ascentas.net. Google will bring that up as well.
MKV to iPad | 11.15.10 @ 8:40AM
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