Former Republican Florida Gov. Charlie Crist endorsed President Barack Obama on Sunday, calling him “the right leader for our state and the nation.”
Crist lost a bid for the Senate two years ago to tea party favorite Marco Rubio in a bitter battle that divided the state’s Republican Party. The moderate Republican ran as an independent in the general election after polls showed him losing the GOP primary to Rubio.
In his endorsement, which appeared in Sunday’s Tampa Bay Times under the headline “Here’s why I am backing Barack Obama,” Crist continued to criticize what he says is a Republican Party “pitched so far to the extreme right on issues important to women, immigrants, seniors and students that they’ve proven incapable of governing for the people.”
Crist also brought up last week’s GOP crisis over comments made by Senate candidate Rep. Todd Akin of Missouri about rape and abortion: “Look no further than the inclusion of the Akin amendment in the Republican Party platform, which bans abortion, even for rape victims.”
A draft of the platform calls for a constitutional amendment protecting human life, but includes no specific language about exceptions for victims of rape.
On the state of the economy when Obama took office in 2009, Crist writes: “The president’s response was swift, smart and farsighted. He kept his compass pointed due north and relentlessly focused on saving jobs, creating more and helping the many who felt trapped beneath the house of cards that had collapsed upon them.”
Crist’s endorsement of the president comes on the eve of the GOP’s nominating convention, the logistics of which have been complicated by Tropical Storm Isaac.
Florida Republican Party Chairman Lenny Curry called Crist’s endorsement “a repugnant display from a self-centered, career politician.” In a press release, he also pointed out past instances in which Crist disagreed with Obama’s policies.
And Curry invoked the crisis facing the GOP this week in criticizing the former governor: “For Crist to pull this Obama stunt while Florida faces a hurricane only proves Charlie Crist cares about just one thing: Charlie Crist.”
Smart Man, Former Republican Florida Gov. Charlie Crist!
When everybody around you that drank the Tea is foaming at the mouth ,
its best not to drink it!
I have to respect a man who has the courage to speak truth to power. Here is a profile in courage for real. This is someone who is looking beyond party affiliation to what is best for the United States citizens as a whole. I expect him to be attacked by his own for doing it.
Thanks for speaking the truth Charlie!
You said it in the article . . . because he’s a bitter old man!
Charlie is all about Charlie. Sore loser to Rubio and the writing is on the wall. Obviously he loves the kool aid and as always, his ego shines. All our Republican friends in Fl. partied when he lost.
Charlie Crist repeats the mantra of Olympia Snowe, Susan Collins and other RINO’s in the Republican party. They are no more concerned about the true beliefs of Americans who are against the killing of our unborn children. Their election coffers are lined with the millions from organizations that support the above, and there is no convincing them that the unborn need to be protected.
ideological purity above victory, eh?
“backward into the future”
that can be the slogan for your new party. your welcome.
Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins are two of the most respected legislators from either party.
If you’re calling them RINO’s, you’re admitting that the Republican Party is so utterly corrupt and deranged that there’s no longer room for those with honor or integrity within its ranks.
So do you even know what you said/ WHAT mantra of Sen. Snowe and Sen. Collins? These two senators shine and you dare to spit nasty rant. You are on the wrong page fella.
I am a snowbird that resides in Florida some of the year. I think Charlie Crist was a good governor and I applaud his support of Obama