Former Florida Gov Charlie Crist Endorses Obama, Calls GOP ‘Far To The Extreme Right’

[SunsetDreams]

Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist endorsed President Obama for re-election Sunday. A former moderate Republican, Crist became an independent during the 2010 Senate race, and is often the subject of speculation that he might run for governor again as a Democrat.

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/charlie-crist-endorses-obama-calls-gop-far-to


Former Gov. Charlie Crist: Here's why I'm backing Barack Obama
By Charlie Crist, Special to the Times
In Print: Sunday, August 26, 2012

I’ve studied, admired and gotten to know a lot of leaders in my life. Across Florida, in Washington and around the country, I've watched the failure of those who favor extreme rhetoric over sensible compromise, and I've seen how those who never lose sight of solutions sow the greatest successes.

As America prepares to pick our president for the next four years — and as Florida prepares once again to play a decisive role — I'm confident that President Barack Obama is the right leader for our state and the nation. I applaud and share his vision of a future built by a strong and confident middle class in an economy that gives us the opportunity to reap prosperity through hard work and personal responsibility. It is a vision of the future proven right by our history.

We often remind ourselves to learn the lessons of the past, lest we risk repeating its mistakes. Yet nearly as often, our short-term memory fails us. Many have already forgotten how deep and daunting our shared crisis was in the winter of 2009, as President Obama was inaugurated. It was no ordinary challenge, and the president served as the nation's calm through a historically turbulent storm.

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.

More here:
http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/article1247631.ece



Edited to add:

Poll: More Fla. Voters Prefer Crist Over Scott In Hypothetical Governor’s Race

If he were to run as a Democrat in Florida's 2014 gubernatorial election, Charlie Crist would edge Gov. Rick Scott (R-FL), a new poll released Friday shows.

- more -

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/poll-more-fla-voters-prefer-crist-over-scott

[DonCoquixote]

1. Of course

This is where Charlie becomes a Blue Dog Democrat. Part of me is cheering, but part of me also knows I will have to vote for this creep to keep Rick Scott out of the Governor's mansion.

[Inuca]

3. He is a gazillion times better tha Scott

as is almost evrybody, actually, including that othre governor of yours Jeb (saw part of his interview on MTP this morning, he sounded pretty good, in relative terms, I am embarassed to say...)

[Baitball Blogger]

5. Are you suggesting that the Florida Dems can't field a better Governor candidate than Crist?

That's pathetic. Really pathetic.

[WonderGrunion]

26. The option isn't better, it's electability

It doesn't matter how good or liberal the candidate is if they can't beat the Republican.

[Baitball Blogger]

27. The Florida GOP is in a free fall.

This is probably the best time to find a leader for the Dems that will show the rest of Florida that it is no longer business as usual.

[Cosmocat]

29. I have a suspicion that Crist is a lot more to the "left" of center

than he could ever have been while governor.

[Cosmocat]

40. You live there

and certainly are more directly impacted and have a greater understanding and feel for what is going on.

As someone from outside of the state, I would say, pragmatically, if he gave you a better shot to win than whatever other option might exist, he would be OK. But, again, you have to deal with him.

In Pa. we had something somewhat similar with our senate race two years ago.

Joe Sestak is INCREDIBLE. A former admiral, a truly decent and smart man and a strong democrat. But, when Arlen Spector flipped to D for his reelection, the entire state party power structure got behind him. We were able to win the day with Joe in the primary and put Spector, thankfully, to pasture.

But, in an R wave election, the under the radar right wing extremist Pat Toomey beat Sestak by a small margin and we and you are stuck with Toomey as being one of the 100 or so most powerful people in this country.

I don't know if Spector would have won, I think he was drawing dead either way, but I would take him wearing blue over Toomey 100 times out of a 100.

Who knows.

[George II]

35. No, that WASN'T suggested, how do you come to that conclusion?

[DonCoquixote]

36. and this is a surprise because

Honestly, between alex sink backpedalung from obama, debbie wasserman schulz cozy with her friends in the GOP, there are times I wonder if the worst thing to happen to the GOP would be for Florida dems to close up shop. I still remenber the way certiain people here broke their no third party pledge tp shaft Meek, and the smug way we got blamed for arubio, not like a bunch of pumas got their pound of flesh for St hillary.

[SpankMe]

38. Florida *can* filed a better candidate than Crist.

But, they couldn't win with a more suitable candidate in such a purple state. Sometimes it's better to have a blue-dog "D" in high places if the alternative is an "R" of any temperament.

[Inuca]

2. Good for him

I wish he woul dhave done that (and switched to D) two yeras ago when he was running for Senate; might have avoided us having to deal with the awful and dangerous Rubio.

[Baitball Blogger]

4. No brainer there.

He was booted out of the Republican party and may face some legal consequences from the Greer situation which is the tip of the iceberg to how corrupt this state was during Crist's term as governor. Not blaming him, entirely, mind you, but Tallahassee's ruling class were referred to as drunk frat boys. Connected to a large law firm may sound like a safe house for him, right now. It's a shame that it's one that's a big campaign fund raiser for Obama.

I'm soon going to test Crist on his comment about learning from the lessons of the past. One of the key elements to make sure we don't repeat those mistakes, is to give the information to the public so they don't keep electing the same ethically challenged candidates.

[Agnosticsherbet]

6. First Jeb Bush criticizes Romney and calls for taxes and now Crist endorses Obama...

What we are seeing is the Republican establishment types abandoning the radicals that took over their party. They recognize that Obama is going to win, and are preparing to retake their party and shift it back incrementally toward the center to pick up the pieces after the train wreck.

Oh, I don't mean they are becoming leftists or something. What they know is that under the Tea Party leadership, Republicans have become a Radical Christian White Party and abandon corporate Conservatism of Reagan and the Bush's.

They are making their move to dominate 2016 with a party that will claim to return to the big tent and be inclusive.

The are not the first to do such a thing. Bill Buckley kicked the John Brichers out of the Republican party in the 50's and paved the way for its dominance.

Now, of course, it may not work. Just as the Whigs could not be jerked back form the Abyss, the modern Republican Party may not be salvageable. But you can expect to see the Bush's, Crist, and the establishment types in whatever Conservative Party replaces the RCWP party that's off the rails and headed into Eastwood Canyon.

[Baitball Blogger]

13. They need us more than we need them.

If we allow them to co-opt the recovery, nothing in Florida will change.

[dickthegrouch]

7. Rats beginning to run from sinking ship /nt

[darkangel218]

8. As a Floridian i happen to like Charlie Christ

I think he was a good governor. Now he works as a trial lawyer for a renown firm in Tampa.

I think the GOP got rid of him because of his sexual preference. I know he denies it, but someone who used to work with him told me it was true.

[Odin2005]

10. He's still in the closet?

[darkangel218]

11. as far as i know, yah.

And he should stay there if he wants to save us from R.S. Florida is a very judgemental backwords state , with a lot of old RW voters.

[valerief]

18. Okay, we know Dems don't care about sexual preference and it's a big whoopdeedoo

with Reps, but aren't *most* Rep pols closeted gays?

I see it like this. Hollywood, for example, was built by gay people. DC, another entertainment arena, was, too.

What's changed today that GOP can't accept Crist's closeted sexual preference? And don't say Xtian $$$$, because, well, they have the biggest closets.

[darkangel218]

22. I think the separation was mutual somewhat

He's a smart guy and probably got fed up with their BS.

[Baitball Blogger]

28. Actually, when Greer and other sordid types were booted out of the GOP,

is was more of an action of cleaning house.

The big hope is that Marco Rubio will be tainted by it as well.

[Cosmocat]

30. That and being a moderate

They will abide a properly closeted gay man if he is really strident in his right wing extremism.

But, Crist simply was too moderate, by their standards and coupled with his being gay, he was dead to them.

Put a good looking younger R who is willing to toe the wingnut line 100 percent, and that was the end for Crist.

[Odin2005]

9. I'm not suprised.

[FightForMichigan]

12. ?

Question for Floridians - how much sway do you think this will have on Florida undecideds/slightly favor Romneys?

[darkangel218]

15. I think a great deal. Most floridians loved Charlie C.

[Baitball Blogger]

16. None at all.

Crist already broke ranks with the GOP/Republican party, so diehards aren't even listening. Those are the ones which might have made an issue over his sexuality, so, nothing lost there. The Florida Indies know that something stinks about the Greer situation.

Crist will attract the interest of Chamber of Commerce type/blue dog insiders who liked the old way of doing business.

[ProSense]

14. Adding to that:

from a couple of weeks ago:

Poll: More Fla. Voters Prefer Crist Over Scott In Hypothetical Governor’s Race

If he were to run as a Democrat in Florida's 2014 gubernatorial election, Charlie Crist would edge Gov. Rick Scott (R-FL), a new poll released Friday shows.

- more -

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/poll-more-fla-voters-prefer-crist-over-scott

[SunsetDreams]

17. Thanks

I added that to the OP

[Baitball Blogger]

19. A wet rag would beat out Rick Scott.

[SunsetDreams]

20. Yeah that's why the Republicans

are slamming Crist endorsement. It means nothing at all

[Baitball Blogger]

21. I just can't believe that Dems are going to put themselves in a position

of defending Crist if he runs for Governor, when the GOP can milk Greer for the kind of information that will knock the Dems out of another governorship position.

And I think you underestimate the Florida GOP's dislike for Crist. They don't need a rational reason to slam him.

Why can't Florida have a real Democrat who isn't connected to the old guards? Is that too much to ask for?

[SunsetDreams]

23. You just keep right on slamming Crist

He made an endorsement, and I for one am enjoying their party fall apart.

[Baitball Blogger]

24. At least you referred to it as "their" party.

The whole truth about the old Florida guard is yet to be revealed. Once it's out, I hope people will respond with intolerance to their kind.

The good news is that Crist isn't an issue for this election. We still have time to look for a valid Dem replacement.

[SunsetDreams]

25. I guess we will see if he isn't an issue nt

[NYC_SKP]

32. Republicans are endorsing our foreign born muslin messiah!

Everything is going exactly as planned.

[darkangel218]

33. lol!

[Chorophyll]

34. If I could rec a comment...

[mick063]

37. The teabillies are hanging on by a thread.

But as long as FOX is influential, they will always have their foot in the door.

Moderate Republicans will indeed join and move the Democratic party to the right, but the Tea Party is extremely dangerous.

We are in triage mode and the first order of business is to mitigate the infection.

Moderate Rebublicans are for smaller government, not destroying government. They have a legitimate philosophy that I happen to disagree with. There is a middle ground somewhere. I don't care for an old Soviet style government where the government ran everything as much as I don't care for the excessive political power that our financial institutions currentley have. Both extremes are not good.

I think a FDR model is about right.

[spanone]

39. run charlie, run....