Gov. Crist lauded by African-Americans, called 'first black governor'

[Mike Daniels]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sfl-flfcristblacks1011nboct11,0,5275138.story?coll=sofla_tab01_layout


I admittedly don't know all that much about Crist but it sounds like the Repubs running for President could take a few tips from the guy if they really want to expand their reach.

[flashl]

1. Yes, he just a regular Bill Clinton.

Check out the black incarceration rates.

[MADem]

2. Isn't he the first closeted gay governor in the state's history, too? nt

[meegbear]

3. He would be the third ...

Virginia and Massachusetts are the first (real) two.

[Mike Daniels]

4. To be fair, I think the politician said Crist would be the first one in Florida

It's actually no more out there than Clinton being called the first black president. At least this time the designation seems to be based on what Crist has done vs. the case where Clinton seemed to designated as black more due to his childhood upbringing (single mother/poor) and his eating and music listening habits.

[NOLALady]

8. Wow!

I had no idea. I seem to remember a comedian say something to the effect that Clinton might as well be Black because of the way he's constantly attacked. I thought that was the reason he was called the first Black President. Of course, I know nothing about his eating and music preferences.

[Mike Daniels]

11. Apparently, the phrase was picked up by several groups

My reference was dealing with what Toni Morrison said re Clinton being the first black president.

From Wikipedia:

In 1998, Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison called Clinton "the first Black president," saying "Clinton displays almost every trope of blackness: single-parent household, born poor, working-class, saxophone-playing, McDonald's-and-junk-food-loving boy from Arkansas," and comparing Clinton's sex life, scrutinized despite his career accomplishments, to the stereotyping and double standards that blacks typically endure.

[Ilsa]

5. That insHannity quote is hysterical. Did he really say that? nt

[meegbear]

7. Yep!

Here's one link to an ABC story (the first I found from a news organization). About half way down.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=3690000&page=1

[Sneaky Sailor]

6. Christ is a fairly decent guy.

He won mostly because the Dems in this state cant muster a decent candidate or statewide organization to save their own lives. He has done an OK job though, his outreach program is a template for how Republicans should act.

[Freddie Stubbs]

9. Alex Sink and Bill Nelson both won statewide last year

We do well when we have quality candidates.

[Sneaky Sailor]

10. OK so we were able to get Bill Neslon to beat who by a sizable margin?

OH YEAH KATHERINE HARRIS!!!! Geez

[Freddie Stubbs]

14. All of the formidible Republicans were afraid to run against him

[graywarrior]

13. Sorry, I only voted for Nelson because of Katherine.

And the property tax decrease implemented by Crist in Sarasota and Charlotte counties are killing us. 35% of all new homes--empty. No jobs. I can't stay and I can't leave. Florida is the worst run state in the country.

[Dave From Canada]

16. How does lower property taxes = 35% of new homes empty and no jobs? And living 2 hours from

Michigan, I'd say that's the worst run state right now.

[graywarrior]

18. They overbuilt here.

Lowering property taxes eliminates services like police, fire, library, county jobs. There are not enough jobs to support the neighborhoods that are springing up. Families in Port Charlotte are applying for free lunches for the first time in history because parents have either lost jobs or cannot find work.

I just spent three weeks trying to find a job. Manpower, Kelley and other temp agencies here have NOTHING. I finally got a call today to start a two week job 20 miles from my house that pays $9 per hour. I know two mortgage brokers who are now looking for any job that pays $10 per hour. Good luck.

Everything in this state is about temporary bandages. Florida is the forerunner of what is going to happen in the rest of the country. It's bad down here, people. Lots of crime, no money except for the extreme wealthy. If I had a temp place to stay in MA til I found a job up there, I'd be gone in a flash.

[Dave From Canada]

20. Thanks for the info. I hope things get better, and I hope things go well for you in the near future

[Sneaky Sailor]

17. No, I would be very clear that there are worse run states in the country

Florida is one of the hardest to manage states in the country though...

[DemocratSinceBirth]

12. As A Floridian I Must Say He's A Decent Guy For A Republican

eom

[Matariki]

15. So, is there some central entity that spreads opinions borg-like to African Americans?

The headline is such a big statement for a quote by 'one black Democratic legislator' as the article goes on to say.

[flashl]

Does this sound as if things are good for blacks in Florida?

Worked with the Legislature to restore felons' voting rights

http://www.sptimes.com/2007/04/06/news_pf/State/Felons_rights_restore.shtml"> Felons rights restored

Some civil rights advocates said the change, while long overdue, did not go far enough in helping former convicts return to a normal life. In particular, they objected to a provision in the new rule that requires felons to pay restitution before having their rights restored automatically, arguing that not having those rights makes it more difficult to earn the kind of wage that would allow them to make the payments.

"The compromise and the deal that's been cut doesn't measure up to bringing Florida into the 20th century, much less the 21st century," said Randall Berg of the Florida Justice Institute in Miami. "We've got to do more."

Pushed through a law that requires a paper record for all ballots cast

Lawsuit: State law prevents legitimate voters from registering

Thousands of legitimate voters were prevented from registering to cast ballots in Florida because of a state law that should be thrown out, the NAACP and other groups said in a federal lawsuit ...

Addressed the state's NAACP convention

St. Petersburg: Candlelight Vigil to Raise Awareness of Florida HIV/AIDS Crisis, Honor Lives Lost

According to "Silence is Death: The Crisis of HIV/AIDS in Florida's Black Communities" (a report published by Florida's Department of Health in September 2006) in 2005 1 in 58 black males and 1 in 83 black females in Florida were living with a diagnosed case of HIV/AIDS. In 2005, for the 15th year in a row, HIV/AIDS was the leading cause of death among black males and black females aged 25-44 years. Concerned by the crisis, the Department of Health implemented a local and statewide "Silence is Death" initiative aimed at reducing the number of infections in Florida's communities of color, particularly African-American communities.

---

Under these circumstances, that continue to create havoc in Florida for blacks they obviously do not need ANY more HELP / rhetoric from a blue eyed brother.

[book_worm]

19. Almost anybody after Jeb would be an improvement.