THE AUDACITY OF CRIST: NOW “PROUD” OF STIMULUS, SAYS HE’S BEEN “MORE HONEST” & “FORTHRIGHT” THAN OTHER GOVERNORS
Crist: “Some of my colleagues weren’t so forthright. … You heard a lot of rhetoric. Maybe we have a more honest governor than some.”
Miami, FL – When it comes to discussing his endorsement of the failed $787 billion Crist-Obama stimulus, Governor Charlie Crist has subjected Floridians to quite the roller coaster ride of explanations and denials. Today brings a new one, with an audacious twist.
In now saying he was “proud” to stand with President Obama on the stimulus, Crist went a step further by saying he’s been “more honest” and “forthright” than other governors on the issue.
South Florida Sun-Sentinel: “Gov. Charlie Crist said Thursday he’s ‘proud’ of his stand on President Obama’s stimulus package, in a wide-ranging interview with the Sun Sentinel editorial board. … ‘I’m proud of it. I’m proud of the fact that at least I, as governor, said I thought it was right to use those dollars to help avoid the cuts. Some of my colleagues weren’t so forthright. You heard a lot of rhetoric. Every Republican governor ended up taking the money. Maybe we have a more honest governor than some. … Who do you want, someone who has been straightforward the whole time or the guy who just changed?’” (“Crist Was Proud To Stand With Obama And Take The Stim Bucks,” South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 12/17/09)
RUBIO CAMPAIGN STATEMENT
“After months of bobbing, denying and weaving, Charlie Crist is trying out yet another message to explain his endorsement of the failed Obama stimulus. Charlie Crist is even going after other Republicans by suggesting he’s been more honest about the stimulus than Governors Rick Perry, Bobby Jindal, Haley Barbour and Sarah Palin. Charlie Crist’s stimulus deception marks a classic example of why Floridians can’t trust him to make the right policy choices in the first place or at least fess up when they fail, as the stimulus has. We look forward to the day when he finally settles on a position.” – Alex Burgos, Rubio for U.S. Senate Spokesman
BACKGROUND: CRIST’S STIMULUS INCONSISTENCY AND DECEPTION CONTINUES
February 3: Crist Signed A Letter Of Support To President Obama
Crist: “We are writing to express our support for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which passed last week in the House and is under consideration currently in the Senate.” (Letter To President Obama, 2/3/09)
February 10: “It’s Important That We Pass A Stimulus Package. … This Is About Reigniting Our Economy.”
Crist: “It’s getting harder every day, and we know that it’s important that we pass a stimulus package. It is important that we do so to help education, to help our infrastructure and to help health care for those who need it the most, the most vulnerable among us. And let me finish by saying, Mr. President, we need to do it in a bipartisan way. This issue of helping our country is about helping our country. This is not about partisan politics. This is about rising above that, helping America, and reigniting our economy.” (“President Obama Speaks At Town Hall In Fort Myers, Fla.: Gov. Charlie Crist Introduced President Obama At Town Hall,” CQ Transcripts Wire, 2/10/09)
February 11: Crist Endorsed The Stimulus As A Job-Creating “Bridge Of Help”
Crist: “Tuesday I joined President Barack Obama for a town hall meeting in Fort Myers to discuss with Floridians the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. During the town hall, I reiterated my support for the federal stimulus package, and pledged to the people of Florida that here in Florida we stand ready to use our share of the money quickly and responsibly to create new jobs and serve our most vulnerable citizens. … This federal stimulus package is a bridge of help for Florida.” (“Special Video Address Regarding Federal Stimulus,” Governor Charlie Crist, 2/11/2009)
WATCH THE VIDEO
Throughout February: Crist Not Only Supported The Stimulus, He Actively Campaigned For It On Television And Behind The Scenes
Associated Press: “Most Republican governors have broken with their GOP colleagues in Congress and are pushing for passage of President Barack Obama’s economic aid plan that would send billions to states for education, public works and health care. … Florida Gov. Charlie Crist worked the phones last week with members of his state’s congressional delegation, including House Republicans.” (“Jindal Will Accept Stimulus, But Would Have Voted Against It,” Associated Press, 1/31/09)
Crist: “As the U.S. Congress finalizes this stimulus package before sending it to the President, I continue to work with my colleagues and members of our Congressional delegation to improve the bill – while ensuring Florida receives her fair share.” (“Special Video Address Regarding Federal Stimulus,” Governor Charlie Crist, 2/11/2009)
May 19: “I’d Have Voted For Stimulus Bill”
Orlando Sentinel: “Gov. Charlie Crist, now a U.S. Senate candidate, said Tuesday he would have made the ‘pragmatic’ decision to vote for the $787 billion federal stimulus bill, differentiating himself from fellow-Republican opponent Marco Rubio and the man he is trying to replace — Mel Martinez. Speaking to a politically mixed crowd in Daytona Beach, Crist emphasized his support for the bill as practical and pragmatic, though it would have meant crossing party lines. Only three Republican senators backed the stimulus bill, and Martinez wasn’t one of them.” (“Crist: I’d Have Voted For Stimulus Bill,” Orlando Sentinel, 5/19/09)
October 19: Asked Why He Stood On Stage With Obama, Crist Says, “I’m A Civil Guy”
St. Petersburg Times: “But on Monday Crist said he made the right call to stand with the Democratic president. ‘Yeah, sure it was, sure it was,’ Crist said. ‘The man’s the president of the United States of America. He’s all our president. And when the president comes to your state for the first time after he gets elected, I’m a civil guy, and I’m going to try to do what I believe is right all the time. I don’t agree with him on everything. I think that’s pretty clear. But yeah, I think it’s the right thing to do to honor the office of president of the United States.’” (“Crist: Obama Welcome Was ‘The Right Thing To Do,’” St. Petersburg Times, 10/19/09)
October 20: Crist Not Sounding As “Civil” About The President
Miami Herald: President Barack Obama will make his second trip to Florida as president next week, but don’t expect Gov. Charlie Crist to join him this time. … Earlier this week, Crist defended his appearance with Obama, saying he was ‘our president.’ On Tuesday, though, Crist said he won’t join the president on this trip. ‘I don’t even know what day he’s coming. Do you?’ Crist asked a reporter.” (“Obama’s Next Florida Visit Won’t Be Featuring Gov. Charlie Crist,” Miami Herald, 10/20/09)
November 4: “I Didn’t Endorse It. I Didn’t Even Have A Vote On The Darn Thing.”
Wolf Blitzer: “Let me interrupt for a second, Governor. For a second, do you have any regrets about endorsing the economic stimulus package?
Crist: “Well, I didn’t endorse it. I — you know, I didn’t even have a vote on the darned thing. But I understood that it was going to pass and I wanted to be able to utilize it for the benefit of my fellow Floridians.” (CNN’s Situation Room, 11/4/09)
November 5: “The Bill That Passed Wasn’t Exactly What I Would Want To Vote For.”
Crist: “I don’t think so. I don’t think so. The bill that passed wasn’t exactly what I would want to vote for. But it’s what passed. And once that happened, you need to realize you need to do everything you possibly can to fight for Florida and our fellow Floridians, whether they’re school teachers, construction workers or whatever it might be. And so once this happens, you know, I think it’s important to embrace it, fight for Florida’s fair share and do what’s right for the state.” (“Charlie Crist Expounds On His Non-Endorsement Of Stim Package?” Miami Herald, 11/5/09)
November 6: Crist Claims He Only Supported It “In Concept,” Not The Actual Bill
FOX 13 Tampa: “Crist says he only supported the $787 billion in ‘concept,’ and that he did not support the actual bill. ‘The concept, I thought and still believe, was important, was necessary, and has helped Florida,’ the governor said Friday. … Appearing in Tampa, Governor Crist said he did not misspeak during the CNN interview. He stands by his characterization that he did not endorse the specific bill. ‘I think the question posed to me was: did you endorse this specific bill,’ he said. … He again parsed his statement about the stimulus. ‘I supported it in concept,’ he said. Crist, who usually entertains questions as long as reporters can lob them, called for an aide to end the questions.” (“Crist Denies Flip-Flopping On Stimulus,” FOX 13 News, 11/6/09)
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