Former Florida Republican Governor Charlie Crist gave a swift rebuke of his old party when he took the stage at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte Thursday to support President Barack Obama’s re-election.
“Half a century ago the man whose optimism was inspiring to me to enter politics, famously said at one time that he did not leave the Democratic Party. But, the party left him. Well, listen I can relate, I didn’t leave the party, it left me. Then again my friend Jeb Bush recently noted that Reagan himself would have been too moderate, too reasonable for today’s GOP.” Crist said during his speech.
He also said Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney and running mate Paul Ryan are not even capable of being bipartisan.
“They are beholden to my way or the highway bullies, indebted to the billionaires who bankroll their ads and allergic to the very idea of compromise.”
Crist dropped out of the Republican Party in 2010 for an unsuccessful run for US Senate as an Independent. Before he switched parties he was heavily criticized by Republicans for openly supporting President Obama’s stimulus plan.
“One of his first trips in office brought him to Ft. Myers, Florida where I was proud to embrace him and his plan to keep our teachers, police, and firefighters on the job. Well, that hug caused me more grief from my party than you could ever imagine.” Crist said.
Well, that grief has been kicked up a few notches because the Republican Party is in all-out attack mode, trying to remind democrats of who they think Charlie Crist really is.
“He has said that our party left him, that’s nonsense based on his record. As I mentioned his position on abortion, to the right of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney, he’s pro-gun, he’s anti-gay marriage, anti-civil union, he’s anti-Obama care. These are his words. He left the Republican Party because he looked at some poll and he thought he was most likely to win the senate race being an NPA- it was a political decision and it appears to me he’s trying to reinvent himself politically. Either to run for office or who knows, maybe he just likes his name in the news and on billboards” Said Republican Party of Florida Chairman Lenny Curry.
But Crist isn’t saying yeah or nay about a possible run for Governor as a democrat-
“I haven’t the faintest idea; I’m just focused on trying to help this great president get reelected” Said Crist.
But if he does consider a run, some Democrats say they will not give him their votes.
(Jack Schefrell) “To me in politics, loyalty is paramount and I can’t see myself supporting Charlie Crist over any of the true Democrats who have always been Democrats.”
(Cindy Crawford Thomas)“Absolutely, same way, I would not support him for Governor or any local election for that matter, at least for a very, very long time” Said Jack Schefrell and Cindy Crawford Thomas from Broward County.
Meanwhile, others democrats say they will embrace Charlie regardless. Delegate Terry Scott is also from Broward County.
“Yes I will, yes I will, he run for anything in Florida state-wide I will vote for him, because Charlie is fair.”
So it’s still to be seen what Charlie Crist’s true plans will be, but he says he plans to devote his time through election day to make sure president Obama stays in office, that includes campaigning with the president this weekend in South Florida..