Former Republican-turned-Independent Florida Governor Charlie Crist continues stumping for President Barack Obama. Today he joined the Democratic National Committee Communications Director Brad Woodhouse in accusing Republican Presidential Nominee Mitt Romney and running-mate Paul Ryan of “lying to Floridians.”
Romney has said his plan would reduce the debt by eliminating tax loopholes and some credits, while lowering overall tax rates for individuals and businesses.
In a media conference call, Crist criticized that plan.
“Let’s call the Romney-Ryan economic plan what it is – a so-called five-point plan that is really a one-point plan: one set of rules for them and their friends and another set of rules for everyone else – the same bad ideas that created the crisis in the first place,” Crist said, repeating a phrase used by President Obama referring to the Romney-Ryan plan.
Crist also went on to say that the GOP candidates are, “offering the American people a ‘sketchy deal’” when it comes to the candidate’s refusal to raise tax rates on the highest percent of earners.
Several different groups have studied the Romney-Ryan plan with varying conclusions. Some say it could result in a reduction to the federal deficit, others say it could push the country back into recession.
So far, researchers from Harvard, Princeton, the Conservative Heritage Foundation and the Tax Policy Center along with several other independent groups and newspapers, have studied the proposals.
The bottom line is, no one knows for sure how the plan would work.
Crist left the GOP in 2010 after a failed run for a U.S. Senate Seat. His recent overtures toward Democrats, including speaking the Democratic National Convention, and endorsing Democrats like President Obama and Congressional challenger Keith Fitzgerald, have some observers suggesting he may try to challenge Florida Governor Rick Scott in 2014 as a Democrat.
Florida's Republican Party has launched a series of attacks against Crist, portraying him as a political opportunist, and many Democrats are lukewarm on the possibility of a Democratic-Crist gubernatorial run. Despite that, the former Governor still enjoys widespread popularity.
Crist says he's not considering running for governor right now and is focused on helping President Obama get re-elected.
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