Charlie Crist's ACORN Association Bites Again. Marco Rubio Comments

In a press release today, Former Florida House Speaker and republican senatorial candidate Marco Rubio issued the following statement regarding Florida's flawed felon's rights restoration program.

Miami, FL–U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio today issued the following statement regarding Florida's felons' rights restoration program, which has mistakenly authorized restoring the rights of 13 felons, including a child rapist:


"In 2007, Governor Crist sided with ACORN in pushing for the expansion of a felons' rights restoration program in Florida. His flawed, mismanaged program has now erroneously allowed a child rapist and 12 other felons to have their rights restored.

"Governor Crist was wrong to support this program's expansion and he has failed to oversee its proper implementation. In light of the flaws that have come to light, Governor Crist should suspend this program indefinitely to ensure more of these mistakes are not made on his watch."

In April 2007 the St. Petersburg times ran a huge story about the Felons Rights Restoration Program. It is a MUST read to learn more about opposition to the program and how Charlie Crist ignored many of his own administration to aprrove it. It also mentions a number of liberal groups that influenced Crist's decision.

Calling it "simple human justice," Gov. Charlie Crist and two Cabinet members voted Thursday to reverse decades of Florida history by automatically restoring some civil rights to tens of thousands of felons...

...Attorney General Bill McCollum, however, called the change "reckless and irresponsible." His criticism of Crist during the meeting appeared to open a rift between the state's two top Republicans..."I'm just very upset about this," McCollum said. "I think we're making a grave mistake today."...

...As a candidate for governor last year, and in his first weeks in office, Crist demanded an easing of full citizenship barriers for felons, despite a poll showing most Floridians and law enforcement groups which supported his candidacy opposed the idea...

A tense, hourlong debate before the vote exposed deep philosophical differences between McCollum, who replaced Crist as attorney general in January, and the man who calls himself "the people's governor."


McCollum cited opposition from the Florida Sheriffs Association, Florida Police Chiefs Association and Fraternal Order of Police, among others.

I don't know McCollum very well yet but I certainly liked his position on this issue.