If Charlie Crist will not debate Marco Rubio then maybe Rubio should invite Democratic primary candidate Kendrick Meek to a debate.
I'm sure it would draw a lot of media attention for both candidates and illustrate the fact that Charlie Crist has ignored Rubio's call for debates.
Perhaps this event would force Charlie Crist to acknowledge even the existstence of opposition to his NRSC coronation.
It would also give everyone a chance to see Marco Rubio in action to promote his conservative beliefs and to compare himself to Crist even if Crist refuses to attend.
Exit stage right. That is exactly what Florida Governor and current senatorial candidate Charlie Crist does when he is pressed to answer a simple question regarding health care.
The health care debate has become an issue that is front and center in the national political dialogue and Crist may have exposed himself a little more than he had hoped.
Crist was asked by a Herald/Times reporter about the fact that Florida's kids are not covered under the "Cover Florida" plan but rather by a program called "Kid Care".
Reporter:The confusion is, then, your criticism over government run healthcare when KidCare is government run healthcare, which is what they were asking you about this morning.
Crist: It’s for kids, I like it.
Here is the video of the exchange:
Crist did not mention that the"Cover Florida" plan that he defended so effusively on the cable news (video) shows did not cover children and costs the elderly far more than those that ,on average, need less health care coverage. Those who are 0 to 18 years of age are not covered.
If kids were so important to Crist it seems funny how the kids were left out of the negotiations with the private insurance companies at the time....
"It's important that we pass a stimulus package. It's important. It is important to do so to help education, to help our infrastructure, and to help HEALTH CARE for those that need it the most. The most vulnerable among us.
Later crist called Obama's Health Care Plan "cockamamie"
I understand that the insurance companies have to weigh the risks when providing policies to all age groups. It's called capitalism.
The obvious solution is tort reform and eliminating massive fraud.
Wind-sock" Charlie strikes again......
FYI-On the day of Obama's health care speech before a joint session of congress, Marco Rubio released the following video.
Florida Governor Charlie Crist seems to have trouble with some of the facts as he addresses the 28th biennial Republican Leadership Conference on Mackinac Island Michigan.
Click here for the full story. ( "Charlie Crist looks to be dissing Jeb Bush's legacy in speech" )The story above gives the TRUE details of Crist's claims.
The office of Crist's republican rival for the 2010 US senate seat, Marco Rubio, quickly responded.Here is their statement:
"Unfortunately for Charlie Crist, what happened in Michigan this weekend, didn't stay in Michigan. If the beleaguered citizens of Michigan are looking for answers to their economic problems, they can do better than listening to Charlie Crist. Michiganders should ignore Charlie Crist's suggestion that they copy his prescription of historic tax increases, bigger government, more wasteful spending and no jobs to show for it. As Floridians can attest, the pain of the Charlie Crist Economy is nothing to brag about.
"In an effort to hide his own economic record, Charlie Crist even appears to have taken a page out of the Obama playbook by blaming a Bush for what he inherited. Charlie Crist needs to own up to the fact that he inherited a state with 3.3 percent unemployment that has now soared to 10.7 percent on his watch."
In January 2011, one Floridian will leave for the U.S. Senate. He is unlikely to be a former governor at odds with his party's nominating electorate, or the probable Democratic nominee, Kendrick Meek, a hyper-liberal congressman. Rubio intends to prove that "in the most important swing state, you can run successfully as a principled conservative." He probably will. --- George Will full story...
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."
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.
Florida Governor Charlie Crist will be leaving for Chicago tonight to raise money from insurance executives he once celebrated putting "the nail in the coffin" of.
THEN: GOVERNOR CRIST
..."When the Florida legislature finished its spring session last year, Republican governor Charlie Crist hailed lawmakers for what he considered their most important accomplishment: 'You put the nail in the coffin this afternoon on the industry that was hurting our people.' ...
'I am amazed at their level of greed and I am amazed at the callous nature of their corporate decisions,' he told the St. Petersburg Times last summer." ("'He's No Jeb Bush,'" National Review, 4/7/08)
NOW: CANDIDATE CRIST
"Gov. Charlie Crist has a busy day [Thursday]: A morning meeting of the clemency board ... followed by a fundraiser in Chicago for his U.S. Senate campaign. This one is hosted by Tallahassee lobbyist Fred Karlinsky and a cadre of insurance bigwigs, including Richard Parillo Sr. and his son of the same name, execs in the United Auto Insurance Co." ("Crist's Thursday: Felon's Rights In Tally, More Cash In Chicago, St. Petersburg Times, 9/23/09)
Charlie Crist still seems to have a propensity to follow the direction of the nearest "wind sock" without regard to his constituency.
He continues to ignore the conservative base and allows himself to be persuaded by those who prefer a more liberal tack.
I am amazed at the callous nature of HIS decisions and his refusal to debate a boni fide opponent (Marco Rubio) during the campaign.
This isthe same Charlie Crist who supported Barack Obam's Stimulus Plan and said,
Later he changed his mind for political expediency and called the Health Care Plan "cockamamie".
From TBO.comORLANDO - Florida Gov. Charlie Crist called President Barack Obama's proposed health care overhaul "cockamamie" as he and the state Republican Party tried Saturday to get activists charged up for the 2010 election year.
Miami, FL– U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio today highlighted his support for 10 ideas to empower Americans and take back Washington. During a radio interview this morning on "The Laura Ingraham Show," Rubio signed the "Ten For '10" petition, which consists of policies affecting taxes, national security and energy, among other key issue areas.
BACKGROUND: "Ten For '10"
Idea 1: Taxpayers' Bill of Rights (TABOR). Marco supports limiting federal spending growth to the percentage in population growth plus the rate of inflation. He will also work to provide taxpayers the option of filing a post card-sized tax return using a low, flat tax rate of 15 percent.
Idea 2: End taxpayer-funded abortions. Marco supports stopping federal payments to Planned Parenthood as well as prohibiting any taxpayer-subsidized health insurance plan from covering abortion.
Idea 3: Defend America's borders. Marco supports the implementation of America's border protection initiatives, using remaining funds from the so-called stimulus bill.
Idea 4: King Dollar. Marco will support policies that preserve a strong dollar, protecting Americans from having their savings wiped out by inflation and maintaining the dollar's status as the world's reserve currency.
Idea 5: Empower American business. America's corporate tax rate is currently among the highest in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). In order to ensure America remains a place where businesses want to invest and create jobs, Marco supports slashing corporate tax rates to 15 percent and scrapping the capital gains tax altogether.
Idea 6: Defend America. Marco will work to strengthen America, defend our homeland and fully fund an operational, layered missile-defense system.
Idea 7: Statism exit plan. Marco supports the de-funding of government czars, immediately ceasing bailout payments to failed companies and banning future bailouts.
Idea 8: End generational theft. Marco is running for U.S. Senate to ensure America continues the now-threatened tradition of passing down a stronger, more prosperous America to future generations of Americans. As few believe America's entitlement programs will be able to pay benefits to future generations, Marco supports providing younger workers the choice of diverting Social Security payroll taxes into personal retirement accounts. Seniors and near-retirees would not be affected.
Idea 9: Restore America's system of justice. Marco supports penalties for frivolous lawsuits, whereby those who launch unsuccessful lawsuits are liable for the defendants' legal bills.
Idea 10: American energy independence. Marco supports an all-of-the-above energy strategy that embraces alternatives, expands and accelerates exploration and production of oil and natural gas, and jumpstarts dramatic increases in nuclear power.
Here is the audio of Marco Rubio's interview on the Laura Ingraham Show this morning. The interview was a little short but Rubio was able to frame his agenda during their discussion.
It's called conservatism Stupid! Charlie Crist does not get it and Rubio "hinted" about that fact while remaining the class act that he is.
Marco Rubio needs our support to allow him to challenge Charlie Crist in the upcoming race for Florida senate. Every little bit can help Rubio continue his battle to promote conservative values and represent them in Washington. That is what we need!
The Democrats use incrementalism to advance their agenda and it's time Repulicans do the same by supporting Marco Rubio for Florida senate.
We don't get many chances to vote and we certainly do not get many chances to vote for a true conservative. Especially for the US senate. This is YOUR chance to make it happen.
