Florida’s Crist Flips on Gay Rights as an Independent
- Posted on September 14, 2010 at 8:48am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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As the St. Petersburg Times reports, Florida Governor, and Senate candidate, Charlie Crist has taken a different stance on gay rights issues since switching from a Republican to an Indpendent.
Back in April, the long-time Republican switched parties when, some say, it became obvious he would not win the Republican nomination for Senator.
That switch has left him with some political wiggle room regarding hot button issues such as gay rights. Taking full advantage, on Monday Crist used a position paper to convey his support for civil unions, adoption by same-sex couples, and doing away with the military’s ban on openly gay soldiers.
For Crist, that’s a big shift. Both of his opponents, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek (D) and Former House Speaker Marco Rubio (R), noted the governor had backed a 2008 amendment to the state Constitution banning same-sex marriage, flip-flopped on the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell policy” earlier this year, and opposed gay adoption in his 2006 campaign.
In fact, both Meek and Rubio circulated copies of mailers from Crist’s 2006 campaign for governor, in which he blasted his Democratic competitor, Jim Davis, for supporting gay adoption, according to the Times. That mailer said Davis “is opposed to traditional families” and “turned his back on our values.”
Equality Florida, the state’s leading gay rights group, also noted the change, issuing a statement on its website calling Crist’s latest gay rights comments “the most comprehensive, pro-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered) equality stand of a sitting governor in Florida’s history.”
Crist has not changed his stance on gay marriage, however. According to the Tampa Tribune, while he has opposed a U.S. constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, he believes the issue should be left to the states to decide. In 2008, he supported the successful Florida constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.
Whether or not Crist firmly believes in gay rights or is simply being politically expedient remains to be seen. “It frequently looks as if he‘s taking positions for political calculation rather than because he thinks it’s good policy,” University of Central Florida political scientist Aubrey Jewet told the Tribune. “Even moderates often want somebody to have a consistent set of beliefs.”
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Comments (64)
Austin from BOSTON
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 11:06amMay-be CHUCK can come to Boston & visit our pal tooth-less Barney’s Frank( that Knows it,s O.K. to Have sex with anothers BUTT & try to PASS the Dope-Law up & down the EAST-COAST,VOTE-YES,Don’t get shut-out Brothers & Sisters In HELL.>>>>>>>>>>
Report Post »RodT82721
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 10:50amCharley will say and do anything for a vote, and if some group needs Charley to speak up, he will say whatever is needed to get those votes. I always thought that Algore was the most unethical politician around, but I think Charley should win that prize.
I notice a lot of rinos are jumping ship this year. I think we can thank the tea party for flushing them out.
Report Post »Flannie
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 10:44amIf Charlie can’t stick to a platform before being elected, what makes anyone think he will stick to one after? Nothing he says holds any weight today when he could just as easily opine the opposite tomorrow.
I moved from Florida a short time ago, temporarily. You can be sure I retained my Florida registration and will be voting for Marco Rubio on my absentee ballot.
Report Post »Unbelievable
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 10:36amPoor Charlie… he just doesn’t know which way to turn!! Bye-bye Charlie!!
Report Post »JJMinor
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 10:36amWhy would any good Libertarian not want commited gay couples to have the same rights as heterosexuals? Seriously, why do people care? Are there some weak-minded people that actually think you can catch gayness from exposure to homosexuals? If that were the case I think my siblings would have caught it from me. Nope, didn’t happen.
Report Post »Flannie
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 10:51amJJMINOR, it’s not the issue, it’s the egregious and obvious pandering that is so offensive. I see nothing wrong with civil unions. He just lacks integrity and honesty. He will abandon a stance when he no longer needs it. He is not in support of gay issues. He is in support of Charlie Crist. He would abandon these issues after November 2…. if he won, which he isn’t going to do.
Report Post »JJMinor
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 12:40pmFlannie, I agree. Although I give people the opportunity to change their mind, because we all do that from time to time. Maybe he’s on the road to honesty…?
Report Post »mara123
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 10:09amI am from Florida, i would vote for my cat before i voted for crist, we need people like crist out from all levels of our system , from judges to president. An yes i have a lower case c for crist because he is a lower case person.
Report Post »WINGWRENCH
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 9:53amCrist is a poster child for what is wrong with politics today and now we have another one trying to take his place, Rick Scott. If this is the best we can do in Florida, we are in deep trouble.
Report Post »rocktruth
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 9:57amI agree.
Report Post »Lesterp
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 11:02amMcCollum wasn’t much of a choice either, just another career politician!
Report Post »rocktruth
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 9:48amSpeaking of being desperate.. This guy just wont give up. He will say or do anything to get elected. These are the type of people we need to kick out of office.
Report Post »FBTJax
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 9:45amThe political chameleon strikes again, and this time he’s doing it rainbow style.
There’s a reason Charlie was behind in the republican primary and forced to bail on the party. There‘s a reason he won’t win in November. He never met an issue he couldn’t take both sides of depending on which would extend his political career just a little further.
He’s a climber who is about to run out of rope.
Report Post »anmare67
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 9:44amCan anyone ask how many ours is Charlie spending on a tanning salon?
Report Post »Gay who??
richfromflorida
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 9:42amAs you can tell from my name, Flip Flop Charlie is my Governor. He was always a RINO, at best and lately he’s shown his true colors to the world. Voting for Marco.
Report Post »GREENART
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 9:35amCharlie is a pice of work, he is just like Obama, he only cares about Charlie and his tan.
Report Post »GulfPeg
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 9:31amI heard someone state that Charlie Crist is an Arlen Specter with a tan. I live in Florida and Crist has done absolutely nothing for Floridians except give money to the teacher’s unions. Does this sound familiar?
Report Post »A Patriot
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 9:24amI think Crist and Gavin Newsome are partners.
Report Post »greggor
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 9:19amHopefully the people of Florida will see this idiot for the BS artist that he is. Isn’t it hilarious just how quickly a “republican” can so quickly and so easily become a “democrat”.. simply by changing his mind?
Report Post »natstew
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 9:36amGREGGOR, it works both ways. Slime like Crist go where ever they fit, and the Democrat Party fits them like a comfortable shoe.
GOOD RIDDANCE CRIST. Now who’s next, let’s clean the Party Of Lincoln up!
Report Post »Cheryl Taggart
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 9:18amCrisp is a LOOSER!
Report Post »natstew
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 9:17amTo all my friends who voted him in as Governor: I TOLD YOU SO, HA,HA,HA,HA,HA,HA,HA,HA,
Report Post »Windsong
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 9:13amMr. Christ’s message? I will say whatever, do whatever and become whatever…in order to win.
Report Post »There are many politicians currently in office who seem to have the same attitude. And, you wonder why the Tea Party was developed……………..
CtrL_DS
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 9:10amCan the American people have the TRUTH! Glenn you should blast this guy he is moving away from what the movement is all about. If our Brothers and Sisters in FL. cant see that TRUTH (HOPE) is under attack we have already lost.
Report Post »DWTony
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 9:09amCharlie Crist is the personification of a professional politician. It is easy recognize one now days, his moral compass have been replaced with a political wind meter. Another giveaway is how quickly he can change directions as he senses a wind shift…no roots of integrity and principles to hold him back. And this is why America is adrift headed toward the reefs, our government is filled with self serving career politicians just like Crist. .
Report Post »missmarie
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 10:55amI couldn’t have said it better. You’re right on the mark. Where are the people with convictions? Who will stand up for what they believe, not matter what the consequence?
Report Post »lildeb56
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 9:04amThis is surprising because…
Report Post »BQI
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 9:03amThis guy is really incredible. He represents everything bad about politics. I cannot believe that Floridians take him guy serious. Read my new article: “Hiding From the TRUTH is Not The Answer” It speaks directly to politicians like Crist. Few morals and values.
http://www.blackquillandink.com
Report Post »Anonimouse
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 9:22amWe don’t take him seriously. Charlie has become a joke.
Report Post »Charlie’s main concern is Charlie. Nothing more, nothing less.
BehindBlueEyes
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 9:42amEveryone should check out the BQI web page. It shows both sides of the issues in video. He reports and you can decide which views represent your values.
Report Post »DGroundhog
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 9:00amEh. Who cares.
He’s going to lose anyways.
Report Post »angryexpat
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 8:55amCan anyone tell me why a segment representing less then 10% of the population is given such extensive center stage, front page air time?
Report Post »This is not homophobia, its just a fact that there are MANY issues that concern 90%+ of the population and get no attention.
danglingbags
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 8:52amMaybe he will get openly gay Ken Mehlman to help in his campaign since he did such a good job working for Bush and Rove.
Report Post »Eagle07
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 11:06amOr Danglings roommate Barney Franks
Report Post »dwh320
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 11:30amCrist is not a Independent … he is 100% a Progressive Democrat. He was a RINO who was tossed out and had no choice but to show his true colors when the Democrats already had a candidate for the office he longs for.
The real danger would be to allow a Progressive like Crist to go to D.C. and help the Progressive Democrat President Obama, Progressive Democrats Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Progressive Democrat Senate Leader Harry Reid in their uncontrolled spending and government power grab destroying our constitutional rights.
Report Post »DANGLINGBAGS MOTHER
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 12:25pmNow son….it’s time for you to come out of the closet too. Remember our little song. And I did it my way? Wipe those tears from you eyes and take a stand. Remember, you are not alone.
Mikee T
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 12:30pmRubio will crush him anyway………..bye bye progressive libeals……..the nation has exposed all of you…. Soon, hopefully, we can all go to work and make a living based on the merits of our perfomances on the job…….can’t wait, God willing…….. God Bless America
Report Post »jmb847
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 12:52pmVote in Nov Thanks DGB
Report Post »forTforMAG
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 4:58pmThank God for DingDongBags….so insightful.
Report Post »Compete or Lose
Posted on September 14, 2010 at 10:29pmCrist is going to lose. He already knows it. It is one thing to lose with honor and live to fight another day but in Crist case, he has demonstrated such a lack of personal political honor that no one will welcome him after he loses. HAppy trails Charlie–time to move!!
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