FL GOP Prepares For Crist Indie Bid

[ccharles000]

The FL GOP is making preparations in case Gov. Charlie Crist (R) runs as an independent candidate, reminding GOP office-holders they cannot back a candidate who doesn't run under the party banner.

In a memo to the executive director of the FL GOP, general counsel Jason Gonzalez concludes a party rule would prevent GOP officials from backing Crist's campaign if he runs as anything other than a GOPer.

"he Party Loyalty Oath forbids Republican Executive Committee members from supporting any candidate other than the candidate nominated by the voters of the Republican Party through its primary election," Gonzalez wrote in the memo. The loyalty oath means GOP officials "cannot provide their active, public, or financial support to any candidate other than 'the Republican candidate' in a general election."

The loyalty oath allows party officials to back a registered GOPer in a nonpartisan race, but in a partisan election, they wouldn't be allowed to support Crist, even if he remains a registered GOPer. What's more, party officials have to actively ask for their contributions back if they want to keep their own jobs.

http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2010/04/fl_gop_prepares.php

[msongs]

1. just as DUers cannot come here and back crist when there is a progressive dem running nt

[WeDidIt]

2. I support Crist running as an independent 100%

because it gives the progressive Dem a damned good shot at winning!

:evilgrin:

[Hippo_Tron]

19. I'm not so sure about that

I think Meek's best shot might be one on one against Rubio since many people think Rubio is nuts. Crist might end up taking more votes from Meek than Rubio.

[flamingdem]

23. yup! nt

[Jennicut]

3. I think most of us back Meek. But if he doesn't win and Crist does, then that is better then

Rubio. Meek is the liberal, Crist the moderate Repub and Rubio the nut. Obviously Meek is the best choice. And he could do well in a 3 way matchup, better then in a two way with Rubio.

[SwampG8r]

4. everyone should back meek

he is the best candidate
but getting the average floridian to vote for him much less the average democrat floridian will be at best an uphill battle
north florida has a large dem advantage in numbers but always ends up voting GOP on real issues
many of them, and most of those are the generation soon passing into history, have a very narrow view of what is what and who is who
so meeks will do well but probably not well enough to counteract the long standing feelings of many who would call themselves "good democrats"

as to rubio or crist....
as a floridian i think if either is elected we are screwed
if either is elected they will most likely hold the seat for the rest of their lives

if crist is elected he will sell out to the highest bidder and vote the party line while he fills his pockets
the GOP party line

if rubio is elected he will do as he is told as he has been bought and paid for by the RNC
again the GOP party line

sigh....

pray for us

[JCMach1]

6. R and D are just labels in the swamp of Florida politics

Florida politics are best served with a good dose of BUYER BEWARE!

[SwampG8r]

16. you must be from here

amazingly its even wierder in miss and ga

[DCBob]

5. Republicans are freaking out.. they know this could derail the Teabagger train...

and could have even wider political implications.

Here's another related article..

http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/04/23/1593680/gop-calls-on-members-to-oppose.html

[stevenleser]

18. Yes, because three-way teabagging is hard!

Rimshot!!!

[Zephie]

7. As a Floridian...

I have no respect for this man. Ol' Charlie doesn't have a brain in his empty little head.

[peekaloo]

8. He doesn't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.

:hi:

The Repubs are essentially kicking him out of the party while daring him to do so. Comical.

Crist: (n) Def: Opportunistic empty suit

Welcome to DU!

[DCBob]

9. How do you feel about Teabum Rubio?

as a Floridian of course.

[peekaloo]

10. Howdy DCBob,I know the question wasn't aimed at me but......

I reside in a smallish, very conservative Central Fl. Cow Town and I'll say I'm a tad suspicious of "Rubio-mania". While I can't speak for the rest of the state I DO NOT see the groundswell for Mr. American Express that I'm told (via media and polls) supposedly exists. Obviously the big money men loves them some Toadio but aside from a few bumper stickers most of the tight asses here in town are being rather tight lipped about him. Hmmmmmm. Despite what the local RW radio people have said this year's Tea Bag extravaganza drew LESS people than last year (I know, I "infiltrated" both :-) ) and was basically a snooze fest. One pic made the local cat box liner, which resembled an ad for power scooters or retirement villas, with no accompanying article.

That being said I was hoping Charlie-in-Charge would stay an (R) betting that the IRS/Fed investigation would derail Marco's campaign, allowing him to claim the primary but resulting in major voter turn off. Now it seems an like an orchestrated move by the (R)'s to chase him out of the party so every one can rally around Jeb's minion.

Interesting days ahead for sure.

p.s. I'm signed up to do some grunt work for Kendrick Meek late July, and hopefully, the months leading up to the election. :-)

[Zephie]

12. Not really fond of it

I honestly don't support either of them, and Crist, I feel, was much like a fly battering itself against a window with futility because most repubs, at least where I live (Sarasota County), feel that he is too "liberal" of a conservative. If you're suggesting that just because I feel that Crist is an ignorant bigot that I must support Rubio that's quite an assumption and not really a fair assessment. Are YOU a Floridian and if so are you voting for Crist because you feel that it's "better than Rubio?" as I've heard from several other local voters on the liberal side? I'd like to remind you that there ARE other options. =)

Aside edit: Upon further thinking, I have come to the conclusion that perhaps the hostility that I felt emanating from your response may have something to do with the recent fears of the teabagger trolls around here and my low post count. I simply have not felt the need to comment on things about here before, however I've been an avid reader since mid 2009. If this is the case, please take into account that if you greet all people you feel just might be the opposition in the same manner, you might scare off some allies instead.

[DCBob]

13. Just curious why you trashed Crist but not Rubio.. keeping Rubio from winning is the key..IMO.

I am not from Florida but I think this is race will have major widespread political impact and Republicans know it. They are desperately trying to convince/persuade/threaten/force Crist not to run. Yes this place is infested with teabagger trolls and your profile fits a typical one, plus with the negative comment about Crist one might think you were. I have no idea if you are but I take you word for it. Peace.

[Zephie]

14. To Clarify:

I trash Crist because of his turncoat actions on Obama. To accept funding and shake hands and smile in the public, then refuse to even acknowledge that the President was even in the state just a few months afterward because the GOP frowned on his hand shaking and smiling is despicable. However, maybe that little tidbit hasn't been reported outside of the state? =) To quote the local news: October 27th, 2009 "...Crist introduced the Democratic president at a Fort Myers event in February, when Obama’s approval rating exceeded 60 percent in the state. But with Obama under 50 percent in Florida and Republicans criticizing Crist’s support of the stimulus package, Crist is staying away. But Crist isn’t giving any political reasons for his absence. He said he couldn’t make Obama’s event in DeSoto County today because of a Cabinet meeting. Asked why he canceled a Cabinet meeting in February when Obama was in the state, Crist said, “I don’t recall that. But I’ll check it for you.”

We checked it for him, and here’s the http://www.postonpolitics.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/091027_cabinetnotices.pdf">cancellation notice Crist’s office sent the day before the Cabinet meeting.

It’s worth noting that Crist has well-paid staff in place to give him briefings on a daily basis. Asked if he would expect staff to inform him about the president’s visit, Crist said, “If they want to.”

That ambivalence appears to contradict his own statements last week when, defending his decision to join Obama in February, he said it was important to honor America’s highest elected office."

That is why I dislike Crist. Remember, there are options out there that don't require you to settle for the lesser of two evils, so why take an evil at all?

You seem far too ready to point the finger and shout "YOU'RE THE ONE" instead of simply taking things with a grain of salt. People who behave like that are the exact reason that I have avoided making my voice heard before now here. I genuinely regret having bothered to make an account instead of just coming here for news as I was doing. Kudos.
Peace.

[DCBob]

15. Over-react much... chill

I said I believed you. Besides don't let one sarcastic DU'er stop you from posting. For all you know I may be a teabagger in disguise. ;)

[Dappleganger]

17. Wow.

You have some good things to add but you really need to chill out and not take things so personally.

[SwampG8r]

21. i will answer as a floridian

i feel terrible
i feel terrible that the best candidate
meeks
doesnt even get threads here while we speculate what a shitheel like rubio or crist does or did
that doesnt change the fact that most GOP floridian
and they are waist deep
consider crist an opportunist and an empty suit
they stopped giving a damn about crist when crist worked WITH the obama administration in its early days
what really frosts my cupcake though is that unless meeks is elected i will have two senators who are candidates for work as extras in a romero movie

pray for us in florida we need it

[DCBob]

22. The "best" candidate should feel terrible... "a floridian" doesnt even know how to spell his name..

Meek.

[SwampG8r]

25. by golly you are right

my misspelling his name is certainly the point not the fact that DUERs are drumming for crist and ignoring him
thank god we have clear thinkers like you to keep us all on point

[WI_DEM]

11. I lovin' this. though I hope that in a three man race the Dem (Meeks) wins.

[DCBob]

24. Does anyone know how to spell the guys name?? ITS MEEK... Kendrick Meek.

No wonder he trails so badly in the polls.

[BrentWil]

20. wooohooooo

Maybe the dems will have a chance at this seat

[fugop]

26. And here we go?

http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2010/04/crists-declaration-of-independence-coming-in-st-pete.html

Crist's declaration of independence coming in St Pete