Charlie Crist 2010

Crist Vows Not To Accept Earmarks In 112th Congress

amanda — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:55:11 +0000

Crist Will Support A Balanced Budget Amendment Once In Congress

TALLAHASSEE – The Charlie Crist for U.S. Senate Campaign today released the following statement from Gov. Crist regarding his vow to abstain from special interest earmarks and pork barrel spending as a new member of the 112^th Congress.

“At a time of excessive spending and the national debt at record highs, it is vitally important that we get back on a fiscal track,” said Gov. Crist. “Therefore, as a member of the 112^th Congress, I will not seek any earmarks during that time.”

As reported on the front page of today’s St. Petersburg Times, Speaker “Rubio Sent His Share Of Pork” to the tune $250 million while serving in the Florida legislature.

“Unlike earmark Rubio, who only claims to be against special interest pork projects, having vetoed a record $459 million in earmarks, I have the record to prove I will follow through on this promise. Additionally, once in Congress, I will support a balanced budget amendment so Washington has to do what the state of Florida and Americans across the country do every day – balance their checkbook.”

###

Rubio’s campaign image belies history of $250 million in pork requests

mitchwertheimer — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:33:32 +0000

But during Rubio's eight years in office — including the final two when he was House speaker — he unofficially helped push loads of hometown spending: $250 million.

In Case You Missed It: Rubio’s Campaign Image Belies History Of $250 Million In Pork Requests

amanda — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:59:59 +0000

“But during Rubio’s eight years in office — including the final two when he was House speaker — he unofficially helped push loads of hometown spending: $250 million … The amount of budget money connected to Rubio … contrasts with his campaign image as a tight-fisted spending hawk crusading against ‘earmarks’ that have plagued the budget process in Washington … The budget items also shed light on times when Rubio’s public job as a legislator dovetailed with his private interests.”

Rubio’s Campaign Image Belies History Of $250 Million In Pork Requests
St. Petersburg Times
By Marc Caputo
March 10, 2010
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/rubios-campaign-image-belies-history-of-250-million-in-pork-requests/1078548

Republican U.S. Senate front-runner Marco Rubio brags on his Web site that he didn’t officially request budget pork in his last four years as a leader in the Florida House.

But during Rubio’s eight years in office — including the final two when he was House speaker — he unofficially helped push loads of hometown spending: $250 million, according to a Times/Herald analysis of little-known budget documents.

The budget items linked to Rubio from 2000 to 2008 are part of a list compiled yearly by the governor’s office to track hometown spending.

Most of Rubio’s budget items benefited his home county of Miami-Dade — from a $50,000 grant sought for a Coral Gables park to $80 million for a University of Miami genomics project. A total of $25 million in requests were vetoed by the governor.

The amount of budget money connected to Rubio attests to his skill as a lawmaker but also contrasts with his campaign image as a tight-fisted spending hawk crusading against “earmarks” that have plagued the budget process in Washington.

Rubio wouldn’t comment …

The budget items also shed light on times when Rubio’s public job as a legislator dovetailed with his private interests.

One appropriation for Miami-Dade County was sought by lobbyists who worked at his law firm. Another item aided a friend’s fight for a Florida Turnpike contract. Other proposals gave big sums to Florida International University and Jackson Memorial Hospital, where Rubio later worked as a consultant.

…

On his Web site, in a section called “The Facts,” Rubio boasts: “During Rubio’s last four years in the House, he did not file any individual member budget requests” — a reference to CBIR forms.

While it’s true he did not file the specific forms, the turkey list and interviews with current and former staffers and lawmakers from the House, Senate and governor’s office indicate that Rubio — like legislators from both parties — placed items into the budget, even while he was speaker.

Crist has also criticized Rubio’s teaching contract with Florida International University, which hired Rubio as a part-time professor for $69,000. The turkey list ties Rubio to a total of $21 million for an FIU hurricane center and medical school during Rubio’s last years in office.

…

The budget list also links Rubio to a $20 million special line item for Jackson Memorial Hospital in 2008. Months later, Rubio established a consulting firm with a former aide and scored an $8,000 monthly consulting contract with the hospital.

Because it would have paid less than $100,000 a year, the contract was a no-bid deal that didn’t have to undergo a vote of the Public Health Trust, a county agency that runs Jackson.

…

Rubio did work as a local-government lobbyist through his former law firm, Becker & Poliakoff. In 2002, Becker & Poliakoff — but not Rubio specifically — served as a lobbyist for Miami-Dade County on a request for $5 million for community rehabilitation projects. Rubio sponsored that item, which was vetoed.

…

To View The Entire Article Visit: http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/elections/rubios-campaign-image-belies-history-of-250-million-in-pork-requests/1078548

###

In Case You Missed It: Governor Crist On Washington Times Radio

amanda — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:48:08 +0000

“And once they hear the truth about what his [Rubio’s] record is instead of his rhetoric, and what my record is, as somebody who really has cut spending, who really has been frugal with the taxpayers’ money, who really has be a good steward of our state, I think the choice will be crystal clear. And I predict a good victory in August.” – Gov. Crist

Listen to Governor Crist On Washington Times Radio’s “America’s Morning News” HERE (Part 3).

Governor Crist On Washington Times Radio’s “America’s Morning News”

Interview Excerpts:

Governor Crist On Why He Is The Better Republican Candidate

“…somebody that really has been in for the long haul, always stood for less taxing, less spending, less government, more freedom, a true Ronald Regan Republican then he ought to support Charlie Crist.”

“I’m the kind of guy as Attorney General that fought to do what’s right for all of our people to make sure that we had less crime. As Governor, we improved education…we have cut taxes, we have slashed spending. In fact we have cut spending since I’ve been Governor about $7 billion, something they don’t know a whole lot about in Washington. I signed the largest tax cut in history of Florida. And my opponent wanted one of the largest tax increases when he was Speaker of the Florida House. You know that’s no comparison. I think if people really want somebody who is tried and true as I say, then Charlie Crist is their candidate as the Republican nominee.”

Governor Crist On NASA And President Obama’s NASA Policy

“Well we’re disappointed, frankly. I mean, you know, NASA has been such an important part of, not only the Space Coast in Florida, but to all of Florida, and America, for that matter. It provides about 7,000 high paying high tech jobs on the Space Coast. It’s vitally important to the economy in that part of the state. It really does an awful lot in terms of high tech development beyond just the space component of it. It is something we are investing in in Florida. I’ve recommended $32 million dollars in our current budget to invest in commercialization, privatization if you will as it relates to space exploration. But we also want to have the Federal government as a partner to continue the important program the shuttle has done, and go to the Constellation project that we think is vital to America’s future.”

“…We held a Space Summit just last month in Orlando to listen and learn from people about what the best thing would be to do in order to further the space program, continue these great jobs that it provides to fellow Floridians, make sure Florida remains on the forefront as it relates to space exploration. We’re going to continue to do that and always fight for Florida and for jobs in Florida.”

Governor Crist On The Senate Campaign / Speaker Rubio’s Credit Card Scandal

“Well, just present our campaign and my candidacy as somebody that they can trust. Somebody that will spend their money wisely. And regrettably my opponent doesn’t do that, it’s recently been revealed in the last two weeks that he had a Republican Party of Florida credit card that he charged $133 or something for a hair cut a hair cut at a salon down in Miami, that he used it for insurance money for damaged to a mini-van that he had. I mean those are personal expenses that you shouldn’t charge tax payers or donors. And when Speaker Rubio decided to do that, it showed a real sense of entitlement that I don’t think conservatives or anybody is going to warm up to.”

“We’re in a tough economic time. And in these times particularly, you want to have people in office that you can trust, that don’t waste your money, that don’t spend it on themselves. And once they’re caught, then they end up having to reimburse money that they didn’t have in the first place. I mean, it’s astounding to me the kind of arrogance that that really exemplifies.”

…

“I think you’ll hear us revealing the truth. It’s not negative, it’s accurate. I’m not going negative, I’m just going honest. And I’m going to tell the truth about our record, my record, and my opponent’s record.”

“…People are very fair. And once they hear the truth about what his record is instead of his rhetoric, and what my record is, as somebody who really has cut spending, who really has been frugal with the taxpayers’ money, who really has be a good steward of our state, I think the choice will be crystal clear. And I predict a good victory in August.”

###

In Case You Missed It: Governor Crist On Fox News And NPR

amanda — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:18:00 +0000

Watch Governor Crist On Fox News Channel’s “On The Record With Greta Van Susteren” HERE.

Listen to Governor Crist On NPR’s “All Things Considered” HERE.

Governor Crist On Fox News Channel’s “On The Record With Greta Van Susteren”

Watch the interview HERE.

Interview Excerpts:

Governor Crist On Speaker Rubio’s Lack Of Fiscal Conservative Credentials

VAN SUSTEREN: And sort of a punch back which occurred previously is that you have said about your opponent, Mr. Rubio, that he is the greatest fraud perpetrated. So it sounds like you have had a couple of punches back as well. Why do you say that?

CRIST: Because he’s trying to pawn himself off as a fiscal conservative. And yet just in recent weeks, two weeks ago it has come out in news accounts he had a Republican Party of Florida credit card that he charged $130 haircut, or maybe it was a back wax — we are not sure what all he got at that place.

…

CRIST: I don’t know what it was. Initially we were told it was a haircut. And then he said it wasn’t a haircut. Then he had the gall to go on Neil Cavuto’s show and said it was his money. It was a credit card from the Republican Party. It was party donors’ money.

The detachment from reality is stunning to me. And to try to say that you’re a fiscal conservative, yet you spend $130 for maybe a haircut and maybe other things, I don’t know what you do at a salon when you are a guy.

I get my haircut for $11 from a guy named Carl the Barber in St. Petersburg, Florida where I grew up. And to me that’s real fiscal conservatism.

And so what I mean by perpetrating a fraud on people is by saying one thing and actually doing another. That’s not right. That’s not being honest and straightforward with the voters.

People deserve, Greta, as I know you feel, to have an informed vote when they go ahead and cast their ballot whether in a Republican primary or the general election, and I feel the same way.

And thank God we have an opportunity in this campaign to have an educational opportunity to make sure the voters get it right and that they get, most importantly, the truth. And that’s what our campaign is going to be about. We’re going to tell the truth about our record and our opponent’s record, and the people will make the decision. And I have great confidence in the wisdom of the people.

Governor Crist On Speaker Rubio’s Credit Card Scandal

CRIST: He paid it back after he got caught. That’s like saying I’m going to go and steal something, and if you don’t catch me I’ll never pay back, but if you catch me I’ll go ahead and pay it back.

Governor Crist On Why He Is Running For Senator And The Current Legislative Session

CRIST: That’s right. But I understand that our country needs help. And you’re right, I’m not term-limited out. This is my first term. And most governors do run for reelection.

But I understand what most people in this country understand, our country needs help. We need good leadership, common sense leadership in Washington, D.C. now more than ever. We’ve done it in a common sense way in Florida. We have worked Republicans, Democrats, Independents, all together to get things done.

Let me give you one example. We just started our session for this legislature last week. We had a problem with unemployment compensation going up from $8 per employee to over $100 per employee. That law was going to change effective in April.

And people came to me, small business owners and said Governor, we have to do something to fix it or we’re going to have this horrendous fee we’re going to have to pay.

I said, look, I’m going to talk to the Senate President, the Speaker of the House, Republicans and Democrats, and make sure we understand and they understand how important this is to stop.

On the first day of the session, last Tuesday when I gave the state of the state address, we passed that change so that they don’t have to pay that tax. We got rid of it. And it was unanimous, Greta. Every Republican in the House and Senate, every Democrat in the House and Senate voted for it, and I signed it into law 10 minutes before I gave my state of the state address.

That’s why I want to take that kind of common sense approach to Washington D.C., because people see people bickering all day long on cable networks and others, and it frustrates the people.

They understand what Abraham Lincoln once said, the government is supposed to be of the people, by the people, and for the people, and that’s the kind of common sense approach I want to bring to Washington. I think that’s what our country needs and I know it is what my state needs, because Florida has benefited from that kind of leadership for the past three-and- a-half years.

Governor Crist On NPR’s “All Things Considered”

Listen to the interview HERE.

Interview Excerpts:

Governor Crist On Speaker Rubio’s Credit Card Scandal

CRIST: I have a primary. I’m running against a young man who’s a talented young man, and he’s got a record, too. He used to be speaker of the Florida House.

…

CRIST: We found out this week that he had some credit cards from the party and that he charged $133 haircut to you, to the Republicans, on his party card, didn’t pay for it personally. Do you know how much I pay for a haircut? Eleven bucks. I’m one of the cheapest guys you’re going to meet. I’m frugal Charlie. I can assure you of that.

Governor Crist On The Senate Campaign

CRIST: …I am a conservative. You know, I really kind of was raised, politically, at least, by Senator, former Senator Connie Mack, a real, true blue conservative who really coined the phrase less taxing, less spending, less government, more freedom.

…

CRIST: Well, I think what’s riding on the difference, as it has come out in the last, you know, two weeks is you want to be able to have people in public office that you can believe in, that you can trust, that don’t merely talk the talk but actually walk the walk. And, you know, Charlie Crist, myself, I’m the real deal.

I mean, you know, I don’t make this stuff up, and just, you know, I’m not a Johnny-come-lately or a flash in the pan or any of those kind of things, and I think people want realism. They want somebody who’s genuine, who really wants to make a difference and really believes these things with every fiber in their body and that they speak from the heart, and my opponent doesn’t do that and that’s regrettable.

But I think in the true mold of a Ronald Reagan, they want somebody who’s genuine, who’s honest, who’s straightforward, who’s sincere, gives them straight talk and really talks about pragmatic conservatism…

SIEGEL: In what way does your opponent not speak from the heart or is not straight?

CRIST: Well, what I mean by that is that I think the true test of character, and one way to find out what somebody’s character is is to give them power.

Now, as governor of the fourth largest state, I have a lot of authority. As speaker of the Florida House, my opponent was the third most powerful politician in the state. And when he was given power, what did he do with it? Well, he spent an awful lot of money.

He spent money initially by hiring about 20 new people in his office staff, many of them at over $100,000 each. In addition to that, he spent about $400,000 or $500,000 making the dining room in the House look nice, things that I think that when voters learn about these, they’re going to be disappointed because he’s portraying himself as a real fiscal conservative, but the reality is it’s not real.

Governor Crist On What Kind Of Senator He Would Be In Washington

CRIST: Well, I would do the kinds of things that Ronald Reagan did. I would advocate very strongly for reducing taxes, for reining in spending.

…

CRIST: …And I think it’s important for people to know what we would do if elected to the United States Senate and not only judge us by the words that we use, but by the actions that we’ve made and done. And that’s where it really breaks down for my opponent and it really becomes a reality for our campaign.

I’ve actually reduced spending by $7 billion in my state. I’ve actually cut taxes and signed the largest tax cut in the history of Florida. And when my opponent was speaker of the Florida House, his first budget he sent to me to my desk as governor, included over $450 million in earmarks that I vetoed with my veto pen. That tells you everything you need to know.

###

MEDIA ADVISORY: Governor Crist To Attend A “Chat With Charlie” Campaign Event To Launch “Women For Crist”

amanda — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:55:09 +0000

TALLAHASSEE – The Charlie Crist for U.S. Senate campaign today announced that Gov. Crist will participate in a “Chat With Charlie” campaign event tomorrow, March 6^th at 9:30 am in Pinellas County. This grassroots event will launch “Women For Crist,” a group of supporters who will help spread the Governor’s positive message of less government and more freedom throughout the state of Florida.

Governor Crist To Attend A “Chat With Charlie” Campaign Event To “Launch Women For Crist”
Tomorrow, March 6^th, 2010 at 9:30 am EST
The Ovation Condominium
Clubhouse
180 Beach Drive NE
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701

###

Marco Fails To “Meet The Press”

amanda — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:28:49 +0000

Rubio Unwilling To Sit Down With David Gregory

TALLAHASSEE – The Charlie Crist for U.S. Senate campaign today responded to Speaker Rubio’s refusal to debate Gov. Charlie Crist on “Meet the Press” this Sunday, March 7^th.

Speaker Rubio pretended that he would debate Gov. Crist anytime or anywhere, however, after Gov. Crist agreed to debate Speaker Rubio on “Meet the Press,” Rubio’s bluff was called and his words, yet again, were shown not to match his actions.

“My opponent, for all of his good rhetoric, mostly talks about standing up to President Obama,” Crist said at the time Rubio balked at debating. “Well, if he’s willing to stand up to Barack Obama but unwilling to sit down with David Gregory, one must wonder: Where did all the bravado go? What happened? David Gregory is not the president of the United States. He’s certainly a bright, talented man, but maybe Rubio is afraid that he will ask the kinds of questions the speaker does not want to respond to.”

Questions abound surrounding Speaker Rubio’s fiscal irresponsibility while simultaneously charging Florida taxpayers and the Republican Party of Florida for his personal spending sprees.

“At a time when voters are having more and more questions about Speaker Rubio,” commented communications director Andrea Saul, “it is no surprise that he is trying harder than ever to keep his record from being exposed. It’s time Speaker Rubio come clean with taxpayers and divulge who he truly is.”

This latest ducking of the press is but one example in a long line of Speaker Rubio not taking a stand on important issues or refusing to own up to his less-than-flattering history.

Speaker Rubio says no to debate on “Meet the Press”:
- Miami Herald: “Rubio Says No To Crist Debate”
Speaker Rubio refuses to take a stand on unemployment benefits:
- Orlando Sentinel: “Support Jobless Benefits Stopgap? Meek, Yes; Crist, Yes; Rubio, Who Knows?”
- Miami Herald: “Marco Rubio Can’t Have It Both Ways”
Speaker Rubio ducks the press at AP day:
- Miami Herald video: “Speaker Rubio Ducks The Press”
Speaker Rubio declines to take a side on GOP Chair:
- St. Petersburg Times: “Marco Rubio’s Latest Dodge: John Thrasher Or Sharon Day?”
Speaker Rubio won’t commit on rail:
- St. Petersburg Times editorial: “Which Is It, Marco?”

###

In Case You Missed It: Marco Rubio Can’t Have It Both Ways

amanda — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:25:39 +0000

“[Rubio] wants to be a right-wing hero, but he would just as soon avoid the real-life consequences of the things he says he believes.”

Marco Rubio Can’t Have It Both Ways
The Miami Herald
By Joy-Ann Reid
March 4, 2010
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/03/04/1512174/cant-have-it-both-ways.html

…Up to now, Rubio has had it both ways. He pals around with right-wing rainmakers like DeMint and the Club for Growth but keeps their shared belief in Wall Street-invested Social Security accounts out of his campaign stump speech. He channels tea-party horror over stimulus money he, too, would have accepted if he were still Florida House speaker.

He panders to the race-baiting Tancredo fringe about not counting “illegals” in the U.S. Census though doing so would deliver a fiscal gut punch to the state he wants to represent.

He tells a Christian organization that Roe v. Wade should be overturned, knowing full well it didn’t happen when Republicans controlled all three branches of the federal government because they know outlawing abortion would spark 50 state civil wars between the GOP and a majority of women.

And he rails about government’s carelessness with “the people’s money” after spending the “donor people’s” money on himself when his Florida Republican Party American Express card was burning a hole in his wallet.

And then, along came Jim Bunning.

By stalling a Senate vote on extending unemployment benefits and COBRA to scores of Americans, with a “tough s—” kiss off to boot, the bizarre Kentuckian ripped the veil off the real-world consequences of the common tea-party cry: “Stop spending!” His filibuster was a stop payment that included 2,000 immediate job furloughs, hundreds of millions of dollars in transportation work stoppages for states, a 21.2 percent cut in Medicare reimbursements for doctors and the potential for 400,000 Americans, including 49,600 Floridians, to lose their only means of life support in a week’s time.

Bunning also gave Rubio the opportunity to stand up for his principles and stand with fellow conservatives like Arizona Sen. John Kyl, who voiced a truth often heard among tea partiers and Libertarians but rarely voiced out loud by elected Republicans: that the right believes unemployment benefits make people lazy. (The “principled” Mr. Kyl later voted for the extension.)

Bunning also gave Rubio the chance to side with the Kentucky Tea Party, the two candidates vying to replace Bunning (including Ron Paul’s son Rand), with RedState and Rush Limbaugh and the other supporters of Bunning’s demand to “pay for” the bill first. Never mind that Bunning awkwardly voted against pay-as-you-go rules in the Senate and has voted for unpaid-for tax cuts for the rich, prescription-drug subsidies for insurance companies and the Iraq war.

Rubio could have backed up his new BFF DeMint, who called Bunning his “hero.” Or, he could have walked away from his right-wing supporters and stood up for unemployed Floridians, saying it was time to put his state ahead of ideology.

He did neither, and instead, remained stubbornly silent, waiting out the Bunning crisis while Rubio’s spokesman promised me to try to get a response as to whether Rubio supported Bunning. Bunning ended his filibuster Tuesday night. I’m still waiting for Rubio to comment.

It was both a demonstration of political cowardice and a tacit admission of the primary contradiction in Rubio’s brand. He wants to be a right-wing hero, but he would just as soon avoid the real-life consequences of the things he says he believes.

To View The Entire Article Visit: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/03/04/1512174/cant-have-it-both-ways.html

###

Rubio: “It’s MY Money.”

amanda — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:42:30 +0000

Speaker Rubio’s Sense of Entitlement Has Hit New High

TALLAHASSEE – The Charlie Crist for U.S. Senate campaign today responded to Speaker Rubio’s claim on Fox’s “Your World with Neil Cavuto” that “[i]t’s my money,” regarding the charges he racked up on the Republican Party of Florida credit card.

“We have already seen that Speaker Rubio thinks rules exist to serve him rather than be followed by him,” said Communications Director Andrea Saul, “but this shocking new admission that Speaker Rubio actually thinks the Republican Party of Florida money was HIS money to spend, has taken Speaker Rubio’s sense of entitlement to a new high.

“I guess he also thinks taxpayer dollars were his to squander? Who else’s dime has Speaker Rubio been living off of to think it’s his inherent right?

“Taxpayers and Florida voters will see through Speaker Rubio’s fiscal conservative façade and realize they cannot trust someone so entitled to be in charge of their hard-earned tax dollars.”

While Speaker Rubio claims to have paid all of his personal charges directly, and each month, that claim has been proven false. The Miami Herald reports, “The credit card records … indicate that at least some of Rubio’s personal expenses were covered by the party.” Additionally, today, the St. Petersburg Times’ Buzz Blog reports that Speaker “Rubio has declined to itemize personal expenses for which he reimbursed the state party. And Rubio’s credit card statements show that, in fact, he did not always pay off the bills every month. There was at least one six month period when he did not pay, and the party picked up his late fees several times.”

Watch the clip HERE.

Crist: Rubio campaign the ‘greatest fraud perpetrated on people’

mitchwertheimer — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:25:55 +0000

Crist says. “They don’t realize that even if they pass their bill [with reconciliation], the American people will still detest it. We need to take a free-market approach.”