With an eye on campaigns, Crist and McCollum set crosshairs on child pornography
by Michael C. Bender | June 9th, 2009Gov. Charlie Crist and Attorney General Bill McCollum, both Republicans, were in full campaign mode this morning announcing 77 arrests during a 10-effort to round up child pornographers and molesters.
The governor’s press conference room was re-arranged to accommodate to huge maps showing where the arrests were made how widespread child porn is around the state. They also displayed 76 of the 77 mug shots of the men who were arrested.
The duo even brought in John Walsh, the host of America’s Most Wanted, who has been at Crist’s side several times before, including Crist’s signing of the “anti-murder” law in 2007 and when Crist announced his campaign for governor in 2005.
There is news in 77 arrests (and claiming five child victims were rescued), although 31 of the arrests were made in Polk County and announced there last month. (Polk County S.O. presser here.)
But the politics of the moment couldn’t be avoided by the blunt-speaking Walsh, who also referred to the arrested men as “creeps” and low-lives.”
“Thank you for the wonderful introduction Governor Crist – soon I hope to be Senator Crist,” Walsh said after taking the microphone. Moments later, Walsh acknowledged McCollum as, “I hope our next governor, too, Bill.”
For the press release from the governor’s office, click here.
Tags: Bill McCollum, Charlie Crist, child pornography, John Walsh
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June 9th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
This is nothing new. Years ago I was the public information officer for a county sheriff (Republican). When it was getting close to election time, he would launch a “massive drug raid” and serve upward of 100 arrest warrants in one night. The media would laud him. They didn’t realize he had held the warrants for months, amassing the warrants until he could make an impressive number of arrests and convince the voters he was keeping them safe. It was all politics and I feel this is, too. The issues of child abuse and molestation are too serious. They should not be used as political footballs, but investigated and prosecuted diligently and continuously.
June 9th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
This is not new. Years ago I was the public information officer for a Florida county sheriff (Republican). As election day drew near, he would launch a “massive drug raid” and arrest as many as 100 people in a single overnight raid. The media would cover these and laud him. They didn’t check the warrants. If they had, they would have realized he’d held the warrants for months, held them until he amassed a number that would convince the public he was keeping them safe. This is politics as usual. Child abuse and molestation are too serious to use as a political football. They should be investigated and prosecuted diligently and continuously. I am disappointed in Charlie Crist.