What the censure means to Gov. Crist
by Michael C. Bender | August 6th, 2009“Not much,” Crist said.
Republican Gov. Charlie Crist was censured on Saturday by the Volusia County Republican Executive Committee. Read Palm Beach County Republican Jack Furnai’s account here
The move was to embarrass Crist for failing to support local Republican congressional candidates in 2008 and for his embrace of President Obama’s stimulus plan. Although it sounds like the vote mostly embarrassed the county GOP chairman, Joe Stich.
Palm Beach County Republicans will consider a similar censure motion next week. Asked about that vote, Crist implied that he wasn’t concerned about the outcome.
“I’ll wait until Election Day,” Crist said.
The censure votes come as Crist has lost a handful of county GOP straw polls to his Republican primary opponent, Marco Rubio. The two men are hoping to replace Mel Martinez in the U.S. Senate.
Crist was asked today about whether attacks from Rubio on energy issues had any influence on Crist not scheduling his annual climate control summit this year. Rubio dismisses cap-and-trade programs and an economy killer,
“What attacks?” Crist said.
From your opponent.
“Yeah,” Crist said sarcastically as he drove off.
By the way, Crist said earlier in the gaggle that he had not scheduled the climate summit because of trouble finding sponsors to pay for the event concern about how much the event costs.
Tags: censure, Palm Beach County Republicans, Republican infighting
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August 6th, 2009 at 2:01 pm
As the maker of the motion in the Volusia County REC meeting last Saturday, I assure you the intent was not to embarrass Governor Crist. It was to get his attention. Apparently, it did and he doesn’t like it so he blew us off.
This type of arrogance is not acceptable to voters in Governor Crist or any other elected official. We did the e-mail, phones, faxes, etc. and got the same response.
The only course now left to voters is at the ballot box and if the straw polls are any evidence, Mr. Rubio will be our next Senator. Money can’t buy everything when voters are informed on the issues.
Voters now know Governor Crist as a RINO who would rather be in Colorado fundraising than attending a memorial for recently deceased Jim King. We can certainly see where his values lie.
No one could be more disappointed in Governor Crist’s performance as Governor than I. However, I am not alone. REC Volusia took this very courageous action and approved the Motion by a large majority with only 3 nay votes. I look forward to seeing the results of the straw poll in Palm Beach County. I’m sure they will not surprise me.
August 6th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
Sallie – how can an elected official do what’s best for his constituents when his party leaders threaten him with censure should he dare to stray from any party directive? Governor Crist was elected by Floridians to do what’s best for the citizens of Florida – WE DID NOT vote for the Florida GOP to make those decisions. Your censure and that of PB County’s GOP leaders, should they choose to stoop to the same level, will be recognized as badges of courage to voters who value independent thought over lock-step adherence to any political party’s “master plan.”
August 7th, 2009 at 8:54 am
Elected officials are chosen by members of their party. The party platform is supposed to mean something to them. In this instance, Governor Crist has demonstrated that he is a RINO (Republican in Name Only) who will do what’s best for himself rather than reducing taxes, reducing the size of government, and closely following the platform of the Republican Party.
Republican Executive Committees do not tell the Governor WHAT to do but they certainly should comment on how he’s doing his job.
Straw polls all over Florida are coming in with very low numbers for Crist. He can raise millions, and a lot of that is outside the state of Florida) but will he be able to buy an election from a bright young proven-conservative like Marco Rubio? I don’t think so.
August 8th, 2009 at 2:23 am
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