UPDATE: Crist unaware Obama was in the state
by Michael C. Bender | October 27th, 2009“First I’ve known of it,” Gov. Charlie Crist said this morning in response to a reporter’s question about why he didn’t join President Obama in Jacksonville.
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 cancellation notice Crist’s office sent the day before the Cabinet meeting.
As for Obama’s event Monday, Crist said he didn’t know about it. “We were all aware he was coming. I didn’t know his itinerary. That’s all,” Crist said.
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.
“When the president comes to your state for the first time after he gets elected, I’m a civil guy, and I’m going to try to do what I believe is right all the time,” Crist said. “I don’t agree with him on everything. I think that’s pretty clear. But yeah, I think it’s the right thing to do to honor the office of president of the United States.”
From the campaign of House Speaker Marco Rubio, Crist’s Republican primary opponent:
“It’s clear President Obama’s visit has made Governor Crist excruciatingly uncomfortable. For someone who famously never forgets a name and face, Governor Crist has picked a convenient time to forget the leader of the free world has been in his state, addressing Jacksonville-based troops, raising money in Miami to defeat Republicans in 2010 and touting the Obama-Crist stimulus in Arcadia. Charlie Crist’s absence from the president’s itinerary marks a remarkable turnaround for someone who has enthusiastically embraced the president and his runaway spending policies.” – Alex Burgos, Rubio campaign spokesman.
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Sentenced to die for crimes judged heinous and cruel, inmates await execution in a 9 feet by 6 feet cell.
October 27th, 2009 at 9:45 am
Yea right! And Bill Clinton didn’t “inhale” or have “sex with that woman” either. I don’t believe any of the politicians BS anymore.
October 27th, 2009 at 11:19 am
Here’s what Charlie Crist can do to save his about-to-be-in-danger campaign.
http://bit.ly/r9H6M
October 27th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
If Crist didn’t know the president was in town he was the only one.Maybe we should not know he is running for senate.
October 27th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
It’s fairly simple to see why he didn’t want to be seen with the President. Just Like McCain during the campaign did not want George Bush to make appearances due to his unpopularity, Crist is trying to stay away from Obama because in his opinion the people of Florida will tie Obama’s failures to Crist.
October 27th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
“Yea right! And Bill Clinton didn’t “inhale” or have “sex with that woman” either. I don’t believe any of the politicians BS anymore.”
yeah,like Sanford,Foley,Larry Craig Vitter,Foscella,Craig and draft these anti patriotic draft dodgers that adamantly demanding war; Limbaughs Knee injury BEFORE he played football is reason he gave for not serving then played football,the most famous ardent pro military drafter and winner of number of waivers ever given a draft dodger,Dick Cheney with 5 deferments!!!
No sir don’t bring me that crap!
If you can’t tell the difference,the hypocrisy of your Repub’s selling themselves as the defenders of family values and Christianity and their immoral and unpatriotic acts far out number those who don’t try to wear those badges on their arms.
You don’t know because you are in an environment devoid of negative comments about your party,we the majority laugh at you and you don’t even know it.
Best you didn’t bring up moral issues as a positive of your party.
P.S.
Fox won’t tell you but the reason Gingrich had to leave the party,he got caught with his secretary sexing on his Speakers desk and then the Repub sent to replace him quit a day after being chosen for sex in his government.
- Republican Bob Livingston (1998) was chosen to replace Newt Gingrich as speaker. But he, instead, admitted an affair and stepped down.
All those immoral acts while trying to unseat a president for an immoral act.
BTW,all these are off the top of my head,I have a seriously long list of hypocrisy I could have used.
October 28th, 2009 at 7:36 am
It is a good thing that Crist ignored Obama. Later people will ignore him for Senator and Govenor. What a buffoon - I am sick of having clowns run our political leadership. He acts like he is doing good for Florida but our long term growth and viability as a State is threatened. Unfortunately, more will leave this state because there are no jobs and will not be any future jobs because of government ineptness and our leaders desire for politics as usual.
October 28th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
When Charlie Crist stated on Tuesday, October 27, to a television news reporter that he wasn’t aware that the President was visiting Jacksonville on Monday, 10/26, I sat there in disbelief that the Governor of Florida could make such a dishonest statement. He has aides that inform him of all events. He didn’t just look “not informed”, he came across as not being truthful.
The only reason Charlie Crist’s answer would make any sense would be if he was under a rock or locked in a closet, no TV and no newspaper all last week and Monday for him not to know that our President was visiting last Monday.
I want a Governor that keeps up with all the events and takes action when necessary.
His reply was just a political scheme. It shouldn’t matter if the President is a Republican or a Democrat, Charlie Cirst should respect the Office of the President, but he did not.
Needless to say, I am disappointed in the lack of truthfulness in politics today, especially Charlie Crist’s reply.
October 29th, 2009 at 6:11 am
Charlie….. now come on…you know obamas every move…you were best buddies at one time..sorry but Marco is our man now…you lost us when you sucked up to Obama and his stimulus that isnt stimulating ANYTHING except the tingle in MSNBC’s Chrissy Matthews legs….
October 29th, 2009 at 6:16 am
Thats like saying my parents were married in Hawaii when Michelle comes out and says ah no my husband was illegitimate - they werent married. Now the POTUS says one thing and the FLOTUS says another …who ya gonna believe ?? Hopey-Changey … yes we can!!!! What a joke… I will be tranparent AFTER I hide all of my rcords and my birth certificate… I will insure everyone one…..I will not accept money form lobbyistss….we have heard all these lies before….. most polticians cannot be trusted - remeber that next time you vote..