Fact check: Crist’s first radio ad for U.S. Senate campaign
by Michael C. Bender | October 16th, 2009
Gov. Charlie Crist’s U.S. Senate campaign is running its first two radio ads across the state. Listen to “Out of Control” and “Enough is Enough” here.
The ads are pretty much the same. Read the transcripts and fact check after the jump.
“Out of Control”
Washington is out of control. Yet the President has the same tired answer for every problem: To spend more of your money. I’m Charlie Crist. I’m running for the U.S. Senate because Washington needs a dose of Florida common sense. In the last two years, federal government spending has grown by over 25 percent. Here in Florida, I’ve slashed government by 10 percent. That’s $7 billion. And we’ve passed the biggest tax cuts in Florida history. Last fall, the conservative Cato Institute graded all 50 governors with a fiscal report card. I’m proud to say that I was ranked No. 1 in America. Less government, less taxes: It’s more than a slogan. It’s my commitment and the record I’ll bring from Tallahassee to Washington. We can’t spend our way into prosperity or tax or way into growth. Let’s cut the size of the federal government and return your family’s money so you can decide how to best spend it. I’m Charlie Crist and I approved this message.
“Enough is Enough”
Enough is enough. That’s my message to President Obama. I’m Charlie Crist. We cant spend our way into prosperity or tax or way into growth. I say its time to take some Florida common sense to Washington. Let’s cut federal spending and let you decide how to spend your own money. When I came to Tallahassee about three years ago, the economy was already slowing down. Unlike our president, I said more government isn’t the answer. Better to cut spending and lower taxes. And so we did. We reduced spending by over 10 percent, over 7 billion. At the same time federal spending rose over 25 percent. We passed the biggest tax cut in Florida history and I’m not done. When the conservative Cato Institute graded all 50 governors on fiscal management, I’m proud to say I was ranked No. 1. Less taxes less spending more freedom. That’s my committment to you every day I go to work. I’m Charlie Crist and I approved this message.
Fact check:
In the first ads of his U.S. Senate campaign, Crist exaggerates his role in the state budget cuts. Simply put, the budget was cut because a historic drop in sales taxes and real estate taxes gave lawmakers less to spend. Crist lobbied hard for lawmakers to spare as many cuts as possible and his past two budget recommendations were more expensive than what ultimately passed out of the Republican-controlled legislature. Crist did veto a record amount of spending in 2007, but signed a budget this year with $2 billion in tax and fee increases.
Crist can claim the largest tax cut in state history – for now. A legislative change in 2007 ($15.6 billion) and a constitutional amendment in 2008 ($9.3 billion) were supposed to cut property taxes by $26 billion. But only a fraction of homeowners have taken advantage of the constitutional amendment. And a recent report from the Florida Association of Counties shows counties have lost just $340 million due to the statutory changes.
Crist talks mostly about the state budget, something he’d have little influence over from the Senate. He indirectly mentions the federal budget by accusing Washington and President Obama of “out of control” spending. But Obama’s predecessor approved the first $350 billion to the financial industry and Crist — as his primary opponent, Marco Rubio, will continue to remind voters — was one of the only Republican governors to embrace Obama’s $787 billion stimulus plan.
Tags: Charlie Crist, fact check, stimulus
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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 16th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
My favorite part about Crist’s radio commercials which I’ve heard at naseum is his railing against Obama, who Crist supported 100% basically up until his radio ads began playing.
100% Hippocrit …Sorry Charlie, looks like you’re staying on as Governor
October 16th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
I’m a Republican and I find him disgraceful!!!
October 16th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
I think this guy…..sux….
October 16th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Charlie the Liar can kiss my you know what in Macy’s window and i would NEVER ever vote for this piece of CRAP again.
Kick him out of office NOW
October 17th, 2009 at 9:57 am
RUN MARCO RUN - WE NEED YOU NOW MORE THAN EVER.
Crist is nothing more than a liberal socialist just like his buddies Obama and Pelosi and now he wants us to think he is a republican. He is an empty suit with a tan and a total joke as a republican. CRIST LIES
October 17th, 2009 at 10:03 am
All Wasington needs is another Republican obstructionist to bring this country down. There are far too many of them already seated in the Congress who must be defeated inthe 2009 electi0ns. This from one who was a Republican for more than 60 years, and who will no longer support obstructionist rule.
October 17th, 2009 at 10:18 am
What?
He is “one of the only Republican governors to embrace” Obama’s porkulous spending?
When did we change the language to allow such idiotic constructions?
About the only thing Shucking Chuckles is one-of-a-kind at is being his own sorry self, in full power lust.
Super Mario will kick that self-same sorry son-of-a-shucker’s sassy, smiley, smug Senatorial squish squarely in his small stones next year.
October 17th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
John bush was in for 2 terms, but I guess that was because the state had alot to offer him and his greedy friends. Turns out that Florida is in some trouble, so it probably makes sense to con all the people who voted for him before into sending him into the luxury seat of the US Senate.
His ad reads like a typical misleading resume of an unscrupulous HUCKSTER, by the way. He cut govt. spending, yes, but just to keep from drowning.
The Outcome: Another USER will continue to step on the backs of the many to aggrandize himself, and Florida will be no closer to fixing any of its problems.
October 18th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Is he serious?
Charlie, you may be able to lie to the national media about what you’ve “done” as governor, but we remember you side by side with NObama, and we remember you cheerleading for the stimulus, too.
Nice try, Charlie, but I’m with Marco.
ABC 2010 = ANYBODY but Charlie
October 22nd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
We need more true conservatives like Marco and Patricia Sullivan in Washington. Let the RINOs take a nice long vacation.
October 25th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
Charlie Crist(the ultimate RINO and hypocrite) These ads are a joke! Actions speak much louder that words Charlie! Does you really think we’re this stupid? Charlie is running scared and with good reason. I know of no one who is going to vote for him. Marco Rubio will run circles around this empty suite.
October 26th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
[...] airwaves are alive with the sound of Governor Charlie Crist’s radio advertisement trumpeting his grade of “A” on Cato’s “Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s [...]
November 5th, 2009 at 11:07 am
[...] radio ads to make him look like Mr. Conservative: Florida’s airwaves are alive with the sound of Governor Charlie Crist’s radio advertisement trumpeting his grade of “A” on Cato’s “Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s [...]
December 7th, 2009 at 10:25 am
The country AND the state are broke. STOP spending money in Florida, and get our house in order. Let Obama fall by himself!!
December 8th, 2009 at 10:00 am
What part of STOP SPENDING money we dont have dont you understand? Take the money from the Fed and then what?-We already have a rail line we cant afford- and its not used , not paying for itself ,now we will add another in a less populated area?? Whats wrong with you people?