Fact check: 3rd Crist campaign spot features Connie Mack, same exaggerations
by Michael C. Bender | November 6th, 2009
The third radio spot from Crist (listen here) closely follows the first two and repeats some of the same exaggerations.
Title: n/a
Airing: Radio statewide
Running time: 1 minute
Sponsor: Charlie Crist for U.S. Senate
Script:
NARRATOR: Florida’s former Senator Connie Mack on Gov. Crist’s conservative record.
FORMER U.S. SEN. CONNIE MACK: In Florida’s history, no governor has slashed spending as much as Charlie Crist - $7 billion over two years, 10 percent. And no governor has cut taxes as deeply as Charlie Crist - $25 billion in property tax relief over five years. When the Cato Institute graded all 50 governors on fiscal managment, our Charlie Crist was ranked No. 1. Less taxes, less spending, more freedom. For me, and for Charlie Crist, these words are more than a slogan, they’re a commitment.
CRIST: I’m Charlie Crist and I’ve got three words for our president: Enough is enough. We can’t spend our way into prosperity or tax our way into growth. Let’s take some Florida common sense and bring it to Washington: Let’s cut federal spending and let you decide who to spend your own money. Less government, less spending, more freedom. Let’s get back to basics.
NARRATOR: For more information visit CharlieCrist.com
CRIST: I’m Charlie Crist and I approved this message.
Fact check: Crist did veto $459 million in 2007, a record amount. But most of the $7 billion in cuts were due to the historic drop in sales taxes and real estate taxes. Crist lobbied hard for lawmakers to spare cuts to education and health care and ultimately signed a budget this year that included $2.2 billion in tax and fee increases. The conservative Cato Institute did give Crist their top ranking in 2008. But the author of that report, Chris Edwards, has since criticized Crist for approving a budget this year with tax increases and about $5 billion in federal stimulus money. “The governor seems to have fallen off the fiscal responsibility horse,” Edwards said.
Crist implies that President Obama’s approach to the nation’s economic crisis is to “spend our way into prosperity,” but Crist fails to mention that he supported the $787 stimulus plan and campaigned for it with Obama in Fort Myers this year.
Tags: ad watch, fact check
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November 6th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
IT’S AMAZING!!!!
In the last 2 weeks not a single “positive” Crist story
In the last 2 weeks not a single “negative” Rubio story
The liberal PB Post supporting a right wing conservative?????
November 6th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Crist is taking credit for slashing FL spending when it was actually the legislature that deserves credit. He has flip-flopped his Obama support because he is beginning to fear Rubio’s rising poll numbers.
November 7th, 2009 at 2:43 am
“Mad Mike”,
The Post isn’t supporting Rubio - the unbiased reporting of the campaign is simply exposing Crist’s multiple faux pas. There’s been a few digs at Rubio - his new fundraising website crashed 2 days out of the gate.
I mean to come out and call yourself fiscally conservative months after pushing for the stimulus? He truly is Empty Suit, Cut and Run Charlie.
November 10th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
“In the last 2 weeks not a single “negative” Rubio story”
Then you’re not paying attention …
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/rubio-record-diverges-from-campaign-rhetoric/1050022