Crist attempts to tie Rubio to Sansom controversy
by Michael C. Bender | February 23rd, 2010UPDATE: Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen Thurman applauded Crist’s interest in the Sansom case and is urging him to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate corruption in the Florida Republican Party. Her letter is here.
Republican Charlie Crist‘s campaign sent out its second missive in two days trying to saddle primary opponent Marco Rubio to the mess left by former Speaker Ray Sansom’s resignation.
Sansom was Rubio’s hand-picked budget chairman while Sansom was tucking controversial deals for a local college into the budget. And while its fair to question about how much Rubio knew about what was going on, Crist’s tactics ignore that the governor had final say on line items in the budget and did not veto the project.
Crist has demanded Rubio “release all emails and documents between Rep. Sansom, yourself, and your respective staff.” But one of the big problems is House rules let lawmakers delete their e-mails at will, a standard that is far less strict than the requirements the legislature imposes on state agencies, the governor’s office and local governments. Crist has shown little interest in urging lawmakers to change that standard.
Today, Crist’s campaign takes a different approach, implying that Rubio not only should have known about Sansom’s budget dealings, but similarly may have used his influence to feather his own nest as speaker. From the press release:
Speaker Rubio, didn’t you insert tax payer funding for Florida International University including $50,000 for FIU’s Metropolitan Center into the 2007 and 2008 budget?
Speaker Rubio, didn’t you receive a job at FIU’s Metropolitan Center while you were still Speaker of the Florida House?
Speaker Rubio, weren’t you given an unadvertised job, like Ray Sansom, with full benefits from FIU two months after the legislative session concluded?
Tags: Charlie Crist, Marco Rubio, Ray Sansom
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February 23rd, 2010 at 11:57 am
Charlieo,
You can wiggle and scream and lie that numbers don’t count, but it was “you” that signed off on that budget after “you” were told about the corruption in the budget. No put the freaking blame where it belongs. Right square on your shoulders.
February 23rd, 2010 at 12:16 pm
Charlie, you are a worm and I hope that you lose this race big time. You are a typical politician that cannot be trusted and will dig and search for anything that you feel will hurt anyone that opposes you. You did this to Mitt Romney last year at this time and will do it to anyone that does not wish to further your crooked politics.
February 24th, 2010 at 10:45 am
ALL corruption should be examined and NO ONE is above the law!!!What is Rubio afraid of this time??