Wexler throws support to Crist
by Jane Musgrave | September 26th, 2010Threading his way through sign-waving critics who labeled him a turncoat, former U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler today took an act that he said he once thought was anathema: He endorsed a onetime GOP standard bearer over the Democratic candidate in the U.S. Senate race.
“There is a special time in which elected officials and people to which people look to have to put country before party and this is one of those times,” the seven-term Democratic Congressman told a crowd of his former constituents at Century Village west of Boca Raton. “I am here to endorse Gov. Charlie Crist because he has earned it. He has truly earned it.”
While Wexler left Congress in January to head up a Middle East think tank, he is still a powerful force among Democrats, particularly in predominantly Jewish communities like the Century Village, said Palm Beach County Commissioner Burt Aaronson. After leaving the sprawling community west of Boca, Wexler headed to another retirement community, Kings Point in Tamarac, to announce his support for Crist over Democrat Kendrick Meek.
“Robert’s everybody’s grandson and they love him,” said Aaronson, a fellow Democrat. Aaronson said he joined the roughly 500 at the noontime rally simply to support Wexler; not to endorse Crist. He said he hasn’t yet decided who to endorse in the three-way race that includes Republican Marco Rubio.
However, he said, if polls show that Meek can’t beat Rubio, he will join Wexler in endorsing Crist, who became an independent when it became clear he couldn’t beat Rubio in the August primary.
“Before early voting begins and before the absentee ballots go out I will be analyzing the polls very closely and if I feel and the people feel that Kendrick Meek can’t be a winner, my vote won’t be for Charlie Crist, it will be against Marco Rubio,” he said. “I’m a loyal Democrat, but one thing we can’t have is Marco Rubio up there swinging and swaying the U.S. Senate. That would be a catastrophe.”
Other Democrats, who stood outside the event waving signs, disagreed.
Harriet Smith, of Boynton Beach, carried a sign supporting Meek that said: “Go With a Lifelong Democrat.”
She said she was disappointed that Wexler jumped ship. “I think Wexler made a big mistake,” she said. “He lost credibility and he lost father with all Democrats in this district.”
September 26th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
Sometimes it is necessary to “jump ship”; in this case I believe Crist will be the winner. Although he “jumped ship” from the Republican Party, I think he would be a favorable vote for President Obama’s policies. Meek would be great, but can he beat the teaparty’s favorite showman, Rubio?
September 26th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
The only swinging and swaying would if be Charlie Crist won.
Wexler QUIT his seat to work for a middle east (read that Israeli) organization. It costs the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars for a special election in which another (hold on to your hats) jewish candidate won!
Now, tell me there are no latinos in this district that could have run on the democrat ticket!!!
Jews are for jews. Let’s show them that a new population is taking over in S FL.
NO to any future venture of that carpetbagger Wexler or any his endorsements. The guy LIVES in Maryland and what the hell is he trying to ‘endorse’ an independent.
Shame on Wexler! Va!
September 26th, 2010 at 4:25 pm
Crist can’t win, remember he was leading this race not very long ago.
He is heading down and will soon be out.
Robert Wexler has paid his friends the ultimate in loyalty and the result will be nothing more than confusion for the lower information Democratic voters.
The result will likely be depressing.
Democratic Leaders from all over South Florida can rescue this election for Meek and the Statewide candidates by forcefully supporting Kendrick Meek.
Indecision is the enemy of momentum.
There is time to win for Kendrick, the clock’s run out on Charlie.
September 26th, 2010 at 4:36 pm
Aaronson, grow a pair and endorse one. Absentee ballots have been sent out. Take your finger out of the air (and your rear end) and pick a side. At least Wexler has the fortitude to go against his own party in order to keep Marco out of the US Senate.
Let’s go, Burt. Stop playing it safe.
September 26th, 2010 at 4:39 pm
Give em hell Charlie!
September 26th, 2010 at 7:13 pm
Come on those who know nothing! Wexler, Rham Emanuel, Axlerod, Alan Grayson, Charlie Crist is a Greek Geek married to a Jew! So! looks like to me they all support the party of Jews!
September 26th, 2010 at 7:28 pm
Kendrick Meek is the only Democrat in the race. He is also a decent man with strong convictions. He will be on the right side of the issues most of the time.
Charlie Crist is a weather vane. He has no clue how he will vote on anything. He will say anything to get elected.
September 26th, 2010 at 8:07 pm
This is not about Jews or any other religious group, this is about the best man for Florida.. My vote is for Kendrick Meek.. Meek will win and Democratics will back him. Those who are undecided just read Meek’s record and then read Rubio and Crist.. he flip and I hope he Flops!! Please dont read the gosspip, its just that GOSSIP!!
September 26th, 2010 at 11:32 pm
I was there today to ask Crist and Wexler what they were really about in this election. As a staunch liberal and progressive Democrat I was interested in their replies, as each has flipped like a fish out of water since the decision came to the table and Crist decided to run as an Independent aka a Republican putting on a Democratic mask to lure the Democrats away from the party’s U.S. Senate choice, Kendrick Meek. All Crist said to me was a thank you for being a participant in the democratic process…very slick and “sweet”…and Wexler, who has lost the respect of any true Democrat working long hours for our party’s values to be represented in Congress and throughout the political spectrum, told me that Crist has “earned” his support. Period!!!! Then his speech to the crowd implied, and he lied, that Crist only, not including Kendrick Meek, supported the Deemocratic values that he so admired. Lies!!! Kendrick Meek stands for all the values that the Democratic ticket stands for, and not just when it’s time to try for a coveted Senate seat. We are talking about women’s rights, securing Social Security’s future, the public education system, etc, etc,…subjects that Charlie Crist has a problem answering in a consistent manner. Flip flop…go whichever way the wind or the polluted waves go. And why is Wexler is comrade at this time? do NOT buy the fact that he “earned” the endorsements he’s receiving. I smell a fish, floundering in a sea of polluted Gulf waters!
September 27th, 2010 at 12:04 am
Can you say Ambassador Wexler to sure up the vote in 2012 for Obama..so sad the D sold you out with the rest of the party.
September 27th, 2010 at 4:34 am
Is everyone in Palm Beach County so in lock-step with a party that they can’t simply vote for who they believe might be best for Florida?
I am a life-long Democrat of over forty years andI will be voting for Crist. I am not voting against Meeks or for one party over another but simply for the candidate that I think can do the most for Florida.
September 27th, 2010 at 5:29 am
One commie supporting another…WAKE UP PALM BEACH…do you want American to fail?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye6fRx4gZV8
September 27th, 2010 at 8:39 am
THE FACTS ARE THE FACTS
Now we know the Charlie Crist’s poll numbers were in the 30’s just two months ago and now they are dropping like a rock.
Meek’s numbers are moving up more each week and should put Crist in last place.
A drop of only 3% more points for Crist will make this happen.
We know for sure that Crist can’t win. So why waste our vote on someone we now know CAN’T win.
Wake up to the fact that there is only one true Democrat and become UNITED. Meek’s chances of winning will become a real reality.
The next big question is what going to happen to those Democrats who openly supported Crist and broke their parties loyalty oath?
October 14th, 2010 at 7:21 am
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