Posted on 05/13/2009 4:38:36 PM PDT by jessduntno
Some Republicans don't know what to make of "Obama hugger" Charlie Crist
When Florida Gov. Charlie Crist announced a run for the U.S. Senate, fellow Republicans split into two groups, writes columnist E.J. Dionne Jr.
WASHINGTON — When Charlie Crist, Florida's popular governor, announced this week that he would run for the U.S. Senate, it was the best news the Republican Party has had in an otherwise unpleasant year.
The problem for the GOP is that its right wing quickly decided that the good news was very bad news indeed.
The elation and the desolation had the same source. Party insiders, fearing another difficult year in 2010, see Crist's moderate image and warm personal style as just what they need to hold a Senate seat that became vulnerable with the retirement of incumbent Mel Martinez.
But conservatives, who have long mistrusted Crist, now loathe him for committing the cardinal sin of enthusiastically endorsing President Obama's stimulus plan earlier this year. Among right-wing stalwarts, even using the word "stimulus" is a wicked act. They insist on the ugly locution "porkulus," as in political pork.
Crist even embraced the president during a Florida rally in February, and the hug really got under the skin of the wingers. On Mike Thomas' Orlando Sentinel blog, a commenter recently declared, in all capital letters: "I as a Republican, will never forget what Gov. Crist did, hugging and kissing Obama and taking all that stimulos (sic) money on TV." Ouch.
Marco Rubio, the former Florida House speaker, will be the conservatives' champion in the primary. In this age of instant communications, Rubio answered Crist's announcement with an online ad in what might be called an abstract expressionist style.
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
He should just admit the truth and follow Specter.
RINOs are what led to the TOTUS-reading fuhrer. Better dead than red.
Yep. Because this is the crux. Even fiscal conservatives who could care less about social/religious/moral conservativism agree that this is bad policy and changes the American system in unAmerican ways. AND most importantly, it will not help.
The base needs to send a direct message to the RNC and the GOP leadership that RINOs need not apply. In other words, no workers, no donations, go home. The conservative base isn’t in a charitable mood right now as our country is being destroyed and our rights stolen.
do not let florida specimens escape that state.
He’s just another Republican try to get benefit of being an actual Democrat... Let him go!
We need actual change - big change and he is not the one to lead us. Either we change drastically, or we fail completely. He is one of those that would drag us into Omama-land...please...
A politician at heart and lover of power and money...
Go away Crist... and I drop the H just for fun...you Obama creep you... You are no different than your Democratic friends - power and money...
History.
No RINO’s in conservative states.
The base needs to send a direct message to the RNC and the GOP leadership that RINOs need not apply. In other words, no workers, no donations, go home. The conservative base isn’t in a charitable mood right now as our country is being destroyed and our rights stolen.
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Excellent! I told an RNC caller almost exactly the same thing last night.
Creep is not a bad word here...
“The base needs to send a direct message to the RNC and the GOP leadership that RINOs need not apply. In other words, no workers, no donations, go home. The conservative base isn’t in a charitable mood right now as our country is being destroyed and our rights stolen.”
Seems to me the RNC leadership is saying, Conservatives need not apply.
Charlie is a flaming bundle of sticks.
Now that Obama has come out in favor of “reforming” medicare and social security, it will be interesting to see how the Florida Republican, Charlie Crist, responds.
Every article written about Crist contains the phrase “Florida’s popular governor.” Is he really that popular? If so, can we consider Florida a conservative state?
“Now that Obama has come out”
Speaking of coming out . . .
How about TOAST! And that goes for stupid Jeb Bush, too.
At least he has a semi-decent chance of winning as opposed to say Bill McCollum or some other retread with no chance.
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