CRIST STAYS FOCUSED ON AVOIDING THE ISSUES IN NEW AD,
DESPITE CHALLENGE FROM OPPONENT
TALLAHASSEE – Charlie Crist, Attorney General and candidate for Governor, today released a positive new television spot, Tune In which does nothing to assuage the anxiety many Republican voters feel over his liberal positions on the issues. The ad will begin airing today in response to Tom Gallagher’s comparative ad that began airing Tuesday.
Despite the important issues raised by Tom Gallagher, Tune In avoids any mention of Charlie Crist’s support for a liberal $25 billion dollar spending plan, Mr. Crist’s support for gay civil unions, Mr. Crist’s support amnesty for illegal immigrants, or Mr. Crist’s support for Roe v. Wade. Instead, Tune in examines Crist's focus on running a campaign devoid of issues that matter most to Floridians by claiming a pro-family agenda while supporting gay civil unions and expressing ambivalence to gay adoption; claiming to provide world class education opportunities to our students despite raising taxes or cutting programs in order to fund a $25 billion class-size amendment Jeb Bush has said will lead to “ massive tax increases”; claiming to support the safety and security of our children, families and communities while supporting amnesty for illegal immigrants.
Tune In also highlights Crist's history of violating Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandment, by attacking his opponent. Charlie Crist has a long and distinguished record or invoking Ronald Reagan’s 11th Commandment, only to violate it whenever he is challenged to talk about the issues.
Tune In is available today at www.CharlieCrist.com.
Compare is still on the air and available at www.tg2006.com.
Tune In Script:
The last time he ran for Governor, my opponent viciously attacked Governor Jeb Bush, even comparing him to Fidel Castro.
TOM GALLAGHER WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PRIMARY CANDIDATES TO ENDORSE JEB BUSH IN 1994
“…an adviser to one of the candidates said the losing candidates and their supporters are trying to talk Smith into calling off the fight. They argue the focus should be on beating Democratic Gov. Gallagher was a bitter Bush opponent in the primary. But, in 1986, Gallagher lost a primary and threw his support to then-Tampa Mayor Bob Martinez because he had an insurmountable 44 percent in the first vote…’As soon as we can, we need to get this together.’” (The Palm Beach Post, 10/10/94)
“Gallagher…is expected to line up behind [Jeb] Bush later this week, possibly in an appearance with the other Republican candidates and Bush's father, George Bush” (The St. Petersburg Times, 10/12/94)
TOM GALLAGHER CAMPAIGNED FOR JEB BUSH IN 1994
“Guest stars included…Insurance Commissioner Tom Gallagher and state Sen. Ander Crenshaw. It was a seamless day of political pageantry that was…a show of political unity…In Miami, Smith…Tom Gallagher,…Ander Crenshaw and Mel Martinez…joined together on stage to show they support the party nominee.” (The Palm Beach Post, 10/17/94)
“Tom Gallagher spoke to the 1,200 people gathered in Miami for a $ 500 per person dinner for Bush campaign.” (The St. Petersburg Times, 10/18/94)
CHARLIE CRIST IS THE ONLY REPUBLICAN EVER TO BE REPRIMANDED BY GOVERNOR JEB BUSH FOR RUNNING NEGATIVE AND PERSONAL ATTACK ADS
“In 2000, Crist produced an ad attacking his Democratic opponent for Education Commissioner, George Sheldon, for a 1984 drunk driving arrest.” (St. Petersburg Times, 11/4/00; AP, 11/4/00)
CHARLIE CRIST’S NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN TACTICS DREW A REBUKE FROM JEB BUSH ON NATIONAL TELEVISION
“WOLF BLITZER: You know, there was a story in Friday's Tampa Tribune. I want to read to you from that article. You may be familiar with it. It says the Republican education commissioner, the candidate, Charlie Crist (ph), hastily pulled a television ad, saying his Democratic opponent, George Sheldon (ph), is unfit to hold the office, in part, because he had a drunken driving conviction in 1984. Are you familiar with the decision to pull that ad at this point in that campaign?
JEB BUSH: Absolutely. In fact, a month ago, when it was presented to me as an idea, I said don't do it. And, you know, it is the wrong approach to campaign using these types of things to try to give people the wrong impression." (CNN Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer, 11/6/00)
Now he's directing the same false, misleading attacks against me.
"It's OK to have differences of opinion," Bush said. "There ought to be some recognition that in politics, it doesn't have to be a tea party all the time." (The Gainesville Sun, 08/16/06)
In 1992, Crist ran a commercial attacking GOP opponent Jeff Huenik’s legislative attendance record, with reworded verse set to the score of the old Beverly Hillbillies theme song. (Tampa Tribune, 9/7/92) Huenik accused Crist of “lying” about other charges made during the campaign and said Crist’s victory “shows negative campaigning works.” (St. Petersburg Times, 9/2/92)
I'm Charlie Crist – and the facts are perfectly clear. I'll continue Governor Bush's positive, pro-family agenda…
“…Crist…said it was time for Florida leaders to consent to fully funding the class-size amendment passed in 2002. ‘The people have spoken on that issue. It's important to respect democracy. I certainly do,’ Crist said. ‘And I think it's time to move forward and try to implement it the best that we can.’ Bush and other Republicans have said the mandate to lower class sizes was too costly, and believe it would drain $18* billion from state coffers by the time it is slated to be met in 2010.” (The Florida Today, 07/20/06)
“On immigration, Gallagher said: ‘We need to close our borders’ and, once that is accomplished, ‘we can do something about the 10 or 11 million illegal immigrants’ already in the country. Crist said he supports closing the border but granting amnesty to illegal immigrants. (The Palm Beach Post, 08/02/06)
“State Attorney General Charlie Crist…seemed to backtrack when he recently told a Miami radio interviewer that same-sex civil unions are ‘fine.’” (The Miami Herald, 07/31/06)
“Crist's more moderate stands make him the better candidate: Crist… says he wouldn't object to civil unions for gay couples…would not support a law that banned [abortion] outright -- or made it functionally impossible for women to obtain them. He …acknowledges that the state needs to improve spending in many areas...” (The Daytona Beach News Journal, 08/13/06)
“Crist said on the radio that civil unions between gays are ‘fine...’Crist's Republican primary opponent, state Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher, opposes civil unions and gay adoptions. Gallagher's latest TV ad emphasizes his support for family values and his belief that marriage is between a man and a woman.” (The St. Petersburg Times, 07/28/06)
“’I am prochoice, but not pro-abortion,’ Crist wrote in a 1998 Times questionnaire. ‘I believe that a woman has the right to choose, but would prefer only after careful consideration and consultation with her family, her physician, and her clergy; not her government.’ Today Crist calls himself ‘pro-life,’ but when pressed, he doesn't sound substantively different than he did during his 1998 U.S. Senate campaign. ‘What we need to do is encourage a culture that respects life, as opposed to overturning (Roe vs. Wade),’ he said this week. Crist…as a legislator he voted against proposals to require counseling and a waiting period for all women seeking abortions. NARAL Pro-Choice America labels him a ‘mixed choice’ politician, compared to Bush and Jennings, who are ‘antichoice.’” (The St. Petersburg Times, 03/05/05)
“But Crist proclaims himself a conservative while still holding to moderate views - accepting abortion rights, civil unions for gays, and stem cell research, for example.” (The Tampa Tribune, 08/09/06)
…Protecting hurricane victims -- by vigorously prosecuting price gougers…
Crist, who has made his aggressive stand against price gouging an important part of his profile as he runs for governor, reported collecting $1.36-million in restitution from companies accused of cheating consumers during two record-breaking hurricane seasons. The total includes cash paid to victims and what Crist's office calls debt reduction, cases in which state action resulted in reduced charges for services. 'It doesn't sound like very much money,' said Bill Newton, a Tampa consumer advocate. (The St. Petersburg Times, 08//16/06)
...protecting children from sexual predators…
“Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist wants the public to know he is ‘anti-murder.’ It's a sexy sound bite, eminently usable in his campaign for the governor's office, that means he supports a piece of legislation that would crack down on probation violators convicted of violent crimes. The bill appears to have little chance of passing this year, but that doesn't mean Crist won't be talking about it as he runs for the Republican nomination to succeed Gov. Jeb Bush.” (The Miami Herald, 04/09/06)
“But even if this bill had been the law at the time, it would not have affected Joseph Smith, who is now on death row for the rape and murder of 11-year-old Carlie. Smith had no prior violent felony convictions in his background, a condition that is necessary to trigger the proposed legislation. Smith's probation violation had to do with fines he hadn't paid, and the legislation explicitly removes monetary probation violations from its reach. Admittedly, this year's version of the anti-murder bill - as opposed to a much broader one proposed last year - would have a relatively small impact on the status quo. Criminal court judges already tend to deny bond and deal harshly with violent felons who violate probation. Still, the bill is expected cost the state more than $10-million by adding 251 inmates to Florida's prison system by 2008. Probationers are required to submit to random drug tests, stay away from other criminals and report regularly to their probation supervisor, among other conditions. Failure to abide by any of these rules could result in the return to prison for years. A judge is in the best position to decide whether someone's slip-up is a small mistake or a serious offense. Bills like the Anti-Murder Act just get in the way, without enhancing public safety. (The St. Petersburg Times, 04/27/06)
…Ensuring criminals serve at least 85% of their sentences.
“His Senate office became a nonstop publicity machine. Aides cranked out one press release after another. There was "Crist to sponsor chain gang amendment" on May 4, 1995. "Crist named 'Legislator of the Year' by PBA" on July 28, 1995. "Crist sponsors bill to require 8-hour work day for inmates" on Sept. 21, 1995. The idea of chain gangs played well with the media and voters, but it was largely a myth.” (The St. Petersburg Times, 07/31/06)
And I'm the only candidate for Governor who has never supported a tax increase.
Crist “knows the solutions don't always lend themselves to snappy campaign slogans and aren't always consistent with no-tax rhetoric.” (St. Petersburg Times-editorial, 9/24/86) That same year, Crist stated: “The imposition of reasonable impact fees would be a revenue source that I would support…[.]” (St. Petersburg Times, 8/29/86) Moreover,
In a written 1992 statement to the St. Petersburg Times, Crist said: “Taxes that are in fact fair and are shared are essential if any democratic government is to succeed.” (St. Petersburg Times, 8/29/92)
In a 1992 questionnaire, Crist “said the state's tax base is not adequate and ‘the elimination of unfair and unjustified exclusions and exemptions could assist in the improved revenue base necessary to help improve and maintain our quality of life’” (St. Petersburg Times-editorial, 9/6/92)
Crist ‘emphasized his concern about Florida’s inadequate tax base…’” (St. Petersburg Times-editorial, 10/18/92)
Crist voted for a 1996 bill that placed a tax on hospitals for every live birth. (Tampa Tribune, 10/4/96)
Crist supported a penny-per-pound tax to be charged to sugar companies and rejected by the voters in 1996. (St. Petersburg Times, 10/30/98)
“He has committed to putting tens of billions of dollars into reducing class sizes, as the state Constitution requires, even though Gov. Jeb Bush and other top Republicans still would rather repeal that requirement. ‘It's time to move on,’ Crist said. But that's just the start. Crist's other priorities include: The "antimurder" bill, which would crack down on probation violators and would cost, by one legislative analysis, $118-million a year by 2010. Giving 10 percent annual pay raises to the top 25 percent of teachers in Florida. First-year cost: $150-million. Adding reading coaches to all public schools, at an annual cost of $100-million. Spending at least $1-billion more every year on public schools…Is Crist promising more than Florida's budget can deliver?” (The St. Petersburg Times, 08/08/16)
TOM GALLAGHER V. CRIST DEBATE NEWS:
Tom's opponent supports a liberal $25 billion spending plan Jeb Bush says will lead to "massive tax increases," Tom's opponent supports gay civil unions, Tom's opponent supports amnesty for illegal immigrants, and Tom's opponent is pro-choice.
On the other hand, Tom has continued to fight on behalf of our Republican values. Tom opposes the liberal $25 billion spending plan, Tom opposes gay civil unions, Tom opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants and is pro-life.
Tom's opponent has ducked out of debating Tom on these important issues - but next week he'll have no place to hide.
The debate will air statewide Tuesday night AUGUST 22nd on your local PBS station at 8 pm.
"Crist is almost like a Democrat-lite," said Jim Kitchens, an Orlando political consultant and pollster.
We must.....NEVER FORGET.....Crist & Reno....Perfect together?
I find this disturbing and an indication that Crist is a RINO who is sympathetic to the homocexual agenda:
CRIST....gave NO RESPONSE....to these questions on the Christian Coalition Questionaire:
"Public schools teaching homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle.
"Amend the Constitution to define marriage as a man and a woman"
"Prohibit Embryonic Stem Cell research that destroys a human embryo"
"Voluntary student-led prayer at school related events"