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Crist opposes GOP funding for gay ban
St. Petersburg Times ^ | February 13, 2007 | Steve Bousquet

Posted on 02/13/2007 5:18:20 PM PST by Graybeard58

TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Charlie Crist does not want any more Republican Party money spent to advance a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in Florida, and on Tuesday he dodged the issue of whether people should be able to vote on it.

“I just think that their money can be better spent on other things that may be more pressing, like elections,” Crist said. “The people care about issues like insurance premiums. They care like property taxes. They care about public safety.”

By distancing himself from the same sex marriage issue, Crist has again shown a preference for pragmatism over ideology, and a lack of enthusiasm for wedge issues. But he also risks alienating social conservatives in his party -- many of whom backed his opponent in last year’s Republican primary for governor.

“He’s certainly allowed to express his opinion,” said John Stemberger, an Orlando lawyer and chairman of the effort to put a same sex marriage ban in Florida’s Constitution. “I cannot imagine that he would reverse his position as a strong supporter of this effort. It’s good policy for him, it’s good politics, and it’s a historical thing that’s going to happen. It needs to happen.”

As for Crist’s opposition to party support for the amendment, Stemberger said: “I think he should re-evaluate his position.”

To date, the Florida Coalition to Protect Marriage, a political committee, received $300,000 last year from the Republican Party of Florida, more than half of the marriage group’s reported total.

Jim Greer, Crist’s handpicked choice to be chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, said he has not yet decided whether to contribute any more party money to the effort.

Florida has a state law banning same sex marriage, but supporters want it embedded in the Constitution.

Backers of what is called “the Florida Marriage Protection Amendment” are close to collecting the 611,000 signatures they need to get the proposal on the November 2008 presidential election ballot, subject to approval by the Florida Supreme Court.

The issue is considered vital to Republican efforts in mobilizing social conservatives.

The campaign’s spokesperson is Laura Gallagher, the wife of Tom Gallagher, the candidate Crist vanquished in last year’s Republican primary.

Supporters already faced one new hurdle: a requirement that ballot initiatives in Florida must get approval of at least 60 percent of voters.

Now they face resistance from a popular new governor who has sought to cast himself as a non-ideological problem solver tackling issues such as insurance, taxes and crime.

“I’m convinced those are the kinds of issues that the people of Florida want us to focus on that are in government, and I think it would be appropriate for the party to do the same, and I believe they will,” Crist said.

Asked if people should have a chance to vote on the same sex marriage issue, Crist said: “We only have so much time. And we have to prioritize what we put our energy into.”

Asked if there’s a “downside” to his party being identified as opposing gay marriage, Crist again dodged the question.

“I see an upside to fight for lower insurance premiums,” Crist said.

Crist is listed as an endorser of the amendment on the web site, www.florida4marriage.org.

While running for governor last year, Crist signed a petition in support of the same sex marriage ban.

In a Republican primary marked by rival Tom Gallagher’s overt appeals on issues such as abortion and gay marriage, Crist ran TV ads touting his work as attorney general in “defending traditional marriage.”

But after Crist trounced Gallagher by a 2-to-1 margin, social issues virtually vanished from the political dialogue, and gave way to issues Crist considers far more important, such as insurance and taxes.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: homosexualagenda; jorgethehomo; logsamplinrepublican
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To: Graybeard58

Crist has his priorities straight. In Florida, proerpty taxes and insurance are way, way ahead in terms of state priorities. When it comes to my ability to being able to afford my mortgage payment or a ban on same sex marriages, keeping my house is far more important. But then some people are so stuck on the idea that they don't care how much money they spend on outrageous taxes and insurance as long as gays can't marry. I'm not going top cut off my nose to spite my face.


41 posted on 02/13/2007 6:47:27 PM PST by doc30 (Democrats are to morals what an Etch-A-Sketch is to Art.)
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To: everyone

A gay-marriage referendum in November '08 would help us carry Florida in the presidential race. But perhaps Governor Crist doesn't care about that.


42 posted on 02/13/2007 6:47:47 PM PST by California Patriot ("That's not Charlie the Tuna out there. It's Jaws." -- Richard Nixon)
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To: Rodney King

"A very simple reading of the electorate almost everywhere except San Francisco shows that the people care very much about gay marriage"

Its only about the foundation of our society, whats the big deal?

/sarc


43 posted on 02/13/2007 7:10:24 PM PST by driftdiver
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To: doc30

"When it comes to my ability to being able to afford my mortgage payment or a ban on same sex marriages, keeping my house is far more important. "

The neat thing is that out government can actually focus on more than one thing. There is no ration card that has to be punched.


44 posted on 02/13/2007 7:12:27 PM PST by driftdiver
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To: NorCalRepub
.....how on earth do you know he's gay?....or do you just say that cause you disagree with him????

I don't know for sure, but the grapevine sure has been saying so. One of his first standards for government employees included a statement about not discriminating against "personal characteristics," whatever that is.

45 posted on 02/13/2007 7:43:35 PM PST by ghostrider
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To: Jorge

So much for it being none of your business then, eh what? LOL!


46 posted on 02/13/2007 8:22:35 PM PST by FormerLib (Sacrificing our land and our blood cannot buy protection from jihad.-Bishop Artemije of Kosovo)
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To: not2worry; Jorge

Well, we know how those who pack the fudge tend to stick together, eh what? LOL?


47 posted on 02/13/2007 8:24:21 PM PST by FormerLib (Sacrificing our land and our blood cannot buy protection from jihad.-Bishop Artemije of Kosovo)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

You mean 'Fla. GOP.' 'FL' is the big government abbreviation!


48 posted on 02/13/2007 9:01:11 PM PST by GOPlibertarian
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To: Graybeard58

Well, way back when, he was Mark Foley's roommate, ya know.


49 posted on 02/14/2007 5:59:08 AM PST by George W. Bush
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To: Graybeard58

Just to be sure, I'll hold back my RPoF contribution until they tell Charlie to stuff it.


50 posted on 02/14/2007 6:12:00 AM PST by NonValueAdded (Prevent Glo-Ball Warming ... turn out the sun when not in use)
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To: fieldmarshaldj; Clintonfatigued; AuH2ORepublican

In 2006, Gay marriage bans passed while Republican candidiates fell. People just had a no confidence vote in the GOP. If the GOP ever wishes to regain the confidence of the public, they need to forget about moderation and RINOism. These paths only led to corrupt moderates like George Ryan.


51 posted on 02/14/2007 8:05:38 AM PST by Kuksool (No candidate is entitled to anyone's vote)
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To: NeoCaveman; atomicpossum

You can betcha Charlie's seen a grown man nekkid.


52 posted on 02/14/2007 4:00:01 PM PST by fieldmarshaldj (Cheney X -- Destroying the Liberal Democrat Traitors By Any Means Necessary -- Ya Dig ? Sho 'Nuff.)
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To: Kuksool; Clintonfatigued; AuH2ORepublican; JohnnyZ; BlackElk

I admit I leaned towards Crist in the primary because the Gallagher folks were some of the biggest KH disciples (and you know what I mean by that), but Crist started to look like bad news starting with his choice of running mate, and now he has definitely been going in a RINO direction since he has been Governor. After the banner growth of the FL GOP in the '90s and under Jeb, this jerk is going to be like a stadium-sized bathtub of icewater, the Pete Wilson of Tallahassee (or Jim Kolbe, if you catch my drift). I absolutely hope we find someone to depose him after a single term, or the 'Rats will soon find that Crist is the gift that gives them back the Governorship and rejuvenates their paltry legislative presence.


53 posted on 02/14/2007 4:05:09 PM PST by fieldmarshaldj (Cheney X -- Destroying the Liberal Democrat Traitors By Any Means Necessary -- Ya Dig ? Sho 'Nuff.)
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To: fieldmarshaldj

{Crist has sought to cast himself as a NON-ideological problem solver}

Notice that sounds exactly like a certain Austrian actor who plays a Republican Governor on tv. Arn-uld frequently talks about solving problems in a post-partisan way. Of course that just means cave in to Dem demands. I bet the trinity of Rudy McRomney is going to govern the same way, shoudld they make into the White House.


54 posted on 02/14/2007 4:56:49 PM PST by Kuksool (No candidate is entitled to anyone's vote)
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To: Kuksool

Oh, goody. Those "non-ideological problem solver" RINOs will be the death of us all, or at least the Republican party.


55 posted on 02/14/2007 6:03:25 PM PST by fieldmarshaldj (Cheney X -- Destroying the Liberal Democrat Traitors By Any Means Necessary -- Ya Dig ? Sho 'Nuff.)
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