Florida Governor Charlie Crist saw the handwriting on the wall – he will not be the Republican nominee. So this afternoon he announces that he is going to run as an independent, not satisfied with the decision of the voters of his, now former, party. He said, “our political system is broken. I believe in democracy and the right to choose.”
What about the right of Florida Republican voters to choose somebody else?
If this were really a principled move, that in the beginning he decided he wanted to run on a platform and principles that he felt was best for his state which didn’t line up with the GOP, I’d respect that. This decision was made solely because he was going to lose. In the recent debate he had with Marco Rubio he pledged not to run as an independent should he lose the nomination. So I guess since he’s bugging out before the primary he thinks he’s keeping his promise. Only a member of the establishment would think that.
There isn’t anything principled about his decision. It is just pure political ambition and vanity, and this may make it harder to take that seat back from the Democrats. The now de facto Republican nominee, Marco Rubio, pointed out his cluelessness in a statement he made shortly after Crist’s announcement.
Governor Crist still doesn’t get it; this race is not about conservative vs. moderate, Republican vs. Democrat or, now, Republican vs. Democrat vs. Non-Party Affiliated. This election’s outcome was never going to hinge on whether he chose to run as a Republican or not. This race is a referendum between the limited government, free market American identity I will fight to preserve versus the costly and intrusive big government agenda that both Governor Crist and Congressman Meek support. This race is not about doing whatever it takes to win in November; it’s about earning the privilege and responsibility to work boldly in the U.S. Senate to ensure future generations inherit a stronger and more prosperous America. What party or non-party you affiliate with is far less consequential than the principles and policies that will define America for decades to come.
Very true, there’s much at stake and Governor Crist has shown where his priorities lie.