Gov. Charlie Crist (R., Fla.) tells National Review Online that he is “disappointed” with President Obama and Marco Rubio, his opponent in Florida’s GOP Senate primary. Crist calls the president’s push for “reconciliation” on Obamacare — a procedural device enabling a bill to pass with 51 votes — an “arrogant thing to do the people of this country.”
“It is awful how [Democrats] have this compulsion to ram this thing through, even though the American people don’t support it,” Crist says. “They don’t realize that even if they pass their bill [with reconciliation], the American people will still detest it. We need to take a free-market approach.” Crist also says that Obama is “moving too quickly” in trying to address health-care reform. “Bipartisanship is necessary here,” he says. “We need true bipartisanship, which is a two-way street, with both sides having the opportunity not only to be heard, but the chance to forward their ideas, sit at the table, and help to craft the final product.”
After reading Rubio’s NRO article on Wednesday, Crist says that he fears his health-care views are being distorted by his opponent, and that he won’t sit on the sidelines and let it pass. Nor will he pull punches. Rubio’s campaign, he says, is the “greatest fraud perpetrated on people,” especially conservatives. Crist says his barbed retort is “not a matter of going negative, but going accurate and honest.”
“I won’t go negative in this race, that’s not my nature, but by the same token, I will not let [Rubio’s] façade continue,” Crist says. “When this guy calls himself the real conservative in the race, I’ve got to point out that it’s the opposite. If you look at the expense reports from his GOP credit card, it is easy to see that he’s not conservative, but one of the most irresponsible spenders I’ve ever seen. He talks about how we need to spend less in Washington, but he sure seems to like spending other people’s money.”
“I’m a true-blue Reaganite Republican,” Crist says. “To think this guy is close to that, if you look at his record, is silly. It’s just a matter of people doing their homework, and I think the real education is just beginning. Before people get pulled away and lured by a mere impression, rather than seeing the reality of the candidates, would be a real shame. The voters deserve to be better informed, to know the facts. My opponent and I are polar opposites when it comes to who is really frugal. His statements are just unbelievable.”
Crist adds that though he supported Obama’s first stimulus package, he is opposed to a second one, without question. “Before we spend one more dime, or allocate anything else, we need to make sure this first one is done right, and done better. We don’t need another one. It’s time to get back on track and do what Reagan did — cut taxes and encourage growth.”
Conservative words, to be sure, but isn’t Crist, known as a moderate, worried about another moderate, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, losing the Texas GOP gubernatorial primary on Tuesday to conservative Gov. Rick Perry? “No,” he says. “That race says a lot about what the people in our party want. I’m sure Senator Hutchison is a nice lady, but she’s from Washington, and this year that is all people saw. I know Rick, and he’s a tough fighter and governor. He deserved the vote he got.”
MCGOP CONVENTION!