(CNN) – Fresh off its considerable impact in New York's special congressional race, the Club for Growth is wading into the Republican Senate primary in Florida with a new ad criticizing Gov. Charlie Crist's initial support of President Obama's stimulus package.
"Since Charlie Crist helped pass Barack Obama's spending program, nearly two hundred thousand Floridians have lost their jobs," the ad's narrator states as video is shown of Crist and Obama at a rally in support of the package last February. "Unemployment is the highest in decades. Personal income's down. And the deficit in Washington is three times larger."
The conservative political action committee, which spent upwards of $1 million helping to derail a Republican candidate in New York who many conservatives felt was too liberal in her social and fiscal policies, has yet to determine the specific amount of the Florida ad buy.
But Club For Growth spokesman Mike Connolly said the group was moved to quickly produce the 30-second spot after Crist told CNN's Wolf Blitzer Wednesday on The Situation Room that he never "endorsed" the stimulus plan.
"We wanted to correct the record," Connolly said.
Crist, while maintaining he did not endorse the spending measure, said in the CNN interview that he expressed support for the bill because he knew it was going to pass and his state stood to gain federal dollars from it.
"I was pragmatic, I think, about what we needed to do. Everybody knew the bill was going to pass.," Crist said Wednesday. "I, like all other Republican governors, utilized that money for the benefit of the people in my state. And that's what a pragmatic conservative does."
The Club for Growth has yet to make an endorsement in the race but could come to a determination soon, Connelly also said. Crist - who has the backing of the Republican leadership in Washington - faces a challenge from the more conservative former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio.
From CNN Politics
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Let's hope they are as successful as they were in NY23 congressional race.
club for rich , middle class no need to apply
Florida has been one of the hardest hit states. It would be irresponsible for any governor to not accept stimulus money. Whether you agree with ot or not, you can't screw your citizens.
It's the economy stupid! Remember that from Bill's campaign. Why cannot Obama remember that? This is sooooo furstrating to see Obama focus on his legacy and politics instead of the American people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let's take America back from Obama's big goverment.
"We the people." Remember that too...
So let's see if the conservative take the Republicans at bay and over power their careers. Thanks to Sarah Palin who will be running Conservative in 2012.
These Club For growth guys are going ot marginalize themselves and the Republican Party as a whole. I said it once and I'll say it again.....The GOP is dead!!!
Wow. That is a shame these repums are fight so hard to derail everyone. These people are history. Dems will take over this country just like the Canada.
Does the "Club for Growth" know that Crist was never in either house of Congress while the Stimulus was under debate? Members of the state's Congressional caucus can ignore the governor of their state if they wish. They are elected by the people.
Look at that, they are eating their own.
so we find out early on that the man can lie and didn't do a good job at it ..
republicans are going down the toilet and can't figure out how to stop the flush.. its simple support the president and rebuild your party using truth instead of the old lie and threat machine of the cheney rove and puppet Bush years..:)
CHANGE HAS COME .EITHER GET ON THE MOVEMENT OR FALL BEHIND..
GARY DAVIS
HARBOR OREGON
STAND WITH THE PRESIDENT AND SUPPORT AMERICA
Considering that the Club For Growth candidate LOST in New York, this just might be the boost Crist needs. The conservative Republi-cons, those paragons of less goverment intrusion in our lives-you know those folks who want to pass constitutional amendments to say what women can and can't do with their bodies and who can and can't get married-seem to be determined to take us back to the 50s, the 1450s, where the church ruled everything and if you disobeyed you were tortured and thrown in jail. This is the same group that supports spreading democracy and freedom around the world while at the same time undermining democracy and abridging freedoms here at home. The same group that thinks trickle down economics, along with unicorns, is real. The same group that believes the solution to an economic downturn is to start a war so industry can ramp up (not realizing that they made it possible for all of our industries to move offshore by insisting on deregulation. Frankly, I think a thinking Republican (with very few exceptions, but there are a few) has gone the way of the wooly mammouth.
It is my pleasure to introduce the new Democratic Senator from Florida... "you fill in the blank". Thanks Club for Growth, best friend of the intelligent, thoughtful MAJORITY!
While I am no fan of Crist, I know for sure that I would have lost my job if we hadn't received stimulus money here in Florida.
I bet this will turn out as well as the race in New York dist. 23 did! The Democrats will benefit from all this GOP cannibalism.
I gotta go with those who recognize the "Club for Rich" con job.
This "political action committee" is nothing but a bunch of Wall Street bootlickers spending Wall Street money to make sure that America stays divided, terrorized and conquered.
..
A club of growth needs to be used on the Club for Growth. These birth-baggers are worse than infestation by rats.
AARP endorses Obamacare? Is that a surprise? If you look closely, you will find that AARP is controlled by the SEIU, the same crooked union that contols ACORN. This is the union Blago wanted a job with for selling the Senate job in Illinois. I wonder how many people have dropped AARP membership this year and how many will before the end of the year. I know CNN won't cover it, but maybe Fox will.
I just love how the conservatives blame this recession on Obama. What selective short term memories.
Hope Crist jumps ship – I'd like to vote for him, but I only vote Democratic. I admired his stand in the 2008 elections of opening more poling places and advocating money for Fl under the stimulus pkg. Thanks Crist – why don't you consider running as a Democratic – you'd win for sure.
Judy Miami Fl
I heard Rubio interviewed on NPR the other day. Everything that came out of his mouth indicated he's a tough conservative. He might lack experience but his ideals are spot on (Assuming he meant what he said of course.). I hope he gets a shot because Crist, it appears, is simply a career politician opportunist. He's consevative only if and when its suits his himself.
Like it or not the GOP did this to themselves. They courted and supported the far right for the 2004 election. They courted and supported Sarah Palin. So now they are in a debate as to what does it mean to be a member of the Republican party and what their platform will be.
I think the end result will be two-fold. The mouthpiece of the GOP saying they are middle of the road and those who run the GOP and that will be a very conservative group.
I think it will produce very un-happy people in the center who will vote on an individual vs a party.
The candidate backed by the Club For Growths (no that's not a typo) in the NY 23rd, Hoffman, took earmark money for the hospital on whose board he serves, even though he opposed earmarks. He justified it with the same rational Crist used for taking stimulus money. So why are those Growths upset about Crist when it was OK for Hoffman?
Your G Dub ruined the economy. Your G Dub let the United States get hit by the worst terrorist attack ever. Your G Dub sent us into two wars- lied to get us there.
We did take America back. We took it back from W who was out to destroy it. We won- get over it. Sit down and enjoy the ride for the next 7 years!!!
Wow...Didn't see this coming. If Crist is smart, he would stand his ground and not change his stance on the stimulus and other issues. Don't cave to these people and the far right of you party Crist. You will for sure lose.
Dear INDEPENDENTs,
Don't be fooled by the REPUBLICANs scam. Pick your true party leaders then MOVE ON, and DUMP the gang that is trying to derail your ideology to their camp.
REPUBLICANs, make up your mind of who is truly a part of your party. CONSERVATIVE parochial thinkers that enjoys anarchist or RESPONSIBLE reserve practitioners that believe in check and balance.
INDEPENDENTs Rush, Glen, Dick Arnold and Fox channel are playing you guys....with them in charge definitely you will not know what is going on and your tax money will be taken from you without a care or kiss.
It's time for the REPUBLICAN party to go one way and the other group of CONSERVATIVE to pick a name and STAND UP. CONSERVATIVEs let the INDEPENDENTs have their true platform and get your own thing.
hmmm...
Yup, only obstructionists need apply. The part I don't get is how these extreme groups firmly believe they represent the majority of the populace. I for one am glad they don't know better.
Be greatful people, If it wasn't for President Obama winning the White House on Nov.4th 2008, we would be known as the United States of China.( McCain: "OUR ECONOMY IS FUNDIMENTALLY SOUND").
I'm confused – why is it called the Club for Growth?
Looks like all they do is cut people out - maybe it should be called the Club for Fewer.
Where would the country be without the stimulus money? Obama had to do something about the economy which Bush destroyed. Hope everyone will remember where the bad economy and deficit came from. Apparently the rich want the rich to succeed.
Ahahahahaha!! This is awesome. Keep it up, neoclowns. Have a nice day!
People will say anything to save their behind Yes he did supported the Stimulus package and he know he did now the GOP are saying Where are the jobs??? But its very funny to me that just today that jobless claims are going down and sales are up but the Stimulus Package isnt working they say i told you people will say anything to try to make their self look good but wait and see after the econmoy really recovers and we will see who will benefit then.
Crist should definitely switch parties. He doesn't need to be associated with all of these right wing nut jobs. He was 100% right to take the stimulus money. The Republican screwed up the economy real bad and Florida was one of the harder hit states.
Had the Republicans had their way and we did nothing, it would have been 1929 all over again times 1,000. The laissez-faire attitude of the Republicans does not work. Trickle down economics DOES NOT work! Big tax cuts for the rich DOES NOT work.
While it is unfortunate that we had to spend billions to fix the mess made by GWB and his cronies, it was a fix that was needed nonetheless.
Please, let us vote out every single Republican.
The CNN crowd seems to be a lot more fueled by the lets hate Palin opportunity story above than the actual political story (half-way) presented here.
Even the few who notice this story are still in full denial of who they're being led by, somehow thinking that Democrat politicians aren't rich, protecting rich special interests, and that although ALL of government is controlled by Democrats, still nothing is their fault. Is everybody from California now?
People need to realize that people started loosing their jobs before Obama was elected or before Crist supported Obama. I love it how the republicans twist things to suit themselves..I guess they forget it was saint"George" that saw the economy tanking and kept with the economy is "strong" and then he and his followers sat with their hands on their butts and watched it fall. Try the truth once in awhile, but then again it wouldn't serve their purpose.
Does Club for Growth ever watch the stock market? Dow is almost 200 points and getting ready for another break of 10,000 points. Seems they have forgotton who brought our economy DOWN in the first place was George W Bush to almost below 6,000 points and now dow is back on the roll again.
Crist isattempting to help the people in the state of Florida by taking the money from the 2nd stimulus package (you remember Bush handed out the first one) but I guess doing your job is wrong now too according to the GOP.
the whole idea of purging for party purity is utterly stalinist and maoist. the xenophobia and party homogeneity will only make the republicans into a freak splinter cell. do they truly believe they will increase enthusiasm and inclusion in their party with solely requiring absolute ideological singularity?
read history america, they are suckering you into a path that leads
only to totalitarian states. it is you that has become the greatest threat
to national security if you won't listen to others ideas, embrace others
right to opinions, and the integrity equality.
I love how these teabaggers scream "WE THE PEOPLE" all the time, while ignoring the fact that at least 83% of Americans don't share their extremely narrow and hateful worldview.
More lying conservatives. What a shock.
Today is not a good day to be a Republican. Tomorrow looks worse.
Your wittle club is not growing anywhere. ooops.
Lets stand corrected, the democrats have controlled congress since 2006, they own all current economic problems, wars ect. ect.
Crist is to be commended and not vilified for his commitments to the betterment of his state. My illustrious governor in the state of LA at first spurned the stimulus money in a rigid braggadocios stance that "acceptance would worsen the economy". BUT he quickly felt the hot breath of the rightist as well as the leftist populace and his posturing was quickly reversed. Bobby Jindal and the rest of the self serving public servants (that's a joke) need to be reminded they officiate at the pleasure of all the people.
If Crist endorsed the Stimulus plan, then he was doing it for the good of the people in FL. This Club for Growth will be using Faux to promote their candidates and since FL is full of retirees who are the mainstay of the Faux audience, they will be blind sheep to the polls as they believe without any evidence. I'm not a Floridian but it doesn't seem as though Crist has done bad for the state – not all jobs could be saved by the stimulus funds but the retirees who will vote enforce aren't the ones who have job worries.
The company that my husband works for was listed for sale for 3+ years with no takers, and they were laying off employees every other day. Following the economic stimulus, the company is no longer on the market, and they've started recalling laid off workers. I didn't vote for Charlie, but I will send him kudos for accepting the $$$.
So 30 days ago nobody even heard of Hoffman and than in the local news he admits he has no clue what the local issues are. So a nobody who admits he has no clue what is going on in the district almost wins. Wow, what a dumb move that was. Crist has not done much here in Florida, go to the recovery site and see all of the money wasted $8+billion 23000 jobs. Hey I'll create more than 1 job with $223,000, send me a check.
I wonder if charlie Crist is not far right wing looney enough to fit under Reagan's ever shrinking "big Tent". I guess this "purge" to rid the republican party of any moderates and to keep only the 100% right wing will only alienate them. The country is center leaning right. Not far right leaning slightly center.
Someone please take back control of what's left of the Republican Party. We as a country need them in order to maintain a "perfect union".; however, the party has been defiled by the currently so-called "party leaders" or spokeperson. (limbaugh,coulter,palin, beck, D. duke, etc.) if someone do not "take this party out of the hands of these bafoons it surely be no more.
Duke/Palin 2012
"The Republican/Conservative Party is a disgrace and an abomination. There is something putrid about these guys and gals. The Republican Parties of past decades did not make me want to shower after I hear or see them speak on issues. I think it may have started with the Newt Gingrich Crew a few years back."
What the club for the rich doesn't state is that the majority of those job losses were in the construction industry. As a fourth generation Floridian, I grew up listening to my elders saying how we can't "develop" out way to prosperity, and predicting that when the $$$ finally dried up things were going to get pretty unpleasant, and here we are!
Incomes are down, thus tax revenues are down, thus the the deficit is higher. In other breaking news: 1+1=2.
They could have took the money they spent....and help out the people of Florida.....oh that wouldn't be republican......they don't fix anything...they tear it down
So basically, the ubber conservative right wing nuts cannot stand a moderate conservative that is willing to listen to others? And Michael Steele still asks why the GOP is sliding down hill.
Obama has been in power for 10 months in a recession that started 3 years ago and the GOP has forgotten about this?
Wow. Vote Crist for Senate and then for President in 2016! Anyone who is an enemy of my enemy (GOP) is my friend.
Someone please take back control of whats' left of the Republican Party. We as a country need them in order to maintain a "perfect union".; however, the party has been defiled by the currently so-called "party leaders" or spokeperson. (limbaugh,coulter,palin, beck, D. duke, etc.) if someone do not "take this party out of the hands of these bafoons.... it surely will be no more.
Duke/Palin 2012
"The Republican/Conservative Party is a disgrace and an abomination. There is something putrid about these guys and gals. The Republican Parties of past decades did not make me want to shower after I hear or see them speak on issues. I think it may have started with the Newt Gingrich Crew a few years back."
Oh oh, Christ is in trouble with the far right. They will fight him to death, and I am not sure he can win in a Republican only primary. He is trying to back paddle now but it may be too late. If the going gets any tougher and Rubio gets further traction, Christ might pull out. All in all, good news for the Dems.
Before running as a GOP candidate, you need the blessings from the extreme conservative right wing and Rush Limbaugh.
conservatives are grasping for straws.
ha,ha,ha.
glad to see those folks go down after all their great leader , george
bush, did to america.
Are Republicans just completely ignorant about the system they work in? A stimulous bill is any bill that spends more than the government is taking in and is intended to stimulate some sector of the economy! SO...TARP, which was passed during bush's presidency, and had support of both parties and was equally costly wasn't wrong but the stimulous is? the GOP supports TARP because TARP was designed to bailout the banks and insurance groups alike who contribute millions to GOP campaigns and the stimulous to help out every day individuals who the GOP couldn't give a crap about. Not to mention the increase in revenue from the fed, which is a bi-partisan entity, which is also clearly a stimulous program.
The Republicans are starting to weaken their own party with this infighting. Didn't they see what happened in New York this week? By the way, why did the media cover the two governor races 90% of the time and make them seem so important? It seems pretty obvious that the two Congressional seats that were won by the Democrats actually were much more important because these two people actually get to vote in Washington on important issues and the New York race added one seat to the Democratic tally. It seems the media tried very hard to make a big story for the Republicans out of this when really the governors have no power at all in Washington. Why did they do this?
RINO hunters at work. Proudly attacking moderate candidates in Republican primary races. Go, baby go. Drill, baby drill. Destroy, baby, destory. Loss, GOP, loss.
Looks like the Republicans are set on removing from their party anyone who is not an extreme-far-right GOPer!
First Scozzafava, and now Crist!
Lots of whining and complaining as usual. People do not realize that CHANGE TAKES TIME...... I certainly did not expect Obama to SAVE THE ECONOMY IN 10...... MONTHS.
The Great Recession began in early 2008, and its ONLY in the 3rd Quarter of THIS YEAR....... that our Economy has begun to GROW!
The economy is not fast food! People need to read, and educate themselves then perhaps you would all understand the complexities of the recovery.
Obama inherited the Bush Disaster! It took 8 years for Bush to bring America to its knees.
I guess all you dems seem to forget the 2 gov positions that you lost yesterday! The new york 23 dist was the same as the pres race. A crap candidate running on the repub side! Why do you think Harry Reid said yesterday "we probally won't have health care legislation by the end of the year" after they said they would and he was pushing his new health bill the week before! It's because there scared to lose come Nov 2010!!
The Republicans are starting to weaken their own party with this infighting. Didn't they see what happened in New York this week? By the way, why did the media cover the two governor races 90% of the time and make them seem so important? It seems pretty obvious that the two Congressional seats that were won by the Democrats actually were much more important because these two people actually get to vote in Washington on important issues and the New York race added one seat to the Democratic tally. It seems the media tried very hard to make a big story for the Republicans out of this when really the governors have no power at all in Washington. Why did they do this?
The unpatriotic mob really needs to get away from Fox and their lack of fact checking. Time to embrace common sense.
Sounds like the "Swift Boat" folks are alive and well but operating under a "NEW" name !!
They derailed the Republican candidate who they thought was too liberal, and the Democrat ended up winning. How does that make them successful?
Team Hate America continues to devour its own. It just makes one giddy to see the viciousness of the cornered right wing rabid animal. Let me get a stick.
The wealthy wingnuts continue their scorched Earth policy of fear and want to purge any intelligent people from their elite white country club political party.
The Club of Growths did not turn down one military contract stimulus plan for theirs state. What a conservative self serving bunch.
Club for Growth pushing right wing candidates and pushing out moderates within the Republican Party only hurts not helps that political party.
When their candidate lost in the 23rd District in Upstate NY to a Democrat (first time Democrat had won in 100 years) they were still happy because a moderate Republican didn't win.
Now they are trying the same thing in Florida and are talking about several other states as well.
They don't seem to realize that in doing this they make the Republican Party a marginal party and no longer a National party when it comes to politics.
The Club for Growth should be sued for false advertising. The only growth they promote is the growth of brain tumors inside my skull.
I don't get it – their guy LOST in New York State. What's the point of running people your little group might like only to have them defeated by regular voters? These guys are so self destructive. I just don't get it...
Still sounds like a hair implant informercial...
This is great news. Please give us Dems more seats in Congress. Hey, Chris there is always room in our tenent.
I have lived in FL all my life and during the handing out of stimulus funds, too. Gov Crist never in my view came across as enthusiastic about the stimulus, but he did state that he would take the money for the state because it can be useful, and it has been in some respects.
We had 2 tea party people run for city council. We rejected them because they are all nuts.
Club for Growth organization translates to: Put people out of work so rich people can get richer. SCREW america. Club for Growth is a terrorist cell. Deny it all you want, but it is fact! Their policies would RUIN this country!
The Club for Growth aka The Club for Losers, are at it again. Everytime they step in and derail a Moderate Republican candidate, the Republican candidate ends up losing to the Democratic candidate in the main election. They need to keep up the purging of the Republican Party aka keep up the good work! It is these idiots who are killing the Republican Party, you gotta love that..
No More lying politicians!
Wow! The Republican'ts are in really big trouble. These short-sighted, narrow-minded, ignorant Conserva-Baggers are just making the whole party implode. The great thing is, they are so ignorant they don't even realize there aren't enough of them to win an election! Oh they can spoil the primaries for the moderate Republican'ts, but as far as winning the election . . . .20%, that's all they got! So yeah, they may pick up some state & local elections, but on a national scale . . . no way!
I am a Democrat and I live in Florida and I voted for President Obama. With that said, I do like having Charlie Crist as my governor much better than Jeb Bush. Gov. Crist is a moderate Republican and moderate Republicans are becoming a rare breed. I really would like to see him switch parties and become a Democrat. I really think he would win the Senate seat if he did that.
Crist is a Judas, first he supported President Obama and the stimulus package, he took the money and now he goes back on what he said. Clear proof that Charlie "Judas" Crist's word ain't worth the paper it's written on.
Crist and the rest of his followers, that being all of Florida, will become Democrats if the Republicans think they can mess with him.
Ok but what IMPACT??? They lost and thuroughly ruined their own party! This is a groupd money lap dags from wall street just trying to keep us divided as a people lies and more lies!
It will be interesting to see what th good ole boys club will try to feed Floridians. I expect the typical rhetoric, if your not with us you are against us. And you are unAmerican for having the audacity to have an independent thought.
Right now Rubio and Crist are in a race to the far Right, I hope that noone tells them that the Real Finish Line is in the middle of the Road.
"Fresh off its considerable impact in New York's special congressional race," Uh, they blew it, badly. Their considerable impact is that their candidate got crushed by a nobody. Keep it up guys. Teabaggers Untie!
This is too rich to be true. Just as I was getting a little nervous about the 2010 mid-terms, the Tea Bagger bozos swoop in to give us an enormous boost. Let's enjoy this, folks, watching the Southern White Party - er, the Republicans - self-destruct before our eyes.
"Fresh off its considerable impact in New York's special congressional race, the Club for Growth..."
CONSIDERABLE IMPACT? I'd say. I guess that's one way to refer to what you call it when the most conservative candidate in a district that has voted Republican since the 1800s loses after you and all the other far-right-wing mouthpieces provide him with your support.
Go ahead and campaign against him. If a Democrat wins so be it. One more vote. If he wins in spite of these fools lined up against him the American people win. These fools need to understand they are not representative of the American people.
Crist voted for the stimulus because it was the right thing to do. Economics 101 – you have to spend money to make money.
Ha ha ha. It is fun for Dem's watch this circus--
Seriously, we need a distinguished opponent party like the Republicans. Not fringe groups of political terrorists like Limgaugh and Beck, who by the way already got their pieces of gold...which their followers nor any one else will ever see.
Once again the lunatic right fringe prepares to persecute a fine public servant. Like the Spanish Inquisition, all republicans that dare to deviate from 'doctrinal purity' will be persecuted and condemned as heretics.
To our moderate and independent friends, I caution, history is replete with the terrible carnage of suffering suffered from fanatics that practice and forceably impose absolutist and dogmatic ideology. Be afraid, be very afraid. A dark spectre is rising.
the republicans are going to hang themselves over their fear/hate/obstructionist ways.
we want our elected officials to do for the people not for special interest and in 2010/2012 we will once again be out in force and will not forget the republicans' obstructionist/fear/hate ways.
Saying no, not going to committee meetings, hoping our President fails; all in hope that you will regain power in 2010/2012 will not work Republicans.
The only thing the "Club for Growth" wants to grow is the size of their own bank accounts. If people took a couple of minutes to look behind these campaigns into who bankrolls them, they'd find it's the kind of people that most of the middle class deplores – rich fatcats who get and stay that way by grinding workers into dust. It's so ironic.
Crist is another RINO and we are voting for Rubio.
Vote for Crist. He is the real Republican.
Maybe you should change the first line to: Fresh off their NEGATIVE impact New York's.....
After all, their involvement is probably what caused a seat held by Republican's for over a hundred years to flip to a Democrat. Please do more research on this organization and the 'success' they have had. They back lunatics, such as Bill Sali in Idaho, that the next term the seats flip to the opposition.