Crist reacts to criticism he quit GOP primary because of sour grapes
(CNN) - The governor of Florida, now running an independent bid for senate, says sour grapes didn't lead him to leave the Republican primary.
Gov. Charlie Crist told CNN Chief Political Correspondent Candy Crowley that he is aware of criticism that he withdrew from the primary only after his political fortunes fell against former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, who is expected to win the Republican nomination handily.
"That's what parties do and that's part of the biggest problem … all they're going to do is attack each other all day long. People like this, they go home and watch cable television, watch broadcast television and they see those kinds of arguments and it breaks their hearts," Crist said in an interview to be aired Sunday on CNN's State of the Union. "They see bickering, and they see nobody standing up and saying, 'We're all Americans, we've gotta to work together.,'"
Crist will face off against the party nominees – likely Rubio and Democratic Rep. Kendrick Meek - in November. Several other candidates have qualified for the election without party affiliation, but none are expected to seriously contend for the seat.
Christ is extremely ambitious and very much a wimp, very indecisive. I think he became overly impressed in Obamas presence and wants to be a part of his administration and doing this to weaken the GOP will bring him closer to having a position in Obamas administration in his next term.
having lived with the good bad and ugly of Florida Government for 30 years, here is how I see it. Crist is a conservative. The last thing the state needs is another one. BUT, he is not the regretable person that the Shrub Jr was. He had the sense to spend a year undoing much of the worst errors of judgement that Jeb made. He is not the discrace to FL that McCollum is, and with regrets I was represented (in the constitutional manner, allegedly) by that one when it was in the house.
WE should have better, but we may get stuck with worse, again.
He quit because he's going to lose if he runs as a Repub. The gay and lesbian community in FL will make sure of it because the guy has been voting against them and playing hardcore Repub, meanwhile Crist is gay and expecting that community to keep him closeted. He keeps playing Conservative Repub and they will out him.
couldnt make it as a repub and couldnt beat a repub. But now since all came out against the Arizona law, no votes for any. cant protect the american people then why should we votes for more of the same. down with all who work with pobama.
Go Crist.. Republicans never got over last presidential election. It takes g...s to leave the Party and become Independent because people believe we have to be loyal to a Party, but our loyalty is to God, Family, Country and the common well not to a bunch of people looking out just for personal and political gain. Good for you Crist you have my vote.
Work together!?!?!?!? Never!!! The GOP is in a mode where they will not work with anyone. Sad.
You just spoke for most independents and sane people everywhere in the United States. All I see is Republicans bashing on another Repub supporting just one of the President's policies. Or if Whitman didn't vote Republican for 26 years, they use that against her. The GOP is not going to get power or even exist if they just keep obstructing.
You go Charlie. You didn't quit the republican party --they quit you a long time ago. What you are doing takes nerve. Keep it up.
Congratulations to Charlie Crist for having the courage to stand up to the party of NO and go it alone. I hope he wins, and wins big. Requiring candidates to sign Oaths, swear allegiance to an ideology, etc, is too close to Nazism for me tastes.
Crist is such a self-serving worm and he is wrong about "holding hands and working together"! What we need to do is to chunk out the parasites in government that are dragging our country down and start doing things the way most people recognise as the right thing to do. Too long have we played this ridiculous game of PC and it has hampered our country tremendously. It's time to return to free entreprise, less government, and Constitutional law (NOT "interpretation" of law by lib politicians and judges)!
Give the guy a break. His party has left the mainstream. I can't even say the GOP has gotten more conservative because conservatives are right about some things. This new National GOP is a mean spirited greedy bunch of sore losers and I don't blame Gov Crist one tiny bit for leaving the party. Or to be precise the leadership of the party is leaving him and all reasonable thinking people in their party behind on their quest to keep Obama form succeeding. They won't be happy until their party is a mile deep...even if in the process it becomes an inch wide.
No wonder he got booted from the Republican Party. Charlie believes that we are ALL Americans and have to work together. What a concept in a democracy, huh, Palin?
Obama-Crist 2012 ???!
Crist was right to leave the Republican Party. They do not represent the values or character of the average intelligent American. They have become an extremist, lunatic, racist, hate-spewing, violent and dangerous group that few people admit to being part of anymore.
Republicans have been anti-American, against the People, worked against our government, told outrageous lies, and purposefully tried to slow down the recovery of our nation. They are traitors and not one deserves a seat in our Congress.
I respect Crist and any other "Republican" who abandons the clueless and racist Party of NO and obstructionism.
Crist is a RINO
Come on and join the Democrats!
We have HEARTS.
We care about our fellow man.
We HONESTLY CARE about our COUNTRY!
We understanding the wages of sin is death so we earn our paycheck . We don't sell our souls....
We are not exactly the Glen Beck, Sarah Palin and Limbaughs of the USA teling lies then grabbing hard earned dollars from honest folks
Thank God for that..
Crist,
Get ready; you are up against a "lying mill" that may be way beyond your pay grade!
Go Gov. Crist bec0me a senat0r...
Well said Mr. Crist!
Dumping the Republican Party Of No is the smartest thing one can do
Who on earth would want to part of such a Draconian group of Obstructionist, Racist, Self Centered Tea Partiers anyway
Whether he wins or not... my hat is off to a man not afraid to stand on his own, and think for himself
Congratulations Mr Crist, and best wishes