Charlie Crist Doesn't Come Out As he Announces He's Running For The U.S. Senate

Incredibly, even the NY Times seems afraid to mention anything about Crist's homosexuality and how awkward his anti-gay positions are for someone who's left a trail of young male lovers from Tallahassee to South Beach and back. In a substantial analysis of his senatorial campaign announcement-- and, despite the release of Outrage-- not a word about the issue. Instead, most of the piece is reprinted pabulum from Crist's p.r. office and other news sources. Even more incredibly, the Orlando Sentinel, a paper that is well aware of the disconnect between Crist's sexuality and his homophobic public stances, goes on and on about how he could be a presidential candidate and never mentions anything about him being gay... just like almost all the other papers reporting on Crist's announcement today.

Meanwhile Politico reports that Florida's radical right won't back him while the NRSC tries to scare the radical right's candidate, Marco Rubio, out of the race, although I can't believe that a wingnut like Cornyn will actually officially endorse a gay quasi-moderate against a far right evangelical and risk sparking a GOP civil war. (I guess I was wrong; let the war commence! It looks like it already has; one winger is demanding that the nutroots stop donating to the NRSC. Excellent idea, although not very effective since the $3,369.12 the right wing blogs have been able to raise in the last few years didn't do much good for any of their favorite candidates.)

The National Republican Senatorial Committee will be endorsing Crist, according to a senior Hill operative, marking the first time it has taken sides (for a non-incumbent) in a competitive GOP primary this election cycle.

The committee’s decision will make it tougher for former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio to raise money against Crist, given that the party has given the governor its stamp of approval. Rubio has won support from Florida conservatives and has a base in the Cuban-American community, but will need to raise a significant amount of money to credibly compete against Crist in the primary.

The NRSC’s decision to make an early endorsement also carries some interesting implications down the road. Will the committee now be under pressure to endorse Missouri Senate candidate Roy Blunt, the establishment favorite who faces a likely primary challenge from conservative Sarah Steelman?

And if the committee stays out of that primary, will it suggest that Republicans are less-than-impressed with Blunt’s campaign, which has gotten off to a rocky start.

It also carries implications in Pennsylvania, where the party is looking to find an electable candidate to run against Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa). If it can land a more-moderate alternative to Toomey, like Rep. Jim Gerlach, will it offer an endorsement as a recruiting inducement or stay on the sidelines?

I thought you might enjoy watching how angry Outrage makes Republican closet cases. Watch blogger/activist/film star, Mike Rogers being threatened with "a punch across the face" by an hysterical right-wing closet queen TV anchor a few days ago:



Meanwhile former west Florida congresswoman and current chair of the Florida Democratic Party, Karen Thurman picks at entirely different scab that could wreck Crist's candidacy. She makes note of the fact that despite enjoying personal popularity, Crist has been a really bad governor in terms of helping solve any of the real problems that plague Floridians.

"In the face of mounting problems, Floridians expect bold leadership and real solutions from our elected officials.

"By running for U.S. Senate, Charlie Crist has cut and run on the Sunshine State, once again taking the easy way out, avoiding responsibility and leaving the hard work of facing Florida's problems to the next governor.

"At a time when Florida needs real leadership, unfortunately Charlie Crist is running from the mess he created, which is why Floridians are going to send Crist into retirement come Election Day.

"As governor, Crist has had time to jet-set around on his cronies' private jets, attend cocktail parties in Washington D.C., and hobnob with celebrities, yet he has done nothing to create jobs in Florida.

"He has toured Buckingham Palace on the taxpayer's dime, yet he led no efforts to jumpstart Florida's economy.

"While Floridians looked to Crist to lead, all Crist did as governor was cheerlead.

"Despite Crist's promises, taxes didn't 'drop like a rock' but the value of Floridians' homes have. Our economy has tanked while Crist has lived in the Governor's Mansion, but Crist allowed his Republicans to reject federal recovery money and obstruct President Obama's efforts to jumpstart Florida's economy.

"Crist's financial mismanagement has left Florida with the worst fiscal crisis in the state's history, leaving the budget in worse shape, draining rainy day funds and leaving with no solution.

"When Crist didn't lead Florida to a better future as governor, how can Floridians expect him to fight for us in Washington? With his record of failed leadership, just following where the wind blows, it is puzzling why Crist expects Floridians to send him to the U.S. Senate."

You can vote now too! Really. Just go to the St Petersburg Times straw poll and pick between closet case Charlie Crist, right wing sociopath Marco Rubio, corrupt corporate shill Kendrick Meek or fighting progressive Dan Gelber. I'm not going to make any recommendations. By the way, Rubio had his first ad up within minutes of Crist's announcement, marking his territory way to the right of the mainstream of American thought: