You are here: Home » News » Politics » Election 2010 » National Stonewall Democrats Hit Gov. Charlie Crist For LGBT Flip-Flops

National Stonewall Democrats Hit Gov. Charlie Crist For LGBT Flip-Flops

09/14/10-by Bridgette P. LaVictoire
Florida Governor Charlie Crist is in a three way race to be the state’s next Senator. The former Republican turned Independent is hoping to be able to split the votes enough to win in November against both Marco Rubio and Kendrick Meek. In doing so, Crist has shifted positions repeatedly in order to try and win votes on both sides, including altering his positions on LGBT issues. The former hardline Republican has now become a champion of LGBT equality, but it is ringing rather hollowly among many lesbians, gays, and transpeople, including the National Stonewall Democrats. Michael Mitchell, the National Stone Wall Democrats’ Executive Director, issued this statement:

“While I’m glad that Governor Crist has changed his position on a number of issues regarding LGBT equality, it’s simply too little, too late from a politician who has spent his life using the LGBT community as a political football. Kendrick Meek, Crist’s Democratic opponent, has an outstanding track record of fully supporting our community, whereas Charlie Crist has spent his political career using us as a wedge to further his own ambitions.

“Charlie Crist is the worst kind of politician. When it was clear to him and everyone that there was no way he could win the Republican Primary – he became an Independent and thus left long held positions in order to save his political future. Once again, he is attempting to use the lives of LGBT people as pawns in his game to win votes at any cost.

“With a lifelong track record as a conservative Republican, said Michael Albetta, President of the Florida GLBT Democratic Caucus. “Florida’s LGBT-taxpayers are not fooled with Crist’s newfound positions in the fight for equality. He is just another craven politician out to siphon votes from disenfranchised Floridians who are genuine supporters of equality, like Kendrick Meek. The real question voters should be asking: Does Governor Crist support the same positions on LGBT issues as Senate Candidate Crist? As a sitting Governor, Crist only acts when polls tell him the time is right. He is without leadership in representing the needs of LGBT Floridians. National Stonewall Democrats encourage all Floridians to see through this latest façade of Governor Crist and see him as the opportunistic lifetime politician that he is.”

Crist is now facing attacks from both sides, and it may become difficult for him to make headway against both. In fact, it may end up playing better for Meek, who may find that having Crist and Rubio tearing each other down constantly will result in Meek being seen as the better candidate. Hopefully, Meek, the Democrat in this race, will be able to capitalize on the all out civil war going on between the two Republicans. . .sorry, the Republican and the Independent.