Outrage

Image via WikipediaI first saw this story Sunday night on Raw story about Gov. Crist's decision to reverse course (again) on another issue, this time gay rights. "The document provided to RawStory.com includes Crist's vocal support for gay couples, including hospital visitation, inheritance and adoption rights; opposition to the ban on gays serving in the military; support for anti-discrimination laws and appropriations for HIV and AIDS programs." His announcement drew praise from some gay activists, leading one to call it a "new day". It might gain him potential Democratic votes in South Florida and elsewhere this fall, but the truth is a mere 2 years ago in 2008 when Gov. Crist was lobbying privately for the GOP VP nomination he endorsed Amendment 2. This constitutional amendment banned gay marriage in the state of Florida. He also opposed gay adoption back then. The Governor attracted the attention of gay investigative journalists who gathered information on the Governor's sexual history. They included Crist in the 2009 HBO documentary Outrage which ran in theaters and on HBO, the documentary "asserted that Crist was himself gay: in the film, two anonymous subjects claimed to have had sex with the governor, and a former girlfriend was quoted as saying, “Call me in ten years and I’ll tell you a story.” The issue is not whether Crist is gay or not. That is between him and God. The larger issue is that he gives the impression that there is a complete lack of personal authenticity there, with the way his positions change on the issues with the day or depend on who is interviewing him.  If he was a Democrat, out and pro-gay rights from the beginning none of this would be an issue.  But by being closeted he leaves himself vulnerable to blackmail. Is that the reason Jim Greer received the Governor's complete support long after is was known that he was abusing his American Express card and power as RPOF Chairman? What did Greer and Delmar Johnson know about Crist's lifestyle, and how did they use it to stay in power? He returned Greer's money but refuses to return the money of hard-working Americans who thought they were donating to a Republican candidate. Why?
Both candidates opposing the Governor for the US Senate seat have pointed out these inconsistencies. This was the response from the Meek campaign to his new stand on gay rights: "Can anyone believe anything Charlie Crist says anymore?" Meek's campaign manager Abe Dyk said to the Washington Blade. "It’s obvious Charlie Crist is willing to say anything. The only thing Charlie Crist says today that you can believe tomorrow is that he wants to be elected." from Raw Story. On the Republican side many of the average GOP voters feel betrayed by the Governor and the Rubio campaign is having a field day with Crist's flip-flops. This will only continue and escalate over the course of the campaign because he offers what you would call a "target-rich environment" politically. If he is smart he will publicly address these rumors directly but he either can't or won't because of what his advisors are telling him. I don't expect politicians to tell us, their constituents, the truth. I'm too cynical for that. However, I do expect them to be true to themselves.