Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist said Tuesday he wouldn’t rule out voting for President Obama

[kpete]

By MACKENZIE WEINGER | 1/31/12 1:17 PM EST

Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist said Tuesday he wouldn’t rule out voting for President Barack Obama in November.

Crist — who was a member of the Republican party until 2010 and is now a registered independent — said in interviews with MSNBC and CNN that he would “consider” casting his ballot for Obama on election day.

“Consider? Sure, I would consider that,” Crist said on MSNBC’s “Daily Rundown.” “I really think he’s sincere and genuine. I think we have a lot time, a lot of issues to talk about, but I think, in his heart, he’s trying to do what’s right for the country overall.”

And in an interview with CNN, Crist pointed to the improving economy as a reason he might vote for Obama in November.

“I would consider that, of course I would,” Crist said on “CNN Newsroom.” “I’m interested in watching the campaign as it unfolds, as most Americans are. This has been a tough time for the president to govern, I think everyone understands that. But we’re starting to see some positive signs going forward as it relates to the economy. That’s very important.”



Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/72216.html#ixzz1l4BXpS6O

[msongs]

1. not really LBN is it? he would "consider"? zero importance. sounds like something on Oprah lol nt

[kysrsoze]

2. I still think it's important, and would like to see more "real" Republicans start talking...

as opposed to the nutjobs and fascists who now comprise nearly the entire party.

[The Wielding Truth]

4. I agree with you. It is better to hear about people using their brains and

when it's a somewhat recent Republican awakening, it is news. It is so much better for our souls to hear this in LBN than an endorsement for a fool by another fool.

[FLPanhandle]

6. It's good PR. Another example of the republican party leaving moderates behind due to the crazies

There are many more that just need to mentally make the leap because the republicans don't represent them anymore. Charlie could be a champion.

[yurbud]

24. exactly.

[TBF]

7. I consider it news when a repub (even one who now calls himself Indy) comes out in support of Obama.

YMMV.

[Ganja Ninja]

3. Jeb wouldn't endorse anyone either.

Christ is keeping his options open hoping for a VP spot if the GOP convention nominates someone other than Mitt or Newt like say Jeb or Chris Christie.

Hey a Christie/Christ ticket? It sounds more like some kind of snack cracker.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

5. The GOP is not going to nominate somebody

who suggested that he/she might vote for Obama. Just won't happen. I'm pretty sure that Christ doesn't expect to be nominated for anything GOP-related after breaking with the party and running as an Indy against Rubio in 2010.

[HockeyMom]

8. Approximately 70% of Floridians

would rather have Charlie right now instead of Ricky the Crook.

[DCBob]

9. Too bad FL Democrats screwed the pooch and didnt vote this guy to the Senate.

Instead we have teabagger fav Marco Rubio.

[DonCoquixote]

21. Oh I get it

We cannot vote for the actual democrat, Kendrick Meek...right. We have to vote for the guy that wanted to drill baby drill

[DCBob]

27. You dont get it.

Meek was never an option. He was flawed candidate that had no chance to win a statewide election. The choice was between a moderate Crist who would have caucused and voted with the Democrats and the hard core con Marco Rubio.

[DonCoquixote]

30. never an option

Funny, the billionaire Jeff (his name is already forgotten) did not seem to think so, you know, the one that Meek BEAT.

Of course, we are expected to think that "Chain gang" Charlie, mr. "I want oil drilling now" Charlie, would have been a proper Blue Dog Democrat. Of course, we have to realize that our destiny is to be governed by the moderately fasicist and the Nazis, because, after all, this is the South.

It's one thing to use that logic in the presidential campaign, where, when all is said and done, it will be either a Democrat or a GOP, it is another for the Forida democratic party, that same party that hung Alan Grayson out to dry, to actively slit it's own throat in favor of someone who is, was, and will be a Republican.

[DCBob]

33. So with that logic you would have supported that billionaire scumbag Jeff Greene..

just because he was the Democratic nominee.

[DonCoquixote]

35. if it was between him and rubio

yes..
and someone who would have supported that OIL DRILLING, GAY BASHING, PRISON STUFFING scumbag like Crist has no ammo against that statement.

Fear not, our ever compotent Democratic party will probably offer Crist the governorship, where I would vote for him againsy Rick (scat) Scott, that does not mean I have to clap my hands and pretend that we have a Democratic party anymore. Perhaps next time, the Florida GOP can run Hitler, so we can then run a Stalin, and people like you will cheer.

[DCBob]

36. The choice would have been between Greene, Rubio and Crist.

Now what would you have done? I would have voted for Crist without a second thought as would most other Democrats.

[DonCoquixote]

37. UGH Point made

But none of that changes the fact that now, thanks to people l;ike you, we have NO CHOICE in this state but to vote for a Republican of one stripe or another, which Crist is.

[UCmeNdc]

10. It is important

In many ways Charlie Crist is saying in code I support President Obama and his leadership. It is important because Charlie Crist is expressing his positive belief and support of Obama by leaving the door open and considering that Obama is worth a serious look in favor of a second term.

[emulatorloo]

11. Yes, and there are semi-sane Republican voters who identify with Crist

rather than the ideologues that have seized control of the party.

[Censor-Ready]

18. Codebreakers

Yes, Crist is offering a coded approval of the current president. Is that something to brag about?

Decoding this primary season shows that the 1% are fine with Barack Obama - more war and greater inequality that inexplicably pleases both milquetoast liberals and Democratic sleepwalkers.

[UCmeNdc]

25. Yes it is something to consider as positive

With any politician you will not get everything you may particularly want. That is an obvious fact. But you can vote and get a politician to have most of your ideals represented and pushed forward. You can as a group push your politician to do your group's bidding more than the other guy's group's bidding. Money talks.
The GOP politicians without question will represent the corporation and bankers interests to the hilt. The GOP is going for the small group of big money people to represent. Look at Mitt Romney, he won Florida because of his Super PAC money totaling 17 million dollars. These were not little donations. That money represents big money people. Who do you think Mitt Romney will elect to the Supreme Court? How about all of the other judicial courts? More Citizen's United rulings?
This is only one example of the big differences between the candidates.
Yes, Crist's coded endorsement of President Obama is important.

[onenote]

12. Does that take him out of consideration for the Veep slot?

Not that I thought he was a front runner for it.

[Zhade]

13. Ah, Crist -- the non-Dem DU broke its own rule to endorse...

...then later changed the rule to make it look okay.

Yeah, I'm never going to forget (or let be forgotten) that little bit of hypocrisy.

[DCBob]

15. Its called strategic politics.

If FL Democrats would have cooperated we would have another Senator voting with us. Instead we have a teabagger favorite sitting in the Senate for another 5 years who will likely be a major political player in the near future.

[DonCoquixote]

22. Cooperated meaning

Vote for the former diehard GOP guy ionstead of picking anyone actually liberal...gotcha.

[Zhade]

23. No, it's called a hypocritical double standard.

It was the exact kind of "exception" as was made in, oh, Bush v Gore. The irony…

[flpoljunkie]

14. Crist is a decent guy--vastly better as governor than Rick 'Medicare fraudster' Scott.

[MADem]

16. This is noteworthy--I regard him as a canary in the coal mine! He's fallen off the perch!

That tells me that the fetid stink of the GOP is killing off the people who haven't entirely lost their sanity, and it's likely to spread!

[totodeinhere]

17. Charlie, it's time to show you're serious and register as a Democrat. Then maybe I'll forgive you

for being an enthusiastic supporter of Shrub back in the day.

[BlueDemKev]

20. ....And of J.E.B.

[BlueDemKev]

19. I can't believe that guy is still a Republican....

....after the way the party shitted all over him in 2010.

[JI7]

26. isn't he independent ?

[JCMach1]

28. He went Indy in the 3-way race that put Rubio in office...

[24601]

29. You're correct - he's a former republican the way Reagan was a former Democrat - except of course

that Reagan had a real choice while Crist had unknowingly crossed a partisan event horizon.

Crist wasn't a bad Gov at all. But when President Obama visited, rather than the usual protocol - firm handshake, smile and polite words due any US president visiting your state, Crist responded with a big hug - and his Republican electoral future was ended in in instant.

Running for the Senate in the Republican Primary, he pulled a Lieberman and went indy at the last minute because it was intuitively obvious to the casual observer that he was going down in flames.

We do see Charlie frequently in Tampa - on TV, in the Morgan & Morgan (Personal Injury Law Firm) ads.

edited for spelling & clarity

[BlueDemKev]

34. An "independent" Republican....

...he is a Republican who ran as an independent in the 2010 Senate race in Florida (after it was clear that he couldn't get the GOP nomination).

[progressoid]

31. Not surprised.

A lot of "independents" "RINOs" and "centrists" voted for Obama in 08.

[Drunken Irishman]

32. If I'm not mistaken, Crist is still fairly popular in Florida and would have pull with indies...

His kind words for Obama would definitely be of help in that state - especially if he fully endorses him later this year.