Crist Fires Back at Gallagher

Charlie Crist is up with a new TV ad meant to answer Tom Gallagher's ad that calls Crist a "liberal" who supports higher taxes, abortion, gay civil unions and amnesty for illegal immigrants.

Speaking into the camera, Crist does not directly answer Gallagher's comparative ad. Instead, he reaches back to 1994, Gallagher's last run for governor, reminding viewers: "The last time my opponent ran for governor, he viciously attacked Jeb Bush, even comparing him to Fidel Castro. Now he's directing the same false, misleading attacks against me."

(Gallagher's 1994 ad criticized Bush for supporting NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement. Tom Slade, state party chairman at the time, called the ad "deceptive and negative").

The ad closes with a hint of what's to come, with both Republicans having abandoned the 11th Commandment pledges they signed months ago. Crist's closing: "I'm the only candidate for governor who's never supported a tax increase." (That point is debatable, but Crist claims his support of a tax on sugar companies in 1998 was a "fee" that was contingent on voter approval. Gallagher backed a voter-approved sales tax increase for prison construction). 

Comments

Why doesnt charlie answer any of the issues brought up by Tom

So in other words, Charlie Crist agrees with the Gallagher ad that he supports gay civil unions, supports amnesty for illegal immigrants, supports a liberal spending plan, and supports abortion rights?

LEMIEUX!!! WHAT ARE YOU THINKING???

This is a Republican Primary! Fight back! Run an ad showing Charlie's fight on pro-life issues and his strong defense of traditional marriage! Make Gallagher eat his words! Charlie is pro-life isn't he?

Why aren't you answering Tom back and fighting him on these issues!!??

Why doesn't TG answer Crist's charges?

Game on, TG staffers.

Obviously this ad was in the can waiting for the inevitable attack, which means the Crist team was PREPARED! Good job -- GO CHARLIE! Now, knock him completely out of the park!

Charlie is truthful enough to use his own words to defend himself.

Tom is too pitiful and dishonest to use his own voice in his ads.

Murphy is smart to know you can't put someone under investigation, like TG, on their tv spot.

[wordonthestreet]

gallagher staffers are begging for campaign cash.

they don't have money to buy billboards or newspaper ads.

ok.

I would first like to say i am a gallagher supporter but in all honesty that television spot is so SOFT i can't even believe it. CC needed to come out way stronger than that in defense of TG's ad and he struck out major league.

Lemieux is definately out of his league

Charlie IS more moderate, that's why he can't answer the TG ad. Crist can only go after other "issues."

Talk about blown opportunities !

[terminator]

2:49
Get off the crack buddy!
Charlie's strong defense of traditional marriage? You've got to be joking!

Charlie Crist is anything but traditional. 50, married once for six months, won't say why he got divorced, ex-wife bought off and sworn to secrecy, no children, no girlfriend, no home, has never paid property taxes nor property insurance.

Charlie did say he "supports civil unions". He did say he thinks "gay adoption" is ok.

He did vote in the State Senate to strike down a provision that would require a 24 hour waiting period for abortion.

He and his liberal buddy Mel Martinez "do support amnesty for illegal aliens and giving social security benefits to illegal aliens".

He did receive millions of dollars in "gambling blood money from Donald Trump, the Seminole and Miccosukee Tribes" who will then be allowed to expand casino gambling under a potential Governor Crist administration.

The truth is coming out about Charlie Crist. He's a liberal phony! He's a stuffed shirt with no ideas of his own. He has a paucity of policy knowledge compared to policy wonk TG.
And lastly, the guy's sexual orientation is very much an issue with conservative voters.

Conservative voters want to know Charlie? Are you or aren't you?

[David]

If this race is SO over, like Crist supporters have said -- Charlie was sure quick to get the generic "I've been attacked" ad up and running.

It just shows Charlie's support is soft and they know it.

Answer the charges Charlie. Stop misleading the public about the tax increase when your own homer paper questions your honesty on that issue. Sugar growers are taxpayers, correct? If so, that's a tax increase.

Strong response yesterday from the Crist campaign, followed by this ad today. Shows they have it together and the romper room boy better start praying.

[connectthedots]

TG tried to play nice but it didn't work. Now he's turning nasty. Well, that won't work either. All it will accomplish is to weaken the party's chances in November. Is that what you really want, Jeb?

You'd think if Jeb were so pissed off over this supposed attack from 1994, he would be siding with Charlie. It actually seems just the opposite. That picture of Tom and Jeb on his latest ad looks very recent. In Charlie's picture with Jeb, the Governor looks a bit younger -- perhaps a first term photo.

Mike Murphy, the Governor's campaign media guy suddenly starts working for Tom.

It seems the Governor is, at least behind the scenes, helping Tom. That doesn't sound like a man upset over comments made in 1994. Charlie wouldn't be playing politics, would he? Go figure.

That response from Lemieux was about as soft as ice cream on a 115 degree afternoon in Arizona.

http://www.weeklyplanet.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A83829

The real Tom Gallagher
His history is one of wild parties and self-enrichment.
BY JOHN F. SUGG

I have many fond memories of Tom Gallagher, who has held just about every state office except governor. He's now seeking that post as a warm and fuzzy "family values" candidate.

That doesn't really match my memories. For example, in the 1970s, I worked for the Miami Herald, left the paper to work in Atlanta for a couple of years, and then returned to the Herald in 1979. I'd covered Gallagher earlier in the decade -- even liked him as one of two Republican novelty acts in the otherwise solid Democrat Dade delegation.

Shortly after hitting town, I began the ritual of visiting my favorite bars in Coconut Grove and Coral Gables. At one tavern, I was surprised when Gallagher came up to me, slapped me on my back and roared how great it was to see me. He had obviously been there for some time, doing what one does at bars.

Gallagher then proceeded to tell me, in great detail, of his recent escapades with women. He'd broken up with his first wife, and his Grove home was party central. Gallagher's stories were disturbing -- not that I'm a prude, God forbid.

After Gallagher made several references to adventures he implied I was knowledgeable about, but which I couldn't possibly have been, I asked: "Tom, who do you think I am?" He replied: "Huh? You're my accountant."

"Uh, no, Tom," I said, sharpening the mental knives for a column, "I'm John Sugg with the Miami Herald, and I'd sure as hell like to hear more about these exploits for the entertainment of our readers." He fled.

A few years later, I was sitting on my sailboat at the Big Game Club in Bimini. I had a wonderful scenic view -- at least until a huge powerboat pulled in next to me. Standing at the rail of the floating beast was none other than Gallagher, flanked by the guys who owned the boat. I knew them well, two powerful Tallahassee lobbyists. I was also intrigued by the rest of the boat's guests -- all female.

But, heck, we've all had our wilder younger days. Cut to the modern day governor's candidate; Gallagher has been polishing his reputation for years, hoping a new wife and 7-year-old kid will dazzle voters and blind them to the past.

But even if Gallagher's morality has kicked up a few notches, there are many other blemishes that should give Floridians real reasons to worry. Here's one:

In 1981, I discovered a remarkable scheme by Gallagher and business associates that would have stuffed money in their pockets while jeopardizing the state pension fund.

This was at a time when the savings and loan industry was just starting to run up on the rocks, a disaster that would culminate a decade later in a massive federal bailout. The thrifts had billions of dollars in low-interest mortgages that they wanted to dump. That would enable them to make new loans at much higher interest rates.

But no one was stupid enough to want the old mortgages, often with interest rates as low as 1 or 2 percent. Gallagher was, at the time, a state legislator plotting his first run for governor. He wanted to do a few favors for folks who could do him a few favors -- such as money-laden bankers.

Gallagher was a member of the state House committee that had oversight of pension programs. A scheme was devised to have the state pension fund purchase as much as $125 million in the unprofitable mortgages from state thrifts.

There are two cardinal rules for government pension funds: Don't make decisions based on politics, and don't make investments that can never be anything but losers. Gallagher's plan violated both of those rules.

It gets worse. Gallagher earned his living as a vice president of Ticor Mortgage Insurance. Can you guess which company planned to insure the mortgage scheme? You got it: Ticor. Gallagher's company would have pocketed an amount that was never disclosed -- but certainly was many tens of thousands of dollars.

Articles I wrote about the proposed deal for the South Florida Business Journal resulted in the state balking. None of the top officials, including then-Gov. Bob Graham, had been aware of Gallagher's involvement through Ticor or the high risk and almost certain loss the state pension fund faced.

In January 1982, the deal collapsed. The pensions of state employees were protected. Gallagher denied any conflict of interest and groused that the plan was deep-sixed by Graham. "I have a strong feeling the governor is not interested in helping me out," Gallagher said at the time.

No, Graham was interested in protecting Floridians. Gallagher was obsessed with enriching himself.

Which is a good reason for Florida to reject Gallagher's gubernatorial ambitions -- as the state has three times previously.

Nah, 3:23. Jeb is a mature politician. He knows .. how did he out it recently? Oh, yes, "...in politics it's not always a tea party."

A better approach would be for Charlie to answer the questions all of Florida needs to know:

What is he going to do about taxes, insurance, education, transportation, etc?

Helloooooooooooo

Dream on...the Governor is certainly not taking sides with Gallagher.

Hey, on the Weekly Planet - where are Clark Kent and Lois Lane. And, oh, yeah, Jimmy? What? He is what with Charlie Crist???

No need be defensive about Gallagher's false accusations. The fact that Gallagher insulted Republican icon Jeb Bush (you know the guy with the 65% favorable rating) will not sit well with primary voters.

Sounds like the Democrats need to draft Crist and the Republicans need to draft Smith. Then we can move on without all the phony candidates.

Great ad George !

My son in highschool could have produced something more effective then that.

Come on Jeb, put a fork in Gallagher for us. He's done. End it for the good of the party - you know you want to!

Is it true Charlie Crist doesn't like Latinos and doesn't have any on his staff?

3:30 -- those kind of comments aren't necessary.

[terminator]

Lemiux is a wussy!

Didn't he used to chair that bunch of phony Republicans down in Broward called BREC?

You know the same guys who pulled the illegal endorsement of Charlie Crist without even consulting their own membership?

Those guys suck!

What is Charlie going to do to prevent insurance rates from getting any crazier?

Doster? What will you do for work in 20 days. TG will throw you under the bus in no time bud. How much did Murphy bs show raise today? Weak, my man, weak.

How come Charlie's people just whine about the TG ads instead of putting forth position papers with substance? What does Charlie plan to do as Governoe?

Is this what the great Murphy had planned when he came in to get the whole Gallagher staff to post on this blogg no wonder he's a volunteer.

...Gallagher once compared Gov. Jeb Bush to Fidel Castro and pointing out the Ethics Commission thinks there's evidence he broke state law by buying insurance stocks while he regulated the industry.

"Mr. Gallagher should be ashamed of himself," said House Speaker Allan Bense, R-Panama City.

Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, pointed out that Gallagher's current positions differ from past runs for governor, including 1994 when he lost to Bush in the primary.

"He has been a pro-tax, pro-choice, pro-gambling, anti-Second Amendment liberal his entire career. His recent attempt at an 'extreme makeover' into a conservative will not fool the voters," Fasano said.

Lemiux put together an ad like this and gets all 25 of Gallagher supports pissed just imagine how good he is at his regular job, tell Brett to watch.

Gallagher campaign has begun their long anticipated mudsling with their code speak "highlighting difference". An elected official enlightens all on this from his own experience. TG camapaign folks, this wont work, youre just distroying your own political futures for a awful candidate. GET A CLUE!!
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By DOUG SWORD and JOE FOLLICK
Herald Tribune
August 11, 2006

Some observers cautioned that a month of highlighting differences between the two candidates could degenerate into a negative campaign, damaging the winner in the November general election.

"I certainly hope it doesn't get to the point where people allow it to be pulled down into the mire," said state Rep. Marsha Bowen, R-Haines City.

And it would likely be unsuccessful, said state Rep. Paige Kreegel, R-Punta Gorda, the target of a brutal mudslinging campaign in 2004.
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lets see what Jeb had to say about Tax and spend TG in 94..Tommmy more LIBERAL than the Dems!!! PRICELESS!!!
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Gallagher has favored the largest tax increase in Florida history, a 1-Cent Sales Tax Increase ($1.7 Billion a Year).

“ Jeb Bush, a Republican candidate for governor, called Gallagher's plan “ill-conceived” and said Florida did not need to raise taxes to fight crime. People can't afford the government we have now," Bush said. "He is making (Gov.) Lawton Chiles look like he's conservative.
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TG the disaster that keeps on giving :). Now this one is going to make our blogg nation laugh off our chairs!! with absloute amazement!!!. Lets see how TG the disaster attacked Jeb in 94. Don't miss Mr. Ethics Scandal TG!! accusing jeb of lack of Ethics. THIS IS PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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When Tom Gallagher opposed Jeb Bush for Governor, here is what he said about Jeb Bush:

“Jeb Bush is "rich in money and pedigree, but not qualifications."

''Maybe Jeb Bush doesn't think the quality of his business experience and ethical behavior is important. I do,'' Gallagher said.
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George LeMieux is the Karl Rove of Florida. With Rich Heffley running shotgun with him, TG is going to be burnt toast. Now, watch and see the lead grow to over a 30 point spread.
Yep, it's gonna get UGLY...

Murphy can't be this dumb, he knows that was just a shot over the bow. If it happens again then the gloves come off.

Looks Like Gallagher and Democrats have private coordination going via Stemberger. Both Gallagher and Dems launched and corodinated smear campaign at about the same time??. Traitor Republicans intent on destroying al Republican chances since they can't win. Clearly the Dems want TG and it looks like coordinated support happening!!!!! REPUBLICANS!!! TAKE NOTE!!
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By Joe Follick
Ledger Tallahassee Bureau
August 11, 2006

..."Stemberger hinted that Democrat Rod Smith, the state senator from Alachua running for governor, has conservative credentials that may compare favorably"..

.."John Stemberger, the leader of a failed effort to place a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriages on the November ballot, declined to comment on whether Crist could woo conservative voters in November."..
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Even baxley has said he would support the REPUBLICAN nominee. Stemberger is a TRAITOR looking out for his own self interest!!!
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..."Baxley said he would support Crist as the Republican nominee,"..
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[terminator]

3:55
Get off the crystal meth dude!
Lemiux and Karl Rove?
HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa!

3:58
we're quaking in our Gucci loafers over here at Gallagher headquarters!

CV:
I guess there goes Charlie's support from the conservative right if he does make it out of the primary!

TG took a risk by attacking CC. If he did nothing he was going down in defeat by 20%.

By attacking CC, now he changes the dynamic somewhat. Now two things are possible:

1. TG loses by less, maybe closes the gap to 5-10%.

2. Turns off voters by going negative and actually makes things worse, loses by 25-30%.

Either way, he had to do something because he had no chance with the status quo. My hunch is #2 will happen. There simply is not enough time, nor does he have enough money, to close the gap totally and end up winning. BUT losing by only 5-10% allows him to save face somewhat. This is all a strategy to make the end not as bad as it would have been had he done nothing.

Murphy, what do you think?

[zenator]

TG went with a negative ad on Tuesday, which had a run time of less than 24 hours before CC provided a calm response revealing Tom to be an opponent of Jeb and by implication his legacy. Good stuff-- smart, measured, and immediate.

Unlike Tom, whose pollster quit, CC is polling every day. By Friday, CC will be able to determine the impact, if any, of TG's ad and CC's response.
If anything further need be, it shall then promptly be made to happen.

All of this is a great compliment to CC and his campaign team, including George Lemieux, the staff and the consultants.

If one wants to understand why CC is now up by 30 points, one need only compare and contrast the effectiveness of Team Crist to that of Team Gallagher, which is currently unable even to field a full squad, due to the resignations last week of so many key players.

CC makes if easy to atack his "positions" and easy to paint him with most any brush. He seems to have ben on all sides of all issues at different times.

A liberal? he's not that committed!

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"By Joe Follick
Ledger Tallahassee Bureau

.."Gallagher....1994 support of a sales tax increase to build new prisons."

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By ADAM C. SMITH, Times Political Editor
Published July 3, 2005

..."[Gallagher]who used to oppose school vouchers and school prayer?"..

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The St. Petersburg Times,
7/3/05; Orlando Sentinel, 5/22/05)

Gallagher, “…a longtime moderate Republican who used to call himself ‘pro-choice’ on abortion…,”

has said prayer in schools “causes a tremendous amount of problems”

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By LUCY MORGAN, Times Tallahassee Bureau Chief
Published May 21, 2005

...."Gallagher supported a services tax and suggested getting rid of homestead exemptions."...

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Zenator, also don't forget that many private groups and news media will no doubt be curious about the affect of TG's attacks. Therefore, polls are in the field now as we speak, and we can expect news reports on them as early as this weekend.

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BY MARY ELLEN KLAS
Miami Herald
June 20th 2006

......"In a copy of a September 1979 deposition of McBee obtained by The Miami Herald, the former girlfriend testified that during 1978 and 1979, she traveled with Gallagher to Atlanta, Texas, California, Miami, Orlando, West Virginia, Washington, D.C., Delaware and Nassau in the Bahamas. She stayed at his Miami home for three days when his wife was in Michigan, and he gave her gifts."...
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