'The first black governor'

Gov. Charlie Crist met Wednesday with the legislative black caucus, and the Republican governor got a hero's welcome from the all-Democratic group, most of whose members endorsed his opponent, Jim Davis.

"He's the first black governor of the state of Florida," exulted Rep. Terry Fields of Jacksonville as he wrapped an arm around Crist's shoulder.

"It's a long way from our other governor," said Sen. Tony Hill. "But I'm not talking about nobody."

Crist met with the group for an hour, and he did it on their turf -- the Senate Office Building, not in the governor's office. He mostly listened to the lawmakers' concerns on education, health care, funding of hometown projects and the restoration of civil rights for ex-felons.

Crist left after a separate meeting at which Rep. Matt Meadows, D-Lauderhill, lobbied Crist for $1.5-million for a gospel music project for students in his Broward County district.

Comments

What a disaster he has become.

Please set aside while I vomit.

They weren't their for you in 2006 and they won't be their in 2010. Don't make a mistake like this Charlie. In four years, a liberal, fast talking democrat will win them and the other black voters over, and you'll be left high and dry. I thought you said you were a "Jeb Bush republican?" How could you let them talk about Jeb like that? He brought this state out of the doldrums and made republican leadership possible.

said Sen. Tony Hill. "But I'm not talking about nobody."

Did Sen Hill support the FCAT?

Please shoot me now.

What did Tony Hill say? I don't speak jive.

Charlie Crist = The Republican Bill Clinton

gag. gag. ga

Did Siplin tell Charlie that he loved him?

Stanton is flipping the switch in Largo, and we’re blogging about illiterate politicians… sweet.

Come on Adam, post the story, this ought to be a hoot!

Clinton was the first black president, Charlie is the first black governor. Great. Now all Charlie has to do is fool-around with an intern and the transformation is complete!!

Fields must have been commenting on Crist's deep, dark, natural;) tan.

This thread has the potential to be the funniest of the year so far.

This is great; if for nothing else that maybe some people are learning that not all Republicans have to follow the same old party line and think in lockstep to be successful.
Ever heard of big tents? Independent thought? Try it, you might end up a winner like Charlie.
Or, stay stuck in those same old tired cliches. You're unable to help---or make much difference---that way, which might be best.

You know what they say about rich white male politicians who have deep, dark, natural tans who pander to the black vote by claiming that they really dig Sly and the Family Stone – but would never actually let a black person close to them unless they were serving them at their local “Whites Only” Country Club… and have really BIG feet…

… they have to buy really BIG shoes…

A side note. Crist is also Florida's first mentally retarded governor.

Respectfully Submitted,
Abraham Lincoln
Interim Chairman of Charlie Crist's Brain

Tom Gallagher has to be laughing his ass off. To all of you dumb asses who fell for the Crist con job, deal with it. What are you going to do when Crist changes his party affiliation to Democrat? Ha, Ha, Ha.

Big tent my ass! I will tell you about the Big Tent. As the Demos come in the front door of Rino Charlie's Big Tent, the Republican faithful are going out the back door.

5:27

I fell for the Crist Con. I wish I could take back my primary/general vote.

The Black Caucus is the worst thing black people have going for them...besides the first black governor.

Although, I do NOT think Gallagher gives a hoot... This is finally the big question for CC ( IS HE REALLY SERIOUS???) What a farce.. Very Sad

HELLO FOLKS, CC IS YOURRRR GOV. Don't knock the guy, he seriously doesn't have a lot to work with. C'mon!

Dear St. Petersburg Times,

Valentines Day was last week.

Please stop writing love letters to Charlie Crist.

Respectfully Submitted,
Abraham Lincoln-Mercury
Past chairman of unbeatable deals on new and used luxury automobiles.

Which one of the Meadows' family has the 1.5 million dollar gospel music program? The Black Caucus ought to be loading up the wagon on the special projects for the classic urban pork, because Charlie can be rented.
He has an eye on a national ticket.
Maybe not now, but soon, and for the rest of your lives.

[zenator]

The voters are sick and tired of all the political infighting between Dem and Repub politicians. Charlie Crist well understands the benefits of being perceived as a bridge builder, who is trying to bring differing groups together in order to focus on the people’s business. If you have any doubts about this assertion, please read the polls.

Does this mean that a majority of black, Florida voters in 2010 will vote Repub? No. But, do not forget that Crist carried about 20% of the black vote in 2006. Crist is the first, Florida Repub in a generation that has a real opportunity to carry as much as 1/3rd of the black vote in the next election. In case you either did not know or forgot, a large percentage of likely, black voters profile as Christian, conservative and possessed of a strong sense of family values. The fact that less than 10% traditionally vote Repub is a sad testament to Repub incompetence and indifference.

Governor Crist is attempting to follow the example of a truly great Repub, Teddy Roosevelt , who was a conservative, capitalist, populist, environmentalist. Sound familiar?

Is the Bull Moose Party on the comeback trail?

[GOPFL]

Zenator-

I wouldn't compare Charlie Crist to Teddy Roosevelt. Charlie leads by polls and focus groups. He doesn't seem to have any convictions or principles.

[zenator]

Perhaps, my post was imperfectly written.

My purpose was to show that Crist is using Teddy as a model and that, as such, the path that Crist is following is consistent with broad, historical Repub themes.

Do you not hear, however faintly, the distant roar of the bull moose?

We needed a candidate with Gallagher's policy smarts mixed with Crist's charisma and moderation...

we got neither...

I might as well have voted for Jim Davis.

I'm disappointed. CC gets a huge compliment from the black caucus and my fellow republicans seem to see it as some kind of negative. I'm afraid to really think about this too much and what it says about the bloggers on here who call themselves "real" republicans. I for one am proud to have a governor who has the support of people who traditionally haven't supported Republicans. I for one welcome thier support.

9:21, please enlighten me as to Gallagher's policy smarts. Sure, he could drone on and on about insurance, but the guy spends his life in politics and doesn't think using his state computer for personal business is a problem and doesn't think investing in companies related to his state duties is a problem. Not sure that qualifies as being savvy.

[Abe Lincoln]

5:07 pm

I think your post violates one of the posting rules please do not post using my name.

P.S. Adam would you please look into the not so nice person who continues to post using my name.

Respectfully submitted,

Abe Lincoln
Past Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida

Zeantor, as usual your wisdom shines though. Unfortunately 9:54 has it mostly right with the sad state of what the real republican party is turning into. The sad truth is that many of the so called christian conservative Republicans today would be Democrats standing around the burning crosses with masks on after their sunday evangelical sermon supporting segregation just 40 years ago. Most of these blog responses show this. The vile response from this simple meeting and message of support from black elected officials so offends these so called christian conservatives they couldn't even contain their hate. Thank god for Charlie Crist, who hopefuly will be able to purge these hate mongers and save the republican party.

What more can Crist do to RPOF Chair Greer , Greer is a Saint to deal with this , and smile, Hope CC never forgets that Greer stood by him and never said what he should have as RPOF Chairman.

GOPFL you don't have a clue about what you are talking about.

11:09 must be one of the many on this blog so far attending the BYOWS (Bring Your Own White Sheet) party. Most democrats are NOT minorities. Most that are poor are NOT minorities. Most that committ crime are NOT minorities. Watch the NBC To Catch a Predator show, guess what ethinicity most of these predators are. It make the white sheeters happy in their ignorance to paint minority groups with these media labels and not realize that the majority of societies ills afflict the non minority community.

i am very disappointed in the Governor. I voted for him in the primary and general election. What I got in return is...

Florida is now at risk of going bankrupt if we get hit with a hurricane.

My Governor may be a dad, or he may not be, but he doesn't have the courage to own up to it either way.

Restoration of voting/gun rights for FELONS???? Are you kidding me?

He hired a prison doctor to be secretary of Health?

He screwed Alan Bense, a great, loyal speaker.

And, indirectly...he keeps kicking Jeb Bush in the teeth. A man who kept CC's sorry political career alive after he lost the senate race. Lest we forget JEB hired CC to be deputy secretary of DBPR when he was UNEMPLOYED, then supported him when he ran for education commissioner (where he, of course, never learned WHEN the FCAT was being offered).

I WILL NEVER VOTE FOR CHARLIE CRIST AGAIN. I hope a republican runs against him in the primary.... RUN JEB RUN!!!!

so said grand wizard 12:07. You forgot to mention how upset you are about all that covorting with white women thats also upsetting you. Hey, doesn't Jeb and his mexican wife support the guest worker program.

Last I heard it was a cuban Governor named Martinez that hired Jeb after he lost his 94 campaign to be secretary of commerce helping his political career. 12:07 probably is upset that Martinez /family was ever let into the US.

Ok, I must be missing something. What's wrong with Republicans reaching out to the Black Caucus? Are blacks not people too? Are Republicans not supposed to care about them at all because they don't vote in large numbers for them? Give me a break. Party issues and platforms are often arbitrarily decided and the "Republicans shouldn't care about black people" is one of these. I am a white Republican and there's nothing in my handbook that says I can't care about the needs and issues of black people just because they won't return any favors at the polls. This belief does not make me a democrat or a "rino" but a thoughtful, caring human being. I am ashamed of those of you who feel your party and governor are dimished by having a concern for minorities' issues.

When Tony Hill says "I'm not talking about nobody" and Barack Obama is complimented for being "articulate"

this is why, and the African American community cannot have it bof ways...

The White Sale is over. Put the sheets away.
Governor Crist is doing a fine job and he should be congratulated for his outreach.
The black causs should be welcome to heap all the praise they see fit on the Governor.

Republicans: let us NOT forget that it was pandering to stupid racism that LOST us the black vote in the sixties.

Right on 1:49!

12:07, nobody, i mean NOBODY, is talking about restoring the right to carry guns to ex-felons. Not the black caucus and not CC. They're talking about automatically restoring the OTHER civil rights to people who have served their sentence and probation, EXCEPT for firearms rights and NOT for people who committed crimes like murder.

And it's too bad you won't vote for a man like Charlie Crist, but if we have to give up your ignorant bigot vote in exchange for being on the right side of the issue, I guess the Republican Party will just have to try and survive without you.

the level of unmitigated racism that is coarsing through the submissions on this blog is just plain stunning.

what is wrong with you people? A governor is supposed to the the governor of all of the people. Gov. Crist is reflecting that ethic in his service thus far. Why is that such a problem to a party whose last governor said, when asked in 1994 what he would do for blacks in Florida, "probably nothing."

I hate it when black people step and fetch it. Terry Fields is so ignorant.

Rep. Fields was just funnin - the mood in the room was jovial. No need to call him names.

[Republican Sista]

My, my, my.

Crist is correct to reach out to the Black Caucus; however, this meeting will do nothing to impress those of us who have little or no respect for that group, many of whom are so darn ignorant, and clearly representative of racial stereotypes.

6:52am - Have it both ways? Please. Florida is filled with ignorant-a$$ed white folks who are both inarticulate and reprehensible in their presentation. But then again, the "Trailer Trash" voting bloc has yet to be outed in the Florida Legislature, so I could see why you feel this way.

[tdubb]

5:52, what's the BEST thing black people have going for them? And Republican Sista, please tell me how your post lessens racial stereotypes. I know blacks and whites who belong in both the ignorant and intelligent categories. One person can't represent a stereotype, however. The stereotype belongs to the viewer/reader/observer. One poster here is surprised that his fellow Republicans don't know how to receive a compliment from blacks. I'm not suprised, but implore you to ask "why?" I don't think you'll like the answer.

I like black people.

I especailly like J.C.Watts, Michael Steele, Ken Blackwell, Thomas Sowell and Clarence Thomas. They're the best!

I don't think that's the Republican ideology that's being promoted here though.

[Republican Sista]

TDubb:

Clearly my unmitigated sarcasm and irony has rubbed you the wrong way. My point to 6:52am was exactly your point - ignorance and/or intelligence are not exclusive to any race or ethnicity, so why must blacks, according to 6:52am, be either one or the other? And yes, a person can represent a stereotype or "label," if you will.

Re: your "why" question, are you asking me to answer why some white folks cannot accept a compliment from some black folks? Please clarify.

Re: your question as to what's the best thing that blacks have going for them? Politically speaking, my answer is that we're not monolithic, not all the same, not all in search of a "black leader" to represent our values, but the best leader, and willing to poke fun at or chastise our own....similar to white folks, I guess.

Somebody get Wendy Grant off the thread.

Zenator, you are so right again. The small-mindedness shown by some of the people here who call themselves Repubs. is the reason we lost Congress. Thankfully, Charlie gets it.

Where is General Revenue when you need him?