RPOF trying to shaft Marco Rubio?

UPDATE: Confirmed. But Jim Greer will be unable to invoke Rule 11 - typically used to protect the party from fringe candidates - because National Committeewoman Sharon Day - a strong Crist supporter in the past) says she won't sign it: "It's meant to be used very cautiously to protect the party,'' said Day, surprised about the "firestorm" that has erupted. "We have a process and it allows the voters to choose the candidate - and that's called a primary."

Meanwhile, some activists are none too happy about the RPOF trying to shut down a senate primary. "The Republicans I represent in Hillsborough County should have the right to choose the candidates that they believe in and want to work for. Prior to the primary there should be no endorsement," said Hillsborough Republican Chairman Deborah Cox Roush.

Pinellas State Committeeman (and Rubio backer) Tony DiMatteo: "To try to impose rule 11 on a former Speaker of the House of Representatives - a Hispanic American, at a time when we're trying to reach out to Hispanics and African-Americans and diversify - is beyond outrageous. "

State GOP Chairman Greer says it's much ado about nothing. "Rule 11 was a procedural matter that was logical because of the already official support that Charlie Crist has received, from the majority leader to the Senatorial Committee that has all the resources,'' Greer said."I hope at some poiunt in time Sharon will join the leaders of her party so there's no question."

Original post: Lots of angry Buzz out there today about the state GOP supposedly working to shut out Marco Rubio from any party support. It's based on "Rule 11" of the GOP, which would allow the national party to focus its resources on a single candidate - in this case Charlie Crist - and shut out Marco Rubio.

While I caution that I have not received calls back from the key officers and therefore do not have this confirmed yet, the chatter among a bunch of local party activists is that Greer is trying to get National Committee members Paul Senft and Sharon Day to have the party unite behind Crist for senate.

...Developing

Comments

[...]

one way to lose me as a participating republican...

[No Doi]

Is anyone surprised? I mean seriously. Anyone who knows anything about Greer, Crist & the RPOF could have guessed this one.

[This is great!!]

I can't believe that the RPOF is going to risk pissing off all the conservatives in the party and putting all of their elected officials at risk, just to help Charlie. If the conservatives stay at home on election day, all 5 statewide seats will go Democrat, as well as multiple state senate and house seats. This is a VERY risky move indeed. It all makes sense now... Charlie is telling the truth when he says the people of Florida are first with him and it's apparent that he and Greer feel that the best way to serve Florida is by letting the Democrats take over. I agree.

[Ned]

Rubio needs to do the right thing and withdraw. He will not win the Primary. There are more moderate Republicans in Florida than conservative. If Tom Gallagher couldn't beat Crist, what makes you think Rubio can?

[No Doi]

Gallagher had his own issues.

[Shame]

This is getting out of control. I am beginning to wonder whether we live in a democracy anymore.

[Conservative businessman for Jeb]

Well heck yes,what do you expect!!!
Rubio came in trying to look like some kind of hero,what was that deal with the 100 ideas,they were all his and he thought he was "all that"!!!
He should have played by the rules.
There is no doubt,Rubio is the "good conservative" between the two but he will not make it.The "spray can tan man" has received the nod because he has played by the rules.
Are we becoming the democrat party?
With all the resources "we the conservatives" have at our disposal,why are we not backing a conservative?
Are all these turn coats going to get voted back into office?
Trick me once shame on you,trick me twice,shame on me!!!
Don't get tricked again.

[ipj]

Typical of a bunch of out of touch losers. Go rubio!

[Jim Bob]

Did Charley Crist get outed by that movie exposing all the gay politicians?
i don't know what the name of that documentary is.

[wow]

They will rue the day they went down this path. This is a huge mistake by the Crist Campaign.

Ned-
Remember when cc ran against tg? It wasn't about who was moderate, it was who was most like jeb (to be read, more conservative)so wishing rubio to get out of the race because repubs are moderate....ask John McCain about that? Did he even win the state in a majority....but go ahead Greer, push rubio out....let me know how that works for you!

[shock and awe]

While Crist supports violent felons having voting rights, he opposes Republicans from having those same rights when it comes to considering his candidacy.

[Sharon thank's for doing the right thing]

Sharon don't do it, you would compromise your integrity as a person and a party leader, in addition the Republican Women in Florida would not like that at all.

Thank you in advance for standing on principle. What Jim Greer is doing as Chairman is wrong wrong wrong.

[resign]

Crist must answer for this and Greer ought to be pushed out for going there. This is a rule that was enacted to hit David Duke, how dare you attempt to invoke it against someone Sen. Cronyn said had a bright future in the party. What say you Charlie?

[Ned your're wrong and Marco is no Tom Gallagher]

Hernando County REC voted in a straw poll last night and Marco Rubio won unanimously. Marco has 15 months to make his case to the people of Florida.

Marco has the conviction and leadership skills to make the differnce in D.C; no more passes for people who merely wnat to aspire.

The people in Florida have had enough.

[Karen Thurman]

Keep it up folks... I love it!!

[Dirty campaign]

Crist is dealing from the bottom of the deck. EXPOSE HIM.

[Who cares...]

The Hernando REC is notoriously crazy... who cares what they think. Hernando County represents less than .5% of all of the states registered Republicans. Marco can have it. Funny that Marco's first big show of support would come from a bunch of rednecks!! I be Sumter, Dixie, Levy, Citrus, etc. will all follow the example. Charlie will win Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough, Orange, Sarasota, Manatee, Palm Beach, Martin, Duval, Leon, Clay, Flagler, Seminole and Osceola... race over.

[uh oh, Charlie, watch out...]

Hey Marco... Union and Baker counties just voted unanimously to support you... You got this in the bag!!! ROFLMFAO!!!

[May the best man win]

6:08 Hernando is crazy? Well what do you know? They may have just started a primary tea party.

[Pink down to his underwear]

This is really frightening. If the establishment doesn't like you then you can't run for office as a Republican? No one should ever forget this, it could be you next time.

[Heather]

" logical because of the already official support"?

What world do you live in Jim?

A world where fat$$es spend donors' money without a real AUDIT?

A worl;d where YOU get to decide who runs for office?

Guess not!

Thank goodness for integrity! Thank goodness for Sharon Day!

[Endorsements are for Winners]

Charlie if you win the Primary, you should get your endorsement.

[Hal]

For shame! In communist countries they control who runs for office. Not so in America. Unless it is the Crist/Greer America...

[Dora in Paradise]

Thank the Good Lord for Sharon Day!!! Why should Mr. Greer choose for me - I have my own vote and that will go to the Conservative candidate. I am a pro-choice Conservative and proud of it!

What is going on here? What is the RPOF up to? Why are they deserting other candidates? I think we should be told!

[POd CW]

Dear Jim:

Leadesrhip involves decency, fairness and doing the right thing. It is NOT about running roughshod over peoples' rights. It is NOT about feathering your own nest (and your boy, Charlie's).

So how about YOU join the REAL leadership of the GOP and crumple up the paper where you wanted Day to sign invoking rule 11.

Or else use it for a more appropriate purpose which I leave to your imagination.

[Who cares...]

Well, 6:50, I think that's great if they did... Nothing I like more than watching a bunch of Republicans fighting each other. If this is getting this ugly, this early, just wait until July. The Republican nominee will come out of the primary so damaged he won't have a shot, no matter which one it is! You all keep fighting for the "soul of your party" while we Democrats take all the elected offices, rendering you non-existent!!

[Resign now]

Jim Greer should resign in disgrace.

Imagine wanting to shut out a former Speaker of the House just so the Queen of Fantasy Fest can run unimpeded!

[A Republican Woman]

Sharon Day????? YOU are the shining beacon of integrity - we LOVE you. Please continue to stand up for a candidate Floridians want, a Hispanic conservative, to follow Mel Martinez. Is the RPOF trying to split the party? Mr. Greer, take notice, it's the voters who decide, not the politicians or the party officials. If your guy wins fairly, fine - but please keep an even playing field.

[Menino]

Charlie must be terrified of Marco.

[Ralph]

Hey Jim! Is THIS what you call leadership?

Even after every Republican in the Florida screamed about your spending, you still spent:
02/12/2009 4,025.11 AEROSPACE SERVICES
02/19/2009 1,545.00 AEROSPACE SERVICES
02/19/2009 4,700.00 AIRSPEED AVIATION
02/19/2009 2,485.54 BAER AIR
03/31/2009 3,681.35 BAER AIR
02/09/2009 12,137.44 GK AVIATION
02/09/2009 5,244.02 GK AVIATION
02/19/2009 12,707.23 GK AVIATION
02/26/2009 4,319.88 GK AVIATION
03/31/2009 6,786.93 GK AVIATION
02/18/2009 4,943.19 PANHANDLE AVIATION & TRANS SER
02/19/2009 1,566.77 PANHANDLE AVIATION & TRANS SER

American Express: over $250,000.00 in charges just between January 13 and March 12. I guess Jim Greer STILL doesn't leave home without it!

Check it out:
http://election.dos.state.fl.us/cgi-bin/TreFin.exe

[;]

Greer was doing the right thing. Crist is a Republican Governor, This is why the GOP is a joke anymore. Rubio should never have run ......

[Bravo Sharon]

Bravo Sharon! Once Charlie is gone (either loses or wins the Senate race) we can finally get rid of that clown Jim Greer.

Bring back some integrity to the party.

Keep it up Sharon!!!!!!

[ooo]

8:42 Rule 11 is a mechanish used to keep undesirables like David Duke from runninf as Republicans and thus embarassing the Party. It was never intended to be used to beat somebody down to clear the way for anybody.

[Ruth]

Kudos to Sharon Day! At least ONE Republican leader is looking out for the people and the GOP!

[Truly Concerned]

This is insane. I no longer need to figure out why voters are defecting by the thousand to the independent and NPA party affiliations.

The two party system is failing miserably. The Republican had the best values and beliefs until we let the party become invaded with Democrats posing as Republicans (Crist) and the power hungry that will support them at any cost.

Mr Greer. If the Republican party is failing it is because of people like you.

This is America and the people decide who to vote for not you.

Lets face it, you and Crist are still pissed because McCain didn't pick Crist for VP and just like during the campaign, you know the one you did everything in your power to through here in florida for McCain. You will turn your back on and fight those that that don't support you two.

[Rae]

Charlie is just scared of losing. He knows all those "70% approval rating"polls are cooked by jim Greer.

[Robin]

Jim Greer and other party members like him always amaze me. Here is my response Mr. Greer, please learn your ABC's (Anybody But Charlie).

[Jeb,("not the smart one")]

Greer is to Charley what Rove was to Bush.
A poor mans Rove so to speak.

[Elizabeth Cuevas-Neunder]

I am very sad, that the old Charlie has abandoned the state that elected him. GREED, GREED AND MORE GREED. What happened to good men and women with love for God, Country and Family? Run Marco Run, or I should say Corre Marco Corre, we Puerto Ricans are behind you because blood is thicker than water. You are true to the people who elected you and you are a true family man.

[ABC]

Get rid of the corrupt tub of lard that is Greer.

No real republican should support the loser Charlie Crist.

Anyone But Crist

[Mona]

Trying to shut down an election?? How democratic is that? What's wrong with Greer?

[middle class republican]

I am so fed up with all the drama in this party.What causes all this drama?
The party leaders always trying to manipulate the constituents,through choices and endorsements of "business as usual" politicians.
The party should not get involved with endorsements until after the primary, unless there are extraordinary circumstances.
What happened to our party?

[Crist Needs TO GO!!!]

Did you see the Hillsborough County Republican Party's resolution they passed? WOW! Finally, the Hillsborough County Republican Party is in the press for something OTHER than racist emails sent by their leadership!

Was today their day to clean their sheets and pillow cases?!

But they do have a point, because RPOF Chairman Jim Greer is the world's largest hemorrhoid, because he's got his head so far up Charlie Crist's buttocks. Let him know that he's got the title of "The World's Largest Hemorrhoid" by sending a tube of Preperation H to the RPOF Headquarters:

420 East Jefferson Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301

[Patterson]

This all is just an honest mistake by the RPOF. They weren't aware that Rubio was running. Luckily, I sent the party an email.

Expect the Rubio announcements to start flowing from the RPOF email servers at any moment.

[GOP fan]

Viva Sharon Day! If Crist did not want a bloody, costly primary, he could have run for governor in 2010. But he has put his own presidential ambitions ahead of what's best for the Florida GOP. He'll win, but at what cost?

[Dan]

I think Crist and Greer are old school dirty politics. I think you'll find out there are more conservatives than centrists in Florida. Crist is going for the brain dead Rinos and Rubio will be going for Republicans.

[True colors showing]

The "People's Governor" fears democracy in action.

[Let freedom ring]

Dan it is not about "conservatives" or "moderates" or any other ideology. It is about the people having the right and the freedom to choose their leaders instead of having somebody choose them.

Charlie Crist HAS no ideology. He just wants to be an elected official. He supportds whatever point of view will get him elected.

[Amazed]

The RPOF was unaware? Are you kidding? Of course Tallahassee staff knew Marco Rubio was in the race. HE WAS ON FOX the day CC announced - the WHOLE Republican world knew - and Jim Greer already "warned" Rubio not to run in the media.

Floridians will have their voice in this election, as is our right thanks to Sharon Day -once again. She is the hero of the Party and the chairman should resign if he is unable to perform the job.