It’s been said that an honest politician is an oxymoron, and it’s never been more apparent than now. With Charlie Crist announcing his decision to run as an independent, it seems We the People don’t know who to trust.
Charlie, of course, had previously denied the rumors that he would leave the GOP. He recently appeared on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace to have an on-air debate with his Republican opponent, Marco Rubio, where he seemed quite firm on his stance:
WALLACE: …have been persistent rumors in Florida that you are so far behind, at least currently, in the polls…that you may run instead as an independent. Here is your chance to dispel all the rumors. Are you willing to pledge right here, right now that you will run in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate and not run as an independent?
CRIST: I’m running as a Republican…
WALLACE: So are you ruling out that you will file as an independent by the April 30th deadline?
CRIST: That’s right. That’s right. I’m running as a Republican.
WALLACE: You will run not for a governor — you’ll run for Senate, and you will run as a — in the Republican primary.
CRIST: …I’m running as a Republican…
WALLACE: Will you support the winner of the GOP primary, whether it’s you or Marco Rubio?
CRIST: Of course I will…
WALLACE: Well, I’m going to get — I’m going to — I’ll give you an opportunity for a final statement. I just want to say, though, you are saying you are going to run in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate. You will not run on the no party affiliation line.
CRIST: That’s right. That’s right. That’s what I’m saying.
Well, so much for that. It certainly begs the question – if Charlie can’t be trusted to stick to his word on something as simple as party affiliation, why exactly would anyone trust him to live up to any of his campaign promises? Why would anyone trust him, as a U.S. Senator, to represent the people?
The move to independent status is nothing more than Charlie playing the game of “If-I-Can’t-Win-Nobody-Can”. It demonstrates a lack of commitment to any set of values, and proves what everybody already suspected: Crist is nothing more than a superficial populist more concerned with his career prospects than actually serving the people.
Up here in the state capitol, a similar situation is taking place in the 2nd Congressional District race. I had previously reported that there was a three-way battle between Democrat incumbent Allen Boyd, Republican challenger Steve Southerland, and Independent candidate Paul McKain. In a recent straw poll, it was clear that Southerland was dominating the GOP primary. Now, Republican candidate Diane Berryhill has dropped the affiliation and decided to run as an independent.
Berryhill, of course, had recently made an appearance on the 100.7 WFLA Morning Show, where she attacked Independent Paul McKain for splitting the votes.
“…hopefully people, when they walk into that voting booth, will realize that the Independent will not win the race and…if they vote for an Independent then they’re basically voting for the [Democrat] candidate whether it be Allen Boyd or Al Lawson.”
The McKain campaign certainly recognized the hypocrisy, and issued a prompt response.
“Mrs. Berryhill, a life long, red-letter Republican, clearly decided it was in her own political best interest to run as an Independent, as she knew she would not win the GOP primary in August… Per Mrs. Berryhill’s own website: ‘Your word is your bond’,” read the press release.
“Clearly, her ‘word’ is only her bond as long as it benefits her.”
Well, Charlie, at least you aren’t alone; there are political opportunists from all walks of life.
Tom is a Political Science/International Affairs major from St. Petersburg, FL. After he earns his B.S./B.A. from Florida State University, he plans on attending Law School. Currently, he contributes to both Informed-Dissent.com and "The Daily Loaf" section of Creative Loafing, an alternative news publication in Tampa, FL.