Meek denies report that Clinton tried to get him to quit Senate race

[maddezmom]

Source: Baltimore Sun

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Kendrick Meek denied reports by the Washington, D.C., political website Politico that former President Bill Clinton tried to convince him to drop out of the race and endorse independent Charlie Crist.

"President Clinton did not ask me to drop out of the race," Meek said at a hastily called press conference Thursday night at his campaign headquarters in Miami Gardens. "No one has called to ask me to drop out."

~snip~

Meek's campaign insisted earlier Thursday that he was staying in the race. His campaign manager, Abe Dyk, released the following statement regarding the Politico article: "The article is not true. Kendrick Meek was never dropping out of this race, is never dropping out of this race, and will never drop out of this race," Dyk said in a statement Thursday night. "Kendrick is the Democratic nominee so if anyone should drop out, it's Charlie Crist."

Crist campaign spokesman Danny Kanner, responding to inquiries about the Politico report, said, "While this story is accurate, the governor's focus is on uniting common-sense Democrats, independents, and Republicans behind his campaign."



Read more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/fl-clinton-meek-20101028,0,4797547.story

[DrDan]

1. marco's packing his bags and getting reservations to Wash . . .

[ejpoeta]

2. it's smart to put that crap out there now. because that's all he's going to

be asked about until tuesday. he is on today show this morning and they are leading with this story. and i had to walk out because the sound of sarah palin's voice is like fingernails on chalkboard and i have no interest in hearing the bs they are peddling on that show. the TODAY show. not like i am watching msnbc or cnn.... grr.

[No Elephants]

3. Anyone watch Viera's interview of Meek this am? It boiled down to

Meek's saying something like, "Did he {Clinton} ever say the words You need to drop out?' No." However, Meek did say he and Clinton had talked several times about what would happen if Meek dropped out.


And, for those who study body language, watch Meek blinking during his denials.


Go, Meek!

[groundloop]

4. Dam, that situation is a tough call....

On one hand we've got a pretty good Democrat in the race, but losing. On the other hand is a former republican, now independant, who one could consider a sore loser reminiscent of Lie-berman. On the third hand is the teabagger who we certainly don't want to see on a flight to Washington. Certainly Crist isn't as radical as Rubio, but not nearly as good as Meek. It's a mess, and so far it's looking like Florida will be sending a teabagger to Washington.

[Dr.Phool]

5. Funny. Even Clinton admited it.

When you have to have a press conference like this, you may as well drop out.

[mommalegga]

6. Bah! We dont need another Lieberman! (Crist)

Clinton should be campaiging for Meeks, not pressuring him to quit!

Hell I'd rather see Rubio win than have another backstabber; at least we know what we are getting.

But I guess making sure the establishment white guy wins is more important.. :sarcasm:

[Hestia]

7. I don't think he will be another Lieberman - he seems to be pretty moderate

and could caucus with Dem's on a lot of issues. Sanders has worked out well as an Independent. I saw the Crist interview on Olbermann last night. Of course, I don't live in Fla. and have no idea how he is a governor.

[Ganja Ninja]

9. Republican "moderates" and Democratic "centrists" are the far right's enablers.

We don't need either of them. I'd rather the far right fail on it's own without anybody to share the blame for their disasters.

[Dappleganger]

15. Exactly.

But quite a few people on this forum either don't care or are too short-sighted.

[Dappleganger]

14. You're pulling that out of your ass.

You have absolutely ZERO evidence that Charming Charlie will caucus with the dems.

ZERO.

BTW, I do live and vote here in FL and we have to put up with this guy.

[provis99]

19. Crist wasn't even a moderate by Florida standards until he lost the primary.

Suddenly, he's a "moderate". Nonsense. He's a Republican through and through, in the same category as a Voinovich or Roy Blunt type, just not a crazed teabagger.

[onehandle]

8. President Rubio 2016. Many iterations of the web domain have been bought. nt

[nyc 4 Biden]

12. I agree.

By losing in Florida, nutty Rubio will by the GOP's golden boy in 2012. Not good for us.

[TwentyFive]

10. I voted for Kendrick Meek yesterday.

I posted a few weeks ago that I was voting for Crist.

But once inside the voting booth, I just couldn't vote for an anti-choice, anti-gay republican.

[Dappleganger]

16. Good job.

My daughter and I plan to do the same.

[totodeinhere]

18. Thank you for doing the right thing. n/t

[davidwparker]

11. What are you ... up to 15% now in the polls?

It is good to have a dem run, but it is even better to see the writing on the wall.

[SugarShack]

13. Where are Bill's cajones? why all the "leaky" aides???

[rae_ann-catlady]

17. I am so angry about this

if Bill Clinton wanted to get involved, why didn't he twist Crist's arm and help Mr. Meeks?????

[sabra]

20. Rep. Meeks Tells CNBC: Charlie Crist Asked Me to Quit Florida Senate Race, Not Former President Clin

Source: CNBC

BREAKING NEWS > Rep. Meeks Tells CNBC: Charlie Crist Asked Me to Quit Florida Senate Race, Not Former President Clinton (story developing)

Read more: http://www.cnbc.com/

---

more:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/10/29/earlyshow/main7002676.shtml

<snip>

CBS News has confirmed that Crist - the former Republican governor now running as an independent - approached Clinton's camp offering a deal: convince Meek to drop out of the race and if Cirst won, he would caucus with Democrats, not Republicans, in the Senate.

According to an account from CBS News' Mark Ambinder, who spoke to multiple sources close to the situation, Meek either agreed to a preliminary deal or was very close to do doing so. (Clinton also made sure that the White House, which generally likes Meek, didn't object, sources told Ambinder.)

But a final deal was never reached and instead of letting the diplomacy play out, Crist went on television to trumpet the story.

"Really, it looks like Crist was trying to force Meek out of the race by disclosing the didn't-get-done deal," Ambinder reported.

Meek had strong words about Crist's apparent maneuvering, telling "The Early Show, "Charlie Crist, being a very desperate candidate, feeling that his pathway to victory was me out of this race was calling the Clinton office. I didn't know that." But he said the attempt to squeeze him how was "neither here nor there."

and more:

http://www.cnbc.com/id/39910632

Florida's Democratic Senate candidate Kendrick Meek told CNBC Friday that independent candidate Charlie Crist asked him to drop out of the hotly contested race, not former President Clinton.

"Charlie Crist saw me at a conference on Monday and while we were backstage he asked me to consider dropping out of the race," Meek said in a live interview. "I told 'I'm sorry but I can't do that.' I'm in this race to win. I have just as much chance to win as anyone."

Crist confirmed Friday that he asked Meek to drop out of the race, saying "He (Meek) was considering it." Crist told CNBC Friday that there have been no back room deals with Clinton to get Meek to drop out.

[eleny]

21. wow

[Zephie]

22. That sounds more accurate

[Blasphemer]

23. Now this version of the story makes sense. Crist is shameless

and probably cost himself his only chance at winning. Meek was, of course, not going to drop out without assurances from Crist. Crist was likely going to try to weasel his way out of any agreement. Meanwhile, Rubio gets to be above the fray.

[Dr.Phool]

24. Bullshit.

Clinton admitted it last night. I saw it on the 11:00 Tampa news.

[polmaven]

35. Show me a link to that tape, please...

What I have seen is that President Clinton says he DISCUSSED THE RUMOR with Meek, but did not ask him to drop out. Meek says the same thing. Please show me the tape of Clinton "admitting" he asked Meek to drop out.

[rocktivity]

25. Finally, something that makes sense.

It sounded like a setup straight down the line.

Cutting this kind a deal a week before the election is ridiculous--it's too late to get Meek off the ballot. P.S. What would Meek get out of it besides unemployed?

:headbang:
rocktivity

[SugarShack]

27. a week before the election? people have been voting in fla for a month and early voting for 14 days

[groundloop]

26. It doesn't really matter who did what to whom. Bottom line - teabagger wins

By being in that race Crist has pretty much assured a teabagger will represent Florida. Crist is looking to be every bit as self centered as Joe Lie-berman.

[SugarShack]

28. What right does Crist have, when he has YET to say who he'll caucus with?????

Charlie wants dems to support him...but repubs too. I don't want Charlie caucusing with the repubs and I WANT TO KNOW FIRST!

[rocktivity]

31. DING DING DING! SugarShack, you're our grand prize winner!

What right does Crist have, when he has YET to say who he'll caucus with?...I WANT TO KNOW FIRST!

If I were a Floridian, I'd vote for Meek for that reason alone. (And who's so say he wouldn't change his mind? He did once before.) If I'm doomed to end up with a Republican, I'd prefer a "pure" one to another potential Joe Lieberman.

:headbang:
rocktivity

[Dappleganger]

34. You get it.

Sadly, many on this forum don't. They would rather the entire FL democratic party be relegated to permanent 3rd party status.

[lumberjack_jeff]

29. It's "Meek". n/t

[Aramchek]

30. you should have taken the deal, Kendrick. You could have been a Kingmaker.

Now you're still going to lose, but you ensure that the Teabagger wins.
Great job.

Reminds me of the fools who think voting for a principled 3rd Party candidate does anything but help the Republicans.

[Dappleganger]

33. There is but one fool in this state...

and that's the one who believes that Crist will caucus will the democrats and save them from the teabaggers.

Crist is the 3rd party candidate, NOT Meek.

[Aramchek]

36. do you honestly think Meek can win?? would you rather have Rubio or Crist?

set aside emotions for a second.
Think about this strategically.

[Dappleganger]

38. Strategically

it would be devastating for the democratic candidate to throw in the towel and quit. That would set the party in this state back DECADES and FL is too pivotal of a state to all the party to be weakened any more than it is already. That is the LONG VIEW.

[Aramchek]

39. so you would rather have Rubio. 6 years is a long time.

I hope you understand what you're doing.

[Dappleganger]

40. Far more than you obviously do.

And I didn't have to check my values at the door, either.

[Aramchek]

45. does Rubio represent your values? Because he will represent you if Meek stays in.

People used the same "principles" argument to defend voting for Nader in 2000.
In retrospect, was that righteous or just plain stupid??

[Dappleganger]

46. I didn't vote for Nader in 2000...

I voted for the democrat. ;)

No, Rubio doesn't represent my values but obviously the republicon Crist represents YOURS.

[Aramchek]

47. Crist would be better than Rubio. Can you not at least agree with that?

[Dappleganger]

48. Neither are acceptable.

[Aramchek]

51. say hello to Senator Rubio. I'm sure he'll take care of you.

[rocktivity]

41. Strategically, there's no reason to trust Crist.

At least we know better than to waste time trusting Rubio. And what does Meek get out of it--one of those think tank jobs?

:headbang:
rocktivity

[Iowa]

50. No. No. No...

"Think about this strategically."

This is one reason things are so fucked up in this country. Your job as a voter is not to pretend that you're a brilliant political analyst planning "strategy". Your job is to vote for the person who will best represent your interests. That's clearly the Democrat in this case. Too many allow themselves to be jerked around by polls and pundits. They allow themselves to be duped into voting for someone other than the best person on the ticket. Stop doing that. Do your damned job and nix all the self-absorbed nonsense. Just vote for the best person. If everyone would do this we'd be in a lot better position.

[Dappleganger]

32. Crist will do ANYTHING to get elected.

And this is why I cannot in good conscience ever vote for him (or any other repuke).

[SlimJimmy]

37. But, but, but ...

he's not a repuke, he's an Independent. Just ask him.

[ivar1]

42. Independent my arse

He's as indie as Murkoo would be in AK. Vote for the real dems, not impostors.

[Ter]

43. And yet people will still vote for Crist right here on DU

Stop the nonsense guys. Crist can not win this race, nor does he deserve to. Vote your hearts and vote for Meek!

[Roland99]

44. Already did. Last week. Plus...another thing not in Crist's favor.....

his placement on the ballot is WAAAAY down the list for Senator.

[HockeyMom]

49. Yes, I saw that

I voted today in Golden Gate City Library on my way home from work there in a Title 1 school. I waited on line for over half an hour. I voted for Crist and Sink. Let me explain why.

I would rather have a moderate "Repuke" than a TEA BAGGER. Meeks doesn't stand a ghost of a chance. I will give Crist two MAJOR dumbs up for his voting record, or should I say, he VETO record. He vetoed both those horrible bills eliminating teacher tenured and tying their salaries to FCATS results. I am a ESE TA. The kids I work with, in a TITLE ONE SCHOOL, wouldn't know an FCAT from, to put it bluntly, a piece of toilet paper. Even the "normal" kids in this school have so many home problems why should teachers have to be "blamed" for that? I have also worked with older kids with "behavior problems". Again, you could write a book, or movie, on some of these kids lives. FCATS? Keeping them out of JAIL and in school is a major accomplishment. ENOUGH said.

Crist second plus for me was vetoing that required sonograms for all abortions bill, even for 1st trimester abortions. RUBIO has said he was in favor of BOTH these bills. They would both be LAW now if he had his way.

In a normal two way race against a Rubio and Meeks, hands down I would vote for Meeks. In this race, I would rather have a Crist over a RUBIO at all costs.

BTW, I even considered not voting AT ALL in Florida since I am a life long New Yorker who has only lived here for 3 years. I am moving back to NY at the end of the school year. Even though I really don't care much about Florida, I felt that I had to do something for the community, education field, and women, who and where I work as my parting gift so speak.

I am very, very happy that at least my home state has more sense and it isn't even close in New York.