Jeb Bush cancels Cabinet meeting for Crist to campaign

[seafan]

Governor cancels Cabinet meeting for Crist

By S.v. DÁte

Palm Beach Post Capital Bureau
Wednesday, October 18, 2006

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Jeb Bush said Tuesday he canceled the Oct. 31 Cabinet meeting at the request of fellow Republican Attorney General Charlie Crist to let him campaign for the Nov. 7 election.
After initially saying he didn't know why the meeting was canceled, Bush acknowledged Crist had made the cancellation request and said it was "a good one."

Crist, exactly 10 minutes after but oblivious to Bush's explanation to reporters, said he didn't know why the meeting was canceled. "I have no idea," he said, attributing the decision to Bush. "The governor is in charge of setting the agenda."
The canceled meeting is the second in as many months. The Aug. 29 meeting, set for the Tuesday prior to the Sept. 5 primary election, was also canceled, allowing Crist and fellow Cabinet member and primary opponent Tom Gallagher to remain on the campaign trail.

"I didn't cancel any of them, for the record," Crist said. "I'm happy to go if they're scheduled. I like to go to my job. I like to go to work. If it's rescheduled, of course I'll go."
Tuesday evening, Crist's spokeswoman in the attorney general's office said the differing versions of how the meeting was canceled were the result of "miscommunication" between Bush's office and Crist's.

Crist's reference to liking his job is a recurring theme his campaign has used against Democratic opponent Jim Davis, the Tampa congressman whose attendance record on votes went from one of the best to the second-worst in the U.S. House after he started running for governor in 2005.
"I don't know what's worse: Charlie lying about canceling a Cabinet meeting or Charlie going to Cabinet meetings for four years and not doing anything to lower property taxes or stand up to insurance companies," said Davis spokesman Josh Earnest, repeating Davis' favorite theme about Crist.

The biweekly Cabinet meetings are a major responsibility for the governor and the three Cabinet members. They are where executive branch matters such as bond finance, insurance regulation and land preservation issues are voted upon.

snip

It must be nice to have friends in high places... right, Charlie? This guy is an embarrassment.


(Emphasis added)

[PurpleChez]

1. If Clinton or Gore had done that....