Prominent South Fla. Black Leaders Support Crist

[seafan]

Prominent South Fla. Black Leaders Support Crist


8:01 pm EDT October 31, 2010
WPBF TV

RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. -- Gov. Charlie Crist worked to make up the difference he's trailing in poll numbers in his race for the Senate this weekend in South Florida.

Crist counted on support from the local African-American community on Sunday, as several of Palm Beach County's prominent black leaders announced they're standing with the governor.

Independent Crist and his Democratic opponent Kendrick Meek stumped for votes at a handful of predominately African-American churches in South Florida on Sunday. In what could be a surprise to many, some leaders are now backing Crist in the three-way race for a very important seat for the state.

As the U.S. Senate campaign barreled into its finals hours, Crist visited a Riviera Beach church Sunday morning and urged the crowd to look beyond party lines.

Mayor Thomas Masters has endorsed Crist, and former Palm Beach County Commissioner Addie Greene said she has been watching the polls closely and she believes Crist is the man to beat Republican Marco Rubio. She said it's not about African-Americans turning their backs on Meek.

"It's not about Kendrick, Rubio or Crist," Greene said. "It's about the president of the United States of America being able to continue to do what he's doing and try to move this country forward."

.....

Also, from the NY Times

By DAMIEN CAVE


October 29, 2010

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Former President Bill Clinton’s political bank shot appears to have hit its mark with many black Democrats who were lined up at the polls here Friday.
They were not voting for the Democratic congressman and neighbor they had long supported — Representative Kendrick B. Meek — but rather for Gov. Charlie Crist, a former Republican who is running for the Senate as an independent.

Many of them, like Kevin Roberson, a postal worker from Miami, said they admired Mr. Meek. But when they heard that the former president had talked to Mr. Meek about dropping out to keep the Republican, Marco Rubio, from winning, they said it was time to be practical.

“A vote for Meek is a wasted vote,” Mr. Roberson said as he waited to cast his ballot.

Others agreed. “I would like for him to win, but you know what? He’s behind,” said Betty Chambers, a hospital secretary. “And if Rubio wins, we’re in trouble.”

.....

Mr. Rubio’s campaign has emphasized that it has a commanding lead in most polls, including a new Mason-Dixon poll released Friday.
But with some polls swinging sharply in recent days — though Mr. Meek has remained a distant third — some Democrats believe that the vote of no-confidence by Mr. Clinton may be enough to alter the outcome.

“It’s closer than we think with Crist,” said Screven Watson, a former executive director of the Florida Democratic Party.

.....

But for many more people in line at the polls in Miami Gardens, fears of a possible Senator Rubio were guiding their decisions. Voters said they waited nearly an hour to cast their ballots because they wanted to stand up against Mr. Rubio’s support for an Arizona-style immigration law, his stated goal of changing Social Security and his association with the Tea Party, which struck many as a mask for ignoring the needs of black Floridians and the less fortunate.

“When I hear Rubio speak, it’s just frightening,” said Stephanie Moore, 49, a freelance consultant who said she would vote for Mr. Crist. “That whole Tea Party movement — it’s going to set black folks back by 40 years.”

It is time for all Floridians to come together to say NO to Marco Rubio.


We the people are the last fail-safe to protect Florida from this nest of radicals populated and groomed for higher office by Jeb Bush and the torrent of unlimited, shadowy money sources.


It is in our hands now.

[babylonsister]

1. Good. Let's make this at least an Indie seat and get rid of Rubio.

Dems have always had to compromise, now seems like a time to do it again.

And ftr, my dad, a liberal, lives in FL. He voted for Crist because Dad thought he was a good gov, even as a rethug.

So maybe it's time we get with the program and try to win this seat.

I'm sorry, Kendrick Meek, but I think looking at the bigger picture isn't a bad thing.

[KaryninMiami]

4. I voted for Crist too. Not because he was a good Gov. but because there was no choice

The only hope- and it's slight of beating Rubio is with a Crist win. I felt terrible voting for him- his only saving grace frankly, is that Robert Wexler supports him and I love Wexler. But overall, I don't trust Crist - but the reality is Meek cannot win. Sadly chances are pretty high that none of it matters and Rubio is going to get in anyway. Most of my friends also all progressive Dems, are voting for Crist as well.

[BeFree]

6. Crist: worse than Rubio

Why? Because Crist is too slick. He's been in power too long. He has too many crooked friends.

Rubio: a cheap suit that will rapidly fall apart under the pressure of DC. His mentors - bushco- are hated by nearly everyone.

Rubio may well win, but his damage will be minimal. A one termer.
Crist if he won might well serve forever never giving up the seat.

And if the dems would quit dividing the party and vote Meek, Meek could well beat Crist. And that would be great news: Meek beating the gov of Florida!!

[babylonsister]

7. You are delusional. Meek has never lead in the polls, he's

been down consistently.

[BeFree]

8. If you believe the polls

If I am delusional it is my delusion that the Democratic party would stand behind its candidate. That since Meek is the most liberal, and progressive, and anti-war candidate Florida ever had the chance to send the DC, that the party would say: Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.

Deluded to think that principles mean the most, and that the principle thing to do is vote for and support the candidate that is best for Florida.

Yep, I expect too much, maybe I am delusional to expect the party to do the right thing.

Thanks so much for your understanding.

[babylonsister]

9. Clinton has been standing by Meek; haven't you been paying

attention? He's a powerful force, but he can't even help. Meek has been consistently down; blame who you want. Principles are important; uniting against a common cause might be also, and that would be Rubio.

Whatever.

[BeFree]

11. Oh, I forgot

Unrec'ed.

[babylonsister]

13. See post #10 to educate yourself, but I suspect you might not

want to. :(

[BeFree]

14. So?

He is a republican. So he made a few good moves. Has Florida really gotten better because of crist? No.

You can boonshwaggle all you want, but crist is going down and rubio will follow. In fact, rubio should be indicted soon enough and if Meek stays in, Sink may be gov and guess who gets to appoint a new senator?

A long range, stick with the really good guys. and keep working, is the best operation.

Thank you, Mr. Meek, for standing tall against both rubio and crist, the two lousy ass republicans.

We need more Dems like Meek and less of the party hacks who desert us at every chance.

[Edweird]

16. It's funny watching non-residents try to browbeat residents.

It's also telling that you have your residence hidden. I'd bet money that where you live is facing a similar or worse circumstance.

"Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt." - Unknown

If you're really SO CONCERNED about elections in Florida then you need to pack up the homestead and come on down. Then you'll have the right to cast your very own ballot instead of attempting to do so vicariously.

[virtualobserver]

2. pragmatic.... reminds me of the Presidential Primaries

Obama had to prove he could win. Unfortunaely for Meek, he only had polls.
Obama could prove himself in early primaries.

[political_Dem]

3. All I can say is that I wish the Floridians good luck on Election Tuesday.

Crist is a wolf in sheep's clothing and he's gotten entrance into the hen house while he licks his chops. :(

It's a lose-lose situation either way you look at it.

[seafan]

10. Thanks for your good wishes.

I must, however, respectfully disagree with your assessment of Governor Crist.



Crist has actually been a very decent Governor, evolving toward a more populist/progressive position over time, with two moderate Supreme Court picks;

his veto of the horrendous merit pay bill for teachers;

his veto of the GOPers' legislative slush fund bill;

his refusal when he was Attorney General in 2003 to trample on the privacy rights of Terri Schiavo in the feeding tube case (unlike Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush);

his veto of legislation that would force women to submit to and pay for an ultrasound before undergoing an abortion;

he accepted stimulus money to avoid large layoffs and spending cuts, while the Republicans bad-mouthed Obama and took the money anyway;

he stood up for consumers against big utility companies and insurance companies who wanted unfettered advantages to raise rates;

he extended voting hours in Election 2008 so everyone would have a chance to get to the polls to vote;

he began restoring felons' civil rights, including voting rights, after taking office;

he has a good environmental record and tried to call a special legislative session in July to place an amendment on the ballot for voters to decide whether they would allow offshore drilling, but the Republicans laughed in his face and went home after holding a minutes-long gavel-in-gavel-out *session*---- (Nope, no amendment for the voters with these cretins);



And, by the way, the GOP-controlled Legislature is planning a special session just after the election to see if they have enough votes to override Crist's vetoes of their pet legislation.

They wouldn't hear of a special session about the offshore oil catastrophe affecting Florida, but they wasted no time getting this one on the docket, to undo actions that Governor Crist has taken for the people.


This radical GOP wants nothing more than to burn Governor Crist at the stake for defying their rigid dogma.


It is very clear who needs to be removed from power.




Again, thanks for your good wishes for Tuesday. It's in our hands now.

[babylonsister]

12. seafan, class act, as usual. Thank you. nt

[political_Dem]

15. I accept your disagreement.

Then, the best thing to do is to watch Crist like a hawk as one would Lieberman. In Congress, they will both be in the postion to play both sides against the middle. I certainly hope you are right that Mr. Crist will embrace his better angels and do the right thing while in Washington. However, I don't share your enthusiasm for the man. After all, Mr. Lieberman hasn't and remains a thorn in the side of the Democratic party. Crist will be another.

On the whole, Mr. Meek is the true loser in this race. He was not only betrayed by his party in a state that desperately needs to turn blue; he was thrown under the bus by people expected to share his ideals. They chose to support the "lesser of two evils" instead of letting the vote split the GOP.

The only solution in light of this is to take the DNC back so that no other candidate suffers the same lack of support as what happened in this race.


Again, I thank you for your civility in this exchange.

[ddeclue]

5. Crist is NOT to be trusted. My vote has ALREADY been cast for MEEK!

MEEK is the ONLY DEMOCRAT in this race. Crist would sell his dog for a vote.