New Video: What They Are Saying About Charlie Crist's Political Move

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Politically-motivated call for photo-op special session reveals a history of conveniently wavering policy positions, costs taxpayers $120,000

Tallahassee–The Republican Party of Florida today commented on Governor Crist’s politically-motivated call for a photo-op special session and his sudden opposition to offshore drilling, right after he supported it, but since he previously opposed it.

“In a time when Floridians are looking for answers and leadership from the Governor, Charlie Crist has instead turned to a shameless and expensive election year public relations stunt by calling for a special session to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot that already exists in Florida law,” said RPOF Executive Director Ronnie Whitaker.

“The Governor’s self-serving actions are so transparent that he should strongly consider funding this $120,000 campaign event from his U.S. Senate coffer, rather than expecting Florida taxpayers to foot the bill,” continued Whitaker.

Click here to see a new web video detailing what Republicans and Democrats alike are saying about Charlie Crist’s “photo-op” special session. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Tbl3kAtaos

Flip-Flop and Flip Again: A History of Charlie Crist’s Politically Convenient Opposition, Then Support, Folllowed by Opposition to Offshore Drilling
Before 2008, Charlie Crist opposed drilling off of Florida’s coast. "I'm opposed to offshore oil drilling," Crist said in a telephone interview. "That looks like offshore oil drilling. ... I'm a Gulf Coast guy and I'm against it." (AP, “Offshore drilling compromise may have election ramifications” November 2, 2005)

But then, while auditioning to be John McCain’s running mate, Charlie Crist swiftly adjusted his position to favor offshore drilling. Crist likes McCain's drilling plan: Florida Gov. Charlie Crist tells Buzz that he loves Sen. John McCain's idea to lift the federal moratorium on off-shore drilling and let individual states decide whether to allow oil and gas exploration. He also said he wouldn't rule out letting Florida opt to drill off-shore. (St. Petersburg Times, 6/16/08)

After years of standing against offshore drilling, he jumped on the drilling bandwagon as soon as McCain did. Later he said he supports additional drilling only if it is "far enough, safe enough and clean enough," but he's made no effort to define what that means. (Tampa Tribune, September 7, 2008)

Next in 2009, Crist said he was intrigued by a legislative proposal to allow the Florida Cabinet to explore offshore drilling.
Gov. Charlie Crist said he was still reviewing the proposal, but was "intrigued by the potential to extract oil "in a way that is safe, in a way that is clean and in a way that generates a lot of revenue for the state of Florida." (The Bradenton Herald, April 22, 2009)

But suddenly, on the same day a new poll shows him losing the U.S Senate race to Republican Marco Rubio, Crist unilaterally calls for a photo-op special session for an offshore drilling ban that already exists in Florida law. Florida Gov. Crist Demands Constitutional Amendment For Offshore Drilling Law That’s Already On The Books: Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is demanding an end to all oil exploration off his state’s coast and reinforcing his call for an offshore drilling ban — a law the legislature has already put in place.…But Florida already has a ban on offshore drilling in state waters within 10 miles off the coast, a review of current law shows. Federal law also restricts drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico near Florida. (The Daily Caller, 6/30/2010)

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