Some people think former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is a flip-flopper. We prefer to think of him as versatile. In his first-ever interview with the LGBT press, Crist, who has morphed into a Democrat in his bid to return to the governor’s office, proclaims he just loves the LGBT community. As for past opposition to all things gay, Crist has this to say to WatermarkOnline: “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I did that. It was a mistake. I was wrong. Please forgive me.”
Also: “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
And: “I’m sorry I did. I made a mistake. I’m not perfect… please don’t hold me to that standard. And I’m sincerely sorry.”
Plus: “It was wrong. That’s what I’m telling you. And I’m sorry.”
The question is whether seven “sorrys” is enough to convince people that Crist has change for reasons other than political expediency. Crist’s track record includes calling for a constitutional amendment to ban marriage equality, defending the state’s ban on gay adoption, and opposing the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. All of these stands were in a futile quest to convince conservative Republicans that he was really one of them, particularly when he was seeking the GOP Senate nomination in 2010. (He still lost to Marco Rubio, twice: in the primary and when Crist ran as an independent in the general election.) It didn’t help that Crist was dogged by rumors that he was gay.
Having been shunned by the Republicans, Crist is now a Democrat, and he is doing his best to convince everyone that he not only supports all the party positions, like marriage equality, but that he was just a beknighted fool in the past.
“As a Republican, on social issues I always felt I was a round peg in a square hole,” Crist said in the interview. “I just didn’t fit. But I tried, until I couldn’t do it any more… until I had to say, ‘Enough is enough.’”
Actually, it was the voters who said that.
As for the new, more affirming Charlie, he’s got an announcement to make: “You get to a point in your life where you say, ‘I’m just going to tell it,”’ And here I am… I’m telling it. And I don’t care what anyone thinks.”
What’s the announcement? “I love everyone.”
Of course, that’s not what we’ve heard.
gwydion
Wow.. he took that d*ck out of his mouth long enough to say all that? he’s gay. Period. He’s a politician. Unless he comes out, he doesn’t get my Florida vote.
tardis
“Don’t hold me to a standard.”
Pft, this coming from a politician. Scary.
LubbockGayMale
‘Please, don’t remember what I’ve said in the past, but trust what I’m saying NOW’…. somehow, I don’t think we will, Charlie. ‘Sorry, Charlie’
Cam
Lets also call out the elephant in the room.
Crist is also a closet case.
TampaBayTed
You mean you’d rather throw your vote away on Skeletor Scott? I don’t care what Charlie’s past sins have been, at least he’s making up for it now.
DShucking
Now this is a guy who deserves to be outed….if he’s gay, that is.
LadyL
Oh, man… what to do with politicians like Charlie Crist.
Sure his mea culpas are political expediency. But I think it’s become deeply personal too. He’s a closet case who has grown sick and tired of having to do the “Seriously, I’m not queer” tap dance to win elections and placate the party police.
I’m with Cam and gwydion–if Crist can summon the backbone to come out, I’ll take his pleas for forgiveness seriously and support him.
DShucking
Wait, I think I’m confusing him for another politician. I thought he was the one who had a girlfriend for show during a campaign and then when the election was over he dumped her.
DShucking
No I’m not. The documentary was called Outrage. Okay. Better now.
Sukhrajah
@TampaBayTed: Hold it right there young man! Let’s get this straight – the current governor, the Dark Lord Voldemort – needs to go, and I most certainly will vote to have him out of office – but if you believe that Good Ol’ Charlie can atone for the lives that he has ruined not only as a corrupt politician (though, isn’t ‘corrupt’ redundant?), a closeted man, and as a Republican – long enough to secure any sort the Dem. nomination for the spot – then you have a lot less faith in the system than I do. I know, this is Florida – where logic comes to die – but there certainly must be other Dem. candidates that are more attractive than carpet-tea-bagging Charlie.
I would not vote for Voldemort, but I can’t vote for Crist.
Sukhrajah
@DShucking: -Eh em, a Fiance! Yes, Sir, he put a ring on it! And then he married her… Yes, Ladies – Charlie Crist is a married man!
balehead
What a sociopathic suck up…..
DShucking
@Sukhrajah: Have you seen the documentary?
cmhbuck
Crist doesn’t get a reprieve from me.
Not because I don’t think he’s sorry or he’s changed.
But, because he was incapable of seeing the reason of gay rights, as well as the human suffering inflicted on people by the state.
franiel32
I don’t trust him as a gay advocate.
But he was and would be a more capable governor than Rick Scott.
Vote for him in November Floridians: if you can keep your lunch down.