Shades of Red

Crist-Rubio debate highlights rough and tumble race

By: Kenric Ward | Posted: March 28, 2010 11:57 AM

Around the State

Charlie Crist, Marco Rubio Debate on Fox (Photo: Fox News Sunday/Freddie Lee)

Charlie Crist and Marco Rubio tangled before a national audience on "Fox News Sunday," and Republicans say the debate reinforced "defining differences" between the U.S. Senate candidates.

It also raised concerns among state party leaders.

In a statement released minutes after the debate, Republican Party of Florida Chairman John Thrasher said:

“While I appreciate our candidates’ passion for this race and strong desire to serve, I was disappointed in some instances when they appeared to be moving away from the issues and utilizing personal attacks, which I don’t believe benefit the people of Florida, or our party.

"I am looking forward to the next opportunity to hear more about the records and vision of Governor Crist and Speaker Rubio, and hope that moving forward, our candidates concentrate solely on discussing the issues that are important to the voters of our state,” said Thrasher, a state senator who lives in St. Augustine but maintains his district office in Jacksonville.

Al Cardenas, a former state Republican Party chairman who supports Crist, said there were "no surprises" in the debate -- though he worried that the fractious primary fight could be counterproductive.

"Clearly, (there were) two distinct choices by two quality, top-tier candidates who, for the good of the order (GOP), should not be running against each other."

Cardenas applauded Crist because "he didn't modify his points of view to suit the audience. That will work well for him in the long run."

But former Florida Senate President Tom Lee said the Sunday showdown "revealed a solutions-oriented campaign vs. a campaign that doesn't want to have a serious debate.

"Clearly, (Crist) doesn't want to have a deep intellectual conversation about his record. But his personal attacks didn't get any traction," said Lee, who supports Rubio.

Cardenas defended the governor, saying, "In spite of spending a significant portion of his time allotment taking on the speaker's ethics record, he came across as a likable candidate and put an end to the 'running as an independent' rumor."

Crist repeatedly accused Rubio of working as a "lobbyist" while serving as speaker of the Florida House. The governor also charged the Miami lawyer with utilizing a "$600,000 slush fund," hammering away at Rubio's use of party credit cards and campaign committees.

"Whose interest was he really looking out for?" Crist asked.

Cardenas noted that "the speaker decided to brush off the ethics attacks rather than to respond to them."

"This is probably best in front of a Fox audience. I don't know if it will work as well while debating on other networks."

The candidates also sparred on taxes, with Crist taking heat for signing a 2009 state budget containing $2.2 billion in new taxes and fees. Rubio was questioned for supporting a tax shift that would raise sales taxes in a "swap" with property taxes.

Crist defended his record by noting that the conservative Cato Institute once anointed him the "most fiscally conservative governor" -- a title he no longer holds.

"A lot of liberties were taken with the truth. And in a 40-minute debate, there's insufficient time to get to the bottom of the story," Lee said.

When moderator Chris Wallace asked Crist if he would have voted for the stimulus package, the governor said yes. That would have made him one of just four GOP senators to support it.

Tags: Al Cardenas, Charlie Crist, Chris Wallace, Grover Norquist, Jim DeMint, John McCain, John Thrasher, Kendrick Meek, Lindsey Graham, Marco Rubio, News, Republican Party of Florida, Tea Party, Tom Lee

Comments (4)

kebi

4:36AM OCT 18TH 2011

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LDouglas

8:49PM MAR 28TH 2010

"The difference in the candidates could not be more clear and is fundamental to understanding and promoting free markets," added Hoyt, who co-hosts the 'Tea Party Patriots Live" radio show from Central Florida."

There's not a Republican in the Florida Senate that understands that either so I hope to hear more from the Tea Party about it. While two Florida Senators didn't vote, not a one voted against the Stimulus bill for Florida dubbed the jobs bill (SB 1752).

I think it's a good thing Governor Crist said he would have voted for President Obama's stimulus otherwise he would have to veto Florida's stimulus or lest be called a hypocrite by the Democrats.

Carson

1:24PM MAR 28TH 2010

I feel the reason behind most of our troubles and the need for TEA Parties is the government's ability to print up whatever money it wants to get their way.

Maybe this will help make the danger of fiat money clear.

Imagine you and me are setting across from each other. We create enough money to represent all of the world's wealth. Each one of us has one SUPER Dollar in front of him.

You own half of everything and so do I.

I'm the government though. I get bribed into creating a Central Bank.

You're not doing what I want you to be doing so I print up myself eight more SUPER Dollars to manipulate you with.

All of a sudden your SUPER Dollar only represents one tenth of the wealth of the world!

That isn't the only thing though. You need to get busy and get to work because YOU'VE BEEN STIFFED with the bill for the money I PRINTED UP to get YOU TO DO what I WANTED.

That to me represents what has been happening to the economy, and us, and why so many of our occupations just can't keep up with the fake money presses.

They have been beating us with our own stick!!!!1

GOP

8:10PM MAR 28TH 2010

Rubio clearly won hands down. He talked about issues. Crist just tried to divert attention from his support for Obama.