As the debate continues about what motivated Governor Crist’s switch of parties, I stumbled upon this letter in my files from August 20th 2009. This was seven months after President Obama was sworn in as President and several months after the infamous hug which would haunt Crist among Republican activists going forward. Recall at the time Governor Crist had decided to seek Mel Martinez’s open US Senate seat as a Republican. Former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio was running an insurgent campaign backed by South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint who was then the leader of the conservative wing of the Republican Conference in the US Senate. Crist at the time was backed by Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) the head of the NRSC and most establishment DC and Florida Republicans.
The letter is below:
Dear Republican Leaders:
As we approach the RPOF Quarterly Meeting and the much anticipated Drive the Discussion Exchange and Statesman’s Dinner, I wish to thank each of you for your service to our Party. Never before have we as Republicans had a greater opportunity to distinguish between our beliefs in government’s role in our individual lives, from the beliefs of the Democrats. The decisions made by President Obama, Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi have put our nation on a path that will have long lasting economic and social repercussions for generations to come.
As a lifelong Republican, I believe that government’s role must be limited, so as Governor, I fight for the principles which our Party has long stood upon – less government, less taxes and more freedom. I have demonstrated my commitment to our Party and to all Floridians by lowering property taxes by an estimated $25 billion over five years. The single largest tax cut in Florida history.
I have cut state spending by over $7 billion and utilized my veto pen to eliminate millions of dollars in wasteful spending. This philosophy in governing is not only at the core of the Republican Party’s beliefs, but has also been noted by the CATO Institute, in which I had the honor of being recognized as the most fiscally conservative Governor in the nation.
Throughout Florida, we continue to focus on and improve Florida’s education system. My administration has also enhanced our Explore Adoption program, which has provided approximately 10,500 foster children with permanent, loving homes.
As Governor, I have a responsibility to all Floridians, but my commitment to the values and principles of the Republican Party will always be the foundation on which my decisions are based. Now more than ever, our Party must be unified. If we are to grow and win elections, working together is imperative. The Party of Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan has always believed that we must be inclusive. As we face our nation’s current challenges, we must encourage participation by all who have a common goal of making the Republican Party stronger.
Leave your thoughts in the comments section. As always comments are held for moderation and approval before being posted.
The Florida Squeeze 
Well, obviously, at a certain point Crist realized that his party was NOT being inclusive, was in fact becoming less and less inclusive; in his evolution, noting his party’s buffoonish choice of presidential and off-the-reservation Teapartyish VEEP choice by McCain, (and their subsequent loss) who can blame him for bailing on the Gawd Offal Party? He witnessed firsthand as governor how his mean-spirited legislature time after time hurt ordinary Floridians, and he ultimately rejected the party! I say, bully for you Mr. Crist. You were not too proud to leave this caricature of a Party behind!!
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Welcome to the church sinner Charlie. Now sit down and try and learn somethings before you start preaching to lifelong DEMOCRATS.
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Comments are not necessary. I’ll take the man at his words..
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Kartik flip flops on Crist again. One positive story one negative.
Which is it dude?
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We are just trying to be analytical here and talk about issues and policies.
The flip flopping is a Crist trait by the way.
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This column is getting to be the best tool Rick Scott has going……nothing like pushing the wedge into the minds of Democrat voters. Let’s all rush to nominate an unknown, unfunded former state senator as our candidate. Ok Charlie Crist was once a Republican and he’s changed positions on a number of issues.,,,,,,,,so you’d rather go down waving the ideological purity flag and see Rick Scott as Governor for another four years?
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iN THIS PARTY WE DON’T ANOINT OUR CANDIDATES. tHEY NEED TO EARN THE NOMINATION..
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Who cares.
Charlie said what he needed to back then to survive.
He has more real democrats than Nan Rich and her lily white supporters base and republican money supplemented by big business via progressive choice.
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Senator Dwight Bullard a leading African-American is supporting Nan Rich so your description is a bit off.
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She also has Hillary Clinton…
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Hillary is great! And, she actually has a chance (a very good one) of winning. In infamous hug picture was probably for consolation.
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they also had the pizza man , let’s not get color into this lilly white Nan has noting on Charlie
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You people are so gullible. Oh he’s one if us now yadi ya. We have to beat Scott blah blah.
Listen to yourselves!
Talk about not even being remotely consistent! Progressives one day, wanna be republican lutes the next.
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Always consistent in our advocacy of the progressive side of the issues. “Consistency” when it comes to analyzing candidates is called “being in the tank.” That the Nan people think we’re for Charlie and vice versa reassures me we’re occupying the correct place.
You’d have to really scrape the bottom of the barrel, Rebecca, to put together some scraps from our site that make us out to be “Republican lites.” We are probably the most liberal blog that focuses on Florida state politics.
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Sorry it wasn’t directed at you but at some of those that leave comments here.
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Crist is going to get the **** best out if him between now and the election.
Count on it.
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It is absolutely incredible how stupid some people are.
If it is Charlie against Scott yes we will all back Charlie. But to simply ram him down the throats of all of us when he’s been diametrically opposed to what we believe and for all these years just shows me how ethically bankrupt and desperate most of you people are.
This letter could not be clearer. Charlie was a conservative Republican. Not a moderate Republican a conservative one. He really looks moderate only in comparison to Scott or Jeb Bush.
The failure of the Florida Democratic Party to either support another candidate or get another candidate in the race or at least take a hands-off approach towards his primary is the most upsetting aspect of everything.
I have absolutely no respect for our party anymore and have stopped donating directly to the party. I will need to give the individual candidates from here on out. Some of you can call me names say I’m helping the Republicans and all of that. I don’t care. I’ve donated more than my fair share to this party in the past and honestly I’m not doing it anymore.
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This letter is dynamite, lightning in a bottle if Nan Rich or any if her benefactors had a clue on how to use it.
Unfortunately they have no idea. One of the most inept campaigns on record.
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True. I really like her, but her advisors and on-line supporters (including here) are mostly clueless putzs. (New York word!)
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Bottom Line:
Charlie Crist is highly electable. A sure chance of a “win” in the “D” column.
In this political scenario, we (Democrats) are starving…
and a sure so-so bowl of stew (Crist) is a better choice than a far maybe filet Mignon (Rich)
I’ll fill up on stew….. It may not be steak but it’s much better than vomit (Rick Scott)
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If ALL Florida Democrats VOTE for NAN RICH in the PRIMARY, she will WIN IT. If ALL Florida Democrats VOTE for NAN RICH in the GENERAL ELECTION, she will WIN IT. That’s a WIN-WIN for Florida Democrats AND the State of Florida.
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I would be happy if that really happened, but it won’t. They won’t, so she won’t. So go with the next best (and more realistic) scenario. Crist beats Nan (by a lot) and Scott (by a little). Then the Nan fesishists can call everyone “non-true Democrats” and cry in their oatmeal. Much more likely outcome, and still satisfying.
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Crist is obviously a purely opportunistic career politician but I would vote him over Scott. Our two party system is distorted and corrupt with Crist as a glaring example. I will also vote for Rich in the primary, not that I think she has a better chance (while the polls are moving in her favor while Crist is actually losing ground to Scott), but because Nelson isn’t a choice,yet.
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I gurantee you Charlie will crash and burn before he can win the primaries. He can’t help it… there’s just too many scandals with him. Nan Rich is the All-American mother and grandmother. She has a great prescence and she will pull South Florida (her home turf) so I wouldn’t write her off just yet. I’ll be voting for Nan in both elections. I’m nt choosing between 2 conservative candidates.
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I don’t know much about Nans policy must do some homework , in order for me to pick a winner in my mind , What i do know is we need to Vote slick Rick out … that’s for sure …
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