Charlie Crist took on the Insurance industry as Governor and he did so again this past week. In a press conference on Thursday Crist said,
The choice could not be more clear – A governor who took on the insurance industry and lowered rates so families had more in their checking accounts and at the end of the month? Or a governor who let insurance companies raise rates — over 25 percent so the companies and his campaign have more in the bank?
While many Democratic activists and political operatives connected to the party’s messaging are very forthright and aggressive when putting forward views on social issues (like gun control, gay marriage and anything related to race) they seem less willing to deliver a concise message on economics instead dabbling around the edges of the issue, perhaps in deference to campaign contributors and Tallahassee lobbyists. Not that social issues are not important, but economic issues are if anything more important to the average Floridian.
With Charlie Crist currently the Democratic nominee for Governor things are changing from a messaging standpoint and the building blocks are in place to finally put to rest the type of campaigns that have seen the party accumulate the worst record in state elections of any major political party east of the Mississippi River since 2000. Crist’s candidacy has left many, myself included somewhat uncomfortable given his past record on social and education issues but as I continue to witness the adrift nature of the messaging of some Florida Democrats it becomes more apparent that Crist will be a big part of a solution to problem that hasn’t been fixed for over a decade – Florida Democrats unwillingness to take on tough economic issues in an aggressive statewide manner.
Much of the success of Democrats in the south prior to recent years rested on economic populism. In the late 1800s the populist movement grew in the rural south and midwest claiming William Jennings Bryan as its hero. Bryan, who eventually retired to Florida was nominated three times for President. Woodrow Wilson and William Gibbs McAdoo were classic populists though in today’s terms their views on race, religion and prohibition would deem them arch-conservatives. But the working people of the nation tired of Wall Street, big business and other excesses of capitalism flung to populist Democrats and progressive Republicans like Teddy Roosevelt, Robert LaFollete and George Norris.
While Democrats continued to advocate more liberal economic policies, nationally since the 1960s the party has moved to right on economics (while moving dramatically to the left on social issues). In Florida, the situation is even worse and what is disappointing is in a time of economic despair when the establishment Republicans have failed time and again to deliver on their promises to bring jobs to the state of Florida, the Democrats other than throwing stones have not clearly defined who they are and what they would do on these issues- Charlie Crist is proving he can be the agent of change on this matter, coming to the party with no baggage of his own on these matters and knowing that the corporate class in this state is firmly behind his opponent, Governor Rick Scott.
Crist was considered at one time the savviest politician in the state. In 1998, he wisely challenged unbeatable Democratic Senator Bob Graham but used the race to get his name out. In 2000, he ran for an office that was being abolished within two years, Commissioner of Education in order to further his name ID statewide. It was in that race, while running several counties for the Democratic nominee, George Sheldon, I observed Crist’s unique qualities on the stump and one on one with voters. Previously, I had been highly tainted by the Tallahassee crowd I worked with, many of whom viewed Crist as a perennial lightweight and in some cases a figure of great comedy. That same crowd mocked Crist’s Attorney General credentials noting he had failed the Florida Bar exam multiple times and that the establishment GOP primary candidates (Senator Locke Burt and Solicitor General Tom Warner) were more qualified to be the state’s top law enforcement officer. Crist beat both of them and Democratic nominee Buddy Dyer, handily, demonstrating incredible political skills and an uncanny grasp of voters concerns in the process. Fast forward to 2006, and many Bush loyalists displeased with Crist’s performance as Attorney General,( where he played populist and shifted position frequently) opposed his nomination but he won both the primary and general election with ease. In 2006, as a Democratic tide swept the nation, Crist wisely adopted positions to the left on economics and was elected by a wide margin running as a Republican.
Charlie Crist has been counted out before, yet won. His connection with ordinary Floridians is unmistakable. His understanding of the state as someone who grew up here is also apparent, especially when compared to the incumbent Governor who has spent barely a decade in our state. I hear folks counting him out now in this race – he is never to be underestimated and has regularly overperformed expectations electorally.
I was never in love with the idea of Crist running for Governor as a Democrat, but if he does the right things and begins moving the party towards a more aggressive posture on economics, he would have done his job well, regardless of whether he wins or losses the election.
The Florida Squeeze 
KK, Good Points!
Great well written article!
Hope the nan Rich supporters read and understand!
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No one despises insurance companies as much as I do. It’s a rigged business with enormous profits and no social benefit. Take them out of the healthcare business and we could care for everyone for less money. Hurricane insurance is another scam. They’ve been draining us dry since Wanda. Where is all that money? They make small payouts and keep raising the rates. Then when we need them they plead poverty. If the big one ever hits they will declare bankruptcy. We should self insure. We can make the fortune that they make while lowering rates. If the bid one does hit the Feds would bale us out like they did in Louisiana and New Jersey. The insurance companies are the wealthiest, most profitable and even more corrupt than the bankers and energy companies. If you are looking for someone to lead the charge his name is Will Rankin and he is running for CFO. If you want a strong Attorney General to fight the greedy bastards you couldn’t find a smarter and tougher man than George Sheldon. These are the people and populist causes that will get the vote out but only if Charlie and theFDP wake the hell up.
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Yes, Sheldon is an excellent choice and we’ll be voting for him. BTW–why didn’t charlie tackle this he when he was attorney general (AKA chaingang Charlie)
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Nan Rich would have been better on oat issues but on this issue Crist is the best. I hope he makes this campaign completely about the insurance companies!
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Yes, homeowner rates went sky high under Scott, and the crafty move, announced in TBT last couple of days, to “lower homeowner insurance rates” some walloping 3% should be seen by the voters as yet another tactic by Tricky Rick to do damage control on his collusion with the insurance industry in his rape of their wallets! Don’t let’s be fooled Florida voters!! We MUST elect Crist and Sheldon to be the much-needed counterbalance to the unspeakable anti-middle class antics of the Republican-dominated FL Legislature, after 15 years of their attack on Florida’s middle class/pander to their corporate cronies!
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Why did Crist sign Gellers’s condo bill? Geller was a Dem legislator when he signed it.http://tbo.com/news/politics/florida-condo-owners-say-theyre-under-siege-from-real-estate-investors-20140907/
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Just FYI–Nan Rich supporters DO read and Understand. So, why did Charlie sign this condo bill? Even Jeb Bush vetoed it. We NAN RICH supporters also supported Jim Davis (against Crist); A.Sink (against Scott); Bill McBride (against Bush); Buddy McKay (against Bush); Lawton Chiles (Win)–against Bush…
so don’t get all “hope the NAN RICH supporters understand.” Jeez. We understand very well,”Concerned Democrat.” And we’ve voted Democrat all our lives..but Crist is not a democrat..what about this condo bill?
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Well Klmccook, not only is Charlie a Democrat, but the Democratic nominee, so as a long time supporter of Democratic nominees, it’s time to get on board.
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I may be a Democrat, Susan McGrath, but I will not follow chain-gang Charlie’s train to his Jim Davis rocking chair. Plenty of true democrats to support in the general.
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Crist took lots of dirty $$$ as a republican!
The Ds cannot have it both ways now!
Skip the race or vote for a third party if you are a true progressive.
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This is unwise though I must respect the decision of true progressives (if you are in fact one and not simply an internet troll) to skip the race. I would be lying if I claimed I had always voted a straight ticket without skipping races myself.
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Crist is also good on the environment.
His election will break the back of sugar which is why Progressive Choice, funded by sugar and backed by a legislator or two tied to sugar spent mega cash in the primary to stop him.
It is shameful that Nan Rich whom we all love and respect never called out the sugar whores who opted to support her to stop Crist. We loved Nan but her shotgun alliance with sugar was troubling.
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We try to expose progressive choice over at not getting squeezed. This website was complicit with the leadership of progressive choice which includes consultants, sugar companies and a conservative chamber backed sitting state representative. However that is all water under the bridge now and we move forward united. This is a great article by Kartik.
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Well Charlie has flipped on choice in order to get Planned Parenthood support. So I guess he’s technically in line on social issues now.
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Crist’s economic populism as you call it socialism as I call it is going to cost us dearly in the parts if the state that don’t like socialist government. Namely the 64 counties outside the foreign region of Miami land.
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Hello racist!
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It is this sort of thinking that has left the FDP as a permanent minority in this state.
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Kartik your support of Crist’s socialist policies and rhetoric will spell the death knell for democrats in north Florida. Don’t pontificate about jon urban counties again if you are going to support policies that advantage a few south Florida counties at the cost of the rest of the state. South Florida wants to run the state and they’ve found a willing shill in Crist who will say or do anything to get elected.
Plenty of democrats in the legislature share the views of business and industry on year matters including many from south Florida who scored high on the Florida Chambers scorecard. Jeremy Ring, Katie Edwards and Jared Moskowitz all come to mind. These legislators and several others take a broader view of these matters to benefit the state. Crust by contrast with the backing of this site simply uses it as a political crux to cause trouble.
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I would not put those legislators or the other aligned with the chamber up as models of virtue.
Homeowners insurance impacts everyone by the way as does health care.
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No it doesn’t. It only really impacts south florida which is why Crist needed two south Florida Dems to push the legislation.
As for the dem legislators without them the party couldn’t raise money at all from the lobbyists in the Capitol the people that matter in the city that matters. People from south Florida, no know zero democratic activists think the works revolves around them. It doesn’t. Tallahassee is the capital of the state and the political power and brains are all up here. Since Crist has a habit of pathologically lying he has no friends left on Tallahassee. Therefore he has befriended the class if bitter south florida pols convinced Tallahassee is the enemy.
Do you really think Mark Pafford’s voting record could raise money or win him election outside palm beach Broward or Dade? No.
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Disgusting logic. Tallahassee is not indicative of the rest of the state. The Panhandle is rural, conservative, and southern. I-4 and South Florida are urban, cosmopolitan and vibrant. This is where the Democrats must go to win votes.
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Hey Blue Dog. You need to move to Alabama where you would be more at home.I-4 South to the Keys pays all the taxes in this state.
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You named the three worst democrats in the legislature if you look at the districts they represent and how they vote.
As for Crist of course this is political. Just like Alex Sink’s ill-fated Obamacare attacks.
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The Democrats who vote like Jeremy Ring, Katie Edwards, Jared Moskowitz and others are self-interested only. You named those three but I could name ten more if I were so inclined. They vote AGAINST their constituents interests and with Tallahassee lobbyists who don’t know anything outside a 12 square block area around the capitol complex. Business interests dominate the capital because it is so far from the population centers of the state and so removed form the daily lives of average Floridians. I can tell you if the capital were in Orlando it would not be like this.
I want Crist to win and to shake Tallahassee up once and for all.
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If you believe the “political power” and “brains” are in Tallahassee, why is it almost meaningless politically in statewide elections? If the “brains” are there why does the private sector which you Blue Dog seem to love with your claims of Obama and Crist being socialists not create any jobs where the “brains” are? Why is it every time your corrupt Governor is touting new jobs he’s somewhere else, like Miami or Fort Myers or Tampa. No jobs are created in Tallahassee except political ones!
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Why vote between 2 known liars? Florida, we are fortunate enough not to
be stuck picking one liar or the other this time. We actually have an
alternative. Take advantage of the opportunity. Adrian Wyllie deserves
my vote. He is a honest average Floridian just as you and I , that is
willing to stand up and do something for the interest of all of us here
in Florida. The other candidates both Republican and Democrat are owned
and controlled by special interest, like puppets and will lie to your
face to gain your vote, then continue the same old agenda that we
complain about year after year. Time to get off this merry-go-round,
election after election, thinking it will be any different. Take a
stand, vote for the candidate that loves this state and is willing to
take time out of his life, effort and money to SERVE the people of
Florida and stop voting for these ‘paid for’ career politicians that are
only out for money and fame and have zero interest in us Floridians.
Even if it’s just for honesty alone, vote for Adrian Wyllie instead of
the other two (Scott/Crist) which are proven liars. The choice is yours
and yours alone, if you want the same old corruption and slap in the
face, go ahead and vote for one of the two puppets (Scott/Crist) OR do
what is right for our (yours and your children’s) future and vote for
Adrian Wyllie. Support him by donating to his campaign, spreading the
word and contribute to the super brochure program which I think is very
powerful. Visit his website today
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Thank you Adam Wyllie…oh I mean OrlandoChris for that “Paid Political Advertisement”
Unfortunately the rest of us, unlike you, don’t live in “La La Land” and have to vote to protect the State from the Republican Nazi Control under Rick Scott and I am happily choosing Charlie Crist.
Why?
Because of the exact same reason that Ralph Nader stole enough votes away from people like you to give us “W” for eight miserable years of trillion dollar wars in Iraq and Afganistan and countless American boys and girls who list their lives for what?
All because of a third party candidate like you Willie.
I’m sorry but I’m going to take my chances with my newly minted Democrat named Charlie Crist and hope that he brings more fellow Republicans with him that are tired of the same old right wing, to hell with the State how much can I rape Florida for, attitude.
Like it or not…That’s the REAL choice!
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Great article Kartik. Very well argued narrative here.
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The members mentioned Ring, Moskowitz and Edwards are all from very liberal areas and value access to republicans over the principles of our party. The Chamber and Associated Industries vote sheets do not lie. Democrats need to force our members to stay in line on these issues. Then Scott wouldn’t have had it so easy for so long.
Crist is saying the right things and hopefully he will push Broward legislative Dems in the right direction.
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