DNC's McCain Watch: The Crist Edition

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following was released
today by the Democratic National Committee:
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has consistently supported President Bush,
playing follow the leader on the economy at a high cost to Floridians. Since
2007, Crist has backed more of the same failed Bush-McCain economic policies
in Florida that have already driven the American economy into a recession.
Crist has a long-standing relationship with Bush. In 2000, during Bush's
presidential campaign, Crist and Bush were already close enough for Bush to
bestow a nickname on Crist, "Chalkboard Charlie." It's no surprise that Crist
has leaped to Bush's defense, saying, "I'm not concerned with being linked
with him at all ... I'm proud of my president."
After a year of Crist's Bush-McCain economic policies, Florida now faces a
$2 billion budget shortfall. For the first time since 1971, Florida is
suffering from back-to-back revenue declines. But instead of changing course,
Crist has turned to the state budget stabilization fund, taking $700 million
to compensate for the failure of his Crist-Bush-McCain economic policies.
If McCain is looking for a running mate whose loyalty to Bush, and
especially to Bush's irresponsible, failed economic policies, rivals his own,
he can't do better than Crist - Florida has a $2 billion budget shortfall to
prove it. McCain-Crist is just Bush-Cheney with a Sunshine State twist.
CRIST AS A BUSH SUPPORTER
Crist: Not Concerned About Being Linked to Bush; Proud of Bush. "Crist
said he has no reservations about standing side-by-side with a president whose
popularity has slipped substantially because of the growing public opposition
to the war in Iraq ... 'I'm not concerned with being linked with him at all,'
Crist said. 'I'm proud of my president. I'm proud of the commander in chief.'"
[St. Petersburg Times, 9/18/06]
George Bush Dubbed Crist "Chalkboard Charlie." In October 2000,
presidential candidate George W. Bush named Republican Education commissioner
Candidate Charlie Crist, "Chalkboard Charlie." According to the article, "Bush
likes giving legislators and reporters nicknames. During his bus ride from
Daytona Beach to the Orlando area Wednesday, he told Crist he had heard his
nickname [Chain Gang Charlie] and offered to change it. 'I'm going to give you
a new one,' Crist said the Texas governor told him. The presidential candidate
suggested 'Chalkboard Charlie.' Crist liked it and so did Gov. Jeb Bush, the
Texas governor's younger brother. So the Texas governor unveiled it at the
fairgrounds to a cheering crowd." Crist acknowledged he liked it better than
Chain Gang Charlie. [St. Petersburg Times, 10/27/2000]
MORE OF THE SAME FAILED ECONOMIC POLICIES
Under Crist, Florida Is Suffering From First Back to Back Revenue Decline
Since '71. "Florida is staring into what some state officials all an uncharted
budget chasm. The state is weathering its first back-to-back annual revenue
declines since at least 1971." [Orlando Sentinel, 2/1/08]
State Tax Collection Fell Short $263.9 Million Over Three Months This
Year; Expected Worsen. "State tax collections fell a combined $263.9 million
below anticipated levels in March, April and May. June figures are expected to
be about $100 million short as the state sinks into recession, economists
said." [Orlando Sentinel, 7/6/08]
Florida Is Facing $2 Billion Shortfall from First Year of Crist
administration. Florida is facing a $2 billion dollar short fall from '07.
[Tallahassee Democrat, 2/1/08]
Crist Using Half of the State Budget Stabilization Fund to Patch Hole in
Current Budget. "Seeking to avoid a grim, budget-cutting session while
they're running for re-election, legislators earlier this year gave Crist
authority to use half of the state's budfund -- or about $700 million -- to
patch holes in the 2008-09 spending plan." [Orlando Sentinel, 7/6/08]
SOURCE Democratic National Committee

Damien LaVera or Rebecca Buckwalter-Poza, +1-202-863-8148, both of the
Democratic National Committee