When I first heard that Florida Governor Charlie Crist was going to marry a woman I actually laughed out loud. Who is he kidding? When Crist stepped onto the national stage while running for governor a couple years ago I think most ‘gaydars’ around the nation went BING. So all I could think about when hearing of his wedding plans was the extent that some will go to gain power. Even to the point of denying who they truly are as a person. That type of personality is not what we need in the White House, or anywhere near it.
Most in Wisconsin who were tuned in years ago will recall the Madison gay pol who thought Congress was within grasp if he could just marry a woman. That stuff never works. And shouldn’t. It was for his act of deception, and this form of self-loathing, that I cast my primary vote for his opponent. So why would Crist think that his chances among the GOP to be John McCain’s VP would be enhanced if he married a woman? If Crist is gay that is fine. What is not fine is that those who do not live authentically do stupid things as a cover, such as work to ban gay marriage, and give support to conservative judges who work against gay civil rights.
Andrew Sullivan on Atlantic.com writes the following. And the Broward-Palm Beach Times adds more. Segments from each source below.
It’s funny to watch the partisan right out-do each other to declare Obama a cynic while Charlie Crist gets engaged to a woman at the height of McCain’s veep search. For the record, from the Broward-Palm Beach New Times:
The rumors about Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and the Green Iguana just wouldn’t go away. The story goes that the Florida governor frequented the Green Iguana, a bar in Tampa, back in the early 1990s when he was just starting his political career. He was less careful back then, people say, and during his partying at the Green Iguana, he was openly gay.
When I got Rick Calderoni, the bar’s well-known owner, on the phone, I expected him to stonewall me about it.
He didn’t.
Calderoni, who is gay, confirmed that Crist came into his bar quite often and that the two of them became friends.
Getting to the point, I asked him if he knew Crist to be gay.
“Yes,” he answered bluntly. “I just wish he would come out and admit it. That would be a great thing if he did.”
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The topic may soon, however, get some national play. After helping to deliver Florida in the GOP primary, Crist is widely believed to be on the short list to become John McCain’s nominee for vice president.
If he were to be chosen, imagine how interesting this presidential election would be. Not only would the American people be asked to vote for the first black president or female commander in chief, but, at least in terms of subtext, also the first gay vice president.
Are they ready for it? Do they even care?
Most voters will tell you they don’t, that they couldn’t care less about anyone’s sexuality. Of course, they aren’t telling the truth. Human nature demands that they at least be curious. But, absent a Jim McGreevy-/Mark Foley-/Larry Craig-type scandal, I don’t think the issue would change an election. If anything, the buzz would only bring more intrigue to the candidate and possibly add to his support. Being boring is a lot bigger political sin than having sexual secrets in your closet. Americans knew full well that Bill Clinton was a poonhound before they elected him, didn’t they?
Most Floridians had probably at least heard the rumors about Crist before they elected him governor. During the election, I reported about two male GOP staffers’ boasts of having had affairs with Crist when he was running for governor in 2006. The stories burned across the internet and got a bit of play in the mainstream press. Crist won in a landslide anyway. Republicans homophobic? Not in Florida.
If McCain chooses Crist, it would be interesting to see how the voracious national press (as opposed to cautious Florida newspapers) would handle the issue. Would the New York Times put a small team of reporters on the story in an effort to dig up the truth?
Technorati Tags: CharlieCrist, Flordia, Republicans, GayRights, GayMarriage, Eelction08, JohnMcCain
CAFFEINATED POLITICS 
Great post.
When I heard that yesterday about Crist, it also made me laugh. And if McCain does pick him as Veep, the whole thing will backfire. If McCain wants to pull Democratic votes, Crist should join the ticket as openly gay. LOL.
According to Chris Kelly at the Huffington Post:
Carole Rome, the woman to whom Florida vice presidential hopeful Governor Charlie Crist conveniently just got engaged after 30 years of being single, “inherited – and runs — one of America’s oldest Halloween costume companies. The woman marrying the gayish governor from the sultry southern state actually makes beards.”
If McCain has half a brain, there should only be two men at the top of his list:
1) Mitt Romney
2) Colin Powell
Mitt Romney is going to be the VP candidate. Everyone and his mama already knows this.
Looking back a year and a half later at this post and boy was I off….
Sarah Palin at the time was like a 150 to 1 shot of becoming the VP candidate.
Colin Powell turned out to be a RINO for all intents and purposes.
Still believe McCain would have had a half a chance with Romney.
But, what do I know?
Ferrell,
Well I was way wrong on the surge in Iraq and the effects it would have…so hindsight is something we all have to deal with….
Thanks for posting your comments.
Crist’s spokesperson said, with a seriously glum, straight face – like he could barely stomach the words departing from his lips, a look of dread that his credibility was ruined – on Fox last weekend that the two have a deep love for one another … um, they’ve reportedly known eachother for 9 months.
There are rumors of staged kissing episodes in elevators. Expect those to surface soon to “prove” his heterosexuality – look! He kisses women!
And he better marry an heiress! He’s gonna have to shell out a lot “shut up” money and blackmail demands for the not-so-staged videos of him engaging in man-on-man love.
Wouldn’t it be fun to read the pre-nups for this ‘marriage’? Can you imagine the hours spent by lawyers drafting it?
And then wouldn’t it be fun to know how much the GOP paid her through ‘sources’ to ‘marry the man she loves?’
The GOP is full of horse rot and fake family values.
And remember whatever you do make sure you work to stop real loving gay couples from getting married because it is those couples that are bringing down society……gag….gag……gggggaaaggg!
I wouldn’t mind if McCain picks Crist…he would be a great asset and perfect wingman for the carousing McCain!
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I’ve lived my whole life in Charlie Crist’s stomping grounds. Same age. It’s always been common knowledge about the gayness. Never thought anything else! Too bad he’s still in the closet! I know of men he’s been with! C’mon Charlie, Wake Up!!!!
The green iguana isn’t a gay bar …. its a bar owned by a gay man
Welcome to the site, Mr. Crist!
(Sorry, I don’t live anywhere near Florida nor have I ever seen The Green Iguana, but I couldn’t resist.)
The Green Iguana is a gay bar.
Got bad news for you. I have lived in the Tampa are for quite a few years now. The Green Iguana is not a gay bar, and is not recognized by anyone in the area as such. Here’s a quarter. Buy a clue and quit commenting on things you apparantly have no clue about.
Yeeeees, I’m the real Vincent. I’m proud to be Gay. I don’t consider revelations of gayness as slander. Maybe you should be less homophobic. I’m also a conservative Rush Libaugh ditto head. I’m proud of Charlie Crist and all gay Republicans. Stop the stereotyping please.