Cantor endorses Rubio: What will Crist do next?
By Krystle Weeks | Tuesday, April 20th, 2010 | PoliticsThe U.S. Senate race in Florida is beginning to heat up, as key endorsements are beginning to fill in for both Marco Rubio and Charlie Crist, as they seek the Republican nomination.
House Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) endorsed Rubio for U.S. Senate today. Cantor, in a statement on Rubio’s website, mentioned why he was endorsing Rubio over Crist.
“We are a nation at a crossroads, and we need responsible leadership in Washington. Marco Rubio is just the type of leader our country needs and will make an excellent Senator for the State of Florida. The Obama Administration is working hand-in-hand with Senate Leader Reid and House Speaker Pelosi to fundamentally change the America we know and love.
“Washington spends way too much, and Marco understands the need for a limited but effective government. He knows that it’s not enough just to talk about ending government waste, but that actions are needed to begin to erase our deficits and free our children from our debt. This Administration’s policies have put a squeeze on our nation’s job creators and entrepreneurs, and Marco will help fight for pro-growth policies that empower the American entrepreneur and small business people to thrive and create sustainable jobs.
“When it comes to defending our country, I know that Marco understands the differences between America’s friends and its foes. We can trust Marco Rubio to take an aggressive stance against radical jihadism and strongly defend America’s special relationship with Israel. America needs energetic, smart, responsible leaders to start making sure that Washington once again starts working for the people, and Marco will play a big part in that effort.”
Rubio praised Cantor for his strong leadership against President Obama’s key initiatives (especially the Stimulus plan). Rubio also pointed out that his opponent, Crist, was a big cheerleader of Obama’s stimulus plan.
Meanwhile, the question remains: What will Crist do if he loses the primary? Will he run as an independent or leave the spotlight for a while?
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About the author
Growing up in Maryland typically does not yield a Republican. Fortunately, Krystle Weeks was one of the lucky few booted to the Commonwealth for her staunch conservative views. From an early age, she has been debating politics, and since 2006, she has been involved here in the Commonwealth helping Republican candidates to victory. Aside from politics, Krystle is a runner and a dynamite cook. You can email her here. Krystle also blogs at Crystal Clear Conservative and Charm Offensive Cooking.
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16 Responses to "Cantor endorses Rubio: What will Crist do next?"
This Tea Party stuff is all fun and good, Eric. Until someone notices you aren’t exactly the poster boy for wingnutz, yourself. Meanwhile this should make the general election more interesting as Republicans try to win in FLORIDA with a candidate who says he wants to repeal Social Security and Medicare.
Someone has to start saying those things, Steve. I, personally, would like to see more candidates campaign on how we’re going to deal with these entitlement programs. I’d also like candidates to talk about how, despite our best efforts to combat the war on poverty, and the trillions of dollars spent in the effort, poverty continues to rise at a more rapid rate than before we began this so-called liberal agenda.
You can marginalize it all you want, Steve. But conservatives must – need to – talk about these ideas if we ever want this country to return to its basic free market and Constitutional principles.
Boy, I’ll bet the Whiplet’s endorsement will prove to be the catalyst that will enable Rubio to surge in the polls to the point he is able to force Charlie Crist out of the Republican Party.
Old Eric is never afraid to step to the front of a parade and claim to be leading it.
J.R.,
I was of the understanding that the poverty rate has been consistently about 12 to 14% since the beginning of the War on Poverty in the 60′s. Numbers for the recession may move it up some, but I suspect it will go back down eventually to the “standard.” But yes, we must address entitlements.
Jeffersonian: You don’t become known as “the champion of the overdog” by not keeping track of who’s at the front of the pack.
kingsmoothie –
I didn’t fact check my statement before making it. Let’s both do that and provide a source. It’s good practice and something I should have done. My apologies.
However, what I do know is that we still have a lot of poverty for a “war” that really began in the late 1920′s with the “New Deal”.
As far as Crist is concerned, I believe that he is preparing to go Independent in order to stop Rubio.
As for Rubio, some conservatives see a Presidential future for him, potentially as soon as 2012.
JR,
I can’t believe I am doing homework. Apparently, I don’t know how to do a link here but this is my source: http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/histpov/hstpov13.xls.
According to the Census Bureau, poverty rate by families since 1966 has varied somewhat consistently between 9 and 12%. From 1959 to 1966 there was about a 7% decrease in poverty levels (from about 18% in 1959; Vietnam War perhaps). It would be interesting to analyze the numbers, but that would take significant study. There is a bit of a peak in the late 70′s and early 80′s that makes sense. The variables that affect poverty rate are numerous (I even read that immigration policy can affect it, not just the numbers and definitely not the races coming in, but who specifically), but I think it is safe to say the war on poverty has not been very successful. I hope I get an A.
J.R. — the ‘New Deal’ began early on FDR’s first term, which began in January, 1933.
King— LBJ did not get serious about the Vietnam War until the second half of 1966, when he ordered a massive build-up in in-country troop strength. Don’t know what effect the war up to 1966 could have had on an apparently decreasing poverty. But decreasing poverty is certainly a bad thing for the Demos, and Johnson’s swift action (War on Poverty) beginning in 1964 likely prevented catastophic prosperity.
Catastrophic prosperity. I will have to remember that one.
Jim Cunningham, LBJ in his own words bought the Ni__er vote with the so called war on poverty. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1rIDmDWSms
The phony stand taken by dems for the rights and freedom of blacks has paid off in spades, no pun intended. Ever since LBJ bought the “ni__er vote” with generous handouts under the guise of a war on poverty, blacks have stayed bought. Democrats historically receive +95% of black votes post 1965 (before that era it was well under 40%). Democrats, dodge the discussion when painful facts about the black community recieve attention when anybody points out that rates of black two-parent households and school achievement were higher before LBJfare and government subsidized housing as we know it today existed.
Mark my words: Crist runs as an Independent, him and Rubio duke it out throughout the General, and they end up dividing Republican votes.
As of now, I’d rate this race as a safe Republican seat but if Crist runs as an Independent I will be forced to adjust that rating to Lean Republican. Depending on how dirty it gets between Rubio and Crist, this race could easily move to a toss-up.
I’m not saying it will be easy for Democrats but if the Republicans continue to play their cards right (or wrong, should I say) Democrats may come out on top.
Think the blue version of Scott Brown
Sorry, Jim. You’re right. I was thinking about the stock market crash when I said “late 1920′s” knowing FDR was elected shortly thereafter. It was an off-the-cuff comment…didn’t realize that my every word is scrutinized now.
Great contribution on the War on Poverty, king-s.
Regretfully, there is little room in the republican party for moderate candidates, and the business oriented community that understands that the public and private side must work together for fiscal sanity and economic prosperity are being driven from the Party as the extremists take over. That may benefit the democrats, but in the end, it is damaging when either of the major parties turns to the extreme. In Virginia, the simple example of the penny wise yet pound foolish tactic of the republicans in the House of Delegates to dismantle a once efficient transportation system is a classic example of what happens when you let the extremists set public policy. And eventually, the pot holes catch up with you.
Crist has every reason to run as an Indy. I dont think Rubio has the experience to run a state-wide race. Crist has won state wide and has managed a whole state. Rubio is a partisan hack who only represents a small portion of the poulation.
‘turbo’ — You are correct! LBJ was an intelligent and crafty politician, and a man with tremendous foresight. I was a young man in the mid nineteen-sixties, and a watchful witness to the goings-on. I am certain that LBJ recognized the tremendous potential existing in emerging Black America – and I seriously suspect that he decided that he would put a whammy on those people that they would never recover from. And although we live in troubling times, there are signs that there is now the beginning of an awakening; a real understanding of what has been done by LBJ and HHH (his VP), and their ilk.
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