The Palm Beach Post had a very interesting article on it:
Crist backs Martinez for Senate seat
Palm Beach Post, Jim Ash
To view the entire article, please visit: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/auto/epaper/editions/friday/news_044a9399643c32150084.html
TALLAHASSEE - U.S. Senate hopeful Mel Martinez picked up a high-powered endorsement on Thursday, posing for photographers with Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist.
The former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the former Orange County Commission chairman told reporters that he was naming Crist as his campaign chairman.
"I am honored to have the endorsement of a fellow conservative who has devoted his life to serving Florida families," Martinez said. "Together, we are going to protect and expand the Republican majority in the U.S. Senate."
Crist is a former legislator from the St. Petersburg area, and Martinez said he hopes that will help him lock up another corner of the strategically important I-4 corridor in the central part of the state, home to thousands of active Republican voters.
Crist, a fellow conservative, said the two also share a uniquely American experience.
Crist's grandfather emigrated from Cyprus. Martinez, who was born in 1946 in Sagua La Grande, Cuba, arrived in Miami in 1962, as part of the storied "Pedro Pan" humanitarian evacuation of children fleeing Fidel Castro.
"We share the same values, conservative values," Christ said. "We also share the same concern about freedom."
When it comes to defending freedom, Martinez was barraged with questions about his position on Iraq and the war on terror.
Toeing his former boss's line, Martinez said he supports President Bush's Iraq policy, as well as his fellow Cabinet member, embattled Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Rumsfeld should soldier on, despite suggestions from critics that he resign to atone for the detainee abuse scandal at the American-run Abu Ghraib prison compound in Baghdad, Martinez said.
Article comments
1 - kuros
I will NEVER forget when Crist was the head of eduction in Florida and he proclaimed that he would erase all the portables that dotted school grounds all over Florida
HA!
give me a brake
Crist is a joke
why is it politicians (especially in Florida) look and act like used up car salesman?
2 - John Mudd
Don't you mean "break"?
Remember, the Legislature controls funding, and if they don't provide enough funding to schools so they can construct more space, schools have no choice but to add portables.
As I recall, Charlie was not always happy with the Legislature's decisions, although, I have seen a reduction in portable use and more school construction here in my area, so obviously some progress has taken place. Charlie is the only Republican I know who has had the courage to go against his own party's leadership, whether the Governor or the Legislature, to do what is right for the people of Florida.
I don't see any other Florida politicians taking on the phone companies to make them pay for taking advantage of Floridians. Who knows, maybe you work for a phone company and simply aren't happy about this. You never know who's behind an annonymous attack.
Cheers.
3 - RJ Elliott
What the hell is so bad about "portables"? You can learn just as well in a "portable" as you can in a regular classroom.
4 - J Bond
This is an example of how Charlie Crist ducks out of getting involved is serious issues!
August 18, 2005 (Via Email)
Dear Mr. Bond:
We have received your “Request for Assistance in Removing Public Officers”
in which you ask this office to assist in the removal from office of Chief
Financial Officer Tom Gallagher and Commissioner Kevin McCarty. You cite
sections 112.40-112.52, Florida Statutes, as our authority to proceed.
Sections 112.40-112.52, Florida Statutes, provide the procedures that the
Governor and the Florida Senate follow in the course of the suspension and
removal of public officers subject to suspension under Article IV, section
7, of the Florida Constitution.
Article IV, section 7(a), Florida Constitution, provides that the Governor
may suspend only “those officers not subject to impeachment.” Article III,
section 17(a), Florida Constitution, provides that members of the cabinet
are subject to impeachment by the Florida Legislature.
The Attorney General’s Office does not have a role in the suspension of
public officers.
Sincerely,
Patricia R. Gleason
General Counsel