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| Charlie Crist |
In the face of rampant rumors about his own sexuality and a potential shot at being named Sen. John McCain’s running mate in the fall elections, Florida governor, Charlie Crist has simultaneously announced plans for a December wedding to his ‘fiancee’ and reversed his position of support for same-sex marriage and domestic partnerships.
Up until last week, Crist had remained relatively supportive of marriage equality, adopting a “live and let live” policy to a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban same sex marriage. In fact, back in 2006, Florida’s bachelor governor even went so far as to speak out against the state Republican party for contributing $300,000 to Florida4marriage.org, the political action committee that supports the measure.
But that was before he was a serious contender to be McCain’s number two.
As part of what has been seen as a series of reversals on issues ranging from offshore drilling to taxes, a spokesperson for Crist told Express Gay News that the governor was indeed now supportive of Amendment 2 which would constitutionally ban gay marriage in the Sunshine State.
Talking to reporters at an impromptu barbershop press conference earlier this week, Crist was reportedly asked if he thought his support of Amendment 2 would be make the measure more attractive voters.
“I don’t know,” Crist said. “What level of fervor there is for that, there’s only one way to find out, I guess - wait until November fourth.”
Conservative shifts notwithstanding, it will more than likely be Crist’s recently revealed ties to former frat brother and defense contractor Harry Sargeant that could be the most damning to his chances in the republican veepstakes.
In recent Washington Post and the New York Times reports, Sargeant, a huge Florida GOP financial backer, along with his Jordanian business partner, have been loosely tied to a scheme involving paying those who have written checks for McCain. It is precisely the kind of scandal the McCain campaign can ill-afford to be linked to.
