Marco Rubio - U.S. Senate - 2010

Miami, FL – Marking the first anniversary of the Crist-Obama stimulus rally, Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate released the first of three web videos to be unveiled today as part of the final push for the Stimulus Bomb effort (www.StimulusBomb.com).

“The Darn Thing” features Governor Charlie Crist, in his own words, denying he ever endorsed the stimulus on national television.

“Last year’s Crist-Obama stimulus rally produced the most enduring image of Charlie Crist’s embrace of a misguided, wasteful and failed stimulus policy,” said Rubio campaign spokesman Alex Burgos. “But it was Charlie Crist’s denial of ‘the darn thing’ that really cemented his place as a politician who will say and do anything to get elected.”

WATCH “THE DARN THING”

BACKGROUND: CRIST ON THE STIMULUS – SAY, DO ANYTHING

February 3: Crist Signed A Letter Of Support To President Obama
Crist: “We are writing to express our support for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which passed last week in the House and is under consideration currently in the Senate.” (Letter To President Obama, 2/3/09)

February 10: “It’s Important That We Pass A Stimulus Package. … This Is About Reigniting Our Economy.”Crist: “It’s getting harder every day, and we know that it’s important that we pass a stimulus package. It is important that we do so to help education, to help our infrastructure and to help health care for those who need it the most, the most vulnerable among us. And let me finish by saying, Mr. President, we need to do it in a bipartisan way. This issue of helping our country is about helping our country. This is not about partisan politics. This is about rising above that, helping America, and reigniting our economy.” (“President Obama Speaks At Town Hall In Fort Myers, Fla.: Gov. Charlie Crist Introduced President Obama At Town Hall,” CQ Transcripts Wire, 2/10/09)

February 11: Crist Endorsed The Stimulus As A Job-Creating “Bridge Of Help””
Crist: “Tuesday I joined President Barack Obama for a town hall meeting in Fort Myers to discuss with Floridians the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. During the town hall, I reiterated my support for the federal stimulus package, and pledged to the people of Florida that here in Florida we stand ready to use our share of the money quickly and responsibly to create new jobs and serve our most vulnerable citizens. … This federal stimulus package is a bridge of help for Florida.” (“Special Video Address Regarding Federal Stimulus,” Governor Charlie Crist, 2/11/2009)

Throughout February: Crist Not Only Supported The Stimulus, He Actively Campaigned For It On Television And Behind The Scenes
Associated Press: “Most Republican governors have broken with their GOP colleagues in Congress and are pushing for passage of President Barack Obama’s economic aid plan that would send billions to states for education, public works and health care. … Florida Gov. Charlie Crist worked the phones last week with members of his state’s congressional delegation, including House Republicans.” (“Jindal Will Accept Stimulus, But Would Have Voted Against It,” Associated Press, 1/31/09)

Crist: “As the U.S. Congress finalizes this stimulus package before sending it to the President, I continue to work with my colleagues and members of our Congressional delegation to improve the bill – while ensuring Florida receives her fair share.” (“Special Video Address Regarding Federal Stimulus,” Governor Charlie Crist, 2/11/2009)

May 19: “I’d Have Voted For Stimulus Bill”
“Gov. Charlie Crist, now a U.S. Senate candidate, said Tuesday he would have made the ‘pragmatic’ decision to vote for the $787 billion federal stimulus bill, differentiating himself from fellow-Republican opponent Marco Rubio and the man he is trying to replace — Mel Martinez. Speaking to a politically mixed crowd in Daytona Beach, Crist emphasized his support for the bill as practical and pragmatic, though it would have meant crossing party lines. Only three Republican senators backed the stimulus bill, and Martinez wasn’t one of them.” (“Crist: I’d Have Voted For Stimulus Bill,” Orlando Sentinel, 5/19/09)

November 4: “I Didn’t Endorse It. I Didn’t Even Have A Vote On The Darn Thing.”
BLITZER: “Let me interrupt for a second, Governor. For a second, do you have any regrets about endorsing the economic stimulus package?

CRIST: “Well, I didn’t endorse it. I — you know, I didn’t even have a vote on the darned thing. But I understood that it was going to pass and I wanted to be able to utilize it for the benefit of my fellow Floridians.” (CNN’s Situation Room, 11/4/09)

November 5: “The Bill That Passed Wasn’t Exactly What I Would Want To Vote For.”Crist: “I don’t think so. I don’t think so. The bill that passed wasn’t exactly what I would want to vote for. But it’s what passed. And once that happened, you need to realize you need to do everything you possibly can to fight for Florida and our fellow Floridians, whether they’re school teachers, construction workers or whatever it might be. And so once this happens, you know, I think it’s important to embrace it, fight for Florida’s fair share and do what’s right for the state.” (“Charlie Crist Expounds On His Non-Endorsement Of Stim Package?” Miami Herald, 11/5/09)

November 6: Crist Claims He Only Supported It “In Concept,” Not The Actual Bill
“Crist says he only supported the $787 billion in ‘concept,’ and that he did not support the actual bill. ‘The concept, I thought and still believe, was important, was necessary, and has helped Florida,’ the governor said Friday. … Appearing in Tampa, Governor Crist said he did not misspeak during the CNN interview. He stands by his characterization that he did not endorse the specific bill. ‘I think the question posed to me was: did you endorse this specific bill,’ he said. … He again parsed his statement about the stimulus. ‘I supported it in concept,’ he said. Crist, who usually entertains questions as long as reporters can lob them, called for an aide to end the questions.” (“Crist Denies Flip-Flopping On Stimulus,” FOX 13 News, 11/6/09)

November 16: “Crist ‘Absolutely’ Would Have Voted for Stimulus““Florida Senate candidate Gov. Charlie Crist has gone wobbly on his support for the Obama stimulus package… Most revealing, he told CNN on November 4th: ‘I didn’t endorse it, I didn’t even have a vote on the darn thing.’ But when I interviewed Crist this spring for my piece The GOP Jihad, here’s what he told me he’d have done had he had a darn vote:

Rolling Stone: ‘Just a final question: Had you been in the Senate, would you have voted with the other Republicans for the stimulus package?’

Crist: ‘Absolutely.’ (“Crist ‘Absolutely’ Would Have Voted For Stimulus, Rolling Stone, 11/16/09)