# Charlie Crist joins Democrats **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 8, 2012, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401 "2012-12-08T06:59:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2012, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/1 "2012-12-08T06:59:36Z")
[ > [@](#): > > “I’ve had friends for years tell me, `You know Charlie, you’re a Democrat and you don’t know it,'” Crist told the newspaper Friday night. > > He cited the Republican Party’s shift to the right on a range of issues, including immigration, education and the environment. ]([http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US\_CRIST\_DEMOCRATIC\_PARTY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-12-08-00-39-05](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CRIST_DEMOCRATIC_PARTY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-12-08-00-39-05)) Will he now run for Governor again, only this time as a Democrat? ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2012, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/2 "2012-12-08T07:46:15Z")
I can’t imagine this is really a surprise for anyone. I don’t know if he would have a very easy time if he runs for Governor though. I liked a comment someone made in the article you linked, “Just because someone joins the congregation you don’t make them the preacher.” I expect that would be reaction a lot of people might have. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2012, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/3 "2012-12-08T14:03:56Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > [url=[http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US\_CRIST\_DEMOCRATIC\_PARTY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-12-08-00-39-05](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CRIST_DEMOCRATIC_PARTY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-12-08-00-39-05)] > > Will he now run for Governor again, only this time as a Democrat? Doubtful. Floridians have a hard time remembering anything he did as Governor before. No doubt he did a lot, but it was very low-profile administration. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2012, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/4 "2012-12-08T15:44:20Z")
Rick Scott’s approval ratings are pretty low right now - I think the Democrat primary is going to be very heated, since there’s a real chance of Scott losing. I think Crist will try, but I don’t see him winning the primary. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/5 "2012-12-08T18:18:09Z")
Is this the first step in his coming out process? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/6 "2012-12-08T18:42:05Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Is this the first step in his coming out process? It’d get him the South Beach vote, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2012, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/7 "2012-12-08T18:54:02Z")
Am I the only one who thought it was Chris Christie at first glance? ---
**Author:** ![AtomicDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@AtomicDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AtomicDog)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2012, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/8 "2012-12-08T19:01:16Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Am I the only one who thought it was Chris Christie at first glance? Christie might as well. His name is mud with the Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2012, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/9 "2012-12-08T19:16:19Z")
> [@AtomicDog](#): > > Christie might as well. His name is mud with the Republicans. Media hype. He’ll be fine. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2012, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/10 "2012-12-08T19:59:49Z")
I think this topic is instructive to those criticizing conservative Republicans. Remember when Rubio ran against Crist in the GOP primary for Senate and many Dems and posters on this board used the opportunity to show how out of touch the right wing of the GOP was? “Here is a sitting governor, but nooooo, he’s not conservative enough for you radicals. You need someone MORE right wing.” Well, as it turns out, Crist truly is a Democrat. There is nothing wrong with a lefty or a righty saying to a politician, “Just because you have an “R” or a “D” by your name doesn’t mean you get my vote. I’ll side with someone who articulates what I believe.” Crist is Exhibit A. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2012, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/11 "2012-12-08T20:06:06Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > I think this topic is instructive to those criticizing conservative Republicans. Remember when Rubio ran against Crist in the GOP primary for Senate and many Dems and posters on this board used the opportunity to show how out of touch the right wing of the GOP was? “Here is a sitting governor, but nooooo, he’s not conservative enough for you radicals. You need someone MORE right wing.” > > Well, as it turns out, Crist truly is a Democrat. There is nothing wrong with a lefty or a righty saying to a politician, “Just because you have an “R” or a “D” by your name doesn’t mean you get my vote. I’ll side with someone who articulates what I believe.” Because it couldn’t _possibly_ have happened like the man said: the GOP moved so far to the nutty right that he could no longer identify with it. Care for some haggis? ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/12 "2012-12-09T01:06:45Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > I think this topic is instructive to those criticizing conservative Republicans. Remember when Rubio ran against Crist in the GOP primary for Senate and many Dems and posters on this board used the opportunity to show how out of touch the right wing of the GOP was? “Here is a sitting governor, but nooooo, he’s not conservative enough for you radicals. You need someone MORE right wing.” > > Well, as it turns out, Crist truly is a Democrat. There is nothing wrong with a lefty or a righty saying to a politician, “Just because you have an “R” or a “D” by your name doesn’t mean you get my vote. I’ll side with someone who articulates what I believe.” > > Crist is Exhibit A. 122 words. No policy claims. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/13 "2012-12-09T01:57:28Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Well, as it turns out, Crist truly is a Democrat. Exactly: Republicans were right to reject Crist because after they rejected him, he joined the other party. Wait. That can’t be it- it makes no sense. Seriously: this happens with moderates from time to time. Political alliances are marriages of convenience, and if a guy gets rejected by his own party and the other party seems interested, he’ll switch sides. This is not the first time we’ve seen this recently. I don’t know if anyone is really excited about the prospect of Crist running again, but this might be good for the Democrats in that it might prevent him from running as an independent again. However I’m still not excited by this trend of Republicans being the party of the Far Far Right and the Democrats being the party of Democrats and Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![Esox\_Lucius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@Esox\_Lucius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esox_Lucius)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/14 "2012-12-09T03:37:34Z")
On the surface it looks like good news for the Democrats, but now they have as one of their own someone who [prayed hurricanes away from Florida](http://www.tampabay.com/incoming/crists-wall-against-hurricanes-is-in-jerusalem/1029820). It seems like an uncomfortable fit. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/15 "2012-12-09T03:38:41Z")
When was the last time a major political figure (current or former President, senator, representative, or governor, let’s say) switched the other way, from Democrat to Republican? There have been a few R to D lately, but I can’t think of any D to R. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/16 "2012-12-09T03:52:25Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > When was the last time a major political figure (current or former President, senator, representative, or governor, let’s say) switched the other way, from Democrat to Republican? There have been a few R to D lately, but I can’t think of any D to R. A handy wikipedia [list](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_switching_in_the_United_States#Democratic_to_Republican). I remembered Ben Nighthorse Campbell and Bloomberg off the top of my head, but apparently there have been quite a few. Though it depends on where you draw the line at “major,” as you say. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/17 "2012-12-09T04:55:27Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > When was the last time a major political figure (current or former President, senator, representative, or governor, let’s say) switched the other way, from Democrat to Republican? There have been a few R to D lately, but I can’t think of any D to R. Artur Davis? Stop laughing! …OK, you can keep laughing. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/18 "2012-12-09T06:00:54Z")
Crist is neither D nor R. He’s a windsock. ---
**Author:** ![D-bear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@D-bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D-bear)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/19 "2012-12-09T09:20:15Z")
D to R… Maybe Ronald Regan? ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/20 "2012-12-09T10:36:05Z")
Rick Perry is a retroactively prominent D to R convert, but that happened decades ago and he’s only now prominent. He wasn’t prominent at all back when he made his conversion. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401.md?page=2)