# 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:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/21 "2012-12-09T14:51:39Z")
Norm Coleman - former Minnesota Senator - was elected mayor of St. Paul as a Democrat (about the only way you can be mayor of St. Paul) and switched during that period to run for Senate as a Republican. ---
**Author:** ![IceQube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@IceQube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IceQube)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/22 "2012-12-09T15:19:14Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > Am I the only one who thought it was Chris Christie at first glance? No! I saw the title, and I thought it said Chris Christie too!! ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/23 "2012-12-09T18:32:59Z")
> [@IceQube](#): > > No! I saw the title, and I thought it said Chris Christie too!! When I saw the headline a couple nights ago, I thought this too. In fact I read most of the story, up until I saw the words “former governor,” and I thought “Huh?” Needless to say, I was blown away by the fact Chris Christie jumped teams mid-term. Must’ve been something in FEMA’s bottled water, thought I. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2012, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/24 "2012-12-09T23:59:56Z")
> [@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. Joe Lieberman – not exactly of course but speaking as someone from Connecticut it was pretty close to this. He is an independent\* who caucused with the Democrats but repeatedly voted against the party on close votes. \*Technically he’s a “Connecticut for Lieberman” party member and that characterizes exactly how I feel about him. What can Joe Lieberman get out of this – not what can I do for Connecticut. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/25 "2012-12-10T00:07:11Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > When I saw the headline a couple nights ago, I thought this too. In fact I read most of the story, up until I saw the words “former governor,” and I thought “Huh?” > > Needless to say, I was blown away by the fact Chris Christie jumped teams mid-term. Must’ve been something in FEMA’s bottled water, thought I. It wouldn’t surprise me to hear that Christie had done this too. He’s close, I bet. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/26 "2012-12-10T00:54:22Z")
> [@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. It’s not clear what you’re trying to say. Clearly, party labels do matter. When the legislature is gerrymandering districts, people usually vote the party line. And in the Congress, a Republican party label is an almost ironclad indication of how someone will vote on important things, such as judicial nominations and cloture votes. > [@D-bear](#): > > D to R… Maybe Ronald Regan? Reagan’s “conversion” happened long before he became prominent in electoral politics. > [@OldGuy](#): > > Joe Lieberman – not exactly of course but speaking as someone from Connecticut it was pretty close to this. He is an independent\* who caucused with the Democrats but repeatedly voted against the party on close votes. > > \*Technically he’s a “Connecticut for Lieberman” party member and that characterizes exactly how I feel about him. What can Joe Lieberman get out of this – not what can I do for Connecticut. He ran under the label “Connecticut for Lieberman,” but when he took his seat, he chose the label “Independent Democrat.” There’s no Connecticut for Lieberman party. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/27 "2012-12-10T01:44:24Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > He ran under the label “Connecticut for Lieberman,” but when he took his seat, he chose the label “Independent Democrat.” There’s no Connecticut for Lieberman party. The Connecticut for Lieberman Party’s [official blog](http://ctforlieberman.blogspot.com/) was last updated in July, announcing their plans to run candidates in the 2012 election. They fell out with Lieberman himself (who was never a member of the party) years ago. The organization seems to have been [beset by infighting](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Connecticut_for_Lieberman) for years. I can’t really imagine what sort of person actually spends time and effort on getting their preferred guy into the top position of the Connecticut for Lieberman Party, but apparently that sort of person exists. ---
**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 10, 2012, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/28 "2012-12-10T02:06:20Z")
> [@waterj2](#): > > I can’t really imagine what sort of person actually spends time and effort on getting their preferred guy into the top position of the Connecticut for Lieberman Party, but apparently that sort of person exists. Progressives with a sense of humor do that. Then they make anti-Lieberman attack ads: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETAFMgGTMiQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETAFMgGTMiQ) ---
**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 10, 2012, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/29 "2012-12-10T06:37:51Z")
[Crist may run again; GOP says its ready](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CRIST_DEMOCRATIC_PARTY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT) is the story today at the AP. [ > [@](#): > > Should the 56-year-old Crist run, he could become the first person to run for Florida governor as a Republican and as a Democrat. Crist only served one term before choosing to run for Senate instead of re-election. > > Republicans, anticipating the switch, have been attacking him for months. As Crist campaigned with President Barack Obama and other Democrats during the fall, Republicans ran a television ad and issued scores of press releases pointing out his previous conservative positions. ]([http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US\_CRIST\_DEMOCRATIC\_PARTY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT](http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CRIST_DEMOCRATIC_PARTY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT)) Would the GOP’s campaign actually have any influence on the election? Personally, I doubt it. I think it would backfire and show many Republican voters that this was a Democrat that they could support. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2012, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/30 "2012-12-10T06:44:31Z")
> [@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. No, as it turns out, the GOP has no room any more for moderates, which is just what Crist was saying; this topic is instructive to those criticizing conservative Republicans only in that it proves them right. The RW Pubs are driving the sane ones out of the party. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/31 "2012-12-12T00:22:09Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > No, as it turns out, the GOP has no room any more for moderates, which is just what Crist was saying; this topic is instructive to those criticizing conservative Republicans only in that it proves them right. The RW Pubs are driving the sane ones out of the party. So when GOP primary voters in Florida are presented with two candidates, they look at the following: Gee Rubio seems to be conservative, just what we like. Crist seems wishy-washy, almost like a Democrat, if you will. So, three years later when it turns out that Crist actually is a Democrat, the GOP primary voters were wrong or somehow pushed him to change parties? It’s obviously a chicken/egg analysis, but if Crist had won his nomination in 2010, he wouldn’t have changed parties. Crist does what’s best for Charlie Crist. The GOP primary voters saw that and voted accordingly (or at least the polls showed that so Crist ran as an independent) Crist is a Dem, so why were the GOP voters wrong for pegging him for what he admits he is? So far right? Crist was pro-life, pro-gun, and quoted Ronald Reagan in his speeches. He’s just a political whore who wants to get elected again. Nothing to see here from the right wing making him run away. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/32 "2012-12-12T01:23:45Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > So, three years later when it turns out that Crist actually is a Democrat The word “actually” has no place or meaning in this discussion. These relationships are marriages of convenience on both sides. > [@](#): > > Crist does what’s best for Charlie Crist. Exactly. That’s the beginning and the end of it. > [@](#): > > The GOP primary voters saw that With their psychic powers? No, they didn’t see that Crist was “actually” a Democrat or that he would do whatever was best for himself. They decided they didn’t want him because he’s a moderate. That’s their right, and there is nothing inaccurate about pinning that on the rightward drift of the party. And I don’t think the Democrats would really want Crist, since like other people who have changed parties or flirted with doing so - Lieberman, Specter - he’s being pegged as an opportunist lacking in principle because he is. I don’t know why the Democrats would even want him unless Scott is that unpopular and they can’t field a candidate with even the least shred of appeal. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/33 "2012-12-12T13:19:15Z")
This is the biggest shift since John Connally went the other way. We’ve gotten to the point where you have the Batshit Party and the Sane Party. When the inmates take over the asylum, it’s no wonder when the staff leaves. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/34 "2012-12-12T16:09:32Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > So, three years later when it turns out that Crist actually is a Democrat, the GOP primary voters were wrong or somehow pushed him to change parties? Of course they did. (What **else** would push a pol to change parties?) ---
**Author:** ![Phatlewt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a698b9/32.png) [@Phatlewt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phatlewt)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/35 "2012-12-12T16:41:57Z")
If Republicans of 1990 only knew that within 25 years their rivals would be on the right and called Republicans, and they would be called Democrats. ---
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2012, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401/36 "2012-12-12T20:06:29Z")
Fun fact: I used to be a Republican and I used to live in Florida. The first time I ever didn’t vote straight Republican was about 10 years ago. I voted for all the Republicans except him. He just came across as too used-car-salesmany with his fake tan look. He was obviously just a career ladder climber. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that, per se, but I got the impression that he was never interested in the job he was running for, just the next rung on the ladder.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/charlie-crist-joins-democrats/643401.md?page=1)