Gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist is no stranger to Florida politics.
Crist served as Florida’s 44th governor from 2007 – 2011. At the time, Crist was a member of the Republican party. This time, the former governor is running as a Democrat for his old office.
The Republican Party of Florida is attacking Crist for being a “flip flopper” on key issues – including the Affordable Care Act. A campaign commercial from the RPOF calls his changes “flipping amazing”.
PolitiFact Florida ran Crist’s position on the Affordable Care Act through the Flip-O-Meter to see if Crist had a true change of heart. PolitiFact writer Angie Holan says it rates as a FULL FLOP. Holan said, it’s pretty clear cut.
“Crist did oppose the law. Then when he became an Independent, he modified, he said, ‘Well, we should repeal it and replace it with a substantial alternative.’ And then when he became a Democrat, he supported the law. And now he's said that he considers health care a basic right for people. The law, he has said, was good,” Holan said.
In 2010, Crist declined a re-election bid and instead jumped into the race for an open U.S. Senate seat. While running in the Republican primary, Crist called for a repeal of the health care law. A few months later, once Crist decided to run as an independent in the U.S. Senate race, he backed off that stance.
Earlier this year, in an appearance on CNN, Crist told Candy Crowley that he thought the health care law was “great” and that Democratic candidates should support it. Because of those facts, PolitiFact Florida rated it a FULL FLOP.
SOURCES: CHARLIE CRIST AND THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
- PolitiFact's ruling
- CNN, Interview with Charlie Crist, March 9, 2014
- Associated Press, "Crist hopes to repeal health care legislation," March 21, 2010
- Fox News, "Rubio, Crist Debate on Fox News," March 28, 2010
- The Wall Street Journal, "Crist uses his old party as new foil," July 20, 2010
- The Wall Street Journal blog Washington Wire, "Q and A with Charlie Crist," July 20, 2010
- Charlie Crist U.S. Senate campaign press release, "FACT Check: My position, The Obama health care bill," July 29, 2010
- Marco Rubio campaign press release, "Statement By Marco Rubio On Crist’s Sixth Position On ObamaCare," Aug. 27, 2010
- Marco Rubio campaign press release, "Crist alters position on ObamaCare for 7th time," Aug. 29, 2010
- Central Florida News 13, "Gov. Crist talks to News 13,"Aug. 27, 2010
- CNN Political Ticker blog, "Crist looks for middle ground between two opponents," Aug. 29, 2010
- Factcheck.org, "Rubio misfires on Crist's health care shift," July 29, 2010