2014 Florida Governor's race: on Principles & Values


Rick Scott: FanGate: Refused to debate if opponent allowed to use a fan

Fangate will likely prove to be the most memorable moment of their first high-profile televised debate. The debate included a segment where Florida journalists followed social media reaction and questions. Asked what was trending early into the debate, one editor reported the obvious: "Well, the fan." [referring to Gov. Scott refusing to come to the stage if Gov. Crist was allowed to use a fan].

It took less than 40 minutes before the Crist campaign fired off a fundraising email saying Scott embarrassed the state: "If you're as amazed as I am by what you just saw, chip in a few bucks right now to make sure this guy doesn't get to stay our governor."

The debate host sternly asked Crist why he insisted on bringing a fan on stage when he knew it would be a contentious issue. "Why not?" Crist responded. "Is there anything wrong with being comfortable?"

Source: Miami Herald on 2014 Florida Gubernatorial debate Oct 15, 2014

Charlie Crist: I stand for fairness and trying to treat people right

What does Charlie Crist stand for? "Some use the word opportunist," he tells me. (Crist is one of those politicians who will tell you all the terrible things people say about him.) "Yeah, this is a delightful opportunity, to run into a $100 million buzz saw face-first. That's a joyous thought, right?"

What he stands for, he says, is "fairness and trying to treat people right." He thinks now that he never should have been a Republican, the sort of blithe declaration that makes Florida Republicans choke on their food. But it's true that Crist's actions annoyed plenty of Republicans even when he was one of them. As a state senator in the 1990s, education commissioner in the Jeb Bush gubernatorial administration, state attorney general, and governor beginning in 2007, Crist enjoyed bucking his party [on abortion, voting rights, education, and environmental issues]. Other than the party label, Crist says, "None of this is new. I haven't really changed."

Source: The Atlantic Magazine on 2014 Florida governor's race Mar 11, 2014

  • The above quotations are from 2014 Florida Gubernatorial debates and race coverage.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Principles & Values.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Rick Scott on Principles & Values.
  • Click here for more quotes by Charlie Crist on Principles & Values.
Candidates and political leaders on Principles & Values:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Dec 06, 2018