The Party's Over, by Charlie Crist: on Homeland Security


Charlie Crist: Supports strong national defense

As I began to build my political career, you wouldn't call me a rebel. I wasn't picking constant fights. I always preferred bringing people together instead of squabbling with them. I was a Republican. No one missed that. I checked all the boxes Republicans do: low taxes, tough on crime, support for a strong national defense--not that I had too much need for that that one as I climbed the ladder of Florida state politics. But in all the jobs I've had--and I've had a few--I tried to remain true to the things I cared about and always tried to be my own man. That could point me conservative. It could point me liberal. I wasn't big on labels. If I stuck with causes I believed in, I told myself, the politics would take care of themselves. And I could admire leadership talent wherever it turned up.

Even at a Democratic Party convention.

Source: The Party's Over, by Charlie Crist, p. 58-59 Feb 4, 2014

Charlie Crist: 2008: I don't believe in torture

"I know you've been reading in the papers some speculation about whether or not you'd be considered for the ticket," Rick said. "Let me tell you: You are being considered for the ticket."

They went over some of the same ground as the written questionnaire, then got into detailed discussions of important policy questions.

"How far would you go to capture Osama bin Laden?" Anything legal.

"Do you believe in torture?" No.

"Should Americans have a right to health care?" Absolutely.

I answered every question, and the lawyers kept coming up with more. Then, for weeks, the McCain team slid back into silence. I didn't know what to expect next. I did notice that the phone didn't ring.

Source: The Party's Over, by Charlie Crist, p.129-130 Feb 4, 2014

  • The above quotations are from The Party's Over:
    How the Extreme Right Hijacked the GOP and I Became a Democrat
    by Charlie Crist.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Homeland Security.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Charlie Crist on Homeland Security.
Candidates and political leaders on Homeland Security:

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: Feb 20, 2019