Charlie Crist on Civil Rights Republican

I support same-sex marriage

• Crist supports allowing same-sex marriage in Florida and said Florida's current ban is discriminatory. Scott declined to say whether he considers it discriminatory, but said he supports "traditional marriage."
• Crist wants the state to accept federal funding to expand Medicaid coverage. Scott said he'd only temporarily expand Medicaid if it were 100 percent federally funded.
• Crist supports increasing the minimum wage. Scott does not.

I left GOP because they bash Obama's race

Crist said that he felt uncomfortable with his previous party affiliation. Republicans are perceived as "anti-women, anti-immigrant, anti-minority, [and] anti-gay," he said, and they refuse to compromise with Obama. The ex-governor said he feels, "liberated as a Democrat."

"I couldn't be consistent with myself and my core beliefs, and stay with a party that was so unfriendly toward the African-American president, I'll just go there," he said. "I was a Republican and I saw the activists and what they were doing, it was intolerable to me."

Crist left the GOP

2006: Came out for civil unions; denied rumors he was gay

As the primary campaign heated up, people starting floating rumors that I was gay. I denied those outright, telling an interviewer, "The point is, I'm not. There's the answer. Not that there's anything wrong with that, as they say on 'Seinfeld.' But I just happen not to be."

Civil rights is an American value that all should embrace

"We've got this new law," I said. "Let's go use it."

What could be more important to our democracy than basic civil rights? The right to vote. The right to equal protection under the law. The right to fair treatment in employment, housing, and public accommodation. If these rights aren't in place, we don't have a democracy. That's not liberal or conservative opinion. It's not Republican or Democratic. It's an American value that everyone should embrace.

2006: Supported civil unions en route to gay marriage

As the primary campaign heated up, people started throwing all kinds of stuff at me. They floated rumors I was gay. I denied those outright, telling interviewer Jim DeFede on WINZ radio: "The point is, I'm not. There's the answer. How do you like it? Not that there's anything wrong with that, as they say on Seinfeld. But I just happen not to be."

Diversity is one of our strengths in America

I wanted to let individuals & families make their own personal life decisions. She was deeply suspicious of abortion, contraception, and alternative lifestyles.

I believed that diversity was one of our strengths in America. She seemed to consider it a threat.

She was a member of the same party John and I were, but our worldviews couldn't have been further apart.

2010: Backed gay marriage ban; 2014: supports gay marriage

After being pressed further, Crist once again addressed his evolving stance on the topic: "I made a mistake. I'm not perfect," he said. "That's the journey I'm on, and I'm still on it."

In 2010, he stood by the ban and said that he believes marriage is "a sacred institution between a man and a woman." Crist said he was inspired by President Obama to finally come out in support of marriage equality. "Everybody deserves to love who they want to. Everybody deserves to marry who they want to. Even the Pope has said, 'Who am I to judge?'"

I support marriage equality in Florida

"Some great news: On Tuesday, Delaware became the 11th state to allow marriage equality. And just a few days ago, RI adopted a similar measure, which followed victories last fall in ME, MD, and WA. I most certainly support marriage equality in Florida and look forward to the day it happens here."

Seems to us he still has some explaining to do about his position. Was it an evolution or an acknowledgement that he felt the need to discard his true feelings in '06 to avoid antagonizing social conservatives? Crist back then called himself a "live and let live" Republican and at one point suggested he backed civil unions (back then that position still carried some political risk). And yet he signed the petition for the gay marriage ban initiative, and sent campaign mailers touting his support for "traditional marriage."

Opposed gay adoption; then praised Court overturning ban

"Charlie Crist stands on a wet paper box," Meek said. "You don't know where he is."

Rubio said neither Crist nor Meek would oppose the Obama administration.

Lifetime member of NAACP

Uphold Florida’s Defense of Marriage Act

Provide compensation to victims of racial discrimination

Discontinue affirmative action programs

Crist supports the following principles concerning affirmative action and discrimination:
• The federal government should discontinue affirmative action programs.
• The federal government should prosecute cases of discrimination in the public sector.
• The federal government should prosecute cases of discrimination in the private sector.