Charlie Crist to Ron DeSantis: Light the Sunshine Skyway blue and yellow for Ukraine

Crist_Desantis side_by_side (2)
'Now is the time for him to show where he — and Florida — stands.'

U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist has called on Gov. Ron DeSantis to illuminate the Sunshine Skyway in blue and yellow, Ukraine’s national colors.

The Democrat from St. Petersburg issued the request in a Saturday evening statement, which followed calls from critics for DeSantis to back Ukraine as it defends against Russia’s invasion. Crist, who is running to retake the Governor’s Mansion and deny DeSantis re-election, has slammed the Governor for not mentioning Ukraine during his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference on Friday.

Floridians of all backgrounds stand in solidarity with Ukrainians, joining in worldwide protests, Crist noted.

“Despite all this, Governor DeSantis has remained silent on the war in Ukraine and has yet to denounce Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions,” Crist said. “Now is the time for him to show where he — and Florida — stands. I am calling upon Governor DeSantis to light the Sunshine Skyway blue and yellow in solidarity with the Ukrainian people, following the examples of cities across the globe. May its glow cast across the world to the resilient people of Ukraine, and light their way to victory and peace.”

Calling Putin a dictator, Crist said Floridians have raised their voices in outrage over Putin’s “atrocities.”

“While the enemies of democracy thought this moment would shatter us, America and its NATO partners have united to enact severe and punishing sanctions and provide aid to the government and people of Ukraine, who are fighting valiantly against a much larger invading force and demonstrating far greater resistance than Putin expected,” Crist said.

DeSantis’ press secretary, Christina Pushaw, has brushed off calls for DeSantis to condemn Putin and back Ukraine, stressing that he is the Governor of a U.S. state, not an international leader. But DeSantis, who could be a leading candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has condemned China, Cuba, Venezuela and communist regimes for recent and past actions. DeSantis’ comments about China have largely come in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. As for other communist regimes, many Floridians have deep ties to those countries.

Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, another Democrat running in the gubernatorial primary, issued a Cabinet proclamation in support of Ukraine on Friday. Republican Attorney General Ashley Moody has also stated her support for Ukraine.

Renzo Downey

Renzo Downey covers state government for Florida Politics. After graduating from Northwestern University in 2019, Renzo began his reporting career in the Lone Star State, covering state government for the Austin American-Statesman. Shoot Renzo an email at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @RenzoDowney.


32 comments

  • Tom

    February 27, 2022 at 1:39 pm

    Wah Wah crispy critters
    Meaningless gestures.

  • PeterH

    February 27, 2022 at 2:00 pm

    Solidarity with the tens of thousands of Ukrainian immigrants, and hundreds of thousands of Eastern European transplants who have retired to Florida is not in DeSantis’s best interest.

    DeSantis is allied with Trump who thinks Putin’s strategy is “genius!” Let’s not forget about the six Russian oligarchs who live in Trump tower in New York or the hundred of Russians who fill Trump’s two hotels in Sunny Isles Florida. Let’s prioritize our alliances!

    No …. there is a reason why Russia’s invasion of Ukraine received an sympathetic reception at CPAC and it’s coordinated White Nationalist Orlando Republican clown show this week.

    Sorry folks…..but today’s GQP is not conservative. So CPAC is a misnomer.

    • Tom

      February 27, 2022 at 3:39 pm

      Yes Pete h, Dems care so much you sack of crap. Obama/Biden gave Ukraine blankets in 15. Trump gave them javelin missiles Launchers you pathetic liar propagandist. Which they use now!

      You lie all times, you wanted Florida lock downed unlike America’s Gov. like tyrannical blue state Govs. DeSantis refused.

      Biden collusion with Russia will investigated with new Repub. congress.
      Schiff, Swawell, others will be removed from Congress for their crimes against American People.
      As will you.

      • PeterH

        February 27, 2022 at 3:40 pm

        Now does Tom’s above post indicate that he’s an intelligent knowledgeable individual? Here is how he self describes:

        “I am a political scientist, electoral guru and presidential scholar.”

        LOL ….. have a good laugh folks.

        • Tom

          February 27, 2022 at 8:32 pm

          My political scientist, electoral knowledge and presidential scholar is well known. You are just a show shine boy.

          • PeterH

            February 27, 2022 at 10:57 pm

            You’re drunk on your own BS and lies. EVERYONE KNOWS YOUR SCAM!

      • Patriot Jones

        February 27, 2022 at 3:49 pm

        Oh you mean the missles he held hostage so he could blackmail Ukraine into lying about Biden? Those missles.

        Actually, NATO itself has verified that had Trump not weakened Ukraine by doing the stuff he did and by delaying military aid, Putin may not have attacked.

        I’d go on but clearly you have no ability to suss out fact from fiction. Sad.

        • Tom

          February 27, 2022 at 4:38 pm

          Oh you mean Biden ignoring 100,000 Russian troops on the Ukraine border for 8 Months? U mean his wanting to send weapons to Ukraine now? After they’ve been attacked , send them Months later?

          U mean Biden waiting in October until January, ordering new masks for Covid and and tests kits after putting it off twice in fall. Trump left him vaccines and Regeneron therapeutics when he was sworn in. Biden has done nothing on Covid besides yelling at everyone. Spare me non patriot Jones. How ignorant are you.

          • PeterH

            February 27, 2022 at 4:43 pm

            Your entire post is a lie.

            Biden has been working with our allies for months preparing Ukraine for war. Germany and France are both holdouts for accepting Ukraine into NATO. You’re so uninformed.

          • Tom

            February 27, 2022 at 5:32 pm

            Peter h Hardly, if this is working together spare us.
            Lie nothing, it’s fact.
            Where the javelins? From Biden?
            Nothing.
            Biden’s son made millions in Ukraine and China.
            The Dem party has sucked Ukraine dry. Clinton forced them to give up nukes. Obama sent blankets.
            You are ignorant.

            100,000 troops on border for 8 months, Putin’s speech in July. Ignored.
            Biden sleeping all day.
            No arms for Ukraine still besides Trump sending javelins.
            You and non patriot are corrupt hacks.

      • Patriot Jones

        February 27, 2022 at 3:51 pm

        What’s with all the weird spacing in your comment? Is it that hard to use Google translate to turn Russian into English?

        • Tom

          February 27, 2022 at 3:59 pm

          F you degenerate bastard.
          Ukraine got the javelins from Trump not Obama, Biden as they sent moth balled hogan heroes blankets. Biden got contracts for hunter. Save it pal with your Adam schiff fake stories. I space it for mentally challenged types like you, dumb ass. Enjoy, I’ll
          Kick your ass some more non patriot Jones.

        • Tom

          February 27, 2022 at 4:11 pm

          You want to talk Ukraine, U.S.A. corruption. For Clinton’s in 90’s squeezed Ukraine like a turn up dry.
          Obama/Biden sucked the life out of it and Hunter shovels the cash in the back of air-force 2. Moth balled blankets for spare parts.
          The Repubs we’re onto the corruption in Ukraine. The fake DNC cyber by crowd strike pal? Diversion
          Javelins came from Trump you pud.
          Whatever the Dems scream is for whatever they’ve done.

          • PeterH

            February 27, 2022 at 4:33 pm

            Here are the FACTS;

            Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovych was President of Ukraine from 2010-2014 was a Putin Russian puppet stooge and ally of Rudy Giuliani. After he was thrown out of office in 2014 by the current president….. he immediately departed for Russia.

            Unsettled times…. and the Obama administration had very good reason to not send heavy arms to Ukraine. Arms and the technology that went along with them could certainly end up with Putin.

            Trump and Rudy would love to have Ukraine in the Russian orbit ….. they worked hard with disinformation to achieve that goal.

          • Tom

            February 27, 2022 at 8:26 pm

            You are mental, Victor Yanukovych was on Tele yesterday warning Russia, Putin they’ll catch hell in Ukraine. He was dressed in army fatigues. You are clueless H. Nice try with your Trump and Rudy fake news. The javelins came From Trump. Trump warned Putin on Ukraine, he told him we are coming to Moscow if he acted.

            You are a fake newsie.
            This is about DEm incompetence,
            They have screwed the pouch for years, with Clinton, Obama and Biden.
            The fake crowd source cyber of DNC was a diversion.

            You are a loser liar, Intel propagandist. This is about Biden’s incompetence period.

  • Ron Ogden

    February 27, 2022 at 2:32 pm

    If ever there needed to be ANOTHER example of Crist’s meaningless, puff politics making for easy journalism but no real commitment to freedom, this notion about lighting the bridge is it. What second-rate pandering out of that first-rate panderer. (And, yes, I mean that in all senses of the word).

  • Tom

    February 27, 2022 at 3:14 pm

    Wah Wah Wah, clown show is Biden/Harris WH. Abysmal, dismal performance.
    Clown show is crispy critters, the bong a fraud, and tarantula fake gov candidates.
    Tell mommy you want go for a ride.
    Get Elmo slippers, Wah light up the bridge.

    Yeah right you know nothing peter h
    Yes check the Biden collusion on Russian oil?
    As usual you lie. Nothing but fake non conspiracies. Meaningless crispy claim.

    Biden has accomplished nothing. He’s brought us to nuclear war. Corp media, Dems, lied and says Trump is war. You idiot Peter h, 61% says Putin wouldn’t go to Ukraine if Trump was POTUS. 59% said Biden is not competent.

    You are the clown leading the clowns
    Wah.

    • PeterH

      February 27, 2022 at 3:38 pm

      Now does Tom’s above post indicate that he’s an intelligent knowledgeable individual? Here is how he self describes:

      “I am a political scientist, electoral guru and presidential scholar.”

      LOL ….. have a good laugh folks.

      • Tom

        February 27, 2022 at 9:55 pm

        You are not in the league of a FP legend. Your ignorance is well known unlike my brilliance.

        You cannot run with me h.

        • PeterH

          February 27, 2022 at 10:47 pm

          NO ONE….. is trying to run with you ! You’re a fake!

          • Tom

            February 28, 2022 at 5:50 pm

            Scum bag, go finger your teddy bear.
            Degenerate. I’ve annihilated you and your Manchurian nation. They’ve all fled! Go wipe Schmidt and Wilson you towel boy.

  • Patriot Jones

    February 27, 2022 at 3:46 pm

    It seems Evil. True Evil. Is winning in this world. Putin, one of the gravest war criminals and most evil men to ever exist, is murdering women and children in Ukraine. But, the USA has been so weakened by Trump that we cannot stop it. Trump has instead decided to divide us and fill our minds and hearts with hate for each other. So that when Putin comes for us. We will be too battered, distracted or devastated to fight back. But, Trump owes Putin for making him President and in turn making him wildly rich. So, let’s see here, Putin makes Trump POTUS and gives him wealth and power. In the process he makes Americans hate each other, fight each other, distrust each other. Our world becomes angrier, sadder, more evil by the minute. So, how did we benefit from this quid pro quo between Trump and Putin? Why would anyone, in the face of all this obvious truth, support Donald Trump or Putin? Stupidity? Ignorance? I don’t get it. Do you want the world to become more evil? Less safe? I mean are we still pretending some old Mr. Roger’s type like Biden is the evil one here? I mean come on. The guy is simple. Old. Maybe senile. But at least he’s not selling out the future of America and the safety of its people to Putin for power and wealth for himself. Maybe it’s time to get real here. Start thinking logically. Start looking at evidence and stop watching propaganda TV like Tuck-his-weenie Tucker.

    Putin employed thousands of “specialists” who infiltrated US social media starting in 2014 for the sole purpose of getting Trump elected. His “specialists” propaganda teacher over 150 million Americans according to the CIA director who Trump himself appointed. Why would Putin do that? Hmmm. And now here we are, Putin is in all out war, threatening to activate nuclear weapons against the United States. And you’d expect a guy who was POTUS to condemn a communist who threatens to nuke the United States, right? But no, instead he goes on TV to talk about how much of a genius Putin is all while having Tucker go on TV every night trying to convince the stupidest 30% of Americans that somehow what Putin is doing is okay. By creating false equivalencies to China taking over Canada. Yeah, not the same. And anyone who thinks it is should just check into a nursing home now cuz they need full time care as there’s no way they are intelligent enough to feed themselves.

    Time to wake up and connect the dots people

    • Tom

      February 27, 2022 at 8:29 pm

      Mental moron idiot, this mental outline is why we have Russia, China aligned. Good going with lies.
      Hilary spied on Trump you idiot.

    • Tom

      February 27, 2022 at 9:51 pm

      The nuclear threat came today not when those foolish comments are made. Regardless, Biden haS now managed two debacles in 6 months.
      Trump was very critical of Putin and Russia last eve. Your dissertation is upside down, and off the deep end period, Bidens incompetence has brought us to nuke war. No one else.
      China and N Korea haven’t acted yet.
      Your lies on NATO are fake talking points. NATO had historically given 1% for defense and U S shouldered it.

      You are beyond help.
      Tucker is saying we the U.S.A. is not to be in war again. He is right. U r apparent bloodthirsty. Maim more men. Go to hell u ass.
      Biden is colluding with Russia and China. There will be new hearings and impeachment’s coming.

  • Wanda

    February 27, 2022 at 5:16 pm

    Now I know for sure that trump is for Russia not th United States That’s what Trump was impeached about withholding money from the Ukraine he set them up for Russia to take over that’s why his I ass was impeached we need to ship his ass to Russia he is a trader Russia payed trump for the secret papers he stole .

  • Wanda

    February 27, 2022 at 5:32 pm

    DeathDesantis is a num nut he won’t get my vote this time he is just like trump a trader he ban masks and tries to spread Covid he is as dumb as a stump his ass need to go ,he was elected on a couple of votes Ron DeathDesantis is as dumb as they come failed the test over and over to become a lawyer was bad at that so ran for office he’s not good for Florida Charlie has my boat get rid of Ron vote blue

    • Tom

      February 27, 2022 at 5:37 pm

      You are a cheap night Walker.
      Fish called Wanda.
      DeSantis is AmericAs Gov.
      you are right we are all better off with runaway 10% inflation, $4.00 gas from Biden. Foreign policy debacles.
      Go walk the streets wanda.

      • Toms wife’s lover

        February 28, 2022 at 10:41 am

        Tom you need a life. Get off this little website and do something with yourself. You sounds like a dumbass old angry twat. Crying at everything you don’t agree with. You’d lick trumps balls if given the chance. Why don’t you go join the trucker convoy or something. Get off your ass and do something if your such a patriot. You little bitch

        • Tom

          February 28, 2022 at 5:47 pm

          I’m a legend thanks to scum bags like you. You are known for incest with your mom and sister.

        • FP Monitor

          February 28, 2022 at 5:53 pm

          It’s a big mistake to respond to anything Tom posts. He’s an arrogant ignorant Trumpster hack simply looking for the attention he doesn’t get from friends or family. Do yourself and ALL OF US a big favor. Ignore all of his return comments. Maybe the internet troll will go away.

          • Tom

            February 28, 2022 at 8:42 pm

            FP fake monitor.
            Manchurian nation owned by Soros.

    • Impeach Biden

      February 27, 2022 at 6:35 pm

      Of course Wanda would vote for Andrew Gillum again if given the chance. She doesn’t mind that Andrew has a thing for male prostitutes and drugs. Just imagine if it was he and not DeSantis as Governor. Florida would be Newsom East and Cuomo South.

Comments are closed.


#FlaPol

Florida Politics is a statewide, new media platform covering campaigns, elections, government, policy, and lobbying in Florida. This platform and all of its content are owned by Extensive Enterprises Media.

Publisher: Peter Schorsch @PeterSchorschFL

Contributors & reporters: Phil Ammann, Drew Dixon, Roseanne Dunkelberger, A.G. Gancarski, William March, Ryan Nicol, Jacob Ogles, Cole Pepper, Jesse Scheckner, Drew Wilson, and Mike Wright.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @PeterSchorschFL
Phone: (727) 642-3162
Address: 204 37th Avenue North #182
St. Petersburg, Florida 33704