Renzo Downey
President Joe Biden may have targeted former President Donald Trump in his speech sounding the alarm against the American right wing, but Charlie Crist says the warning extends to Gov. Ron DeSantis.
In an address on the “soul of the nation” that drew praise from the left and Trump’s critics and consternation from Trump’s supporters, Biden denounced the former President and his political philosophy. Biden also extended his indictment to “MAGA Republicans.”
Speaking to reporters in Miami on Friday, Crist, the Democratic gubernatorial nominee hoping to deny DeSantis a second term in the Governor’s Mansion, said he thought it was a “great speech” with strong implications for Florida.
“The guy’s telling the truth. Democracy is at stake in this election, and the point of the spear is Florida,” Crist said. “I mean, we have an autocrat in Governor DeSantis, who would like to be a dictator of America. He wants to run for President. That’s crystal clear, I think, to everybody.”
DeSantis has repeatedly denied any consideration of running for President, but that hasn’t stopped his surge as a possible 2024 contender and conservative successor to Trump. DeSantis has not falsely claimed that the 2020 election was stolen, unlike Trump and many of his supporters, but the Florida Governor has followed Trump’s lead on election laws, immigration and law enforcement.
Floridians played an outsized role on Jan. 6, 2021. The state still has the most people facing charges for the insurrection, including the leader of the Proud Boys.
“What President Biden did was ring the alarm and say this is a real threat to democracy in our country in the future, and it’s hitting us right now, in these Midterm Elections,” Crist said.
During his speech, Biden made multiple sleights against “MAGA Republicans,” using an acronym for Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement. When asked about DeSantis, who ascended to the Governor’s Mansion in large part because of the former President, Crist said there’s no question DeSantis is a MAGA Republican.
“Clearly he’s playing that card, and he’s kind of a mini Trump and trying to out trump Trump, which is a challenge for him,” Crist said.
Republican leaders have pilloried Biden for his speech, calling it divisive. DeSantis has not appeared publicly since Biden’s address, but his team offered multiple reactions.
“The rule of law, democracy, free and fair elections, and love of country — those concepts that Biden just used the Presidential pulpit to claim are exclusive to his party — are the very things that keep conservatives fighting,” DeSantis Press Secretary Bryan Griffin tweeted Thursday.
Deputy Press Secretary Jeremy Redfern tweeted an image of Biden speaking in the fore of Independence Hall, which was illuminated red as the backdrop of Biden’s speech. Photoshopped on Biden’s podium in the image was a seal with a communist-style hammer and sickle.
“The most divisive speech in my lifetime from behind the Seal of the President of the United States,” Redfern tweeted.
In the analysis of Crist — who left the Republican party during his term as Governor after he embraced then-President Barack Obama — Biden distinguished between MAGA Republicans and good Republicans.
“The President made a specific point to say that there are good Republicans and reiterated that,” Crist said. “I feel that way, too.”
Last month, Crist came under fire for telling DeSantis supporters “I don’t want your vote” at his first campaign stop after winning the Democratic nomination. He called for unity between “good Democrats, good independents, good Republicans,” but critics latched on to the first part of the quote to call Crist divisive.
Some moderate Republicans are pro-abortion rights, Crist noted Friday before attacking DeSantis for signing a bill that bans abortions after 15 weeks with no exemptions for rape or incest.
Crist weathered attacks from Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried during the Democratic Primary that he is personally “for life” and campaigned as “pro-life” in the past. However, the former Republican Governor has sought to prove his pro-abortion rights bona fides, including by highlighting his 2010 veto of a bill that would have required most women to pay for an ultrasound before receiving an abortion.
“That is barbaric,” Crist said of the 15-week abortion ban. “I can’t understand it. That’s medieval. It’s wrong. Women don’t want it. Reasonable men don’t want it. It’s not respectful toward women and their right to choose.”
Until his resignation this week, Crist had represented Florida’s 13th Congressional District since winning the seat in the 2016 election. Crist was elected Governor as a Republican in 2006 but left the party and did not seek re-election in 2010, opting instead for an ultimately unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate.
DeSantis currently holds the polling and fundraising lead in his re-election bid. The latest polling commissioned by one progressive coalition put DeSantis up 3 points over Crist, within the poll’s margin of error. However, FiveThirtyEight puts DeSantis up 7 points over Crist, a large margin compared to recent Florida history. The outfit also gives DeSantis a 93% chance of winning in November.
56 comments
Charlie Crist
September 2, 2022 at 1:56 pm
Criminal terrorist MAGGOT Republicans will be defeated in Florida no matter how long it takes. Trump will be charged with a crime as well. All anti-government militia groups must be annihilated. Vote for me. I will put maggot Republicans behind bars.
Avy115
September 2, 2022 at 3:46 pm
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Arnold Schwarzenegger
September 2, 2022 at 10:42 pm
Trump supporters are not even human beings. Should be slaughtered, loaded up on boats, and dumped at sea. Trump should be executed in the electric chair ⚡ Special built for his fat azz
Tom
September 2, 2022 at 10:51 pm
How’s the maid Arnold?
And boy?
Pathetic corsin.
Filth consumes you.
William Hetzer
September 4, 2022 at 9:23 am
Crist is a socialist POS
PeterH
September 2, 2022 at 2:21 pm
If Americans want women to control their own bodies, qualified teachers to replace DeSantis’s culture wars in classrooms, intelligent teacher-student conversations concerning the social issues facing Americans in the 21st century, non-bullying discussion about classroom students who are different, common sense gun regulations, and a new honest approach on how best to address climate change……
AMERICANS MUST VOTE ALL REPUBLICANS OUT OF OFFICE.
REPUBLICANS ARE AMERICA’S PROBLEM.
Impeach Biden
September 2, 2022 at 3:48 pm
No you are incorrect.
DEMOCRATS ARE AMERICA’S PROBLEM
Joe Biden
Kamala Harris
Nancy Pelosi
Chuck Schumer
Pocahontas
Mazzie Hirono
Diane Feinstein
Dick Blumenthal
Chris Coons
Jon Ossoff
Raphael Warnock
Dick Durban
Tammy Duckworth
Ed Markey
Cory Booker
Kirsten Gillibrand
Sheldon Whitehouse
Tim Kaine
Many, many more. Then there’s the squad, Jerry Nadler, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, Jennifer Granholm, Pete Buttigieg, Alejandro Mayorkas.
Elliott Corsin
September 2, 2022 at 3:52 pm
You’ve lost your mind buddy. Seek help for whatever illness you are suffering from immediately before you get hurt.
Impeach Biden
September 2, 2022 at 3:57 pm
The truth hurts doesn’t it? Look at that band of misfits above. Probably none of them could survive without that government paycheck. Like you Corsin / Offen / Crist.🤣
Elliott Corsin
September 2, 2022 at 4:50 pm
1) The things you say aren’t the truth..are right wing bullsht.
2) You don’t know anything about other people’s lives other than their politics by reading these posts. By assigning other people labels based on your own imagination you are just displaying your illness. Seek help man!
Hope
September 2, 2022 at 5:32 pm
@ Impeach Biden,
“DEMOCRATS ARE AMERICA’S PROBLEM”…So true…
Please add Charlie Crist to the list.
Hope is a Dope
September 2, 2022 at 5:40 pm
Democrats would actually do something for ordinary people and the country as a whole if Republicans weren’t so busy sabotaging and obstructing government on behalf of the rich. You are smoking crack and ice cocaine!!!!
Tom
September 2, 2022 at 10:46 pm
Yes it is
Good job impeach!
Truth and high beams on these two degenerates is key!
They collapse in truth.
Linda
September 3, 2022 at 10:36 am
Biden and Crist will kill America the Republicans to take over and get America back on track these people think that Biden is the answer take a look at your pocketbook the prices of everything what is wrong with this and it all comes to the same answer the Democrats
William Hetzer
September 4, 2022 at 9:26 am
🤔 no, the dictatorial liberals/dems need to be voted out. If you’re for wokeism, gender politics, playing the race card, declaring all who disagree with you terrorists then you’re most likely a liberal/dem
Hope
September 2, 2022 at 2:46 pm
Biden and his handlers make strategic miscalculation as Democrats flee to the elections offices to change their registrations to Republican!
They see through Biden’s having no record to run on, won’t fix what he has messed up (which is a lot), and deflecting by his desperate attempt to denounce good people. Democrats are tired of his antics and therefore abandoning his sinking ship…
Worst speech and miscalculation in American history!
PeterH
September 2, 2022 at 2:56 pm
Fake News Alert!
Charlie Crist
September 2, 2022 at 3:06 pm
I’ve never seen someone so full of poo poo in my life as “hope.” Stop standing up for criminal ideology/far right political movements and you won’t have certain problems.
Just no.
September 2, 2022 at 3:43 pm
Phew. It took me a good minute to pick myself up off the floor after reading your joke up there. Registration is heavily leaning D since the Dobbs decision. No democrats are switching to republicans, what planet are you on? Also, Biden didn’t impugn good people. He aimed straight at anti-American, anti-democracy, pro-violence individuals and those who play footsie with them just to retain political power. If you are in that group, sorry-not-sorry you were offended.
Tom
September 2, 2022 at 10:50 pm
Hardly moron. Repub win back House,15 to 30 net and likely Senate. Instead of 5 net, likely 3. Hi
A Pol on Pot
September 2, 2022 at 3:00 pm
This makes me think of Cambodia when people saw Pol Pot coming to power. The hallmarks are all here: condemning the opposition, the aim of a one-party state, the acquisition of ultimate control, and the genocide of the opposition. Biden was a good learner in 1979, and he is applying the lessons well now.
Elliott Offen
September 2, 2022 at 3:04 pm
Nice try!!.. flipping the Republicans Orange Hitler orientation onto the Democrats because they’ve called out these dangerous far right trends. I see what you did there!!!!😆
Tom
September 2, 2022 at 3:09 pm
Yes pol pot redux, his lieutenants corsin, Elliot and Mary wench.
Charlie Crist
September 2, 2022 at 3:09 pm
Trying to turn those who condemn Trump’s partners in crime into the persecutors is comical. Kinda like blaming the jury for delivering a guilty verdict.😆👍
A Pol on Pot
September 2, 2022 at 3:22 pm
You can see what I mean. Those who oppose the power of the state to rule and ruin their lives are necessarily criminal. That is the big stick of the tyrannical mindset. Biden has been slowly going nuts for months, and last night proved it.
Charlie Crist
September 2, 2022 at 3:29 pm
So you are an anarchist? What has the state done to you??? If nothing significant then you might want to reevaluate who is going nuts… before you deliver yourself to the thing you hate. How stupid would that be..
Joe Corsin
September 2, 2022 at 3:32 pm
So you are an anarchist? What has the state done to you specifically? If nothing significant then quite possibly you are the one who is nuts..and might be hell bent on delivering yourself to the very thing you hate. How stupid would that be?
Tom
September 2, 2022 at 3:06 pm
Yes they do peter h.
They alone made Gov Ron, America’s Governor.
Psaki & Biden got pummeled by Gov.
Chameleon is a soulless, flip flopper, talks out of 3 sides of his rectum. Chameleon has no class.
He’s threatened DeSantis supporters and runs on division and hate.
His Lt Gov is a child abuser protector. A lackey for NEA Weingarten.
Chameleon is a perennial loser, he will get trounced.
Liars, Losers, and Ludicrous.
Charlie Crist
September 2, 2022 at 3:13 pm
After I’m elected, we will rain hell down upon the treasonous MAGA enemies of America. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth when we send you nazis to democratic hell.🔥
An intelligent Independent
September 2, 2022 at 4:15 pm
Dear Charlie, ihre politischer FUHRER. Thanks to your “I’m a Mr. BadAss” emotional and threatening comment here, you have inspired me to want to buy a MAGA cap and wear it proudly. I was quiet and didn’t care before but now…..
go ahead Charlie MAGA. Please
Charlie Crist
September 2, 2022 at 4:52 pm
This cap will be taken from you upon admission to the county jail or mental hospital. Enjoy!
an intelligent independent
September 2, 2022 at 5:22 pm
Sig Heil Mein Fuhrur, I will enjoy it Charlie because YOU are a Politician, and you’re not man-enough to take my cap. Bon Petite’
Charlie Crist
September 2, 2022 at 5:42 pm
@Independent: You aren’t an independent. Neo nazi liar is more like it. You fake!!
Jack
September 3, 2022 at 7:57 am
Maga hats were good during covid. You’d see someone wearing one and definitely keep more than six feet from them. Social distancing at it’s finest.
Beachmama
September 3, 2022 at 9:55 am
Good old Charlie Christ. At it again! He doesn’t know how to be original and proves it again by parroting Biden. We Floridians thought him a moron before and now by opening his mouth he proves it.
David in Shoreline
September 2, 2022 at 3:22 pm
These BS speeches just harden our armor. We are MAGA. We are ULTRA MAGA. We are INFINITY MAGA. And we aren’t going anywhere.
Elliott
September 2, 2022 at 3:35 pm
It’s funny that whenever you people are taking an azz pounding you’re always claiming victory. The truth is that Trump is politically impotent and radioactive waste…not coming back. The stupid MAGA movement will only get more people into trouble before it sinks like the titanic.
an intelligent independent
September 2, 2022 at 4:42 pm
Your funny Mr. Elliot, because did you comprehensively read Charlie’s “rain Hell Down emotionally threatening Narrative”?
Elliott
September 2, 2022 at 4:54 pm
Yes many of you will be jailed for criminal abuse… because you’ve psychologically abused and manipulated others with dangerous lies and far right propaganda…
marylou
September 2, 2022 at 3:45 pm
“It’s not respectful toward women and their right to choose.” Desantis will demand a total abortion ban after the 2022 election. First he vetoed contraceptives for low income women. Now he’s banning abortion– even for rape and incest victims—even for children. He wants to protect a zygote, but he doesn’t feel any responsibility to protect your ten year old daughter, your wife, or your sister. Ron’s cruelty and lack of morals aren’t what Florida needs in a governor.
an Intelligent Independent
September 2, 2022 at 4:37 pm
Dear MARYLOU,
If you find yourself pregnant and you want to discard IT; then do want YOU want to do, I don’t Care, Not MY child or a relation, But Don’t talk about Morals or Protection.
Elliott Corsin
September 2, 2022 at 4:57 pm
Intelligent my azz…you can’t spell or punctuate a sentence correctly! Your parents should be arrested for criminal negligence. You are also not mentally fit enough to vote. You’ve been taken for a ride on the Orange Shlong 😆
marylou
September 2, 2022 at 5:51 pm
Denying contraceptives to poor women at high risk for unwanted pregnancy is morally wrong — and he knows that they will become pregnant, so sadistic, too! Forcing child rape and incest victims to become mothers is failing to protect them. Desantis is infringing on women’s religious rights by imposing his own Catholic Church teachings on women and girls.
Antonio
September 2, 2022 at 4:16 pm
So Crist is hitching himself to the most divisive speech ever given by a US President. Regular, non-tribal voters are sick of this rhetoric, we are much more concerned with the insane amount of inflation, gas and energy prices, and the policies that have driven this. We want solutions, not division and derision for half of the country just because they don’t agree with Democrat policies.
Don’t Look Up
September 2, 2022 at 4:43 pm
There were no untruthful statements in Biden’s speech. Trump keeps the MAGA crowd front and center in this election season.
Tom
September 3, 2022 at 7:54 am
Idiocy, of course the whole speech was un truth. It’s a complete bomb.
He set Repub. on fire! He’s dropped 5 pts.
They alone made Gov Ron, America’s Governor. Psaki & Biden got pummeled by Gov.
Chameleon is a soulless, flip flopper, talks out of 3 sides of his rectum. Chameleon has no class.
He’s threatened DeSantis supporters and runs on division and hate.
Antonio
September 3, 2022 at 11:43 am
To deride 74,000,000 Americans as a threat for voting differently is absolutely disgusting and a desperate attempt at deflection for the current administration’s absolute failure for all Americans. I don’t play partisan team sports politics. The speech was abhorrent, divisive, and an attempt to cover up the economic and foreign policy failures of the Biden administration two months before the mid term elections.
Elliott Corsin
September 2, 2022 at 5:02 pm
Trump’s million stupid tweets set the stage for the most divisive speech ever given…the one that incited a riot at the Capitol. You smoking meth buddy!!!!😆
Tom
September 2, 2022 at 8:55 pm
Yes they do.
They alone made Gov Ron, America’s Governor.
Psaki & Biden got pummeled by Gov.
Chameleon is a soulless, flip flopper, talks out of 3 sides of his rectum. Chameleon has no class.
He’s threatened DeSantis supporters and runs on division and hate.
Chameleon
Arnold Schwarzenegger
September 2, 2022 at 10:43 pm
Seek help for personality disorder and intellectual disability…
Tom
September 2, 2022 at 10:58 pm
Truth hurts!
Tom
September 2, 2022 at 10:57 pm
How’s the maid?
Boy/Son bastard ?
Fernando the Glorious
September 2, 2022 at 11:46 pm
Hahahahahahahaha!!!!!! You are proof of leftist extremism. Is it so wrong to have a different opinion?
James
September 2, 2022 at 11:56 pm
Before you vote this November, know this—Here is what the Democrats, Charlie Crist, Val Demings and Rebekah Jones stand for (on their websites.) All opposes Voter ID, is soft on crime (supports early release, no bail, supported de-fund the police.) Crist & Demings marched with Black Lives Matter as they rioted. Crist nor Demings said anything to condemn theviolence. All support convicts the right to vote from prison, gun control, Crist & Demings support Biden’s open border policy, and opposed the wall. Both supports the new liberal class room curriculum for very young children indoctrination not education in critical race theory who is a racist, LGBTQ, gender identity, teachers making the determination of what parents deserve to know about their children, school same sex restrooms. All supports the green new deal, Biden’s war on oil, taxpayer funds for illegal aliens-including college, welfare for immigrants. Demings recently stated “Joe Biden is doing a great job.” Nuff said.
*VOTE YES ON REPUBLICAN’S RON DESANTIS, GOVERNOR – MARCO RUBIO, SENATE- MATT GAETZ, REPRESENTATIVE*
William Hetzer
September 4, 2022 at 9:32 am
After reading this partisan opinion piece and reading a majority of the comments this site is populated by mostly crying little liberal/dems. Republicans out number you, don’t like it here in Florida? Go to the liberal/dem paradise states of NY, CA or the cities- Chicago, LA, NYC Philadelphia, Seattle, Portland- you have many, many s#@$-holes to choose from. Don’t go Away angry, just go away.
maritza
September 5, 2022 at 8:03 am
Things started going wrong as soon as Biden moved in. Inflation, gas prices, supply chain shortages, sky rocketing crime, illegals… all started going out of control. Things won’t get better until we have voted out the dems.
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