Cornyn "Honor-Bound" To Stick With Crist
NRSC chair John Cornyn sounds less than enthusiastic about his once-ringing endorsement of FL Gov. Charlie Crist (R).
Meeting with reporters today, Cornyn said he is "honor-bound" to leave his endorsement as it is. Crist faces a tough primary against ex-state House Speaker Marco Rubio, a darling of the conservative right. Cornyn is not going to lift a finger against the insurgent Rubio.
Cornyn explained that he made the call before the primary became a race, when he "selfishly" went looking for the most popular politician who could raise the most money -- hardly a vociferous defense of the candidate Cornyn has long touted as a virtual shoo-in for the seat.
"I looked around to see who was the most popular Republican in the state and somebody who was a good fundraiser, and that was Charlie Crist. And selfishly, given the limited resources we have and the national scope of our responsibilities here, I didn't want to spend any money in Florida if we didn't have to to help. So Charlie Crist seemed like the ideal candidate. This had nothing to do with Marco Rubio, who I subsequently met and have a lot of respect for," Cornyn told reporters this morning.
"So I think our posture here is I endorsed Gov. Crist early on, really before this became a real contest. I'm not going to do anything to change that. I think I'm honor-bound to leave it as it is, but it doesn't mean that we're going to be spending any money in the primary," Cornyn added. "It doesn't mean we're going to be saying anything bad about Marco Rubio. To the contrary, I think Marco Rubio, if he wins the nomination, will beat Kendrick Meek (D)."
The good news for Republicans, he said, is that their maneuvering kept FL CFO Alex Sink (D) out of the race and helped shaped the playing field. Sink is the likely Dem GOV nominee.
Rumors have run rampant that Crist could bolt to become an independent candidate -- something Crist's camp has denied vehemently. Cornyn said he's heard nothing to suggest that Crist would leave the GOP.
What a crock. The NRSC should have stayed out of it until the people of Florida had a chance to make their voices heard in the primary. Instead, the NRSC tried to dictate to us who our candidate should be. They have no right to interfere in state politics but they do it over and over again. When will they learn to wait until it becomes a national race before they jump in the middle of things?
fla is one of the 3 most important states and should have an entire crew from the nrsc. nuff said
They'll never get another dime from me.
I always thought that the RNC, the NRCC, and the NRSC were supposed to stay out of Primary Races and then endorse the winner. I guess times have changed since the GOP is moving to its progressive state. We have more RINO's then Africa.
This is why the NRSC/RNC no longer receives one dime of contributions from me. Clueless liars that they are.
I had sex with Cheney's dyke daughter so Rubio gets my vote..
Staying with Crist? And, no doubt going with McCain, too. The NRSC is obviously as tone deaf as everyone else in D.C. Do they care what we think? Obviously ... NOT.
To the NRSC: Please, please, please stop sending me requests for money. As long as you bozos (small 'b,' 'cause you don't merit the big 'B') keep siding with the Crists and McCains in the party, I'll keep ignoring you.
You want to spark some fire? Get people who are as diametrically opposed to Barack Obama as can be found. We want candidates who are more than "convenient conservatives."
These people are ones who are as tough on immigration as they are on fiscal policy.
Global warming? They'd scoff at the BS surrounding this hoax, unlike McCain who lofts his tiny signs in an attempt to build his bona fides with the the mainstream media and the AGW crowd.
Please find us someone whose cajones match his/her conservative rhetoric.
Crist, McCain are ciphers. And, to paraphrase Tina Turner: We don't need another "zero."
Cornyn is my senator, and this is a dissapointment. At one point, I thought he had a spine. Earlier comments are correct, he should not have stuck his nose into the state until the R candidate had been chosen. But having made that mistake, he should correct it. Crist is a weasel, and he should back off that endorsement.
Cornyn is just another RINO who still thinks he is relevant. He can't comprehend what he is saying sounds like he has the mind of a child. Time for him to say,"night, night" and go to bed.
This is honor?
Lets go down with the ship rather than working to save it.
This is the same guy who defended supporting Specter 2 weeks before Arlen switched teams AND AFTER.
The state party chairs are little Mussolini's. All working to make the trains run on time, even if no one is on them, and even if there are bodies left on the tracks.
All over the country, in district after district, the Republican state chairs are supporting hand picked candidates even while a good conservative with money and support and often THE LEAD in the polls is out there and already a working commodity.
Just who is it they work for, the people in the party or the party elite?
I know, dumb question.
"This is why the NRSC/RNC no longer receives one dime of contributions from me. Clueless liars that they are.
Barb | March 8, 2010 3:21 PM"
Ditto!
That's alright John, because we here in Texas feel no such compulsion to vote for RINO republicans that go against us come 2010 and 2012 when you are up.
Look at what already happened to Kay! She thought she would run on her Washington creds for Gov. Did'nt work out so good for her, and it will not work out so good for you either!
He thinks it's about his honor. It's about him. Not the good of the party. He can't simply admit a mistake and work to remedy it. It's about him and his pride.
Get over yourself, chief.
Where does the GOP get fools like this?
Bonehead.
What a dufus.
He makes a major mistake by endorsing Crist, then calls it "honor" to stick with the endorsement after the whole world has figured out what a weasel Charlie Crist is.
Have a backbone, Cornyn. Drop Crist and show us you deserve to lead the NRSC because you are listening to the Republicans across the country as well as Florida. Otherwise, you should step down and let someone else lead the NRSC. We don't need politicians like you trying to ram some liberal panderer like Crist down our throats.
Now you know why the Tea Party is taking off - crap like this....
Hello i just stumbled your blog from Google and have been browsing around some of your entries and just wondering why you selected a Wordpress site dont you find it hard to do anything with? Also a security worry?
Dear Senator Cornyn:
It takes a real man to admit when he has made a mistake; you made a mistake in endorsing that liberal rino Crist. Now you should do the honorable thing and CORRECT YOUR MISTAKE by retracting your endorsement of Crist and vigorously endorsing Rubio. I am a Texan (6th generation) and I always vote, primaries and runoffs included. Change your ways or we will work to change our senator.
Thanks for this excellent insightful site. Quite often, the greatest information originate from the sites you would not expect.