Crist Considers Latest Slam At GOP
When it comes to establishing his independence, FL Gov. Charlie Crist's (I) weapon of choice appears to be the veto pen.
Days after bolting the GOP to pursue an indie SEN bid, Crist is mulling a veto of a controversial bill that requires women seeking an abortion to pay for an ultrasound. FL legislators passed the GOP-led measure late last week in a party-line 76-44 vote following 3 hours of emotionally-charged debate.
Like the hotly-contested education bill that Crist vetoed 2 weeks before declaring himself an indie, the abortion bill has inflamed tempers in Tallahassee. GOPers contend that the measure will provide more information to women before they go through with an abortion, while Dems argue that the bill -- which also requires doctors to describe the ultrasound images to patients -- is intrusive and stands counter to GOPers' emphasis on smaller government.
In an interesting turn, Crist's newly-minted populist rhetoric has found its way into the abortion bill debate, with each side vying to be "the people's" champion.
"I ask Gov. Crist to please listen to the people, as I know you will, and do the people's work and veto this bill," State Rep. Richard Steinberg (D) said during the floor debate, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
State Rep. Chris Dorworth (R), taking the opposite angle: "If he vetoes this bill, he's saying that the millions of babies who will be terminated because of this are not people. I know he's a man of character and he won't do that."
Crist used the education bill to effectively kick off his run as an indie, traveling the state on a week-long "listening tour" before announcing his decision to veto. Voters responded by flooding Crist's office with emails and phone calls thanking him for killing the measure, according to his spokespeople, and the FL Education Assoc. has been airing TV ads praising Crist.
While a veto of the abortion bill might appear to be less risky for Crist now that he's left the GOP, it would invite scrutiny of his record on abortion and leave him open to charges of flip-flopping from his rivals -- especially ex-state House Speaker Marco Rubio (R), who has long assailed Crist from the right.
Crist described himself as pro-choice during his '98 challenge against then-Sen. Bob Graham (D).
"I am pro-choice, but not pro-abortion. I believe that a woman has the right to choose, but would prefer only after careful consideration and consultation with her family, her physician and her clergy; not her government," Crist wrote in a St. Petersburg Times questionnaire. During that race, he also said that he was opposed to a constitutional ban on abortion.
Since then, Crist has generally trended rightward on the issue, although his position remains unclear at times. When running for GOV in '06, Crist described himself as a pro-life and pro-family candidate. On Crist's current SEN website, the "Charlie Crist on Pro Life/Family" section states that Crist "believes strongly in the sanctity of life" -- but the site steers clear of any overt reference to abortion. A Crist spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The abortion issue aside, Crist will still have plenty of questions to answer regarding his party switch. On NBC's "Meet the Press" yesterday, he downplayed the importance of the GOP primary electorate, emphasizing that "primary" GOPers are "very different" from the broader electorate. But Rubio's camp is quick to point out that in a Feb. '09 appearance on the same program, when Crist was asked who leads the GOP, he responded that "the people" were the leaders of the party.
This Sunday, Crist was forced to admit that those people mattered.
"Well, in a sense they have. But again, I would, I would emphasize that those are primary Republican voters. It's very different from the November Republican or Democrats or independents," Crist said. "think what we need to have is a true, honest discussion about what democracy is supposed to be about. Let all the people have their say, give them a true choice, and that's why I'm going to November."
If Crist does veto the abortion bill, he may take a similar tack as he did when he vetoed the education bill, blasting the process by which state GOPers were "jamming" the measure down voters' throats.
You may want to check your facts. The bill as passed by the FL Senate did not require women to have (and therefore pay) for an ultrasound before having an abortion. Rather it requires clinics to offer that service to them, and the women has the option to sign a waiver indicating she is not interested and the abortion may proceed.
I was present personally for final passage of the bill in the FL Senate, and any changes to the final version, as sent over from the FL House that would require women to pay for an ultrasound (which is incorporated in the cost of the abortion in over %80 of FL abortion clinics) as opposed to requiring the clinic to offer them a waiveable option would surely have been pointed out by several South FL democrats (Gelber, RIch, Aronberg et al) who were vehemently opposed to the measure.
This law is clearly designed to discourage abortions from happening, but my understanding is it doesn't require women to pay for any service they don't wish to have, and if they refuse the service they can still have the abortion.
This is all political crap! Abortion law must be change... Solid Doors Can you still your self a christian if you commit abortion/ come on.. think about it
Dry Creek, requiring a woman to sign a waiver before the abortion can proceed is the same thing as requiring her to have the ultrasound, and a violation of her privacy. As long as abortion is legal in this country, laws like this and the one in Oklahoma will be overturned.
Semantics,
Just how is requiring a woman to sign a piece of paper verifying she has been offered a service which she may refuse and proceed with the abortion the same thing as legally compelling her to lie down on a table, have her tummy swabbed with the jelly, and have the probe waved around on her abdomen before proceeding with the abortion?
The logic of that is just too sophisticated for this conservative's troglodytic mind.
Please consider joining Facebook page urging Governor Crist to veto despicable HB 1143.
http://bit.ly/9hINy5
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Do the readers get a clear understanding of the bill? not from your article. I do believe it is very slantedfor ABORTION. For instance, over 80% of women who get abortions ALREADY pay for the ultrasound, which is done by the doctor to see the baby and determine age and ideal angle to dismember the child. That is known fact!
What the pro choice lobby refuses to discuss is that we should help WOMEN MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS. Is this not what feminism was all about? Choices made with all the facts? Well, facts show that over 80% of women who see the ultrasound including hearing the heart beating of the unborn child, choose life for the child.
Women who have abortions are haunted for life!
Why do the liberals want less information for women, and not the best for women, like me?
The primary goal of this bill is to STOP the public funding of abortions, as more than 70% of taxpayers have stated they do not want their hard earned dollars to fund abortions ANYMORE!Enough! Additionally, tax credits will be lost for employers who fund abortions through health plans that provide free abortions. Three important angles on abortion law here, not one.. dear writer.
The people spoke when both the House and the Senate passed the bill. The article was inaccurate and missed the parts that majority of Floridians WANT! It is more liberal leftist penmanship. I dont buy it! Let it become law as the people have spoken through both branches of government! Liberals should be ashamed. This bill does not even take away a woman's right, but fully informs her and makes her pay for her abortion, not the government. That is why the liberals are up in arms. They want the government to foot the bill for all abortions and have the women be uniformed about the life changing effects it will have on her. Dignity for life starts with the woman who is facing the decision, liberals. Hypocracy abounds in the liberal agenda!
More time to appeal and decide is given to hardened criminals, but not a beating heart, breathing child of God. Listen to the people!