Crist Apologizes For Backing Same-Sex Marriage Ban: 'I Was Wrong'

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM

DANIEL STRAUSS – JANUARY 2, 2014, 12:38 PM EST

Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (D) apologized for supporting legislation that banned same-sex marriage.

In an interview with LGBT news outlet Watermark Online, Crist was asked about his support for adding a ban on same-sex marriage to Florida's constitution.

"I'm sorry I did that," Crist said in the report published Thursday. "It was a mistake. I was wrong. Please forgive me."

Watermark then pressed Crist to elaborate on his position and discuss moving to support same-sex marriage.

:::snip:::

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/charlie-crist-on-supporting-same-sex-marriage-ban-i-was-wrong-please-forgive-me

[djean111]

1. I like that "It was a mistake. I was wrong. Please forgive me."

This will definitely be an issue in the primary, and a BIG issue in the general election.

As far as being politically expedient - glass houses, stones, etc.

[Orsino]

2. I do not like it.

No, it wasn't a "mistake." It was a strategy that just happened to match that of a party he belonged to.

I'd like to hear him try to articulate why a segment of the electorate he helped oppress is suddenly worthy of his respect.

[jamzrockz]

3. Exactly

I rather vote in someone who got it the 1st time than someone whose foresight only came after he was kicked out of the republican party.

As far as am concerned, he is a fraud and should not be trusted

[marble falls]

22. A lot of folks, me included, have changed our views on gay marriage.

[jamzrockz]

24. Yea but how someone

comes to the truth matters. Do you really believe he would have come out in favor of gay marriage had he still been a republican senator?

[marble falls]

30. Crist is a lot of things but he's not Teapublican.

[blkmusclmachine]

6. +1,000

[DonViejo]

7. Here's his answer...

available at the link to the story:

"I made a mistake. I’m not perfect… please don’t hold me to that standard. And I’m sincerely sorry. I understand when it’s necessary to say I was wrong. That‘s the journey I’m on… and I’m still on it," Crist added. "As a Republican, on social issues I always felt I was a round peg in a square hole. I just didn’t fit. But I tried, until I couldn’t do it any more… until I had to say, ‘Enough is enough.’"

[Orsino]

9. Hardly articulate.

So he didn't really believe all that stuff, but went along with it for years?

No, that's still not a "mistake."

[DonViejo]

12. Sorry, I disagree...

he admits he was wrong and asks forgiveness while admitting he went along with it for years. I know lesbians and gay men that were in similar positions, exercising the oppression of their LBGT brothers and sisters. Community members are expected to forgive those folks, why not Crist?

[Orsino]

14. I'm taking issue with the word "mistake"...

...which is traditionally used in pseudo-apologies to attempt to trivialize a pattern of misconduct carried out for personal gain.

As in this case.

[DonViejo]

19. I've not come across the use of the word "mistake" in the manner

you describe. Based on my experience with pseudo-apologies, they always begin; "I regret...blah, blah, blah" and NEVER include the words, "please forgive me."

[Orsino]

33. Well, a very generalized search...

...despite a lot of repetition, will suggest the pattern I'm talking about: behavior more properly regarded as habitual and deliberate dismissed or minimized by the perp with "I made a mistake": https://www.google.com/#q=%22made+a+mistake%22+apology+republican

Any PR consultant would advise any public figure to use it, but it's phony.

[DonViejo]

34. I'm not doubting your experience one bit, just sharing my

personal experience with :::ahem::: the subject matter. lol. They are all nuts, liars and members of the wing nut brigade or the flying monkeys.

[djean111]

11. But when Obama, who had said marriage is between a man and a woman, "evolved" -

that was not politically expedient? There were cartwheels when Obama said he changed his mind.
Warren and Hillary have both changed parties, too - well, Hillary is with the group who is literally changing the Democratic party, come to think of it.
In any case, I will vote for anyone who runs against Scott.

[Orsino]

13. Obama gets some credit for being the first sitting president on the side of equality...

...but as for his purported "evolution," I see little more than expedience. I think he had long wanted such things, unlike Crist.

It's heartening to see a toad like Crist having to support equality to try to get elected, and our president is part of the reason why.

[progressoid]

21. There are plenty of Democrats who supported that strategy as well (including our President)

Sadly, many still do.

[Javaman]

4. So let's see here...

crist has come out on a number of issues that he's "suddenly" sorry for saying.

when he made his first claim and was for a ban, that was back in 2010, when he was still gov. and more than likely trying to get a second term.

now, he's oh sooooo sorry, now that he's running as a DEMOCRAT this time around.

And if he doesn't get elected? will he switch back to being a repuke then embrace the ban again?

I have no problem with people changing party affiliations, but given his proclivity to change his stance on various issues to align them with his new affiliation, I find him a bit suspect and a lot of a flip flopper.

I will admit I could be wrong, but a quick perusal of his wiki page gives me enough information on the other issues he's flipped on.

No don't get me wrong, I love the fact that someone will run against halfwit scott, as a dem, but given crists history, I'm not sure I can trust him.

all politicians appear sincere when they want your vote.

[blkmusclmachine]

5. He was for it, before he was against it.

[riderinthestorm]

8. And Crist makes it obvious that he's definitely running for President

[Comrade Grumpy]

35. More like governor of Florida.

[HockeyMom]

10. Florida's Constitutional Amendment Ban on Same Sex Marriage

would not get enough votes to pass today from all statistics I have read. I voted against it. People are evolving all over the country on this issue. Why not Charlie Crist?

[Orsino]

15. If he wants to be believed, and not just elected...

...he could explain what was wrong with him, how he fixed it, and what he will do to atone for the millions he hurt. His campaign could elaborate on why we should believe in any other principle he's espoused.

"I was wrong" could be the start of a convincing case for evolution, but I'll go ahead and predict he'll say nothing more of substance on the subject.

[geek tragedy]

16. Crist is a hack, but he's pandering to the good guys, so he's not only

on the right side of the issue, but will be predictably so if activists agitate effectively.

Is his vote principled or pandering? Meh. A vote is a vote.

[Orsino]

18. That, IMO, is the only reason we should be discussing Crist.

Sad, indeed, that we may be able to do no better than a crook who doesn't stay bought.

[geek tragedy]

20. He may stay bought in this instance, because he will never again

have buyers on the other side.

Crist did some decent things even as a Republican, such as making it easier to vote and trying to protect the Everglades. I suspect the gay marriage position he holds now is closer to his 'real' view on things than his pandering to the crazies in the Republican party, for whatever small amount of consolation that's worth.

Main point in his favor is the ability to remove Rick Scott from office, and doing so in an utterly humiliating manner.

[RandiFan1290]

17. I still won't vote for you

Sorry Charlie

[djean111]

26. There are pictures of Crist hugging Obama, too.

So - you would vote for Scott?

[RandiFan1290]

27. I don't vote for 'publicons. nt

[Penicilino]

23. Good move by Christie

I'm glad to see that not all Republicans are moving right.

[theHandpuppet]

25. Crist, not Christie

Wrong man, wrong party.

[fbc]

28. He may have been a Republican, but he's more liberal than many who call themselves Democrats

Crist should be a welcome addition to the democratic party. Either that, or it's time to start calling for the casting out of many current Democrats, something I believe is not permitted on these boards.

[UncleTomsEvilBrother]

29. Waiting

for the person who anti-Crist people think we should get behind. Mind you, this person should be able to defeat a wealthy Rick Scott in FL. Crist is not my favorite candidate by any stretch of the imagination, but we have a mess on our hands down here in Florida with Scott.

[Marrah_G]

31. Oops read that wrong

thought it said Cristie!

[Nye Bevan]

32. Just like I said when Obama reversed himself on this issue, better late than never (nt)