Crist's LG pick, KottKamp supported rebel flag display bill

[seasat]

(LINK)

TAMPA - Charlie Crist's emphasis on civil rights in his campaign for governor could be hampered by running mate Jeff Kottkamp's support of a 2001 bill perceived by some as aimed at preserving Confederate flag displays.

The bill, filed amid controversies in Florida and elsewhere over public displays of the flags, was withdrawn after members of the state House black caucus objected. They accused the main sponsor, then-Rep. Bev Kilmer of Quincy, of deceiving some black legislators into signing on as co-sponsors.
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Kottkamp was one of about 30 white legislators who remained sponsors of the bill, which died in committee.
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The previous year, the South Carolina Legislature had gone through a nationally publicized controversy over a Confederate flag displayed on its Capitol dome.

And this team touts better civil rights creds than Davis/Jones. Riiiight.

Compare this to Jim Davis who was one of the cosponsors of the renewal of the voting rights act. He marched with John Lewis, the sponsor of the bill in the commemoration of the anniversary of the Tallahassee but boycott this year. Jim Davis' Grandfather was one of the original proponents of civil rights in Florida. He was the one that got Jim interested in public service.

Daryl Jones, of course, is a person who has defied racial barriers his entire life, He earned high school valedictorian during desegregation in Mississippi. He had a historic nomination as Secretary of the Air Force. He was the first serious African-American candidate for Governor (I seriously regret not voting for him in the primary in 2002). Now he will become the highest elected black official ever in Florida.

Bring it on Chameleon Charlie, we can see where your real priorities are.

[iamjoy]

1. Is It Race Baiting

to make this an issue?

I rather like the "Chameleon Charlie" reference, more original than flip flop and waffle.
It's so hard to figure out where he stands on issues - he's the kind of guy that if there are no chairs left will sit on the floor or leave rather than remain on his feet.

[seasat]

2. I think it shows the hypocrisy in his campaign.

As a youngun, I was a redneck who thought the confederate flag was cool (grew up in S GA). When I matured, I realized the amount of hurt that it symbolized for many people. Jebbie, to his credit, when the issue about the flying the confederate flag in public places first came up in S Carolina, moved all such symbols to museum type exhibits. Now Chameleon Charlie has an LG that is in direct conflict on the issue with his current administration. It is Charie's way of being on both sides of the issue. He appeals to the ignorant who fly the rebel flag while denouncing such stuff and proclaiming himself a leader in civil rights.

So no, I don't think pointing this out is race baiting. I'm not calling Charlie a racist. I don't think he is. But I think he only uses civil rights issues to puff up his image with minorities and doesn't really care about the issues.

I thought up the Chameleon reference a while back. It's like you put Crist in front of a N. Florida crowd and he looks like Pat Buchanan. He resembles McCain when he's around Central Florida, Chaffee when he's in SE Florida, and Jebbie when he's in Tallahassee. I threw around referring to him as Cheesy Charlie. A friend of mine used to work at one of the St. Pete beach bars and Crist was a regular. He usually had a girl on his arm that was just old enough to be his daughter. However, chameleon seemed to be more descriptive.