FL Gov Charlie Crist: Stimulus Did Create Jobs
EmailABC News’ Yunji de Nies, Jake Tapper and Sunlen Miller Report:
Florida Governor Charlie Crist says Republicans who say the stimulus has not created jobs are simply wrong.
“That’s not the case in Florida,” he said speaking after the National Governors Association meeting at the White House, “It created or maintained at least 87,000 jobs, 27,000 of those jobs are educators and teachers throughout our state. I dare say what impact the would have on the students if those teachers were out of work, unable to put bread on the table for their families.”
The governor said accepting stimulus funding was “the responsible and right thing to do for the people and it puts people above politics.” He went on to say that lawmakers in Washington need to put their constituents ahead of partisan bickering.
Many in his own party have criticized the governor for publicly supporting the stimulus plan, even appearing at an event with the President last February on the issue. Former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio is running against Crist for Florida’s GOP Senate nomination, and has gone after the governor repeatedly on this issue.
Crist brushed off the criticism, saying, “He’s wrong, and I’m right.”
He says he does not regret accepting the stimulus money.
“I can’t apologize for it all,” he said, “It was the right thing to do. We needed the money and 87,000 jobs in our state. And you know, I was raised to respect the Presidency of the United States.”
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Charlie Crist is sending a signal that he may run as an independent if he loses the GOP primary. Marco Rubio is too far right.
Posted by: Mantaray | February 22, 2010, 1:21 pm 1:21 pm
Governor Crist is correct and is basically being honest, whereas his republican critics are spewing off the same old programmed republican talking points and policy positions…which are garbage. One thing that separated Dems from Repubs is that Dems tell the truth. They may spend money to help the poor and underprivileged, but they always speak the Truth. Not like the lying repubs who seem to thrive on “making up reality as they go along.” The idiot republican Rubio considers it “shameful” that Crist embraced Obama. That is because Rubio like all republicans is shame based and unevolved…lacking compassion and understanding…thus making him less human. Crist wins this exchange hands down.
Posted by: Robert | February 22, 2010, 1:26 pm 1:26 pm
Why shouldn’t stimulous monies be brought back to The People in Florida? The Federal Government was given billions, if not trillions to Washington in the form of taxes, so we are entitled to get at least some of it back! Way to go Governor (soon to be our next Senator) Crist!
Posted by: John S. | February 22, 2010, 1:28 pm 1:28 pm
If I lived in Florida, I would vote for this guy – even if I am a Democrat.
Posted by: Barry | February 22, 2010, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm
“Former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio wants to take Crist’s seat” I am sorry but when did Crist win a Senate seat? They are both running for the GOP primary. Crist is not entitled to a Senate seat simply because he is a moderate Republican governor the MSM likes. Sloppy reporting.
Posted by: Justin | February 22, 2010, 1:35 pm 1:35 pm
Republicans who say that the stimulus doesn’t work are basically all lap dogs of industry. They all stand in line and nod their heads whilst holding their hands out behind their backs to receive their payments. The behavior of Republicans since they got (deservedly) thrown out of control is absolutely shameful. No republican deserves to be elected to any office for a long, long time.
Posted by: Greenen Flemicben | February 22, 2010, 1:37 pm 1:37 pm
Both sides are spinning the numbers.
It was a tremendously political bill, and the results (whatever they are) are being used politically as well.
Posted by: MayBee | February 22, 2010, 1:40 pm 1:40 pm
I live in Florida and lost my job and been un-employed for 9 months….the stimulus did not create any new jobs in the Panhandle. Nothing! Where is our part of that money?
Posted by: June | February 22, 2010, 1:40 pm 1:40 pm
If Floridian elect this right-wing wacko Rubio to be their Governor, they will get what they deserve. The man is obviously a rabid conservative bible-thumping wacko. Life under Rubio will not be pleasant!
Posted by: Joe Plumb | February 22, 2010, 1:41 pm 1:41 pm
Rubio is the right person for the job. Unbelievable how many folks think it’s just dandy to screw up our kid’s future because mistakes we made. Spending more money we don’t have is damaging the future for our kids. Stop.
Posted by: kc | February 22, 2010, 1:43 pm 1:43 pm
If Floridian elect this right-wing wacko Rubio to be their Governor,
=========
It will be quite a trick, as Rubio is running for Senate.
But besides that, I’m sure you know a lot about him.
Posted by: MayBee | February 22, 2010, 1:44 pm 1:44 pm
Interesting – two REPUBLICAN Governors saying the obvious and contradicting the lies of the Republican right. The lies won’t hold up. The ‘no’ campaign is built on “Us First. Country Second.”
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“I find it interesting that you have a lot of the Republicans running around, and pushing back on the stimulus money and saying, ‘This doesn’t create any new job,’” said Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. “And then they go out and do the photo ops, posing with the big check and they say: ‘Isn’t this great, look at the kind of money I’ve provided for the state and this is money to create jobs, and this has created 10,000 new jobs, this has created 20,000 news jobs, and all those kinds of things.’ It doesn’t match up.”
It’s hypocrisy, said host Terry Moran. “Exactly,” Schwarzenegger replied.
“Anyone that says this hasn’t created a job, they should talk to the 150,000 people
Posted by: tierra | February 22, 2010, 1:45 pm 1:45 pm
Did the Government ever think about giving $150,000 to each family to help them? That alone would have also help stimulate the economy. The People are the ones that are hurting. Would this have saved some of the money spent instead of giving to all the companies who was struggling. Do the math, it would have been cheaper.
Posted by: June | February 22, 2010, 1:48 pm 1:48 pm
Conservative bumper sticker slogans “limited government” and “lower spending” are never accompanied with specifics.
Cut what? Limit where?
2/3 of the federal budget are comprised of Dept. of Defense, Medicare and Social Security. If the remaining 1/3 were eliminated – not cut, eliminated altogether – we’d still run an annual deficit. National Parks, the FBI, Immigration, everything.
Conservatives: What do you want to cut, specifically?
Posted by: progressnow | February 22, 2010, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm
I was a rabid Crist fan, he’s quickly becoming to much of a RINO for my personal taste….However, if Rubio gets the nomination I probably wouldn’t vote. He’s wayyyyy to conservative…one doesn’t have to look far into his Miami-Dade connections to see the lobbyist support. The polls which say Rubio leads Crist by 14 points are BS. Outside of South Florida the majority of the population doesn’t even know the name.
Posted by: JP | February 22, 2010, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm
Christ wanted the Stimulus. Of course he’s going to say it worked.
Posted by: MayBee | February 22, 2010, 2:07 pm 2:07 pm
Anyone that says this hasn’t created a job, they should talk to the 150,000 people
Posted by: tierra
—————————————- might want to run that by Evan Bayh..
Posted by: another crisis-another photo op | February 22, 2010, 2:15 pm 2:15 pm
“Anyone that says this hasn’t created a job, they should talk to the 150,000 people getting jobs in California,” Governor Schwarzenegger added, “from the private sector and also from the public sector.”
Posted by: tierra | February 22, 2010, 2:19 pm 2:19 pm
“If Floridian elect this right-wing wacko Rubio to be their Governor, they will get what they deserve. The man is obviously a rabid conservative bible-thumping wacko. Life under Rubio will not be pleasant!”
I love it when left-wingnuts express their well thought out & reasonable opinions. Too bad Rubio isn’t actually running for Governor.
Perhaps next time you choose to comment you’ll go to the trouble of actually knowing what you’re talking about. Just a suggestion.
Posted by: William Post | February 22, 2010, 2:19 pm 2:19 pm
White House Endorses Sen. Landrieu’s ‘Louisiana Purchase’…
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You obviously haven’t researched this to any worthwhile degree – the increase in funding to Louisiana stems directly from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Posted by: tierra | February 22, 2010, 2:21 pm 2:21 pm
“One thing that separated Dems from Repubs is that Dems tell the truth.”
You mean like when Bill Clinton, under oath, said “I did not have sex with that woman”?
Posted by: William Post | February 22, 2010, 2:22 pm 2:22 pm
The can has been officially kicked down the road with the stimulus. And the biggest tragedy of that is that people who aren’t responsible for making home loans to people who could never have afforded to pay them back, will be on the hook for Charlie’s bragging rights.
Posted by: Matt | February 22, 2010, 2:25 pm 2:25 pm
You mean like when Bill Clinton, under oath, said “I did not have sex with that woman”?
Posted by: William Post | Feb 22, 2010 2:22:12 PM
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The right couldn’t find ANYTHING to attack Clinton on as far as governing – so they tried to take him down with this cheap nonsense. And Clinton still remained popular with a majority of people. It’s only the Republican right who obsess about sex – and things being ‘rammed down their throats’.
Posted by: tierra | February 22, 2010, 2:27 pm 2:27 pm
The people that support Obama and Crist are the people with their hands out for free housing, food, health care, college, etc.. The problem is that the real producers in this country have stood by and let the congress exempt 40% of the population from paying their fair share of income taxes. These people have become the chorus shouting “tax the rich”. The rich are already paying the vast majority of taxes. I believe everyone should pay a flat 10% tax, no matter what their income is. That would be non-discriminating as it should be. Marco Rubio represents the hard working people carrying most of the tax burden and he defends them against the socialist spending programs of the Democrat and liberal Republican politicians. Support him and also your local TEA Party and we will finally turn this country around and reduce government and government spending. An example of the vote buying plots the liberals have is the free breakfast and lunch programs that cover a huge percentage of American children. The parents of most of these children are too lazy and too cheap to get up and fix their children breakfast and pack a lunch for them. Even in the poorest parts of Mexico and Indonesia the mothers do this every morning. I, for one, am tired of the huge number of leeches living off the work of others.
Posted by: George Douglas | February 22, 2010, 2:30 pm 2:30 pm
“Charlie’s bragging rights”
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Pointing out the stimulus has worked in saving and creating jobs is ‘bragging rights’? I would say those people and those students would think you’re wrong.
And so would the hundreds of thousands of hard-working Americans who lost their jobs and were given assistance through unemployment insurance and COBRA. Let them eat cake?
Posted by: tierra | February 22, 2010, 2:30 pm 2:30 pm
I live in FL and voted mostly Democrat on last election. Crist will get my vote for the senate, no doubt. He was an excellent Attorney General and he is great Governor looking out for the FL people.
My fellow Cuban Marco Rubio is playing to the same crowd that lost the 2008 election so badly. Good luck with that. We need someone that can work on problems, not their job security.
Posted by: JAR | February 22, 2010, 2:35 pm 2:35 pm
“I dare say what impact the would have on the students if those teachers were out of work” – From the looks of it they could write for ABC without much help. I think the students could fail to learn English, math, science, and history on their own. The other indoctrination could be gained from watching TV news.
Posted by: JK | February 22, 2010, 2:37 pm 2:37 pm
Saved 87,000 jobs and recieved $15.3 Billion. That’s around $180,000 per job saved for one year. Teachers must make alot in Florida.
Posted by: robtr | February 22, 2010, 2:51 pm 2:51 pm
Saved 87,000 jobs and recieved $15.3 Billion. That’s around $180,000 per job saved for one year. Teachers must make alot in Florida.
Posted by: robtr | Feb 22, 2010 2:51:42 PM
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You misrepresent what that money was targeted for – parts of that money were used for unemployment insurance, COBRA support and so on – support for hard-working American families in the face of losing employment.
Posted by: tierra | February 22, 2010, 2:57 pm 2:57 pm
These are all government jobs being subsidized. “Saved,” as they put it.
The private sector, on the other hand…
Posted by: Corodon | February 22, 2010, 3:08 pm 3:08 pm
Crist: I dare say what impact the would have on the students if those teachers were out of work, unable to put bread on the table for their families.”
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This is so overwrought. Unable to put bread on the tables for their children? The teachers?
It’s horrible when anybody loses a job, and there are millions of people unemployed right now. I daresay any child is much more affected if his own parent can’t put “bread on the table” than if someone else (even a teacher!) is.
Posted by: MayBee | February 22, 2010, 3:15 pm 3:15 pm
These are all government jobs being subsidized. “Saved,” as they put it.
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1) Not all.
2) Do you somehow think saving the jobs of teachers, police, firefighter and health care workers is some how evil or wrong? It’s common sense to save these jobs because to a large degree, they are essential services.
Posted by: tierra | February 22, 2010, 3:20 pm 3:20 pm
It’s only the Republican right who obsess about sex – and things being ‘rammed down their throats’.
Posted by: tierra | Feb 22, 2010 2:27:40 PM
LOL!! Thanks for the laugh. They do, don’t they? Always using government to stick their nose in everybody’s bedroom and obsessing over the very things you mention.
Posted by: progressive mama | February 22, 2010, 3:51 pm 3:51 pm
“Christ wanted the Stimulus. Of course he’s going to say it worked.”
Freudian slip? JK maybee.
Let’s give Crist some credit for continuing to stand by a policy he supported.
Unlike many Republican Congressman, Senators & Governors who have asked for or touted their stimulus money after voting against it and/or calling it the worst thing for the country, Crist is not a rank hypocrite.
Posted by: Ryan C | February 22, 2010, 6:15 pm 6:15 pm
Corodon wrote: “These are all government jobs being subsidized. “Saved,” as they put it.”
.
Saved SEIU, NEA, etc. also…. this is nothing but government sanctioned money laundering of taxpayer dollars into the corrupt unions coffers and then on to democrat candidates.
Posted by: gk | February 22, 2010, 9:38 pm 9:38 pm
Posted by: gk | Feb 22, 2010 9:38:25 PM
These are all government jobs being subsidized. “Saved,” as they put it.
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1) Not all . . .
2) Do you somehow think saving the jobs of teachers, police, firefighter and health care workers is some how evil or wrong? It’s common sense to save these jobs because to a large degree, they are essential services.
Posted by: tierra | February 22, 2010, 9:47 pm 9:47 pm
tierra wrote: “2) Do you somehow think saving the jobs of teachers, police, firefighter and health care workers is some how evil or wrong? It’s common sense to save these jobs because to a large degree, they are essential services.”
.
Fine, then THEIR state can find the money to pay for them. Why should Texas taxpayers subsidize the financial incompetents in California, New York, etc. If these jobs are so important, then they can prioritize the money in their budgets to pay for them. The lefties always pull out the sobbing stories about these critical jobs, but say nothing about the untold millions wasted on other worthless crap.
Posted by: gk | February 22, 2010, 10:05 pm 10:05 pm
Fine, then THEIR state can find the money to pay for them. Why should Texas taxpayers subsidize the financial incompetents in California, New York, etc. If these jobs are so important, then they can prioritize the money in their budgets to pay for them.
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You really apparently have no idea what the almost complete free-fall economic collapse on Bush’s watch did to federal, state and local budgets.
You apparently have no idea how many hard-working Americans lost their jobs and needed unemployment insurance and COBRA assistance, nor how desperate things would have gotten should teachers, police, firefighters and health workers been laid off.
You think during a severe recession is the best time to be taking away these things?
No, it isn’t. The best time to trim is when the economy doesn’t need assistance under drastic circumstances. Where were your Republican right wing friends trimming back during those times? I’ll tell you – they blew it.
Posted by: tierra | February 23, 2010, 12:43 am 12:43 am
Why should Texas taxpayers subsidize the financial incompetents in California, New York….
,Posted by: gk
next time there’s a hurricane in Texas, don’t ask for federal assistance, aka money.. work it out for yourselves
Posted by: XXX | February 23, 2010, 2:48 am 2:48 am
Bye-bye, Charlie. Enjoy your last months of relevancy.
Posted by: tjp612 | February 23, 2010, 1:33 pm 1:33 pm
xxx wrote: “next time there’s a hurricane in Texas, don’t ask for federal assistance, aka money.. work it out for yourselves”
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Thanks! We do… unlike Louisiana (particularly New Orleans). Did you hear the whining from Texas or Mississippi like you did from a democrat state like Louisiana? We manned up and took care of our own business. Learn from it.
Posted by: gk | February 23, 2010, 10:16 pm 10:16 pm
I am a single mother that has been layed off for a year now, I exceeded my unemployment and there are no jobs here in citrus county let alone a way to afford daycare for my child. i do not get child support as the father left and abandoned myself and my daughter. What is going to happen to the parents that are struggling without work and we cant even get what we put in for working all this time? i need help and theres only so much that i can research!
Posted by: Erica Jernigan | February 24, 2010, 10:10 am 10:10 am
So, is he gay or not? He keeps voting against gay people yet seems to be a gay man himself. Why does the media keep ignoring this and pretending there is nothing fundamentally corrupt about this lie?
Posted by: steve | March 1, 2010, 1:54 am 1:54 am