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Published On: Mon, Jul 1st, 2013

Charlie Crist Uses Patients Pain to Distance Himself from GOP Past

What happened to “Chaingang Charlie” in the last 3 years?

 

Has his political astuteness finally caught up with the social trends or is his new found acceptance of Democrat ideals sincere?

 

This former Republican, turned Independent, turned Democrat sure has a lot of explaining to do on his turn from signing into effect one of the strongest bills against citizens growing marijuana (Florida Marijuana Grow House Eradication Act) to now supporting those same citizens in their fight to legalize the substance for medicinal purposes.

 

Take, for example, Cathy Jordan. Mrs. Jordan suffers from Lou Gerhig’s Disease, a debilitating disease that kills most patients within 3-5 years of the onslaught of symptoms. She uses medicinal cannabis to alleviate the severe pain she suffers daily.

 
Where is Chaingang Charlie? 2009. photo/Dscosson

Where is Chaingang Charlie?
2009. photo/Dscosson

In February of this year, the Jordan home was raided with armed and masked agents to seize the plants being used for her treatment. This came at the height of the Cathy Jordan Medical Cannabis Act making it’s way through the Florida Legislature. Had this namesake piece of legislation been passed in the 2012 Legislative Session her actions and that of many patients like her would no longer be done in secret or in fear of government agents descending on their homes.

 

Where was Charlie Crist in defense of Cathy Jordan in February?

 

It was his own actions in 2009 that made her criminal act border on the actions of major drug traffickers. Yet, Mr. Crist remained silent as her home was raided and the wheel chair bound patient was whisked away to a jail cell. He also did nothing to help the legislation already in the legislatures hands that would have made her life easier.

“Chaingang Charlie” was nowhere to be found on this issue.

February is a tad too early to begin campaigning for an election the following November but July, however, is a great time to start.

That is why on Sunday, Charlie Crist could be heard talking about his support of a new initiative sponsored by his boss, John Morgan, for the legalization of medical marijuana. Mr. Morgan has become the new head of the organization PUFMM (People United for Medical Marijuana) renamed “United for Care” with the addition of the new leadership. The initiative will require the collection of 700,000 signatures across the state to amend the Florida Constitution for this issue.

Crist, whose face has been all over billboards for Morgan and Morgan, is now on a media blitz to show his support for the issue that he took such a hard stand against as the Republican Governor. His past will certainly not endear him to the Democrat base he is now expecting to rally as he becomes the prospective candidate for governor in 2014.

The new petition has yet to be seen by the grassroots activists who had once worked diligently to help the fledgling organization PUFMM. There is speculation that the wording will be much more restrictive and lose the support of these same activists. There are also questions behind the decision to not support the legislation already sponsored in Tallahassee that would have made medical marijuana legal without the years long drive for signatures.

For people who actually care about the issue of medicinal marijuana, there is a choice for governor that will take it head on. Libertarian candidate, Adrian Wyllie, will not play with the issue for political advancement. He has been on the forefront of medical marijuana as chairman of the Libertarian Party of Florida and now as the candidate for the Governor’s Mansion.

His competition, the former Republican Governor, Charlie Christ, and current Republican Governor, Rick Scott, have done nothing but tighten restrictions on patients using this to alleviate pain. Charlie Crist and his political weather vain approach to campaigning will not go against the Democrat President Obama and his crack down in places like California against medicinal marijuana.

Rick Scott will not venture away from his GOP base that is already leery of some of his left leaning actions to take on the cause of patients and their right to treat themselves with a natural plant. This is harden stalemate for Republicans and nothing more than political theatrics from Crist.

Every detail of the project looks like a political ploy to distance Charlie Crist from his GOP hard stance against this issue. The severe flip-flopping on key social issues and the strategic campaigning for an issue that could have been put to rest months ago have all the signs of political expediency and not a change of heart by Crist.

The parading around of Cathy Jordan, a woman who suffers severely with pain, while allowing her to be victimized by the legislation passed by then Gov. Crist, has to be one of the lowest of the political ploys played out by this charade.

“Chaingang Charlie” is trying hard to shed his GOP past but at a cost that should be reprehensible to the citizens of Florida who can see right through his political savvy.

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About the Author

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Alex Snitker 

As a United States Marine veteran, Alexander knows how to serve his country. That dedication to his country did not end when his service in the military ended, as he became the first Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate from the Great State of Florida. He learned many lessons in that time as a senate candidate and uses them daily to help other liberty candidates run for elected positions around the state.

Alex’s work in politics does not end with campaigns and he is a founding partner of the 1787 Network and co-host of the Liberty Underground radio show. He uses this platform to educate and empower individual to engage in the political process on the local level as well as bring his listeners the news and other important information that is missing in today’s media. He is deeply involved in the Libertarian Party of Florida and the Executive Director of the Save America Foundation.

Born in Iowa, Alex moved to Florida at a young age and grew up in New Port Richey. Today he still lives their with his wife Kelly and their son Michael. He is passionate about bringing liberty and constitutional principles back to the state that he has called home for so many years and where his family still remains. He is well known for his activism and lobbying efforts especially within the local area.

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About the Author

- Alexander Snitker is a United States Marine veteran and the first Libertarian U.S. Senate candidate from the State of Florida. Alexander Snitker is currently the President of the Liberty First Network and the Executive Director of the Republican Liberty Caucus.

Displaying 4 Comments
Have Your Say
  1. Fight For Pain Care Action Network says:

    I personally know and heard from thousands of patients who are now suffering in FL and not one politician cares to help them after they caused them to be collateral damage to the crackdown on pill mills that went extremely way overboard. Research the false statistics. Try reading up on Lyme Disease and see what an epidemic really is.
    I know that everyone I know and all they know will in fact vote for Charlie Crist because he has shown he cares about citizens. I don’t understand why some people in this state don’t realize that many retirees, disabled and people who suffer with legitimate pain live in FL for the weather and other comforting reasons. I get snowbirds contacting me, asking if they should even try visiting here this winter?
    There’s a huge problem and it needs fixing. I feel Charlie can get it done. No one else cares about the majority of our states suffering population. Believe me, it’s large!

  2. Charlie Crist, The Stoner’s Candidate? | Drawnlines Politics says:

    […] The Global Dispatch: […]

  3. Jake says:

    I wonder if he inhales….;-D

  4. Charlie Crist Becomes Big Marijuana Promoter, ... says:

    […]   […]

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