Jeb calls reporter "horse's ass" and rebukes questions about Crist's sexuality

As Gov. Jeb Bush was campaigning with Republican Charlie Crist in Orlando Friday, a local television reporter asked each of them what they thought of new allegations from people claiming in depositions that another man has claimed Crist is gay.

"Silly season junk. Next question,'' Crist replied.

The governor was more forceful. He called the reporter a "horse's ass" for interrupting someone else who was asking a question and then criticized the "unfounded allegations'' that have emerged at the last minute.

Crist has repeatedly said he is not gay, although rumors continue to surface, especially in the final days of the campaign.

The governor also said Republicans should stop criticizing U.S. Sen. John Kerry, the Massachusetts lawmaker who apologized this week for botching a joke that appeared to question the intelligence of U.S. troops in Iraq.

"As much as I don't like John Kerry or his views, you have to give him the benefit of the doubt,'' Bush said. "He apologized."

Comments

Have to say that I haven't always agreed with Bush's politics but I do believe he was a strong Gov and all in all good for the state. That being said we can do much better and Crist most definitely isn't the answer. I don't know if Davis is the answer but at least he isn't running the two faced campaign of Crist with all of his paid for political stances. He did nothing as AG and will do nothing as our next Gov.

[Kat]

Davis is lame but charlie is a fraud and that's coming from a registered R wo has voted R 99.9% of the time. There are huge shoes to fill and neither is up to it, but Charlie will try to overturn as much of Jeb's good work as the D. At least the legislature won't allow a D to do that; they just might let a R. For the sake of Jeb's legacy vote Davis. Sad to say but true.

[David Ehrenstein]

Charles Crist is gayer than Anderson Cooper's sock drawer!

[Upset Republican]

Bob Norman has done the people of Florida a great service. He should be commended. The news media are now all over this story. How dare a gay Charlie Crist be againt gay marriage and gay adoption!

[Raul]

It's considered almost fact throughout Florida by anyone that knows who he is that Crist is gay. It's not really news to anyone. But the fact that he officially denies it and is against gay marriage and gay adoption rubs some people the wrong way. It's like Crist thinks he can be Mr. Everybody. He can be both gay and straight, a liberal and a conservative, pro-choice and pro-life, against gay marraige and for civil unions. They guy has no core beliefs or values. He's a stereotypical career politician. I have no idea how anyone could vote for him. Talk about being a PHONY.

PWWA-Florida writes to Attorney General Charlie Crist

The Honorable Charlie Crist
Attorney General
420 E. Jefferson Street
Tallahassee, FL 32301

Dear Attorney General Crist:

My name is Kyle DeVries. I am a proud gay American and President of the Florida Chapter of Proud of Who We Are. In 2005 I lobbied the Florida Legislature to enact safe schools and gay adoption legislation, and I served as a 2006 organizing and training fellow for the nation’s oldest national gay and lesbian civil rights organization.

Mr. Crist, you are on the record opposing gay marriage and gay adoption. More importantly, however, you are also on the record – twice – asserting that that you have never had sexual contact with another man and that you are not gay.

However, there is now a sworn, legally binding, videotaped, and newly public deposition on the internet indicating that you have had a long-term relationship with a male staffer (and convicted felon) on Rep. Harris’s campaign staff.

To me, this is not about whether or not you are gay. Rather, it’s about whether or not you are being honest with millions of social conservative Florida voters who are adamantly opposed to what they see as the “homosexual lifestyle.”

Many influential social conservative leaders see gay relationships between consenting adults as perverted. According to Time magazine (Oct 26, 1998) Pat Robertson, of the Christian Broadcasting Network, warned that hurricanes could hit Orlando because of gay events there. Robertson actually said “the acceptance of homosexuality is the last step in the decline of Gentile civilization." One Palm Beach-area pastor, whose support you have sought, recently said, “Homosexuality makes God want to vomit.”

Possibly there is an innocent explanation for what the deposition seems to indicate. As a candidate for the highest office in the state of Florida you are asking the citizens of our state to enter into a public trust with you to represent our interests and values. If you have so far chosen to lie about who you are, instead of being truthful and letting the political chips fall where they may, then you are creating a serious honesty problem, even before a possible Crist Administration begins.

Sincerely,

Kyle DeVries, President
Proud of Who We Are, Florida Chapter

Mike Rogers, President
Proud of Who We Are

[Jackson Davis]

I can't imagine Cuz Jebby calling someone a horse's ass - I guess fellow travelers recognize each other!

[Rich]

Just make sure you liberal wackjob homophobes are here on tuesday night and wednesday when I will be back to gloat after Crist wins the race.

Liberal Homophobes? That's hilarious. In case you haven't noticed, YOUR candidate is the one who refuses to come out of the closet for fear that the bigots and simpletons that make up the Republican Party will shun him. A conservative calling liberals homophobes, that's rich.

By the way, I'm trying to figure out why all you Conservatives are so proud and adamant in your support for Crist. He's gay, pro-choice, pro-civil unions, pro-stem cell research, anti-intervention into the Schiavo matter, and so on. If he had run as a Democrat, you all would have had a field day labeling him a "Liberal." It's tantamount to Democrats touting a pro-life, anti-gay marriage, anti-civil union candidate as representative of their beliefs. I hope Crist wins. He has my vote. He represents my beliefs, but I'm a liberal.

[Rich]

Just call most of us republicans, libertarian conservatives. Conservative on taxes and crime, libertarian on social values. We would care less about the social issues, and get turned off by intense pandering.

BTW, I work with someone who used to be in the hillsborough county government, and he knew 2 women crist dated in the 1990's, so rumors are false, unlike many liberal hopes. Not to mention he has had the same girlfriend for over 2 years.

[Joseph]

Rich, please do not lie. You boasted on another blog that you live in Washington D.C. and get paid $1,500 a week by the Republican National Committee to go around various political blogs and spread positive (mostly false) propaganda about Republican candidates. You've been "outed". For your info, Crist really is gay. It's not a big deal, except that many are upset that a gay man is against gay marriage and gay adoption.

[Rich]

Joseph, on the SP times blog, someone told me that I was doing that. Sorry, im not. I work for a developer up here in tampa. I said i wouldnt mind getting $1500 a week to work on the governor Crist staff, but that was mostly a joke anyways. My wife would kill me if i took up politics as a profession.