Crist continues to back Obama on recovery plan
MIAMI (AP) – Gov. Charlie Crist urged bipartisanship Sunday as he continued to voice his support for President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus bill and failed to rule out a run for the Senate.
Appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Crist said he’s willing to give the new president “a good shot” and to try to help make his economic recovery plan work, even as many others in his party disagree. The package passed Congress with almost no Republican support.
“It’s not a matter of bucking the party,” he said, “it’s a matter of helping the people.”
Crist said the bill would pour badly needed funds into education, Medicaid, road construction and job creation.
“There are times when you’re in a crisis and we all need to work together in order to get through those crises and I think this is one of those times,” he said. “I don’t think anybody says this is a perfect bill. I don’t think even President Obama says that. But we’ve got to do something.”
As for the president’s plan to ease the foreclosure crisis, Crist said it still needs to be examined, but said assistance wouldn’t be appropriate for everyone. “Some people speculated beyond their means and there shouldn’t be a bailout for them,” he said.
According to Crist, the key for the GOP to regain power in Washington is doing what’s right for Americans. He says that means taking an approach to governing that is compassionate and fiscally conservative and marked by common sense.
The governor refused to call himself an “Obama Republican,” at host David Gregory’s urging. “I’m a Florida Republican. In the Florida way, we work together in a bipartisan fashion to do what’s right for the people,” he said.
As for a potential run next year for the Senate seat being vacated by Mel Martinez, Crist didn’t entirely rule it out.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I’m focused on Florida and I think it’s important, in my case we’ve got a session that begins the first week in March. I’ve got to get through what’s happening in the Florida economy. I’m focused on that.”