Changes

===Governor===

===Governor===

On November 7, 2006, Charlie Crist was elected to serve as Florida’s governor.<ref name="sunsentinelbio"/> He held conservative positions on social issues, such as broadening the use of [[capital punishment]],<ref>[http://issues2000.org/Governor/Charlie_Crist_Crime.htm Issues2000 Governor Charlie Crist]</ref> and he also signed legislation that allows employees, customers and those invited to a business establishment to keep guns locked in their motor vehicles, provided they had a concealed weapons license &mdash; a policy that [[liberal]] critics dubbed "bring your gun to work day."<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN0948339420080409 Florida lawmakers pass "bring your gun to work" law]</ref> He also initially supported a ban on gay adoption, but stated he had "evolved" on the issue and supported a 2008 Miami-Dade County court's ruling declaring the ban was unconstitutional.<ref>[http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2010-09-14/news/fl-crist-gay-rights-20100914_1_gay-adoption-gay-couples-charlie-crist Crist: I've had 'appropriate' evolution on gay rights]</ref>

On November 7, 2006, Charlie Crist was elected to serve as Florida’s governor.<ref name="sunsentinelbio"/> He held conservative positions on social issues, such as broadening the use of [[capital punishment]],<ref>[http://issues2000.org/Governor/Charlie_Crist_Crime.htm Issues2000 Governor Charlie Crist]</ref> and he also signed legislation that allows employees, customers and those invited to a business establishment to keep guns locked in their motor vehicles, provided they had a concealed weapons license &mdash; a policy that [[liberal]] critics dubbed "bring your gun to work day."<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN0948339420080409 Florida lawmakers pass "bring your gun to work" law]</ref> He also initially supported a ban on gay adoption, but stated he had "evolved" on the issue and supported a 2008 Miami-Dade County court's ruling declaring the ban was unconstitutional.<ref>[http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2010-09-14/news/fl-crist-gay-rights-20100914_1_gay-adoption-gay-couples-charlie-crist Crist: I've had 'appropriate' evolution on gay rights]</ref>

On economics however, his actions alienated conservatives. Crist supported President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus package. With a $2.4 billion state deficit, Crist vetoed Republican proposals to cut $365 million from the budget.<ref>http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/florida/story/875453.html</ref> In December 2008, when the state economy was plunging, Governor Crist took a 12-day trip to Europe with his fiancée that cost taxpayers $430,000.<ref>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/local_news/content/local_news/epaper/2008/12/08/1208europe.html</ref> Crist defended it as a trip to promote [[free trade]].  

On economics however, his actions alienated conservatives. Crist supported President Obama’s $787 billion stimulus package. With a $2.4 billion state deficit, Crist vetoed Republican proposals to cut $365 million from the budget.<ref>http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/florida/story/875453.html</ref> In December 2008, when the state economy was plunging, Governor Crist took a 12-day trip to Europe with his fiancée that cost taxpayers $430,000.<ref>http://www.palmbeachpost.com/local_news/content/local_news/epaper/2008/12/08/1208europe.html</ref> Crist defended it as a trip to promote [[free trade]].  

Although Crist opposed offshore oil drilling during his gubernatorial campaign, he changed his position, saying "I mean, let's face it, the price of gas has gone through the roof, and Florida families are suffering, and my heart bleeds for them."<ref>http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D91CGGV81&show_article=1</ref>  

Although Crist opposed offshore oil drilling during his gubernatorial campaign, he changed his position, saying "I mean, let's face it, the price of gas has gone through the roof, and Florida families are suffering, and my heart bleeds for them."<ref>https://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D91CGGV81&show_article=1</ref>  

Crist's style is folksy, and he searched for bipartisanship during his governorship. His handling of the great hurricanes of 2005-6 was widely praised. He appointed one moderate and two conservatives to the state supreme court. His support for [[John McCain]] in 2008 helped carry the state primary and defeat [[Mitt Romney]]. Crist was attacked by [[liberal]] [[Democrat]] [[Joy Reid]] of [[MSNBC]] as being [[gay]].<ref>https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lgbt-advocacy-group-rescinds-award-to-joy-reid/ </ref>

Crist's style is folksy, and he searched for bipartisanship during his governorship. His handling of the great hurricanes of 2005-6 was widely praised. He appointed one moderate and two conservatives to the state supreme court. His support for [[John McCain]] in 2008 helped carry the state primary and defeat [[Mitt Romney]]. Crist was attacked by [[liberal]] [[Democrat]] [[Joy Reid]] of [[MSNBC]] as being [[gay]].<ref>https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lgbt-advocacy-group-rescinds-award-to-joy-reid/ </ref>

Crist demonstrated his support of [[gambling]] when he "signed a new gambling compact (August 31, 2009) with the Seminole Tribe, worth an estimated $6.8 billion over 20 years."<ref>http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/sep/01/na-crist-signs-gaming-pact/</ref>

Crist demonstrated his support of [[gambling]] when he "signed a new gambling compact (August 31, 2009) with the Seminole Tribe, worth an estimated $6.8 billion over 20 years."<ref>http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/sep/01/na-crist-signs-gaming-pact/</ref>

In 2008, Crist was vetted as a possible Republican Vice Presidential candidate.<ref name=atlantic>{{cite news|url=http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2014/03/is-this-what-post-partisanship-looks-like/284350/|title=Is This What Post-Partisanship Looks Like?|first=Molly|last=Ball|date=March 11, 2014|work=The Atlantic|accessdate=April 13, 2014}}</ref>  In 2010, Crist entered the Republican primary for United States Senate against [[Marco Rubio]].  Crist dropped out and ran in the general election as an Independent.<ref name=atlantic/> He lost to Rubio.

In 2008, Crist was vetted as a possible Republican Vice Presidential candidate.<ref name=atlantic>{{cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2014/03/is-this-what-post-partisanship-looks-like/284350/|title=Is This What Post-Partisanship Looks Like?|first=Molly|last=Ball|date=March 11, 2014|work=The Atlantic|accessdate=April 13, 2014}}</ref>  In 2010, Crist entered the Republican primary for United States Senate against [[Marco Rubio]].  Crist dropped out and ran in the general election as an Independent.<ref name=atlantic/> He lost to Rubio.

Crist joined the [[Democratic Party]] in December 2012.  In 2014, Crist is seeking another term as Governor, running as a Democratic candidate.  During the campaign, Crist made incorrect statements about Governor Rick Scott cutting Florida's education budget.  When critics uncovered Crist's inaccurate statements, Crist's campaign manager, Dan Gelber sent out an email to all of Crist's supporters on April 2, 2014,  entitled, "Talk about egg on our face."  Crist's failure to properly vet his facts will hurt his campaign. He launched a Spanish website [http://www.CharlieCrist.com/espanol] to reinforce the message "Charlie Crist tiene huevo en la cara" to the 20% of Florida voters that speak Spanish.

Crist joined the [[Democratic Party]] in December 2012.  In 2014, Crist is seeking another term as Governor, running as a Democratic candidate.  During the campaign, Crist made incorrect statements about Governor Rick Scott cutting Florida's education budget.  When critics uncovered Crist's inaccurate statements, Crist's campaign manager, Dan Gelber sent out an email to all of Crist's supporters on April 2, 2014,  entitled, "Talk about egg on our face."  Crist's failure to properly vet his facts will hurt his campaign. He launched a Spanish website [http://www.CharlieCrist.com/espanol] to reinforce the message "Charlie Crist tiene huevo en la cara" to the 20% of Florida voters that speak Spanish.