Posted on 07/13/2006 7:12:26 PM PDT by mission9
Political campaigns have a great way of revealing deeper truths about a society, and Florida’s gubernatorial election is no exception. After years of observing cultural trends, listening to stump speeches, considering candidate records, and speaking with Floridians across the state, it is clear that Florida is at a moral crossroads.
When Gov. Ronald Reagan left California to lead our nation, Californians faced a stark choice between two visions for their state's future. To put it simply, they chose a culture of instant gratification, promiscuity, and secularism over a culture of principle, family, and faith traditions. They made the wrong choice, and are paying for it with high rates of abortion, drug use, divorce, crime, and school dropouts.
Now Florida faces a similar alternative in choosing its next governor. Issues such as taxes, education, and insurance are important and should be debated vigorously. But politics is about more than who gets what. Nothing is more crucial to the destiny of a people than its cultural heritage. Social issues define us as a people and a governor sets the moral tone and climate for a state. Floridians cannot afford to make the mistake of California -- to vote without first considering the character, principles, and lifestyles of its leaders.
Tom Gallagher will stand up for the basic conservative values and institutions that Floridians cherish. Charlie Crist will not. Tom Gallagher will protect traditional marriage, defend life and work to end the scourge of abortion, and defend family values. His record, character, and personal testimony speak to these convictions. Charlie Crist's principles arise out of political expediency.
Today, the most basic human institution of our society is under attack and needs defending. Marriage between one man and one woman is not merely a lifestyle choice. It is a sacred bond and an essential institution for raising children that is recognized and celebrated by every major religion and culture in history. The stakes are high for everyone when activist judges violate the will of voters and write gay marriage into law.
Tom Gallagher is an adamant supporter of traditional marriage and Florida's families, and he has the real life experience to back this up. He proudly supports a ban on gay marriage. Charlie Crist refuses to come clean about his position on the issue. He offers lip service in support of traditional marriage, and then flip flops under pressure from the left. Just last year Charlie Crist said that there was no need for a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between one man and one woman.
On the abortion issue, the difference between Tom Gallagher and Charlie Crist is just as clear. Tom Gallagher is 100% pro-life. He is a proud father who understands the sanctity of life and is willing to defend it. On this issue as well, Charlie Crist is a political opportunist who is unwilling to clearly reject a practice that has killed more than 45 million American unborn children.
Charlie Crist is a conservative impostor. He claims to be pro-life and even told a priest that he would sign a South Dakota-style abortion ban. Moments later he retracted this statement when pressed by reporters. But his record speaks louder than his words. Charlie Crist is so "pro-choice" that he cast a deciding vote against a 24-hour waiting period for an abortion. Even the liberal NARAL Pro-Choice America rates Charlie Crist as "mixed choice" for his support for abortion rights. This should not come as a surprise. Charlie Crist is the same man who praised the judges that ordered Terri Schaivo's feeding tube removed, condemning her to death by starvation. Our next governor will select at least two Supreme Court Justices to serve on the state's highest court to preside over these important moral issues. We will have a unique opportunity to tip the court's balance to a 4-3 majority in favor of judicial restraint. Tom Gallagher has the character to make good choices, and Charlie Crist has indirectly told us through his actions and his words that he will nominate two liberals.
There is a reason why more than 100 social conservative leaders in Florida have endorsed Tom Gallagher. That is because Gallagher is without question the strongest pro-life, pro-family candidate in the race -- period. Charlie Crist may be a good man but he is not the best qualified man for the job -- especially for social conservatives. Charlie Crist lacks the credentials, principles, and life experience to lead Florida on these crucial issues. Tom Gallagher is ready for the challenge.
...as in, deal with the devil? Florida failed that test definitively last year. Perhaps much further back than that.
Is that you Tom?
Well who else did you have in mind, Claude Kirk?
The usual suspects are after Tom with the long knives, thought you'd like to know why. He is not perfect, but at least Tom is not a RINO.
It's just that the rhetoric was a little over the top, IMHO.
Gallagher's a good man, he has his faults. He's done a little "morphing" himself in the time he's been in office.
True, now he's a conservative candidate, but he wasn't always as gung ho conservative as he is now, and he had his "bachelor days" too, just like Crist.
The man has run for governor (how many times? 3 I think.)
Maybe he'll win, maybe he won't, the good news is we will have another Republican governor, of that I'm sure.
What did Florida do last year?
Regarding the tan guy Crist , sumtin just aint natural about that guy.
Some judge signed an order to starve a crippled girl to death. And everyone said it was "just."
Not everyone...
If you are a young man, and you are not a liberal, then you have no heart. If you are an old man, and are not a conservative, then you have no brain. Paraphrase Winston Churchill. As the to over the top qualified.... he really does know the issues. I have seen people try to trip him up. I can't wait for the debates, if Charlie will agree to debate. That Charlie won't agree to debate says quite alot. Amblivilence in this race is not a virtue. WE cannot afford on the job training in an insurance crisis.
"Some judge signed an order to starve a crippled girl to death. And everyone said it was "just.""
Not really.
The husband did, the husbands lawyer did, they judge did.
The lawyer and judge both belong to a group which advocates putting people to death when they are no longer "useful" to society.
the husband and the lawyer can't "order" anything. the judge, carrying the authority and force of the government, and acting as an agent of the government charged with upholding applicable law under the Constitutions(s), authorized and enforced the starvation of Terri Schiavo.
"the husband and the lawyer can't "order" anything. the judge, carrying the authority and force of the government, and acting as an agent of the government charged with upholding applicable law under the Constitutions(s), authorized and enforced the starvation of Terri Schiavo."
The husband lied, the lawyer manipulated those lies, and the judge issued orders based on those lies. If any one of those hadn't been there then the system would have worked.
A culture of life = Tom Gallagher. A culture of death = Charlie Crist (no matter what his campaign stuff says).
Tom Gallagher has proven leadership qualities. Charlie Crist is an expert at passing the buck. The future is a brave new world. I'd rather have Gallagher lead us than the buck passing liberal.
Pinged from Terri JULY Dailies
8mm
Here's the description for his dept.
http://www.oppaga.state.fl.us/profiles/1031/
http://www.flcr.org/
(voting through July 26th.)
These days, I am seeking out Charlie Crist and can't wait to tell him what I just told you. And when he loses, the best part is Crist will have done it to himself. And he'll know it, too. Guys like me will see to it.
Who is Jeb endorsing?
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