Event could put Crist in bind

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Event could put Crist in bind

Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist may not go to an Orlando fundraiser for a conservative Christian group whose leader endorsed his Republican opponent in the governor's race.

By Beth Reinard, The Miami Herald, May 18, 2006

Crist may not attend a conservative Christian Republican fundraiser.

Nearly all of Florida's most powerful elected Republicans, including Gov. Jeb Bush, are slated to attend a major fundraiser Friday for a group that tried to ban same-sex marriage and keep Terri Schiavo alive.

The strong attendance by GOP leaders confers political clout upon the Florida Family Policy Council, an offshoot of James Dobson's national Christian conservative group Focus on the Family.

The council's petition drive for an amendment to the Florida Constitution prohibiting same-sex marriage fell short this year, but the group is trying for 2008. The council also lobbied state officials to stop Schiavo's husband from removing the severely brain-damaged woman's feeding tube after 15 years.

The throng of elected officials attending Friday's event in Orlando includes the Legislature's current and incoming leaders, two Cabinet members and some congressional representatives.

But one statewide GOP official is notably absent from the guest list: Charlie Crist, the state attorney general and candidate for governor.

''That's saying something to us,'' said John Stemberger, president of the Florida Family Policy Council. ''If I can't get Charlie Crist to come to an event when he's running for governor in a Republican primary, why should I think he'll sit down and talk to me after he's elected?''

Crist's campaign initially said Wednesday that he wasn't invited by Stemberger, who has personally endorsed his GOP rival for governor, state Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher. But Stemberger released an April 5 letter from Crist to the council's chairman, Ray Berryman, in which Crist said he couldn't attend because of ''previous commitments.''

Late Wednesday, a Crist advisor said the campaign didn't know he was invited and that he would try to attend.

The snit reflects the competition between Crist and Gallagher for their party's conservative wing, which typically wields strong influence in GOP primaries. But candidates who veer too far to the right during the primary campaign run the risk of alienating more moderate voters in the general election.

'TRUE'

Both candidates are trying to have it both ways. Each claims to be the ''true'' conservative in the race on issues like abortion and marriage, while insisting that they are courting every Republican.

''We're not looking for support from only one part of the party,'' said Crist's chief of staff, George LeMieux.

Gallagher's campaign makes similar pronouncements. But there are subtle differences in the Republicans' strategies and positions.

Crist heralds endorsements from local GOP executive committees in Broward, Pinellas, Pasco and Dixie. He stayed away from the Schiavo controversy and recently said that he disagreed with Bush's intervention in the case.

Gallagher spoke at a rally in Tallahassee last year that aimed to keep Schiavo alive. This year he held a press conference to announce support from 100 social conservative leaders, including personal endorsements from nationally known evangelicals Gary Cass of the Center for Reclaiming America and Mat Staver of the Liberty Counsel.

'MAINSTREAM' VALUES

''I don't think Tom has stated any position that he wouldn't be comfortable with in the general election,'' said Gallagher campaign spokesman Albert Martinez. ''If you look at what Jeb Bush has accomplished -- being fiscally and socially conservative -- those are not just Republican ideals. Those are mainstream Florida values.''

Like its candidates for statewide office, the Republican Party of Florida also tries to appeal to both conservative and moderate voters. The party gave $300,000 to the anti-gay marriage petition drive, but Republican leaders did not push legislation to put the proposed amendment on the ballot when the petition drive failed.

'WE HAVE A LAW'

Bush has said a state law banning same-sex marriage precludes the need for an amendment.

''We have a law,'' he told reporters earlier this year. ''Clearly the only way to solve that problem if there was a constitutional challenge would be a constitutional amendment.''

He added: ''I still have reluctance in adding things to the Constitution.''

Equality Florida, a gay-rights organization, criticized Bush on Wednesday for agreeing to headline the Florida Family Policy Council event. The governor has helped draw about 900 donors.

'APPALLING'

Said Equality Florida spokesman Brian Winfield: ''When you go out and do a fundraiser for a group that wants to put discrimination in the Constitution, it's pretty appalling.''

Asked for a response, a Bush spokesman issued a written statement that said: ''Gov. Bush is speaking at the event and will discuss his views on the sanctity of life and will highlight some of his policy initiatives.''

Tickets cost $50 but some board members are paying $10,000 to sit with the governor.

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