Former GOP Governor of Florida Endorses Obama

I'm sure the Christfascist/Tea Party base of the GOP is shrieking and spraying spittle as they get wind of the fact that a popular former GOP governor of the state of Florida has endorsed Barack Obama over the out of touch and "let them eat cake" ticket of the Republican Party.  True, Charlie Crist has his detractors and many believe he is gay notwithstanding his relatively marriage a woman, but in the final analysis he recognizes the extremism and toxicity of today's Republican party.  In a column today in the Tampa Bay Times, Crist endorsed Obama and laid out his reasoning, much of which coincides with my own views as a former GOP activist before the Christofascists high jacked the GOP.  Here are highlights:

I’ve studied, admired and gotten to know a lot of leaders in my life. Across Florida, in Washington and around the country, I've watched the failure of those who favor extreme rhetoric over sensible compromise, and I've seen how those who never lose sight of solutions sow the greatest successes. 

As America prepares to pick our president for the next four years — and as Florida prepares once again to play a decisive role — I'm confident that President Barack Obama is the right leader for our state and the nation. I applaud and share his vision of a future built by a strong and confident middle class in an economy that gives us the opportunity to reap prosperity through hard work and personal responsibility. It is a vision of the future proven right by our history.

Many have already forgotten how deep and daunting our shared crisis was in the winter of 2009, as President Obama was inaugurated. It was no ordinary challenge, and the president served as the nation's calm through a historically turbulent storm.

The president's response was swift, smart and farsighted. He kept his compass pointed due north and relentlessly focused on saving jobs, creating more and helping the many who felt trapped beneath the house of cards that had collapsed upon them.

[O]nly one candidate in this race has proven a willingness to navigate a realistic path to prosperity.
As Republicans gather in Tampa to nominate Mitt Romney, Americans can expect to hear tales of how President Obama has failed to work with their party or turn the economy around.

But an element of their party[the GOP] has pitched so far to the extreme right on issues important to women, immigrants, seniors and students that they've proven incapable of governing for the people. Look no further than the inclusion of the Akin amendment in the Republican Party platform, which bans abortion, even for rape victims.

The truth is that the party [the GOP] has failed to demonstrate the kind of leadership or seriousness voters deserve. 

President Obama has a strong record of doing what is best for America and Florida, and he built it by spending more time worrying about what his decisions would mean for the people than for his political fortunes. That's what makes him the right leader for our times, and that's why I'm proud to stand with him today.