Marco Rubio: 18-Month Anniversary of Charlie Crist Embracing Obama Stimulus Plan

Former House Speaker Marco Rubio, the likely Republican candidate in the race for the U.S. Senate seat, reminded Florida voters on Tuesday that 18 months have passed since independent rival Gov. Charlie Crist, at the time a Republican, backed President Barack Obamas federal stimulus plan in a rally held in Fort Myers.

Eighteen months ago, Charlie Crist joined President Obama to rally support for an $862 billion stimulus policy that has failed to keep unemployment from soaring but has succeeded at stimulating our deficit and national debt to dangerous levels, said Rubio.In retrospect, it was also a rally in support of a philosophy that puts government ahead of small businesses; politicians and bureaucrats ahead of entrepreneurs; and condones a Washington tax-and-spend lifestyle that is demoralizing to American families and business owners trying to live within their means.

Eighteen months ago, the American people looked to Washington for leadership that would help encourage private-sector job creation, continued Rubio. Instead, Washington acted on the belief that presidents, senators and congressmen are the real job creators and opened the floodgates to a dangerous expansion of government that is putting America on a path to a Greece-like day of reckoning. In return, the American people have endured higher unemployment, more regulation, a heavier debt burden on future generations, and paralyzing uncertainty for entrepreneurs and businesses.

Rubio linked Crist to the Democrats in Washington as well as one currently locked in a tight battle for the Democratic nomination in the U.S. Senate race -- U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek.

Eighteen months ago, when he had a chance to stand up to wasteful spending, and empower and encourage businesses and entrepreneurs, Charlie Crist went right along with President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and Kendrick Meek in ramming through this failed stimulus policy, said Rubio. Later, when trying to say and do anything to distance himself from the stimulus during the Republican primary, he denied he ever endorsed it. At least Kendrick Meek has always been honest about his unshakeable faith in bigger government, even if it takes reckless spending to finance it.