Even before he's been sworn in to office, Charlie Crist has struck a nerve with black voters in CD13 over newly appointed members of President-Elect Donald Trump’s staff.
The former Florida governor has taken a “middle of the road” approach to new Republican leadership after narrowly winning the Pinellas County seat.
This week, he told Politico Trump’s hire of former Breitbart head Steve Bannon as chief strategist is evened out by tapping Republican National Committee chair Reince Priebus as his chief of staff.
Crist, according to Politico, said Bannon’s hire “gives him pause,” but explained Priebus cancels that hesitation out.
“The Priebus hire gives me faith,” Crist said at the time. “I know him to be a good man. He’s a fellow Greek and I think he’ll do a good job.”
The trade-off for Bannon, who many white nationalists see as an advocate for their cause, has black voters feeling uneasy -- but most of all, they feel betrayed.
“Charlie Crist seems to think alleged white supremacist Steve Bannon is passable as Trump's chief strategist,” wrote St. Petersburg resident and editor of Power Broker Magazine Gypsy Gallardo. “NOT IN MY BOOK! Crist won because the black community overwhelmingly supported him against David Jolly. We stood for him; he needs to stand for us!”
Others agreed with Gallardo, appalled at Crist’s soft approach to Bannon’s appointment. A Facebook post exploded with comments after the Politico story, most criticizing the former Republican-turned-Independent-turned-Democrat.
“Looking for a little integrity here, Charlie,” wrote Lynne Kane-Wood. “That was the hope anyway for your election! Beyond disappointed.”
Pinellas Democratic Party Chair Susan McGrath seemed more willing to give Crist a chance to elaborate on what he meant by Bannon “giving him pause.”
“I think we should look for clarification,” she wrote.
Gallardo agreed, but commented she expects far more from the congressman who will represent voters on Capitol Hill.
“Yes. Clarification. Not capitulation. Crist's ‘pause’ is not good enough,” she wrote.
Crist’s recent comments come on the heels of revelations that he does, indeed, have something of a functional relationship with the country’s next president -- contrary to claims he made on the campaign trail when he said the two don’t have a personal relationship.
When Crist was a Republican, he received several donations from Trump. He praised Trump after meeting with him in 2005.
"He could not have been more gracious or more hospitable," Crist said at the time. "The guy cares about Florida. He has a residence in Florida and spends a lot of time in Florida."
After Trump’s historic victory, Crist apparently remembered he actually did, once upon a time (or even currently), know Trump -- at least enough to say “hi.”
He searched through the contacts in his cell phone, scrolling until he found the new president’s number. He texted him to congratulate him.
Some voters, however, say Crist’s pivot is not at all surprising. After all, they said, Crist’s chameleon colors have always been evident.
“Don't cry now,” said former St. Pete NAACP executive board member Chico Cromartie, who was a vocal opponent of Crist in the general election. “Charlie Crist never wore sheep's clothing. You gonna get everything you asked for…”
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
