File under "there is no such thing as a moderate Republican":
“That is why I fully support Attorney General Bill McCollum’s efforts to challenge the Constitutionality of a provision in the bill that mandates all Americans to purchase health insurance or face a fine.
“Any individual mandate of this kind from the federal government is unconstitutional, a direct attack on our essential personal liberties, and vastly increases the power of Washington bureaucrats that far exceeds the proper role of government.
God bless him, Charlie leaves us with a good laugh, however:
“As I’ve stated before, once in the U.S. Senate, I will fight to repeal this government takeover of health care.”
Yeah, right, Governor, whatever you say.
I would note also, that Crist's handpicked proxy, George LeMieux, has already signed the batsh*t "Repeal" pledge, making him one of the first Republican Senators to do so.
Fortunately, Crist is going to be irrelevant very soon. Unfortunately, Bill McCollum, who may be wasting up to $50,000 of Florida taxpayer money in a payoff to his cronies, likely will not be.
Mike Thomas of the Orlando Sentinel has a pretty good column up today about how health care reform can work to the benefit of both Kendrick Meek, in his campaign for Senator, and Alex Sink, in her campaign for Governor.
Already polls show people are warming up to this law as they begin to understand what’s in it for them.
Sink should base her campaign on supporting the reform and ending McCollum’s lawsuit against it.
She should pose these questions: Your insurance company no longer can cancel you if you get cancer. Do you want to give that right up? Vote for me and I’ll end this lawsuit.
If your child gets a chronic disease, insurance companies no longer can deny him coverage. Do you want to give that right up? Vote for me and I’ll end this lawsuit.
I could go on and on. This is a winning issue for Democrats.
[...]
Florida has a lot more Dems than Republicans. The Great Recession it hitting Florida worse than almost any other state. People are more afraid and less secure here than in any other state. Giving them health insurance security is a winning issue. It could well put Sink in the governor’s office, and Meek in the Senate if they exploit it properly.
Word. I hope both of them, and Sink in particular, read this column.
Kendrick Meek for U.S. Senate.
Alex Sink for Florida Governor.
Update: Needless to say, this clowning with lawsuits points out the importance of state attorneys general as well, and Dan Gelber, the Democratic candidate for AG, is already challenging McCollum's insanity in this regard. (h/t tier1express in comments.)
-- Stu