Florida GOP Chooses Pro Gay Crist For Governor

After 8 years of extremist, Christian right crap from Gov. Jeb Bush (R), including support for a state ban on gay parent adoptions, Florida Republicans have chosen by a nearly two-to-one margin a moderate Republican who supports abortion and civil unions for gay couples. Attorney General Charlie Crist has defeated an outspoken anti-gay bigot, Tom Gallagher, in today's Republican primary for Governor.

Crist, an attractive and unmarried man, has been plagued by rumors spread by his political opponents that he is gay. He answers the question, "I'm not." After Crist was endorsed by a gay news publication, Gallagher called on him to disavow the endorsement. Crist would not. Gallagher blanketed the airwaves with ads saying "Crist is pro-choice, favors a liberal spending plan and supports gay civil unions." Florida Republicans have now spoken, and they've rejected the far right's attempt to use these divisive wedge issues for politican gain. Indiana Republicans, take notice.

And there's yet more good news tonight from Florida's Republican primary. Christian right extremist Randall Terry has been defeated by a two-to-one margin in his attempt to unseat State Sen. James King, Jr. Terry's campaign made national news recently after his gay son complained that he and one of his sisters, who had given birth to a child out-of-wedlock, were not included in the family photo and had been shut out by Terry, who ran on a platform of "family values." He argued that his opponent had not been sufficiently conservative and pro-family because he didn't go along with the Christian right's agenda in the Terri Schiavo right to die case. I guess Florida voters weren't buying his hypocrisy.