Florida’s Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Charlie Crist came to President Joe Biden’s defense over his use of the term “semi-fascism” to describe “MAGA” Republicans.
“I think what’s important is to state the facts as they are,” Crist told CNN. “He’s gotta be honest and express what he feels in his heart and his soul, and I think that’s probably exactly what he did.”
CAN CHARLIE CRIST CONVINCE FLORIDA OF HIS ‘PRO-CHOICE’ BONA FIDES?
Crist, a former Republican, also referenced his November rival Gov. Ron DeSantis, disparaging him as an “autocrat” while arguing that Biden needs to be honest with the public about the dangers of the MAGA movement. He cited DeSantis’s recent suspension of a prosecutor earlier this month and scrapping of the Walt Disney Company’s local self-government contract as authoritarian behavior.
“[DeSantis] recently fired a state attorney in the Tampa Bay area, well-respected, because he expressed an opinion about what he would do in terms of exercising his prosecutorial discretion,” Crist said. “Now, I don’t know what term you want to apply to that. I think he is an autocrat who clearly wants to tell everybody what to do, including women.”
Biden sparked ire for likening elements of the “MAGA philosophy” to “semi-fascism” during a fundraiser last week.
“What we’re seeing now is either the beginning or the death knell of an extreme MAGA philosophy,” Biden said, per a pool report. “It’s not just Trump; it’s the entire philosophy that underpins the — I’m going to say something, it’s like semi-fascism,” he added of former President Donald Trump and his supporters.
The White House has since defended the remarks from critics such as the Republican National Committee, which blasted the remarks as “despicable,” and New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu. Some Republicans even defended Biden, with Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan saying there’s “no question” there are signs of authoritarianism in the GOP.
Crist stoked conservative backlash of his own last week, telling DeSantis voters that he doesn’t want their votes.
“Those who support the governor should stay with him and vote for him. I don’t want your vote. If you have that hate in your heart — keep it. I want the vote of the people of Florida who care about our state. Good Democrats, good independents, good Republicans — unify with this ticket,” he declared during a press gaggle Wednesday.
Charlie Crist has always been the kinder, gentler candidate.
So when he answered my question about Gov. Ron DeSantis supporters like this??, he telegraphed something different ahead in the race for Florida Governor ⏩@WPLGLocal10 pic.twitter.com/yjRArjY0tE— Glenna Milberg (@GlennaWPLG) August 24, 2022
He has since walked those remarks back, contending in a subsequent interview that he “will leave no voter behind.”
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Last week, Crist clinched the Democratic nod to take on DeSantis for governor in the midterm elections. He held office as a Republican governor of Florida from 2007 until 2011 before switching parties.
He has urged Democrats to focus hard on his gubernatorial race, arguing, “It’s going to be a lot cheaper” to stop him in Florida than it would be in a hypothetical presidential election. DeSantis is seen as a contender for the 2024 contest.
