SPECIAL OF THE DAY: The “$3.12 Million” Waffle

Crist-Crossin’ Charlie’s House of Waffles

Crist Made It A Priority To Abolish Public Campaign Financing.  "Abolishing public financing is a priority of Sen. Charlie Crist...‘It's about whether or not you want the taxpayers to be forced to contribute to political campaigns, and I think that's wrong,' said Crist."  [Miami Herald, 03/25/97]

However, Crist Has Taken Millions In Public Funding For His Campaigns.  Crist accepted public financing in his race for education commissioner, attorney general, and governor. Crist accepted over $600,000 in public financing in his races in 2000 and 2002 and a total of a whopping $3.12 million from taxpayers so far in his race for governor in 2006. [St. Petersburg Times, 07/29/06; Miami Herald, 10/31/06]

But Were Taxpayers' Dollars Put To Good Use?  "[Crist's] campaign is so flush with cash that Crist has spent money on thousands of footballs, drinking cups, shirts, yard signs and countless bumper stickers that he loves to personally stick on the cars of supporters. He has so much cash to spend that he even bought three six-story banners - featuring his face - that hung from downtown office buildings in Tampa and St. Petersburg until local officials said they violated sign ordinances." [Palm Beach Post, 11/05/06]