ATTORNEY GENERAL ANSWERS "THE QUESTION"

Attorney General Charlie Crist, considered by many to be a likely front runner in what is expected to be a crowded Republican race for Governor next year, was the featured speaker Friday at the monthly meeting of the Tiger Bay Club of Tampa. And he answered a question that has been reportedly been whispered by some: Is he, or is he not....gay?

The St. Petersburg Times reports that the query was one of a three-part question asked the state's chief law enforcement officer by Mr. Lee DeCasare, a former community college teacher who writes a column for Tampa's tri-lingual weekly newspaper La Gaceta. The other parts of the inquiry were in regard to wheather the AG would open his Pinellas County divorce records from a brief 1979-80 marriage to the former Amanda Morrow, and what his views were on discrimination against gays.

His answer was rather short, according to the Times story: "I'm not, the records are open, and we shouldn't discriminate against anyone," Crist answered in a steady voice. The crowd of about 40 people applauded.

Crist is expected to run in what is widely thought to be a crowded Republican race for Governor, thanks to the fact that Jeb! cannot run again. Lieutenant Governor Toni Jennings and Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher are also considered to be players, and others may very well add their names to the list. So it is logical that someone would start a rumour regarding Crist's sexual orientation to stir the conservatives and homophobics across Florida to smear the AG and make him a non-entity in a gubernortorial campaign.

Not that I'm a huge fan of Charlie Crist --- I am certainly not --- but the idea of slandering someone like that if indeed it is not true is despicable, regardless of who the subject is. If a candidate or supporter of a candidate truly doesn't feel that their man/woman can be elected on their own merits without some character assassination, then maybe that candidate should not be in the race.

And...what if he is gay? Does it matter THAT MUCH??? A public servant should be selected on the views on issues that he/she will directly affect their job.

Let's do it right, now...without the crap that only turns many people off from the political square.