Coming on Sunday from the New York Times: Charlie Crist's Personal Life

With Florida Governor Charlie Crist now being seriously floated as a VP candidate for John McCain, all those old rumors that the longtime bachelor may be gay have gained new currency -- along with reports about Crist dating several women. For this Sunday's New York Times Magazine, Deborah Solomon coyly sort of raises that issue at the very end.

Solomon kicks it off by stating, "Your personal life is not that of a typical Republican candidate. For starters, I hear you're"-- wait for it -- "not a property owner." Crist replies, "It is true. I do not own property."

Solomon then moves on to, "You were married nearly 30 years ago, but the marriage lasted less than a year. Do you prefer"-- wait for it -- "living alone?" Crist: "I got married and divorced because it didn't work out. I haven't found the right one since." Of course, the use of the word "one" will be parsed for days.

"You can't find one woman in all of Florida?" Solomon helpfully asks.

Crist: "Maybe I have. Stay tuned."

Before all that, Crist claims than when people say he will be remembered as much for his tan as for his accomplishments, he says, "that's very flattering," hastening to add that he does not use self-tanning lotion, "it's the sun" -- and his Greek heritage. Crist also calls liberal Florida Rep. Robert Wexler "great," for pushing bill that gives Florida voters a paper trail.

<em>Greg Mitchell's new book is So Wrong for So Long: How the Press, the Pundits -- and the President -- Failed on Iraq. He is editor of Editor & Publisher.

Comments

[ProgressiveinBerlin]

And by the way, as someone who comes from Florida, if Crist has the choice between either looking for someone to be 'the one' to replace a lost love from long ago, or doing what is necessary in government to get the state's economic and natural environments under in good order, I'd like to hope his priority is to choose the latter.

Haven't we heard enough about politicians' sexual priorities?

If his priorities are with good governance more than good sex, I don't see why anyone should do anything but respect that (and in this day and age maybe even applaud it)!

[nanapat]

I too am from Florida and Gov. Coppertone hasn't done the State of Florida any good since he got into office.. It's been down hill since day one.. Gov. Coppertone is more interested in making money for the big business owner's than for us little people that actually live here in the State of Florida; he is a shadow of GWB.. Please McC take him for your running mate so that we in Florida can elect a Governor that will help this State of Florida..

[ProgressiveinBerlin]

Considering the implications of the rumors, it's a good thing the word 'property' was used.

You can't just start an interview with someone and right off the bat ask them if the rumors are true that they live a different lifestyle from most republicans because might or might not be a homowner. Oops, I forgot the letter e.

Oh well, it was a silent one anyway.

[KarateKid]

I think this is much ado about nothing. I don't think he'll be McCain's running mate.

[longislandlol]

That part where the poor guy had to defend his tan is really pathetic nowadays in journalism-- none of anyones's business-- what a shallow basis for qualifications...

[NABNYC]

I suggest a Day of National Stipulation. Everyone in the country will publicly stipulate as follows:

1. We all inhaled at some point in our life.
2. We all have had sex.
3. We all have done something sexual that somebody else might think was kind of -- weird.

Done. Nothing more to talk about. The politicians can just say "I already stipulated to that publicly, so it's no longer relevant."

As an aside, how bizarre is this obsession with sex, damned if you do, damned if you don't. The bible stories none-too-subtly talk about Eve making the "snake" (penis) get all excited, dragging poor Adam against his will to "eat the fruit," so to speak. Women are considered scum, satan's agents for forcing men to have sex. Yeah, that's how it happens, all over the country, every day -- women hold down men and make them "do it" against their will. But the point being, if men are not supposed to do it with women, then isn't the logical conclusion that they should do it with other men? Apparently not, because the witch hunts continue.

[Ping]

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Straight men act like Spitzer, Guillani, 50 cent. So unless he comes clean, Crist is just adding to the Republican Mystique.

[Witchitalineman]

And the point is what...if he's gay so what? We have a ton more important issues to address.

[trvlr64]

But he is gay and he needs to come out of the closet and make the Repugs face the fact that there are HOMOSEXUALS on this planet.

Gov. Crist (while vacationing in Key West) was completely infatuated that a friend of mine who resembles the actor Michael Chiklis. Gov. Crist just had to get his picture taken with his arm wrapped tightly around this friend.

And YES the friend is a card carrying HOMOSEXUAL. No where in this picture of Gov Crist and 3 HOMOSEXUALS is there a Woman. HMMMMM. Makes you wonder.

[booker52]

Another Rock Hudson???

[rebeccaj]

It sounds as if Crist might be thinking about a sham marriage in order to get the VP nod. That would truly be a terrible thing to do. Living a lie is, in itself a tragic thing -- but the security implications could be enormous. It could lead to serious problems down the line...

Let's hope that if Crist really is gay, someone who is in the position to know -- maybe even someone at the NSA these days -- will have the guts to step forward and save Crist and our country from this disaster in the making.

Being gay is NOT a problem. Being forced to life in the closet is a problem.

I hope Crist will do some serious thinking...

[nanapat]

Rebeccaj : you are so right.. My son is gay and I am proud of him and the fact that he has chosen to live his life openly..

Being gay is not a problem lying about it is or being ashamed of it is worse.. This is where Crist need's to face the truth..

[sparkey]

So what if he's gay. At least he's not Cheney.

[TheEmptinessOfTruthiness]

Best. comment. EVER :)

[Northlite]

Senator Larry Craig, the senior Republican Senator from I da ho!, is not gay and has never been gay. He happens to have an unusually wide stance when using the toilet. And as to his reaching his hand under partition, he was just picking up a scrap of toilet paper off the floor. Every good red-blooded marriage-loving American knows to pick up scraps of tp off the floor of public restrooms. It is pure patriotism.

Governor Crist, the governor of Florida, is not gay and has never been gay. He just happens....

[GiggidyGeshmoygen]

the list of republicans who are NOT GAY just keeps getting longer and longer ...

[Agnim]

That is too funeee. lol

[SEQUOIABISON]

Who cares if his is Gay or not, the man is stupid, wants to drill off the coast of FL for oil? Is he crazy?

[nanapat]

he has sunstroke..

[MizLiz]

I hope McCain picks him. Wouldn't that give the right-wingers a hemorrhage? Love it.

[SiberianRat]

While exposing the hypocrisy of the Republicans is desirable, I think that Gov. Crist should not become a victim of discrimination and that making his sexual orientation an issue is uncool. Unless he openly rails against gay rights or something, then we should leave his private life just that--private.

[SILVANUS]

I don't care personally if he is a Chinese Transgendered Martian. But he works for a group of liars who court and flaunt discrimination against gay men and women ("Oh, you know, THOSE people, George."), so, sorry, it's open season on hypocrites. We're sick of all of them. ReThugs (and some of the spineless Democrats who HAVE STOCK INVESTMENTS IN THE VERY FAT DEFENSE INDUSTRY BY THE WAY) have raped this country and its citizens while abusing our flag and a Bible to assault us for 8 long terrible years. Party of moral values? ! Ha! Ha! Ha!

Even Barry Goldwater would puke.

[sarasotajeff]

what?
he's governor of a state where it's stil legal to fire someone because he's gay.
he stands for a party that hates and villifies gay people.
It should NOT be private! He DOES openly rail against gay rights by NOT fixing what's wrong with civil rights in his own state, and by silently following the hate of the republican party against homosexuals.

[Gracehoper]

BY aligning himself with a party that actively works against gay rights, he opens himself up to these questions. It's a matter of hypocrisy. Plus, if he were a Democrat, no one would care. It's the Republicans that care. So let's bring it out in the open and see what they think.

[lippp]

Listen, he is a major player in a politifcal party that prides itself on "family values" and wants to discriiminate against gays a la marriage ban. So, while I agree with you someone's sexual orientation is no one's business most of the time, in this case it is. And if he is gay, but is not able to be who he really is, what does that say regarding his integrity? What else will he be willing to manipulate or hide to protect himself or others? No, my friend, in this case it is crucial he face the truth test. The last thing we need in Washington is another untruthful leader.