Crist, Greer used party money for family vacations
posted at 12:15 pm on September 17, 2010 by Ed Morrissey
Consider the other shoe dropped. An audit of funds and credit cards for the Republican Party of Florida shows that both Jim Greer and Charlie Crist ran up thousands of dollars in personal charges, including family vacations for both men. The Associated Press reports that the independent audit has cleared Marco Rubio of any wrongdoing:
Gov. Charlie Crist and Jim Greer, the disgraced former chairman of the Florida Republican Party, took family vacations on party money, an audit released today shows.
The two men and their families vacationed at Disney World in June 2009 and put the $13,435.99 bill on the party’s American Express credit card, the audit found. Greer also took three personal vacations to fashionable Fisher Island near Miami Beach, one including Crist, at a cost of $10,992.17, auditors reported.
Greer also charged $5,616.79 for his son’s baptism in May 2009 to the party, the report showed.
In another instance, the men’s wives arrived in New York City two days before a party fundraiser in September 2009 and charged nearly $1,600 to the party credit card on hotel and related expenses.
Crist had originally insisted that Rubio would have more questions to answer in the audit. Not so:
The investigation seemed to clear one of Crist’s opponents, former House Speaker Marco Rubio of West Miami, of any wrongdoing, along with Senate President Jeff Atwater of North Palm Beach and state Rep. Dean Cannon of Orlando. Auditors reported they were satisfied with explanations given them by the men on any party credit card charges in question.
Rubio had promptly reimbursed the party for the charges on the campaign credit card, and had disclosed that activity when the scandal first broke. The apparent clean bill of health puts the focus back on the current Governor of Florida and his hand-picked party chair.
Greer faces felony charges in connection to unrelated financial conflicts of interest. Crist may well face some charges of his own if these findings are substantiated by investigators.
Blowback
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If you were Charlie Crist’s beard, you’d need a vacation, too.
ChrisB on September 17, 2010 at 12:17 PM
D.C. or Disneyland, we’re paying either way. /
publiuspen on September 17, 2010 at 12:17 PM
Orange you glad Crist left the Republican Party?
I know I yam.
portlandon on September 17, 2010 at 12:18 PM
The end is nigh
orfannkyl on September 17, 2010 at 12:18 PM
Crist should now say that he is a democrat, all would be forgiven.
VegasRick on September 17, 2010 at 12:19 PM
Charlie got sum splain’n to do.
SHARPTOOTH on September 17, 2010 at 12:19 PM
Well, I guess I’ll be seeing more of Charlie at Treasure Island Beach…after his jailtime….
Lockstein13 on September 17, 2010 at 12:20 PM
“I’m gonna keep it.”
MadisonConservative on September 17, 2010 at 12:20 PM
Mystery solved. Agent Orange gets his tan on Fisher Island.
forest on September 17, 2010 at 12:20 PM
Headlines won!
lorien1973 on September 17, 2010 at 12:20 PM
a WILD AND CRAZY GUY!
CynicalOptimist on September 17, 2010 at 12:21 PM
The fun-boys strike again!
abobo on September 17, 2010 at 12:21 PM
Well sunshine loserman got busted lol. Marco rubio is the honest man here.
bessex on September 17, 2010 at 12:22 PM
I can’t remember a run of good news of this magnitude. And the timing of it all is an added bonus. The toilet is a-swirling.
paul1149 on September 17, 2010 at 12:22 PM
Behold the culture of entitlement in all of its vainglory.
“Off with their heads.”
Randy
williars on September 17, 2010 at 12:22 PM
Crist sure has cost Republicans a lot of money.
JonPrichard on September 17, 2010 at 12:23 PM
What did they baptize him in? Champagne?
mankai on September 17, 2010 at 12:23 PM
I guess when you’re spending someone else’s money, spending $13k on a trip to Disney World is possible, but since I spend my own money I can’t afford to have that much fun on holiday.
Bob's Kid on September 17, 2010 at 12:23 PM
Game over.
WisCon on September 17, 2010 at 12:23 PM
The Senate race is over. Every resource should now go to Rick Scott and Pam Bondi.
TimTebowSavesAmerica on September 17, 2010 at 12:24 PM
Good-time Charlie’s got the blues…
cartooner on September 17, 2010 at 12:24 PM
Maybe Crist and Rove can go 50/50 on a timeshare condo on the tropical island of Political Irrelevance. I hear it’s lovely there this time if year.
Bruce MacMahon on September 17, 2010 at 12:25 PM
Wait…didn’t CO use campaign $ for personal expenses/purchases at one point?
So it’s bad when The Orange One does it, but acceptable when CO does it?
I’m not trying to be snarky here – straighten me out on this one, because I’m not sure what the difference is (or if my facts are just wrong).
Thanks.
Good Lt on September 17, 2010 at 12:26 PM
He was orange toast anyway. Now he’s burnt orange toast.
Bat Chain Puller on September 17, 2010 at 12:26 PM
Talk about a major own-goal by Crist… He fails to hit Rubio with anything from this and ends up exposing himself. What a moron.
teke184 on September 17, 2010 at 12:26 PM
“Senator Rubio” has a very nice ring to it.
mikeyboss on September 17, 2010 at 12:27 PM
Scotch. The baptism was performed by one William Brasky.
teke184 on September 17, 2010 at 12:27 PM
Cracking me up!
lovingmyUSA on September 17, 2010 at 12:27 PM
Stick a fork in Crist.
WannabeAnglican on September 17, 2010 at 12:28 PM
sounds like a democrat, OK….
chai on September 17, 2010 at 12:29 PM
Are they sure it wasn’t for rides to work at the Chocolate Factory?
tims472 on September 17, 2010 at 12:31 PM
Yes you are, and yes you know…and here I was giving you credit for having some brains in that Castle befogged brain…
lovingmyUSA on September 17, 2010 at 12:31 PM
Ah, Charlie, we hardly knew ye!
disa on September 17, 2010 at 12:33 PM
There’s a debate between Rubio, Crist, and Meek in Miami tonight. Think this will come up?
Purple Fury on September 17, 2010 at 12:34 PM
Thank god this giant orange albatross left the party. Having fun as a “principled independent,” Charlie?
Good Solid B-Plus on September 17, 2010 at 12:34 PM
Makes sense that after cheating the system he became a democrat…I think that is one of the requirements.
right2bright on September 17, 2010 at 12:34 PM
Family values!
forest on September 17, 2010 at 12:35 PM
Crispy Crist. He’s toast.
halfastro on September 17, 2010 at 12:36 PM
Orange juice
KeepOhioRed on September 17, 2010 at 12:37 PM
The Republican National Committee sure can pick ‘em.
PackerBronco on September 17, 2010 at 12:37 PM
I think their victories all but assured.
lorien1973 on September 17, 2010 at 12:37 PM
Well its called “Party Money” for a reason right?
KZnextzone on September 17, 2010 at 12:37 PM
Maybe he can make a new commercial and spell out I-CAN-ROB-U.
tims472 on September 17, 2010 at 12:38 PM
Charlie announced today that he is switching his support to the Six-Flags franchise, “After my fact-finding trip to Disney World, I have concluded that Bugs Bunny is a far more representative example of American centrism than Mickey Mouse.”
mankai on September 17, 2010 at 12:38 PM
Bondi yes, Scott no.
Purple Fury on September 17, 2010 at 12:39 PM
Ok buh-bye now.
rollthedice on September 17, 2010 at 12:39 PM
“Senator Rubio” has a very nice ring to it.
mikeyboss on September 17, 2010 at 12:27 PM
I prefer “President Rubio”
booter on September 17, 2010 at 12:40 PM
I really don’t think Rubio will bring this up. I bet it’s the moderator or Meek (assumes private citizens aren’t allowed to ask questions).
Extrafishy on September 17, 2010 at 12:41 PM
He can use independent party money to cover his early retirement.
Scrappy on September 17, 2010 at 12:41 PM
And the MSM starts referring to Crist as a Republican again in three . . . two . . . one.
SoRight on September 17, 2010 at 12:43 PM
Seriously, other than getting caught cheating on your cancer-stricken wife, could Crist be any more of a poster-boy for how to take a good political career and flush it down the toilet?
KeepOhioRed on September 17, 2010 at 12:43 PM
From what I understand, she rented office space in her home to her political campaign. And as I understand it, that is not illegal. You can rent office space in your home to yourself for the purpose of running a business or politicfal campaign.
UltimateBob on September 17, 2010 at 12:43 PM
More chickens………more roosting. Make that more roasting! Extra crispy please.
JohnnyMojo on September 17, 2010 at 12:43 PM
Back to LoompaLand with you, Crist.
Sekhmet on September 17, 2010 at 12:43 PM
Charlie Crist, time to start issuing some commutations… make some friends on the inside.
JohnGalt23 on September 17, 2010 at 12:44 PM
I see they went for the three-day pass.
Would’ve been perfect if you prefaced that with “Oompa loompa dippity doo.”
James on September 17, 2010 at 12:45 PM
“Governor Crist? This is the White House scheduling secretary. President Obama cannot take your call…or any future calls.”
BuckeyeSam on September 17, 2010 at 12:45 PM
Vice President Rubio is even better!
I hope so. I think Rick Scott will pull it out in the end. He’s starting to stablize in the polls. Something like 52-47. The state is just too Republican for Sink to win this year.
TimTebowSavesAmerica on September 17, 2010 at 12:47 PM
Unethically spending large amounts of other peoples’ money for his own personal benefit, then lying about it while accusing others of doing the exact same thing he has done.
Crist embodies the very essence of Democratic party principles. Why isn’t he head of the DNC by now?
AZCoyote on September 17, 2010 at 12:50 PM
But then they won’t be on the inside, and those that are won’t have benefitted.
James on September 17, 2010 at 12:52 PM
It’s kind of refreshing to see some White crooks for a change.
Mason on September 17, 2010 at 12:54 PM
No, actually I didn’t.
That’s why I sincerely asked.
But thanks for that. Very helpful.
Thank you. So for CO, it technically wasn’t illegal (which it was with Agent Orange), but it doesn’t give a good appearance either.
All I needed. Much obliged!
Good Lt on September 17, 2010 at 12:54 PM
Get the hell over it.
Her campaign rented a townhouse that she often sleeps in. She prolly ate a sammich there once too.
Akzed on September 17, 2010 at 12:54 PM
I tells ya, when I’m wrong…as when I actually supported dink Crist…it’s a doozy!
Yeah, over $5 grand for a baptism? The Pope must have presided over that one…
JetBoy on September 17, 2010 at 12:55 PM
Two deserving guys, I hope the state can provide further accommodations so that reminisce in the exercise yard.
burt on September 17, 2010 at 12:55 PM
Crist is a nice guy. His tanning parlor operator will need to pay higher taxes. It is a tax for white users. Racist tax,
Black consumers are not paying tanning taxes.
We call that an “electric Miami” tan.
seven on September 17, 2010 at 12:56 PM
That so many people are willing to look beyond character to other criteria still amazes me. Every time I see Christ’s picture I feel like taking a shower.
ClanDerson on September 17, 2010 at 12:56 PM
I don’t think Christ ever had his pitcher taken.
Akzed on September 17, 2010 at 12:58 PM
Is this how CO fans are going to treat every legitimate question about the candidate?
SHUT UP, you explained.
You need to get over the fact that she’s going to be scrutinized, questioned, criticized and lampooned by people on both sides.
It’s part called politics, and it ain’t beanbag.
I think I’m actually being pretty respectful here.
Good Lt on September 17, 2010 at 12:59 PM
Jetboy, SquidShark hardest hit.
crushliberalism on September 17, 2010 at 12:59 PM
Snakes are indignant.
Perfect Nov. 02 night:
Pelosi loses hammer.
Crist, Reid, Boxer and Blanche Lincoln lose.
Schadenfreude on September 17, 2010 at 1:04 PM
Not anymore. Crist and Greer and their ilk can blow away. We were wrong. It happens.
JetBoy on September 17, 2010 at 1:06 PM
Sink is sunk. Trust me.
As a 41-year resident of Florida, I predict Bondi and Scott both in landslides. Percentage of victories exceeded only by Rubio.
Florida is red all the way this year, baby. No purple, no blue.
Not even orange. Sorry Charlie.
Maybe you and Greer can be cellmates. I hear Coleman Correctional Facility isn’t too bad as prisons go.
Marybeth on September 17, 2010 at 1:07 PM
lorien1973 on September 17, 2010 at 12:37 PM
Especially Pam Bondi’s. We won’t ask what you’d do, would we?
BradSchwartze on September 17, 2010 at 1:07 PM
Maybe they’re just trying to join the crowd.
https://www.weeklystandard.com/articles/lifestyles-rich-and-liberal
Owen Glendower on September 17, 2010 at 1:08 PM
Hey Mr. Tangerine Man, play a swan song for me.
grgeil on September 17, 2010 at 1:09 PM
Early in the game, didn’t Crist make a HUGE deal of Rubio’s supposed misuse of funds?
Crist is either stone stupid or felt so entitled to the funds that he either didn’t recall or didn’t think it a problem to use party money for his own fun and frolic.
Sheesh….so Crist is either stupid or just plain crooked…or maybe both.
marybel on September 17, 2010 at 1:09 PM
Purple Fury on September 17, 2010 at 12:39 PM
Any man who’s willing to spend the cash to
humiliatedefeat a long-time Florida politico, and in the process, politically neuter Jeb Bush, is a man who can easily be the next Florida governor. Not to mention, is a man who commands immediate respect.BradSchwartze on September 17, 2010 at 1:09 PM
Candidate campaign donations money can even be used to pay yourself a personal salary. Here’s a democratic that used his campaign fund to buy himself a car: Dem Rep Buys Himself Ford SUV. All quite legal as long as you handle the IRS paperwork correctly. He’s a democratic, so don’t expect to hear Andy Vanderbilt getting the vapors over him.
The COD-buys-mattress talking point is really getting old folks.
Crist’s problem is with party money, and likely under a different set of rules. Apples and oranges.
slickwillie2001 on September 17, 2010 at 1:11 PM
Moronic Colbert viewers will still vote for Crist.
tetriskid on September 17, 2010 at 1:12 PM
Yep.
That was a tell.
Democrats always accuse Republicans of what they are doing.
tetriskid on September 17, 2010 at 1:13 PM
+1
peski on September 17, 2010 at 1:15 PM
/topic
Darth Executor on September 17, 2010 at 1:15 PM
What family does Crist have?
MayBee on September 17, 2010 at 1:20 PM
Steve Miller had Crist pegged a long time ago.
“ooh, take the money and run.”
Steve Z on September 17, 2010 at 1:20 PM
My thoughts exactly. My baptism and my two children’s didn’t cost a penny. I can’t imagine why it would cost anything.
shick on September 17, 2010 at 1:22 PM
Ready……. Aim……. Fi……………… Whaddya mean I can’t ?……….. Laws ?………… They don’t give a damn about the laws, why should I ?
Oh right……. Because I deeply believe in our Constitution, Rights and laws and would die for them too.
CRIST NEEDS TO BE IN HANDCUFFS TODAY.
E T Cartman on September 17, 2010 at 1:22 PM
Hardest hit: Quaker Oats launch of new Quist cereal
KeepOhioRed on September 17, 2010 at 1:24 PM
The difference is that Rubio paid the bill at the end of the month, where these guys never paid it back.
barnone on September 17, 2010 at 1:26 PM
Yeah, renting office space as a legitimate campaign expense is the same as taking the family on a joy ride at a amusement park with campaign money.
lovingmyUSA on September 17, 2010 at 1:29 PM
Grampa (me) normally gives a “small gift” to the preist and then everyone comes over for cake. I guess if you catered the party and added in what grandma paid for the baptismal gown and her new dress.
barnone on September 17, 2010 at 1:30 PM
It’s looking more and more like Charlie’s going to wish he’d sat down quietly and waited for the other Senate seat.
This issue may or may not have legs as it is, but you could bet that if he were the GOP nominee it’d be headline news everywhere.
JEM on September 17, 2010 at 1:30 PM
Yeah I have to agree. Yeah, I said it. ;)
fossten on September 17, 2010 at 1:31 PM
No, it’s that you were trying to sidetrack the thread and make it about O’Donnell. Save it for an O’Donnell thread–this is not even in the same ballpark. Disneyland/office space for campaigns–see any disconnect here?
lovingmyUSA on September 17, 2010 at 1:34 PM
And the correct answer is….
RalphyBoy on September 17, 2010 at 1:35 PM
And yes you are, if that wasn’t meant to be snarky…
lovingmyUSA on September 17, 2010 at 1:36 PM
WOW. Charlie my be really
redorange faced right now.Dan Pet on September 17, 2010 at 1:36 PM
I swear, with Democraps–the ads just write themselves.
lovingmyUSA on September 17, 2010 at 1:37 PM
What’s amazing is that after all this and everything else Crist is still somehow a potentially viable candidate. Sadly he will end up getting substantially more votes than legitimate third party candidates. Exactly what has to happen before he is shamed so severely that he exits the race?
Goldenavatar on September 17, 2010 at 1:41 PM
Some of these guys don’t even pretend to play by the rules. A child’s Baptism? How far a stretch is that to be using GOP funds for? And why does it take so long to investigate these things? If he’s guilty he should have been out of the race ages ago.
scalleywag on September 17, 2010 at 1:51 PM
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