Orlando Radio: Candidate Attacked In Racially Tinged Radio Ad

Charlie Crist

 A shadowy political group called "Progressive Choice PAC" is airing a racially tinged ad on black radio stations in Orlando accusing former Gov. Charlie Crist of siding with the gun lobby and imposing sentencing and drug policies that disproportionately impact African-Americans, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

“The punishment fits the crime. It’s enshrined in our Constitution -- the essence of American Justice, unless you live in Florida and happen to be black,” the radio spot opens.

“Under Gov . Charlie Crist, the NRA called the shots in Tallahassee, giving Crist big money and an ‘A’ rating, stopping even the most sensible gun control bills, allowing weapons to flow into our cities, even permitting concealed guns at work. 

“But while Crist was coddling the gun lobby, he was cracking down on us -- passing maximum sentencing laws, signing the nation’s harshest marijuana laws, and enacting the country’s strictest penalties against non-violent offenders, many of whom just happen to be black."

Crist did embrace the NRA agenda when he was a Republican governor, reveling in his nickname "Chain-Gang Charlie" during his 2006 gubernatorial campaign. Florida also enacted stricter sentencing laws for non-violent offenders under his watch.

But the ad goes on to say that “It’s time Charlie Crist answer to Floridians for his record, for a lost generation of African-Americans and for trampling on the ideal that the punishment fit the crime.”

That claim -- causing "a lost generation" of blacks -- has many Democrats fuming. The Crist campaign responded Monday by calling the radio spot "a new low for Rick Scott and his special interest donors."

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