Charlie Crist Should Teach GOP a Lesson

Charlie Crist is getting the shaft from the GOP because he hugged Barack Obama, literally and symbolically, writes Dana Milbank, who skewers Republicans for their "dogmatic race to the bottom." They're dumping him for far-right Marco Rubio, even though Crist gives them a better chance of winning Florida's Senate race. "Those of us who still hope that some measure of sanity can be restored to our absurdly polarized political system must wrap our arms around Crist—metaphorically, of course—and encourage him to run as an independent."

Crist hasn't changed. The Republican leadership has, and its "crucifixion of Crist says less about him than it does about the party," writes Milbank in the Washington Post. "Win or lose, an independent Crist candidacy would remind Republican leaders that ideological cleansing has a cost. That's why Crist should be encouraged to run. Hug him if you wish, kiss him if you must, but show Charlie Crist some love." (More Charlie Crist stories.)