Charlie Crist May or May Not Support Gay Adoption

Remember the Grinch? The one who stole Christmas? He was a mean old bugger, who hated the Whos, and the Whos had a few theories about the origins of this unexplained disgust. "It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight. It could be his head wasn't screwed on just right. But I think that the most likely reason of all could have been that his heart was two sizes too small."

I have a similar theory about Charlie Crist.

Charlie Crist, current Governor of Florida and Senatorial candidate, can't seem to decide if he thinks gay people would be good parents or not. He is having the darndest time making up his mind. While this may seem a perfect opportunity for Charlie Boy to do some soul searching, get the facts, talk to gay people and the children they've adopted, let his heart grow a bit, he's taken a more classic political stance. He just keeps changing his opinion.

The Great Confusion appears to have begun a little over a year ago, on a day in Florida known as "Explore Adoption Day." Charlie, having just announced his Senatorial bid, told a group of reporters that when it came to overturning Florida's gay adoption ban, he'd have to "think about it." And so he did. For a few hours he really thunk about it. His conclusion? "I think Florida has it right right now." Meaning, he thought the gay adoption ban was just swell. A good Grinchy stance.

He stuck with that for a while, spewing that tired "a child is better when raised by a married mother and father" baloney. Then last month, something in Charlie changed. He released a letter, a statement of intent, if you will, outlining a number of gay friendly positions he was going to take in this election cycle. Civil Unions for all! Repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell! End the gay adoption ban! Had the governor's heart burst through its conservative shell of hate and inequality? Would Charlie Crist bring a big gay Christmas to Florida foster kids?

Not so fast. Last week Crist plucked his wrinkled little heart out of his chest and plunked it on the table for all to see. Challenged by a reporter for a hard stance on the gay adoption ban, Crist retreated into political mumbo jumbo, saying how he didn't like the ban, or maybe he did, but anyway he had to support it because he was a former Attorney General, and he likes this new ruling and, as Governor, will enforce it unless he decides to appeal it. When pressed on his statement that a child's best interest is to be raised by a mother and a father, Crist admitted that this remains his position, but that if the courts overturned it, he would uphold the law. (Watch him scramble in action here.)

So basically, Crist assured all if he were Attorney General he would support a law allowing gays to adopt and as Governor he may stop enforcing the ban. Except Crist is running for Senate, so a lot of good that promise does us. What his answers revealed is a man who still believes that gay parents are unfit to raise children, and that he's just another spineless politician whose head isn't screwed on just right, willing to say whatever he thinks will win him an election. Heroically announcing, "I support a court decision to end the gay adoption ban" while simultaneously arguing that "kids only thrive with a mother and a father."

You're a mean one, Mr. Crist.

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