Generally speaking, if you are running for office, being “tough on crime” is great. But being so tough on crime that your nickname becomes “Chain Gang Charlie” is definitely not good. Proudly owning the nickname is even worse.
Unfortunately for Florida’s Charlie Crist, that’s the name that stuck – and it has been around since 1995 when Crist visited a literal chain gang at a prison in Alabama. At the time, Crist was a Republican serving in the Florida Senate and apparently he was so inspired by Alabama’s punishment style he wanted to bring it back to his home state.
Crist’s current opponent for Florida’s 13th Congressional District, David Jolly remembered the moment well. In their first primetime debate, Jolly said, “You stood there, over three African-American prisoners in chains, on their knees, on the side of the road. Saying that it was a great sight. Saying we need to bring it to Florida.”
Crist shot back immediately, saying that any insinuation that his tough on crime stance had anything to do with race was “appalling.”
Unfortunately for Crist, that didn’t quite fix his problem – most likely because in 1995 he made good on his word and did bring chain gangs back to Florida.
In 1995 – when crime was up nationwide – being “tough on crime” was a smart move. But in 2016, where over-incarceration is one of the only things Republicans and Democrats can agree on, it makes for one mean attack ad.
Unfortunately for Florida’s Charlie Crist, that’s the name that stuck – and it has been around since 1995 when Crist visited a literal chain gang at a prison in Alabama. At the time, Crist was a Republican serving in the Florida Senate and apparently he was so inspired by Alabama’s punishment style he wanted to bring it back to his home state.
Crist’s current opponent for Florida’s 13th Congressional District, David Jolly remembered the moment well. In their first primetime debate, Jolly said, “You stood there, over three African-American prisoners in chains, on their knees, on the side of the road. Saying that it was a great sight. Saying we need to bring it to Florida.”
Crist shot back immediately, saying that any insinuation that his tough on crime stance had anything to do with race was “appalling.”
Unfortunately for Crist, that didn’t quite fix his problem – most likely because in 1995 he made good on his word and did bring chain gangs back to Florida.
In 1995 – when crime was up nationwide – being “tough on crime” was a smart move. But in 2016, where over-incarceration is one of the only things Republicans and Democrats can agree on, it makes for one mean attack ad.