McWaters jumps to Crist campaign

 

After working so closely with you and getting to know so many of you on the Rod Smith campaign and despite our subsequent defeat in the September primary, I decided — like many of you since — to continue to be active and support the Democratic nominee, Jim Davis, and continue the fight for Democratic recognition and representation in Northwest Florida.  So, in mid-September, I joined the Davis for Governor campaign and did my very best to once again represent our varied Democratic interests in Northwest Florida.  

 

However, having worked on the campaign for several weeks now, I have come to the conclusion that their formula for success is the same, flawed and failied policies of yesteryear — and as a matter of principle, I simply cannot be a part of it any longer.  

 

I had become increasingly concerned that the I-4 corridor and the heavily populated Democratic areas of South Florida are the only focus of the campaign of our party’s nominee; it is rather apparent that North Florida and Northwest Florida do not factor into their recipe for success.  

 

This strategy may have won the Primary, but we all know it doesn’t win general elections.  And it leaves thousands of us without a voice in this election.  

 

My friends, the definition of insanity is repeatedly doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.  I don’t know about you, but I for one am tired of being treated as an afterthought just because I happen to live in the Panhandle.  Senator Smith and the Republican nominee seem to understand the significance of North Florida, yet others in our party just can’t seem to grasp it.  

 

I came to realize first hand that there is no money or real plan for North Florida and that the resources for our area are relatively nonexistent.  Further, I was shown a color-coded map of our state with the “important” Counties being divided into colored tiers of significance.  I’m sorry to report that most of North Florida was was not even assigned a color: meaning we are considered inconsequential.  Forgive me, but I just cannot in good conscience buy into this strategy.  

 

In a nutshell, North Florida and specifically the Panhandle are not priorities to the Davis campaign, yet we are supposed to give our all to them and work hard — just because we are loyal Democrats?  Sure, we will get a few token appearances to appease us, but other than that, don’t expect much more.  

 

As a result, I have come to the conclusion that I cannot in good conscience support an organization or a candidate or a campaign that does not fully support us.  Furthermore, beyond the organizational aspects, I have come to the conclusion that the Davis campaign’s platform and strategy is not in the best interest of my native Northwest Florida.  

 

We cannot continue to preach to the choir any longer; the crowd is getting tired of the same ole sermon.  It is time to have a different approach and to reach out beyond our Democratic base and work with others who may not be exactly like ourselves.  

 

It is difficult for me to believe in someone who does not believe in us.  And, being a person of conscience and principle, I can no longer continue on this campaign.  

 

For this reason, I have resigned my position with the Davis campaign and plan to work with the Coalition for Bipartisan Progress very soon.  (For more about the Coalition for Bipartisan Progress, please see the attached letter.)  

 

The Coalition is highlighting the record and campaign of Charlie Crist for Governor of Florida, because even though he is a Republican, Charlie has shown a willingness to work across party lines to achieve common goals and represent the interests that concern all Floridians.  Beyond this, the Crist campaign has shown a genuine interest in North Florida and the Panhandle, and is reaching out to every voter, regardless of party affiliation.   

 

In my travels across the Panhandle in recent months I have found that beyond left or right, liberal or conservative, what matters to most of us is this: working together for a common goal to achieve definitive results.  We are all tired of the blind and bitter partisanship that gets in the way of real progress, and for this reason, I as a yellow-dog Democrat have joined the Coalition for Bipartisan Progress.  

 

Let me be clear: My decision to become a member of the Coalition and in turn support Charlie Christ is not based on “sour grapes” from losing the Primary — hardly.  More so, it is because of my experience in the days following our primary and what I have seen firsthand in the campaign of our party’s nominee.    

 

Bottom line: Charlie Christ will be Florida’s next Governor, and as a member of the Coalition, I would like to continue to see our Democratic values in the Panhandle represented, recognized and addressed.  More than my allegiance to a party or a candidate, I think many of you know my heart belongs to the people of Northwest Florida and what is best for us here in the Panhandle.  

 

I hope you will join me on the Coalition…  

 

Sincerely,  

 

Todd McWaters