Bush: Crist committed unforgivable act

TAMPA - Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush has unleashed some harsh criticism on the state's current governor, Charlie Crist.

In an interview posted on the conservative website NewsMax.com, Bush says Crist committed an unforgivable act by supporting President Obama's stimulus package. Bush says Crist should have stood alongside other Republicans who were fighting for an alternative.

The alternative would have been a focus on infrastructure and a focus on broad-based tax cuts to the American private sector, which will ultimately create the jobs, Bush told Newsmax.

Bush said Crist, who is running for a seat in the U.S. Senate, got it "wrong." Bush has not endorsed a candidate in the Senate race, though he has publicly praised Crist's opponent, former state House Speaker Marco Rubio.

Observers predict Bush's endorsement will be a significant factor in the 2010 election. Recent polling suggests Jeb Bush is the most favored Republican in the state, even though he's out of elected office and isn't running for one.

Early Wednesday in Tallahassee, reporters asked Governor Crist about the stinging Bush interview.

"Everyone has a right to their opinion," he said. "I understand that different people view it [the stimulus] in a different way."

Crist, who appeared on stage with President Obama at a stimulus event in Ft. Myers a year ago, defended taking recovery act money for Florida.

"87,000 jobs would have been lost if we didn't have it," Crist said of the federal funds. That's "20,000 educators, and I can't in good conscience not support those people."

"I work for them," he added.

Crist argues that other Republican governors have taken the stimulus funds and claims he strongly opposes Mr. Obama's other tax and spending policies.

The interview wasn't all negative -- Bush praised Crist for being a talented guy and one of the nicest he's ever met in politics.

Watch the whole interview: http://www.newsmax.com/video/