I met Charlie Crist last night

[John Kieffer]

The following letter was emailed and sent by certified mail to Governor Crist:

Office of Governor Charlie Crist
State of Florida
PL05
The Capitol
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001

Dear Governor Crist:

I am writing on behalf of Michael Middlebrooks, an Atheists of Florida member
and doctoral candidate at the University of South Florida. He personally informed
me of the details below, and a witness to this event is available for verification.

On Friday, March 5, 2010, during an informal evening gathering in St. Petersburg,
Florida, Mr. Middlebrooks approached you to ask a question. Following a cordial
handshake, he asked about the letter you placed in Jerusalem to prevent hurricanes
from hitting Florida, to which you replied, "Who's more powerful than God?"
Upon asking again and getting a similar reply, he informed you that he does not
hold a belief in God. According to him, you then reached out and “ripped” a
campaign sticker off his chest, which read "Charlie Crist for US Senate 2010,"
placed there moments earlier by your campaign worker. Mr. Middlebrooks noted
that you quickly turned your back to him while simultaneously shouting to him
over your shoulder that you “felt sorry” for him.

Governor Crist, your reaction to Mr. Middlebrooks, an atheist whose views on
religion are constitutionally protected, is sadly symbolic of the intolerance and
bigotry that atheists across the state have endlessly endured. Imagine instead if
you had ripped a campaign sticker off some other religious minority, say a Jew or
a Muslim, shouting, as you did here, that you felt sorry for them. The outrage in
such a case would create newspaper headlines around the world.

Let there be no mistake. Atheists of Florida members are outraged by your
bigoted and humiliating reaction to Mr. Middlebrooks. Attacking his minority
worldview is an affront not only to him, but to me and all nonbelievers
who expect you, as Florida’s chief executive, to protect and defend our constitutional
rights, including our right to freedom of religion.

Therefore, I urge you to promptly offer a letter of apology to Mr. Middlebrooks
for your demeaning assault upon his character and person. What you did could be
considered a hate crime because you committed this battery while denigrating his
personal religious worldview. I would refer you to F.S. § 877.19 .

Your letter may be forwarded to me for personal delivery to Mr. Middlebrooks.

Sincerely,
John Kieffer
President, Atheists of Florida



.

[AlexF]

I decided to pitch in 10 bucks and become a student member of the Atheists of Florida after having read this, hah! Sounds like Charlie Crist is a real stand-up guy. I didn't know that he wants to bring back chain gangs!

Oh, what pizza place was this at?

[Rob Curry]

More commentary (five minute audio):

Critical Eye Podast Quickie: Florida Governor Charlie Crist
by Blair Scott, National Affiliate Director for American Atheists.

[AmberSunrise]

I heard this story on a Freethinkers meetup.com blog. As much as I am shocked at the behavior when I really think about it I am not at all.

Apparently being open minded to other beliefs only applies if there is an imaginary being associated with that group.

[Rob Curry]

More commentary:

Florida's Governor Crist gets physical and pissy with atheist
on the Atheist Nexus

Florida's Governor Crist accused of assaulting atheist
by Dianna Narciso for the Orlando Atheism Examiner

Even the atheists are mad at Charlie Crist
by Peter Schorsch on St Petersblog 2.0

Did US Florida Governor Charlie Crist assault an atheist?
on Life Without Faith

Florida Governor Charlie Crist does not like atheists!
by Ronald Kephart at The Cranky Linguist


Also mentioned here:

Weird & Weirder: Crist Accuses Fla. Senate Rival of Getting His Back Waxed
by Steve Weinstein, EDGE Editor-in-Chief

[Celestial Teapot]

I have to ask...did this really happen? Not trying to be insincere or insensitive, but I think that before we all jump on the "get Crist" bandwagon, it needs to be proven as a fact that this happened. Maybe I haven't done enough research or come across the proper source, but I haven't seen any actual proof that this happened. I'm just worried that if that this ends up being false, it could end up setting our progress back.

So, are there any eye-witnesses? If so, how many? Is there video footage? Is there statement of guilt from Crist? Is there any proof that he did do this? It just sounds so far out there ya know?

[Killer Bud]

I have to ask...did this really happen? Not trying to be insincere or insensitive, but I think that before we all jump on the "get Crist" bandwagon, it needs to be proven as a fact that this happened. Maybe I haven't done enough research or come across the proper source, but I haven't seen any actual proof that this happened. I'm just worried that if that this ends up being false, it could end up setting our progress back.

So, are there any eye-witnesses? If so, how many? Is there video footage? Is there statement of guilt from Crist? Is there any proof that he did do this? It just sounds so far out there ya know?

In the letter to the Governor it mentions witnesses.

[Rob Curry]

It's always good to be skeptical of claims (however awkward it may be at times). That is really what started this whole thing: a little skepticism that turned into a question that grew into a shocking outburst.

The man on the receiving end of the Governor's words and actions was not alone, so we have not only Mike's recounting of what actually did happen (to his surprise and mine), but also independent confirmation. No need for excessive worrying, as these are reliable individuals in my estimation, a rating I do not offer lightly.

I'm not sure what is meant above by "actual proof." In my area of expertise, proof refers to rigorous mathematical and logical demonstration, which clearly is not relevant in this context. Perhaps additional evidence beyond the existing eyewitness reports? Please keep in mind that this occurred around 10:00 p.m., while Crist was downtown on a Friday night shaking hands and having his volunteers offer campaign-related stickers to those who approached. St Petersburg is his home town, and it happens to be mine as well, so it's not unusual for him to be here without cameras following him around. That just doesn't happen all the time; it's not like he's a movie star in Hollywood. And since Mike merely stumbled upon this small outside gathering accidentally, there was no prior planning on his part to record an event that he never even expected in the first place.

Interestingly enough, Crist's wife was also there with him at the time. I'd love to ask her about it.

As for a reply from the Governor, please be patient. I doubt he is really motivated to touch this at all, which is why we must force the issue. Atheists of Florida is allowing 7 to 10 days before we follow up to demand a response to our letter. That should provide a reasonable period of time for a reply. By then we will know if he intends to stonewall or to address what happened.

It really is not surprising to many atheists who encounter this sort of hostility frequently. Normally, as Mike pointed out himself, it would be no big deal. Just another instance of disrespect that we sometimes have hurled at us. But when it's the Governor, of all people, it demands notice whether the disrespect is minor or major. Although Crist does not have a reputation for losing his cool, we should also remember that the subject might have made him touchy. He's already running a losing primary campaign against Rubio, according to the polls I've seen, so that could also have created a bit of an edge to his temperament. But we need not speculate. Regardless of what may have contributed to his outburst, where he lashed out at a constituent simply for not believing in any god, I have no doubt about the fact that he did so.

For background, here is a link to a news story about Crist bringing this hurricane prayer business into the public discourse himself by talking to real estate agents about how he supposedly believes his prayers kept hurricanes away from Florida:

God, Gov. Crist and Hurricanes

[Celestial Teapot]

I wasn't aware of there being multiple witnesses so that eases my skepticism. As for my 'actual proof', I was just referring to any incriminating evidence, be it a video recording of discernable quality, multiple witnesses (I thougt there was only one, Mr. Middlebrooks), or a fingerprinting of the campaign sticker which was ripped off of Mr. Middlebrooks' shirt (which still wouldn't prove much because you can be certain Governor Crist touches quite a few of them and it probably wouldn't be that hard to obtain one which he has touched (or maybe it would be, I don't know)).

[Rob Curry]

Glad to help.

We're not bringing him to trial; we just want a few answers and a modicum of respect.

[JellyfishJenna]

I was a witness. I saw this actually happen. I've read a lot of "where's the video?" comments. I apologize for not videotaping every mundane detail of my life in the event that I run into a politician that treats my brother in an extremely offensive manner. I will be sure to start doing this at future outings. Sarcasm aside, it was very unprofessional and I am deeply offended. There is no situation in which that is an acceptable way to behave towards an individual.

(His wife was there at his side as well)

[Charlie]

(His wife was there at his side as well)

Poor woman. {Sympathy bouquet)

[JellyfishJenna]

She looked very confused.

[John Kieffer]

Atheist Nexus webcast interview with Michael Middlebrooks about his encounter with Gov. Crist ...


Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RndMj0_ahco

Part2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymdaUEb_5RM


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[Rob Curry]

from: Dennis Middlebrooks
to: Atheists of Florida
date: Wed, Mar 17, 2010 at 3:42 PM
subject: Three Cheers For Middlebrooks!

Hi Fellow Heathens,
I have to wonder if the bold and victimized Michael Middlebrooks may be kin of mine. My father's family is from Dothan, Alabama and Chattahoochee, Florida originally.

Dennis Middlebrooks
FANNY (Freethinking Activist Non-Believing New Yorkers)