Dem chief blasts Crist appointment as 'cronyism'

Gov. Charlie Crist may have made the "safe" choice in picking former aide George LeMieux to fill out the term of Sen. Mel Martinez, who is resigning.

But he also made the dirty choice, says Karen L. Thurman, chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party:

"Today, Charlie Crist decided to play political games with the public's trust by appointing George LeMieux to the U.S. Senate. This glaring example of political cronyism is the last thing Florida needed while we face these tough economic times and the Congress is tackling critical issues such as health insurance reform and global warming.

"In appointing LeMieux, someone who has made millions over the past several years selling access to Crist to the highest bidders among Tallahassee's special interests, Charlie Crist once again put his own political ambition above doing what is right for Florida.

"Floridians are sick of the Republican culture of corruption and the Tallahassee back room dealings that clearly led Crist to pick LeMieux, whose only qualification is being Charlie Crist's crony."

The Miami Herald's Naked Politics blog has more reaction.