By Javier Manjarres | 09/11/09 | 12:54 PM EDT

Several weeks back at the Republican Party of Florida Quarterly meeting in Orlando, I told Senator George LeMieux, then a mere candidate on the Governor’s short list, that I would support him just as long as he did not support any of President Obama’s Socialist policies. Believe it or not, I meant it.

As most of the country knows by now, this past Wednesday night, South Carolina congressman Joe Wilson verbally expressed his dissatisfaction of the proposed Universal Healthcare agenda during the President’s television sales pitch. With his outburst, Congressman Wilson expressed the sentiment that  millions of Americans share. I praise and respect him for have the rancor to express himself openly against such a despicable attempt to shove the proposed healthcare bill down our throats. What is very disturbing is that many ‘establishment’ type Republicans are not supportive of Congressman Wilson, yet they did criticize him and demanded he apologize to the President. I wonder if these are the same Republicans that courageously denounced the Democrats booing of President George W. Bush at his 2005 State of the Union address?

Where was the outcry then?

Senator LeMieux was also quick to comment about what Wilson’s said by stating that his actions were “embarrassing and shameful”. Come on Pep, you seem like a nice guy, what is up with that? Shouldn’t you have least waited a more few days before ticking off your Republican base? Senator what is truly embarrassing and shameful is the fact that your close friend, Governor Charlie Crist appointed you over several more experienced and qualified candidates. Your appointment stinks of cronyism.

This being said, we do need to be fair and take a wait and see attitude with Senator LeMieux. While assuming his official Senatorial position of ‘place-holder’, I have serious reservations about how the Senator will vote on the pressing issues that will impact the nation. Senator LeMieux has stated that he is a,” Charlie Crist Republican”. This obviously means that the Senator agrees with Governor Crist’s policies, endorsements and appointments.

Shall we list a few of them? We shall.

-appointed Liberal FL Supreme Court Judge James Perry (endorsed by Planned Parenthood, while being opposed by the NRA)

-supports Amnesty for Illegal immigrants. “I like Sen. Martinez’ and Sen. McCain’s approach.”

-supports some form of a ‘Green’ bill.

-is against off-shore drilling.

-raised Cigarette Taxes by as much as $1 a pack.

-supported and campaigned for the Obama ‘Porkulus Package’

Senator LeMieux is also considering the Presidents Healthcare plan? There is nothing to consider here. Public option or not, the President’s plan is nothing more than Government controlled healthcare.

Republicans across the country are campaigning to oust and block any and all reckless and fiscally irresponsible Obama-lite Republicans that are currently in office, or considering a run for office.

The decision for Republicans in Florida to pick a new ‘Conservative’ Senator in next year’s mid-term election is turning out to be a very clear and obvious one-Yes,He can!

ORIGINAL POST

Declaring himself “grateful” for the opportunity to serve, Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) on Wednesday officially resigned from the U.S. Senate.

Martinez, who had announced earlier in the year he was not seeking reelection, decided last month he was ready to leave Congress even sooner and would depart as soon as a replacement was selected by Gov. Charlie Crist. George LeMieux, Crist’s former chief of staff, was tapped to replace Martinez and will be sworn in Thursday to the Senate.

Martinez, who has not announced his future plans, said he would continue his work as the first Cuban-American elected to the Senate on issues important to the community.

“Even though I will no longer hold public office, my passion to work to see the day when people in Cuba will live in freedom will continue,” he said.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A state lawmaker says Gov. Charlie Crist is picking his former chief of staff George LeMieux (leh-’MEW) to replace Republican Sen. Mel Martinez, who is resigning.

State Rep. Jennifer Carroll, who was considered for the position, said Crist told her he is choosing LeMieux. Crist planned to make the announcement later Friday.

By choosing LeMieux, Crist picked the candidate he trusts most to fill out the term that expires in January 2011. Crist is running for the seat in next year’s election.

LeMieux ran Crist’s 2006 campaign for governor. Crist then picked LeMieux as chief of staff. He left for a Tallahassee law firm in December 2007.

Martinez announced this month that he wouldn’t complete his first term.

Crist is running against Marco Rubio for the seat that Martinez has vacated.  Rubio had this to say in a statement “This is a disappointing pick for Florida. George LeMieux is a talented political operative and the governor’s best friend, but that doesn’t make him the right choice to represent Florida in the Senate. Governor Crist had a wealth of consistent and principled conservative candidates to choose from, all of whom would have been a reliable check and balance on the excesses of the Obama-Pelosi-Reid agenda.”