Crist Won't Do 'Meet the Press' With Rubio and Meek

Never before has there been such a candidate of integrity, moral certitude, and iron spine:

Gov. Charlie Crist is not joining his rivals for the U.S. Senate, Republican Marco Rubio and Democrat Kendrick Meek, this Sunday on MSNBC's "Meet the Press.''

"The governor has long planned Labor Day events, when he'll be out talking to working families,'' said Crist spokesman Danny Kanner.

Crist and Rubio last met in a public debate in March on Fox News Sunday. And, what would any Crist story be without a flip-flop? Back in March, Rubio insisted on meeting Crist on Fox before "Meet the Press," as he'd promised the first debate to the network. Crist ridiculed Rubio at the time for—what else?—his unwillingness to go on "Meet the Press."

"This is a guy who says he’s willing to stand up to Barack Obama, but he won’t sit down with David Gregory on Meet the Press? The hypocrisy and inconsistency from Marco Rubio is appalling.”

Yes, it's the inconsistency of Rubio that's the problem. All three candidates for Senate in Florida will meet Oct. 24 at the University of South Florida at Tampa in a St. Petersburg Times/CNN sponsored forum.

Rubio and Meek have both been firing shots at Crist lately (and Crist has made himself an easy target). Crist is taking a pass on facing two opponents Sunday, but he may instead find himself being bashed by two opponents with no opportunity to defend against them.