God, Gov. Crist and Hurricanes

By William Wan

Is God holding back the forces of nature at the request of Florida's Republican Gov. Charlie Crist? In a speech to real estate agents, Crist claimed that no hurricanes have hit Florida since he started putting prayer notes into the famous Western Wall in Jerusalem, asking God to protect his state from hurricanes.

He said the first note he stuck there in 2007 during a trade mission read like this: "Dear God, please protect our Florida from storms and other difficulties. Charlie."

Crist, a Methodist, is running for Senate in 2010. His Friday speech, covered by AP, has started to make the rounds in the blogosphere, with some humorous reactions, some earnest and some derisive.

One secular blogger notes: "It's not as though Florida has seen no storm activity since Saint Charlie took office. In 2007 alone, Tropical or Subtropical Storms Andrea, Barry and Ingrid, plus another unnamed tropical depression, made landfall in Florida. And in 2008, Tropical Storm Fay hit Florida four times -- a record -- killing six Floridians."

As for hurricanes, though, Crist is right. Hurricane Gustav in 2008 hit the gulf region and rip currents killed four people in Florida, but the hurricane itself never hit Florida. According to the AP story, Christ said that this year he had a friend who was headed to Israel in May who put his prayer in the wall.

"You can do it on the Internet now, but I'd rather have it physically in there," Crist said. "May, June, July, August -- we're getting closer," Crist said. "Knock on wood. I would ask you all to say a prayer."

Of course the Western Wall prayer is practically standard photo-op by now for politicians, who often stick in a little written prayer like all the other tourists. Obama's visit earlier this year caused a stir when his note was filched and published by a Hebrew-language newspaper.

By William Wan  |  August 24, 2009; 7:40 AM ET  | Category:  God in Government Save & Share:                 
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