Florida GOP Chief Resigns in Bow to Tea Partiers

Amid increasing criticism, embattled Florida Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer announced Tuesday that he plans to step down from his post next month, saying his resignation is an effort to heal the current acrimony among Republican Party members in the state. "I have always put the party first even when criticisms were misdirected and accusations were false," Greer said in a quickly-planned conference call with reporters. During the call, Greer also acknowledged that critics within the party have been pushing for his removal over the last couple months. Greer, a supporter of Gov. Charlie Crist, pointed to "a very vocal group that has been very active in seeking efforts to oust me as chairman" in part because of his support for Crist's Senate campaign. Greer said that his critics have "distorted" facts about him and his leadership and "have basically thrown everything up against the wall to embarrass me." Tea party activists and some grassroot Republicans in Florida have criticized Greer for his early support of Crist and for his "big tent" approach to Republicanism, which they have described as too moderate...read more