Monday, January 29, 2007
Sex, Lies, POLITICS and Adoption
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It is people like Gov. Crist - who refused to take a DNA to confirm or deny that a child of an affair is his...THIS is why records are sealed! THIS is who they are protecting. More often men, than mothers!
Crist won't comment on speculation he's child's dad
BY MARY ELLEN KLAS
meklas@MiamiHerald.com
NO COMMENT: Gov. Charlie Crist would not comment on a request by the family of an adopted girl to confirm whether or not he is her father. Rebecca O'Dell Townsend, right, is the mother.
TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Charlie Crist said today he would ''not dignify with a comment'' a request from the parents of a girl adopted 17 years ago to confirm whether or not he is the child's biological father.
The couple, Marshall and Cecilia Tucker of St. Petersburg, told the St. Petersburg Times in today's editions that they have documentation indicating that the biological mother is Rebecca O'Dell Townsend, who has claimed that the governor is the father of the child. But the adoptive family said they have not officially asked Crist to take a DNA test to determine if he is the biological father.
The couple told The Times they want nothing from the governor but are primarily concerned that their daughter, now in college, could be embroiled in a political controversy because of the persistent unanswered questions surrounding Crist's involvement with the child's mother.
Crist has denied Townsend's paternity allegations since they surfaced before the 2006 election primary. At that time, documents were distributed to reporters that showed that in May 1989, he signed a paper waiving parental rights, which allowed Townsend to go forward with adoption proceedings.
''Parenthood by myself is not possible as I never consummated the act necessary for parenthood,'' Crist wrote in the 1989 affidavit. Crist also signed papers consenting to the girl's adoption in June 1989, stating: ''I deny paternity of this child and claim no parental rights in relation to the child.'' The child was born on June 23, 1989.
The Tuckers have made repeated attempts through friends and relatives of the governor to speak with him, but none of their calls or requests have been answered.
The Tuckers' daughter was not identified by The Times but, in an interview, she said: ``It's not that I want anything from him, but if he is my birth father, I think my curiosity is justified.''
The governor was asked by reporters today if he planned to end the matter and consent to a DNA test now that the child in question has come forward.
''There's nothing to it, and I'm not going to dignify it with any further comment,'' Crist said.
The Tuckers could not be reached for comment.
It is people like Gov. Crist - who refused to take a DNA to confirm or deny that a child of an affair is his...THIS is why records are sealed! THIS is who they are protecting. More often men, than mothers!
Crist won't comment on speculation he's child's dad
BY MARY ELLEN KLAS
meklas@MiamiHerald.com
NO COMMENT: Gov. Charlie Crist would not comment on a request by the family of an adopted girl to confirm whether or not he is her father. Rebecca O'Dell Townsend, right, is the mother.
TALLAHASSEE - Gov. Charlie Crist said today he would ''not dignify with a comment'' a request from the parents of a girl adopted 17 years ago to confirm whether or not he is the child's biological father.
The couple, Marshall and Cecilia Tucker of St. Petersburg, told the St. Petersburg Times in today's editions that they have documentation indicating that the biological mother is Rebecca O'Dell Townsend, who has claimed that the governor is the father of the child. But the adoptive family said they have not officially asked Crist to take a DNA test to determine if he is the biological father.
The couple told The Times they want nothing from the governor but are primarily concerned that their daughter, now in college, could be embroiled in a political controversy because of the persistent unanswered questions surrounding Crist's involvement with the child's mother.
Crist has denied Townsend's paternity allegations since they surfaced before the 2006 election primary. At that time, documents were distributed to reporters that showed that in May 1989, he signed a paper waiving parental rights, which allowed Townsend to go forward with adoption proceedings.
''Parenthood by myself is not possible as I never consummated the act necessary for parenthood,'' Crist wrote in the 1989 affidavit. Crist also signed papers consenting to the girl's adoption in June 1989, stating: ''I deny paternity of this child and claim no parental rights in relation to the child.'' The child was born on June 23, 1989.
The Tuckers have made repeated attempts through friends and relatives of the governor to speak with him, but none of their calls or requests have been answered.
The Tuckers' daughter was not identified by The Times but, in an interview, she said: ``It's not that I want anything from him, but if he is my birth father, I think my curiosity is justified.''
The governor was asked by reporters today if he planned to end the matter and consent to a DNA test now that the child in question has come forward.
''There's nothing to it, and I'm not going to dignify it with any further comment,'' Crist said.
The Tuckers could not be reached for comment.
# posted by Senior Mom @ 8:54 AM 
