Updated: NRCC Set To Blow It In FL-24
Update: I did have a nice talk with John Randall, eCampaign Director at the NRCC. He indicated that the Young Guns program is open to all candidates, so it should not be viewed as any candidate being endorsed by them.
He described the program as more of a challenger training program, allowing candidates to achieve various levels of promotion by reaching certain benchmarks that are not directly related to ideology, or particular positions.
While the idea itself may be sound, it seems to me it may also produce some problems, such as the one we're seeing here. Diebel does have a connection to the NRCC. Whether that helped her in meeting said requirements before another candidate isn't clear to me; however, because she met them, she benefits from increased visibility and PR value. However, the information below remains troubling, as Erick at Redstate points out.
My goal isn't to simply slag the NRCC for wanting to do good and much needed work in preparing potential candidates. But it would seem this instance does highlight a potential problem, though, again, to be clear, Diebel does not have the official endorsement of the NRCC.
Chalk this up as another instance of a national political organization meets grassroots new media. And our differing agendas and perhaps lack of communication on both parts results in a problem. To be fair, I didn't reach out to the NRCC before posting. But then, it isn't as if I'm sitting here with an abundance of time and resources at my disposal, nor do I have much interaction with them on a regular basis, so why would I?
The bottom-line is, Diebel at least appears to have a problem she may want to address and voters might want to consider before settling on a candidate in FL – 24.
These are the types of challenges both people in new media, bloggers and at our national orgs need to work on as political media continues to evolve.
As I candidly pointed out to John, in my opinion, many in the GOP establishment continue to see things somewhat through an old media lense. You create a narrative, shop it to a friendly outlet and let it rip. Unfortunately, it isn't only establishment media capable of doing the ripping today. And the Dems continue to impress me as more proficient in handling the multiple, fast-paced interactions, on whole. That doesn't mean I don't believe John, or other members of the GOP establishment aren't trying to make it better. I believe they are. (End update)
Here we go, again. I've been tipped to some very troubling information behind an NRCC-backed candidate for FL-24, who was endorsed over a seemingly solid conservative Republican.
Florida – 24 may have been a competitive district, given that it was previously held by Republican Tom Feeney until 2008. Unfortunately, the NRCC has put all of its eggs in Karen Diebel's basket, or perhaps I should say head case. Evidently, they don't care for her conservative challenger, Sandy Adams. More background on Adams, here.
I've also been told that Tandy Harrison, wife of NRCC executive director Guy Harrison is Diebel's PAC fund raiser. Please see below for the disaster this bit of incompetent crony-ism at the NRCC is likely to deliver for the GOP in FL-24.
Washington- The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has officially announced Karen Diebel (FL-24) as an ‘On the Radar’ candidate, an important first step in its Young Guns program. Founded in the 2007-2008 election cycle by Reps. Eric Cantor (R-VA), Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), and Paul Ryan (R-WI), the Young Guns program is a member-driven organization dedicated to electing open-seat and challenger candidates nationwide. Diebel is running in Florida’s Twenty-Fourth Congressional District against Freshman Democrat Suzanne Kosmas.
“The NRCC is committed to working with Karen Diebel as she continues to meet the rigorous goals of the Young Guns program,” said NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions. “I am confident that Republicans will be successful in our effort to defeat Suzanne Kosmas, a tone-deaf career politician who has forgotten what it means to represent Central Florida.”
Along with almost 100 911 calls from two addresses over the years, see page 4 of the pdf file below – upon finding a snake in her pool, Diebel called police convinced it was a political conspiracy by someone, going on to inform the officer she believed her home was being monitored and her cell and land phone lines were bugged. Oh, and she also provided police with an enemies list. Helloooo?? Did any one vet this person? Download Diebel police reports – Copy Or, click the screecap at right to enlarge, if you can't read the pdf. That doesn't include the 911 calls detailed in the pdf, simply the even more damning narrative from the officer on the scene.
This stuff is bound to come out in a competitive race against a sitting Democrat. And it certainly doesn't suggest someone in a good position to win a competitive election, or represent the voters of FL-24.
A review of Diebel's voting record also indicates votes for a number of tax and fee increases, as well as some controversial votes that could hurt her in a general campaign. Contrast that with the more conservative Sandy Adams and one has to wonder why the NRCC backed Diebel given some serious issues bound to portray her as more than a few beers short of a six-pack in November.
What in hell is going on at the NRCC for this to have happened? On top of the Dede Scozzafava fiasco and questions around the NRCC's handling of the Tim Burns race, it might be time for another talk with Sessions about what's going on under his watch at the NRCC. Or, is this going to be swept under the rug by the DC GOP establishment like everything else?
Or, is this going to be swept under the rug by the DC GOP establishment like everything else?
I assume that that question was entirely rhetorical.
If the NRCC wants the Democrat to win for some reason, they ought to use some of that super top secret, coded language that drives libs crazy, and tell us why.
Wow, it’s a good thing we’re not relying on cults of personality like the Tea Parties and the Palinistas down there…
Well, shall we compare?
Adams is an unemployed former street cop; Diebel is a top ranking executive at a fortune 100 company.
Adams voted to increase funding to the ridiculous socialist citizens insurance program; Diebel consistently voted against raising taxes.
Adams curses more than Howard Stern; Diebel is devout Christian who was also just endorsed by Huckabee.
Adams is petty and vindictive; Diebel is personable and classy.
Adams has never accomplished anything other than marrying a rich guy; Diebel overcame the unfathomably tragic death of her husband who was suddently struck by a car on I-4 while helping an accident victim while Diebel and her children helplessly watched from their car.
Diebel has my vote. She’s the only conservative in the race. She’s the only one who has ever been tested and persevered. I think that’s probably why she got the NRCC. You think?
Maybe Sandy Adams hasn’t earned “On the Radar” status because she can’t fund raise. Last time I checked she had to put 100,000 of her own money in last quarter just to stay in the race. No candidate can earn that status by lackluster fund raising.
Maybe Sandy Adams hasn’t earned “On the Radar” status because the NRCC supports Republicans. Over the last ten years, Diebel ascended to be a top ranking executive in a fortune 100 company. Over the same time span, Adams has been unemployed living off her rich husband. Diebel is clearly intelligent and successful. Adams, who lives on other people’s money, is clearly a Democrat.
The fact that Karen Diebel is unstable is pretty clear. I have had family members go through similar grieving situations and they have kept their head screwed on. Karen has had numerous public breakdowns on the City Commission and her unstable behavior is well documented. National interests need to stay out of races and leave the locals to their decision. Special interests and national groups know they have an unstable and controllable vote with Karen Diebel. 100 911 CALLS??? I will pay her hourly fee to seek some professional help. Bugging her phones??? Watching and monitoring her?? What is this?? A John Grisham novel or real life?? Get ahold of yourself SunshineStateSarah….Furthermore, one of my good friends use to be an associate of Mr. Diebel and hes has told me of numerous “Krazy Karen” incidents as he calls them….EVEN BEFORE HER HUSBANDS DEATH!!!
Karen has got a proven successful track record in addressing and solving the most complex issues her clients in the Fortune 100 are experiencing. She’s got a super conservative track record as commissioner in Winter Park. Her experience with her husband’s death and the associate sentencing of those responsible later was traumatic. Get over it, its over. She is a bright woman who can run circles around her competitors on a bad day. And that is who you want representing us. Bringing these experiences up without context is unprofessional and speaks to desperation from the competition. Rather than berate her opponents, I will speak to the obvious;
1. She earned her endorsements. Which is a process all the candidates go through..they picked her.
2. She earned her many donations. Which didn’t come in the form of $100k + checks from her personal account like both of her competitors.
In Diebel’s response in the Orlando Sentinel today, she explained the calls as being automatically triggered by her alarm system she installed after she was newly tragically widowed and home alone with her three young children. Reports of instability are flat out false and nothing more than a sad attampt to bring down the front runner. It’s sad, Ms. Adams. Just sad.
Richard said “Wow, it’s a good thing we’re not relying on cults of personality like the Tea Parties and the Palinistas down there…” Um, Rich, is that straight sarcasm, or ironic self-referencing sarcasm?
I Voted is either ignorant or dishonest. S/he twice stated that Adams was or is “unemployed,” and it took me all of 120 seconds to establish that that is not the case. Adams worked for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office 1985-2002, and has served in the Florida House since 2003. That’s “unemployed?”
Also from I Voted:”Adams has never accomplished anything other than marrying a rich guy.” In fact, Adams served in the US Air Force (I thought conservatives supported the troops?) She served as a Sheriff’s Office investigator for 17 years (I thought conservatives were Law & Order types?), and earned a degree in Criminal Justice Administration. She successfully ran for the Florida House in 2002, and has won every election for her seat since then. Yet I Voted claims no accomplishments.
In fact, in addition to the “unemployed” claims, I Voted (is it I Voted, or I Vote? pick one!) says that “Adams … lives on other people’s money.” I suppose the salary she earned for 17 years from the Sheriff’s Office, or the salary from the great state of Florida don’t count.
On the other hand, I’m not sure why I’m taking I Vote[d] seriously, since s/he makes some fairly silly claims without any links, references, or support. But, hey, let’s take a look. Apparently, one of Adams’ major failings is that she uses bad language!! Gee, never heard of a member of our armed forces or an ex-cop use bad language before. One presumes that I Vote[d] had a serious case of the vapors after hearing some of the things that Dick Cheney said over the years…
Not even gonna touch the “classy” vs. “vindictive” line; too easy. Pull the claws back in, kitty; miau!
Oh, yeah, I forgot, Diebel is a “real” conservative because she’s a Christian, and Huckabee endorsed her. Yep, elect a Christian and we’re in the best of hands. Larry Craig. Mark Sanford. Trent Lott, Paul Stanley, RNC blowing nearly $2,000 at a Hollywood sex club, Mark Foley; and that’s just off the top of my head.
The sad thing is that I respect devout Christians (as opposed to those who spend all their time throwing stones at other houses), but it’s not a qualification for public office.
The other sad thing is that I don’t even have a dog in this fight, but it was child’s play to trash some of the more … “enthusiastic” arguments posted in comments. I have no preference on Diebel vs. Adams; I just prefer facts & logic to mindless fan-bois (or -gurlz).
Oh, and the bit about Diebel being such a powerhouse because she works for a “Fortune 100″ company? I have one name for you: Robert Strange McNamara.