It's not as though the Florida Lieutenant Governor, Republican Jennifer Carroll is a complete stranger to OMIF (Open Mouth, Insert Foot) Syndrome. Some would say that, in fact, she is fast becoming a master of it.
Now, she has a "small" family problem with a B-I-L under indictment for running a pill mill in Florida. The federal investigation, called "The Tennessee Blues" is so named because of the pills sold, and the marketing target: Oxycontin pills for Tennessee! Follow me just below the sqiggledoodlethingey fold, and let's talk about it.
This is, to me at least, a sad story. But it is also a cautionary tale for those who would be actively involved in the electoral political process. That's what I wish to discuss here.
The story which is the genesis for this diary speaks more in the spaces between the letters than in the letters which compose the story itself. It may take a couple of readings to understanding my statement, but I think it is worth the effort.
Given that the story originates in the Florida State House, and extends to The Volunteer State, I believe it to be an even more important, and much more nefarious story to tell.
In the original Press Release from the offices of the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, you will notice that no mention was made of anyone other than the parties directly involved. One could ponder the possibilities. US Attorney in Florida. Tea Party. State government. An already castigated Lt. Governor. Carry on. As one of our beloved Kossacks might add: "Your mileage may vary."
My point to this is that I believe the Press Release was entirely, factually, and within the limitations of the office, entirely appropriate. It is also an example of severe legal restraint in a public document; necessary for legal preservation, but also choosing to pass by what could only be called a real PR possibility. Follow along. This matters.
The public press got hold of the Press Release. THEY went there with it. As the referred story shows, a connection was manufactured by the press, acknowledging a reality that clearly exists. Was it a story, or did the press make it a story?
My answer to this question is that both are true. Carroll chose to be in public life. That is, quite honestly, one of the highest honors a citizen of the United States of America could possibly be afforded. It's heady stuff. No, really. Been there, done that. Kept the T Shirt, film, and video.
But, public life, while having great honor and privilege, also carries with it some caveats which must not be ignored. If you ignore them, they will eventually bite you in the butt. Don't do that. Post them on a piece of paper, and staple it to your forehead, in direct visual site at all times.
The first caveat is that, as a public person, every heartbeat you have ever experienced, or will experience for your life is available to examination. Know that they WILL be. You will be held accountable for everything from your birth (or before) onward. While the US is generally not as bad at this as other nations' press, it is a reality all public officials must understand so clearly that it cannot be misunderstood.
The second caveat is like unto it, the first. The smart public official will, well in advance of anyone else, do that examination themselves, and prepare a response for every possible "known" issue. I personally do not believe Lt. Governor Carroll was at all surprised by this revelation. I wonder if she initiated it, quite frankly. She certainly had no problem throwing her Sister and Brother-In-Law under a rather sizable bus, I know that. Quickly. Ergo, my belief.
The third caveat is that you, the target, do not know (or control) the spin. The press will do all it can to create, and define the frame--AND the spin. The above referenced article demonstrates that clearly, I believe.
But you CAN control your response (if any) to that spin. The better your response, the shorter the lifespan of the issue. If you can't be first out with an issue, be quick about being second, and do it well enough that there can be no third.
The final caveat for this diary is to know that everyone you know is an issue-in-waiting. Your spouse, your children (unfortunately), your extended family (as in this case), your colleagues, your staff, your friends, and (in this case) your Pharmacist are all, like it or don't, available to public scrutiny. Understand, and prepare for that reality. Hopefully, before you even announce your candidacy, or a staffer agrees to serve on your campaign, this reality must be fully explained; if necessary investigated, and put into a book of issues requiring rapid response.
In this particular case, a very common issue arises. That is the issue of those extended family (or others) trying to "game" your status for their own benefit, protection, or isolation to do things that will become issues for you. Some of these issues will be detrimental to your campaign, or your office if elected.
Looking at this particular issue, I can see that it is not going to go away any time soon, because the Lt. Governor has made herself an issue! (You should NOT do this! Believe me, the Press will do it for you often enough to make you want to drink hard liquor--a lot!) Lightening rods work, exactly as they are designed and intended to work. Every time.
Is it an unfair article? Isn't that the issue? The difficulty is, there are as many answers to that questions as there are readers, or constituents. Issues such as this do not go away--ever. Note the reference to a previous (and significant) issue in the referenced article's first paragraph.
Progressives have difficulty successfully concluding electoral campaigns. Here is just a whole bunch of reasons why that is true. That's why this is a cautionary tale. I hope it helps anyone who is even considering (such as myself) an electoral campaign now, or in the future. This isn't some new, or even original campaign teaching. It's been around for a really long time, and the geography of the issue itself has not changed. Sometimes, even the basics get lost, or forgotten.
I used to work for a very well-known and wise man. He once told me:
"Bud, you should visit the basics of this business about once each year. It takes about a year to visit the basics."
Florida and Tennessee are very, very hot electoral centers right now. Everyone should remember these basic caveats. Everyone.
It matters. Really.