Kansas City political insiders know that Diana Kander was formerly one of the influential young people this town has ever seen in biz, tech and politics.
Over the years she transformed herself into a New York Times best selling author and sought-after consultant for start-ups and all kinds of biz.
However, now that her husband MO SecState Jason Kander is running a close race for Senate and has persistently attacked incumbent Sen. Roy Blunt's family for their political connections . . . The career track of Diana Kander is now in play.
The argument here is that Diana Kander transitioned out of politics as Jason Kander's career took off . . . Also there's a laughable line about an "aspirational biography" that's pure political spin but still worthy of note and a giggle.
To shed light on some of the info out there . . . While Ms. Kander was never a "formal" lobbyist working behind the scenes for Mayor Sly James and as a campaigner for City Council Candidate Doug Gamble . . . Like her husband, she was a strong advocate for the candidacy of Mayor Sly James while Jason Kander served as a Missouri House Rep.
Here she is getting huggy with former Mayoral Chief of Staff John McGurk at the inauguration of Mayor Sly years ago . . . For the record, Kansas City power player McGurk doesn't hug just anybody. TKC has never been able to secure even a casual embrace from the guy despite repeated requests.
More importantly, here's "DK" shaking her fist at the Blunt campaign and Missouri media asking the question about her alleged lobbyist career . . .
Missouri Times: Questions about Diana Kander’s desire to lobby in increasingly personal U.S. Senate race
Money line . . .
"While Kander has spent millions of dollars attacking Blunt for his wife’s occupation, new facts are coming to light that suggest that the Kanders haven’t always had such a pessimistic view of the lobbying profession.
"Diana Kander worked for Lathrop & Gage from 2005 to 2006, following a law school internship in Washington with the prestigious firm, which features a large government relations practice. During her time at the firm, Mrs. Kander’s biography, listed on the Lathrop & Gage website, stated that she assisted in lobbying efforts before Congress.
“She has also spent time working with the Washington D.C. affiliate of Lathrop & Gage by assisting in the lobbying efforts of major Midwest companies before the U.S. Congress,” reads her biography. “This work includes finding and advocating for new funding opportunities for special projects and monitoring critical developments in specific areas of the law.”
"The Kander campaign pushed back aggressively, stating that her biography was an “aspirational biography,” and it was not truly representative of her work at the firm. Regardless of whether the biography was aspirational, one key distinction between the Kander’s family and Blunt’s is that her work with the firm was done before her husband filed to run for a seat in the Missouri House of Representatives in 2008.
"Diana Kander forcefully responded to questions about Lathrop & Gage’s biography.
“I am not a lobbyist, have never been a lobbyist, and have never lobbied state or federal government in my entire life. Senator Blunt is maliciously spreading misinformation for his political gain about the beginning of my career, when I was an intern in Washington doing legal research and then was a first-year associate in Kansas City focusing on real estate law and representing clients in front of local boards for legal purposes. Missourians deserve better from Senator Blunt . . ."
The question is simple and we're putting it out here because it's yet another topic that Kansas City media will ignore . . .
WAS DIANA KANDER A LOBBYIST WHILST HER HUSBAND JASON HELD OFFICE???
It's not the worst thing in the world and I admire the profession much more than self-help book author . . . Still, given the SecState's full frontal assault on the Blunt family . . . The question is now fair play.
You decide . . .
Sounds to me like we have a local yokel politician whose image could not be any better manufactured if it had been done in Hollywood. This whole hubby, wife, professional polituician scenario sends up some real red flags.
ReplyDeleteOh good, Another bill and Hillary wannabees
ReplyDeleteIt is truely remarkable that we as a species have devolved to a point where one's defense is to say that what was previously stated as truth was a lie.
ReplyDeletePost Lady Diana Ted Talk analysis ....
ReplyDeleteThis is all very interesting and informative. But in a society and country like the US of A, this can never be achieved. This is about capitalism. Excuse the vulgarity here, but it's about screwing as opposed to being screwed. Why? Because the almighty DOLLAR runs the country and nothing else. All the Americans care about is MONEY! SO when you try to educate them and expose them to new truths and beliefs, all they do is process that information and somehow try to figure out some clever way to make a buck! Sounds ridiculous and absurd, but it's factitious. It's as if they're prewired to think and react that way. The subject is of little concern to them.
She's smart as hell, ambitious and cute. Exactly what it takes for the local cave-dwelling political culture to pillory her.
ReplyDeletea couple aspiring to the corrupt elite class.
ReplyDeletedon't need any more of them, for sure.
9:34 you forgot honest. But I doubt it applies, it seldom does to the political class.
ReplyDeleteHugs are good. Mine changed my life for the better and I got greedy and wanted more. Craving a solitary touch all over my body. Politics makes strange bed fellows. One look and I turn not away. PBE....
ReplyDeleteDid someone say Diana Kander was ASPIRATIONAL ?
ReplyDeleteEXACTLY!!!
The Kanders are slamming Senator Blunt's time in the Senate, his house in D.C., his family members jobs, etc.,
NOT because they're against lobbying, and believe in living modestly,
but BECAUSE they're ENVIOUS of those who are higher up the ladder of success.
Jason and Diana Kander went to Georgetown University School of Law, but both found that they didn't like practicing law. She reinvented herself as an "entreprenuer", but didn't find success until latching onto someone who was already successful in business. He won a seat in the MO House, served 2 terms, but didn't like it. Next, he served 1 term as Secretary of State, but didn't like it. Now, he's seeking a seat in the U.S. Senate, but is not going to win.
Jason Kander is a 35-year old guy from Overland Park, KS who can't sit still and dedicate himself to a stable job. He could be working as a full-time attorney, enjoying a life with his wife and young child, but he's chosen instead to chase after a political career that will never bring him satisfaction.
ReplyDeletePOLITICS, n.
A strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles. The conduct of public affairs for private advantage.
POLITICIAN, n.
An eel in the fundamental mud upon which the superstructure of organized society is reared. When we wriggles [sic] he mistakes the agitation of his tail for the trembling of the edifice. As compared with the statesman, he suffers the disadvantage of being alive.
Ambrose Bierce---The Devils Dictionary
ROFLMAO !!!
ReplyDeleteCudgel
ReplyDeleteCui Bono
=)
And yet, of course, our lovely local paper the Star doesn't mention this at all. Ridiculous that Dave Helling can't get off his ass and do a little legwork to break a story, so a Jeff City paper has to do it for him.
ReplyDeleteWhere is Cum Guy. Bet he has something for her .
ReplyDeleteTEd use to be science or inventors now it's ruined with politics.
ReplyDeleteMCgurk was the worst Chief of Staff ever for the city of KC. He did absolutely nothing. Big bullshitter gets a high five. living' good.
ReplyDeleteI think Diana did a good job of diffusing the argument here. There might be people who don't agree with her, but nobody will say that she isn't one of the smartest people who has ever worked in KC.
ReplyDelete