Vernon Parker (R CAND, AZ-09) to deliver this week’s Republican Address.

The national party is kind of excited about this particular race and candidate:

“This week brought more disappointing economic news, and more reminders that President Obama’s weak leadership and failed policies have hurt small businesses and driven jobs overseas,” House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) said.  “We need principled leaders who will come to Congress and join Republicans in the fight to help create a better environment for jobs growth by addressing our looming debt crisis and stopping all the looming tax hikes which, according to Ernst & Young, could destroy up to 700,000 jobs.  Vernon Parker is an independent thinker and a rising star in the Republican Party who is committed to listening to the people of Arizona and restoring the American Dream.  I’m sure Vernon will do a great job outlining what is at stake in this election, and I’m looking forward to hearing his address.”

…for a variety of reasons.  First is that Parker was a pretty good catch for this race: he’s a local mayor with national experience in the federal government under both Bush administrations, as well as being one of the NRCC’s Young Guns.  Second?  His opponent, Kyrsten Sinema, is high-functioning crazy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MVXuPGPeuu8

You may remember Ms. Sinema from a previous post: as the above campaign ad notes, she’s the one who called stay-at-home parents leeches.  In fact, this is one of those rare cases where the full quote was too awful for opposition ads:

“These women who act like staying at home, leeching off their husbands or boyfriends, and just cashing the checks is some sort of feminism because they’re choosing to live that life. That’s bullsh*t. I mean, what the f*ck are we really talking about here?”

So, you have to like the GOP’s chances in this one. Particularly since Sinema was a hardcore opponent to the Afghanistan and Iraqi wars… right up to the point where Navy SEALS double-tapped Osama bin Laden. Then she fell over herself reversing her position on the final disposition of terrorists.  Expect that to come up in the next debate, ya, you betcha…

Moe Lane (crosspost)

PS: If all goes well, we’ll be talking with Vernon ourselves later in the day; I just wanted to give folks some idea about why this is a race to pay attention to.

PPS: Vernon Parker for AZ-09.