Lisbon got so upset for the reprimand that he called the ADL “despicable” during a meeting with me and the Herald’s editorial board, later apologizing for mouthing off against such a highly regarded organization.

ECO warfare

Back to the Rivas Logan/Diaz attack-fest. Diaz, too, has been the subject of ECO warfare.

Among the stealth groups taking on Diaz is Citizen Action, Inc., which the most recent state records show raised about $172,000 from various businesses, including a financial services company registered in Delaware. Also giving handsomely to Citizen Action, chaired by Keith Donner of Miami, is The Democracy Project, a “committee of continuous existence,” another one of those Tallahassee-created stealth-campaign creatures. Among its contributors is Genting, the resorts casino company that bought the Herald property last year and failed this year to get the Legislature to pass a casino resorts bill.

One flier blasts Diaz for voting “against legislation that would require our underaged daughters to have parental consent for an abortion!” Huh? In fact, the proposal in question was a proclamation of sorts that told Congress to approve a constitutional amendment supporting parental rights for state ratification. Thing is, abortion isn’t even mentioned, and on the specific issue of parental consent for a teen’s abortion, Diaz has sided with the parents in his vote.

Two good people and solid candidates — one an experienced educator, the other a civic-minded up-and-comer — can point to the nasty fliers that attack the other and claim deniability.

Forget the facts. The ECOs will be at war until there’s one bloody candidate left standing.