RNC fires finance director & deputy director following spending scandals

By GottaLaff

Heads are rolling... because, hey, that's how the RNC, well, rolls:

The Republican National Committee has fired Finance Director Rob Bickhart in the wake of a two embarrassing scandals that originated in the committee's fundraising department.

Deputy Finance Director Debbie LeHardy has also been removed from her post.

Remember that powerpoint presentation to Republican donors that stooped to the usual fear tactics, calling Obama a socialist, blahblah spewspew? That would be the same powerpoint in which they referred to GOP donors as "ego-driven". Bickhart was reportedly the one behind it.

Internal Probe Finds RNC Financial Controls in Disarray

Sorry to see that they figured this out- could have helped a win for us. Via Taegan-

"Barely 6 1/2 months before the midterm elections, an internal investigation by the Republican National Committee has revealed that the organization is beset with questionable financial management and oversight and is spending more money courting top-dollar donors than it raises," the Washington Times reports.

"The investigation found that the Republican Party's national governing body is losing money on its major-donors' fundraising program -- spending $1.09 for each $1.00 raised, according to RNC members privy to the investigation's findings. It typically costs about 40 cents for every dollar raised from donors who give more than $1,000."

"The old Bush team will be controlling the finances of the party"

By GottaLaff

Karl Rove and some of his BushCo buddies are behind a new Republican political action committee called "American Crossroads". Why, it's like a reunion! Maybe they'll all wear name tags with old photos of themselves on them, and comment on how their old chums are bald now.

Class of 2001! Rah!

But that's not important now. What is important is that the RNC is getting a little jittery about it. Why? Because re$ources are getting siphoned off from them and into Rove's pot. And by pot I mean big fat hammy arms, not the kind one might smoke (although that might alleviate some of the stress).

This isn't how Michael Steele wants to roll:

If Rove and his team do raise the cash they are boasting about, the RNC will run out of money and the old Bush team will be controlling the finances of the party, the official griped. That may leave top donors looking to American Crossroads and others instead of to the national party in future cycles.

"This is drawing [donors] away from the party and into something else, and its very formation is communicating to the donors nationally that there is no confidence in the Republican party," the former official said. He suggested this would allow the RNC's donor base to atrophy and put the next chairman in a position of needing to completely rebuild.

Oh goody. The nasty, thuggy, Bushie frat boys are back. Now I remember why I avoid reunions.

Dems file FEC complaint over alleged GOP laundering scheme

Heh. Problem is that this kind of stuff doesn't resonate with the people all that much, but it can distract the GOPers for a bit.

The Michigan Democratic Party filed an official complaint with the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday, alleging that the Michigan Republican Party and the Republican National Committee struck a deal to get around campaign finance limits and launder roughly half a million dollars in contributions from Michigan residents through the RNC and back to the Michigan GOP.

These allegations first came to light with an article in the Daily Caller last week, which we reported on at the time. The Michigan GOP denies any wrongdoing in the matter, but now the FEC will presumably open an investigation reach its own conclusion.

The Daily Caller cited an unnamed source within the GOP:

“It was a known secret that a deal had been struck on the topic,” a former RNC official confirmed to The Daily Caller.

“I think the benefit to them was them getting guaranteed money,” the source said of the Michigan GOP, “and the benefit to the RNC was getting higher fundraising numbers.”

The article also noted that FEC reports showed that a group of Michigan donors all maxed out their contributions to the RNC in the last days of 2009, donating nearly half a million dollars collectively. The RNC then transferred that money back to the state party in two payments in early 2010.

VIDEO: Bobby Jindal mocks RNC staffers

By GottaLaff

Um, Ba-Ba-Ba-Bobby Jindal? Wrong joke to the wrong crowd at the wrong time in the wrong room. Major rule of comedy: Know your audience.



Way to win over your own side, Sparky:

How do you get a lukewarm reaction from an otherwise friendly crowd? Joke about the politically embarrassing elephant in the room. That is just what Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal did Friday at the SRLC, having a laugh at the expense of the RNC.

Mock and awe fail.

Tony Perkins warns GOP that supporters could switch to Tea Party

By GottaLaff

On April Fool's Day, Tony Perkins came out with this:

"If you can't run a party, you can't run a country."

He told donors to withhold their money, to refrain from donating to the RNC. And he wasn't April Fooling.

Today is April 8th. It only took Perkins a week to come up with a new quote or twelve:

“I think the Republicans have to realize they're not operating in a vacuum. Now, while Democrats may be in trouble coming into November's election, the Republicans are not the only game in town,” Perkins told us on ABC’s “Top Line” today.

“As we see the Tea Party movement taking on a life of its own, the Republicans have some competition, which I think is actually good for the conservative vote. And they're going to have to be responsible with how they spend their money, they're going to have to be I think very measured in their message, and that they are embracing a conservative message …. ”

Shorter Perkins: Shape up or we go all Tea Tantrum on you.

Shorter 2010 elections:

DNC beats RNC in March cash haul

But I thought Dems were demoralized and unmotivated?

Washington (CNN) - The Democratic National Committee raised at least $13 million in March, a Democratic source tells CNN.

That would be at least $1.6 million more in fundraising than the DNC's counterpart, the Republican National Committee, which reported bringing in $11.4 million last month.

The DNC's March total is at least $5.5 million more than they raised in February. The RNC's total last month is nearly $4 million more than what they raised in February.

The divisive debate over the Democrats' health care reform legislation, which last month passed through Congress and was signed into law by President Obama, is most likely behind much of the bounce in cash.

RNC chief of staff resigns

By GottaLaff

Via an e-mail alert:

POLITICO has learned that Republican National Committee Chief of Staff Ken McKay has resigned. He will be replaced by Deputy Chief of Staff Mike Leavitt. RNC spokesman Doug Heye declined to say if McKay was asked to resign, but said the move was "about ensuring that we have the tight financial controls in place and to ensure that every nickel we spend is done with the goal of winning in November."

For more information...http://www.politico.com

Damage control? If so, it won't work. Michael Steele has dug himself in so deeply, nobody can get him out.

Rats. Ship. Leaving.

VIDEO: Tony Perkins: 'If You Can't Run A Party, You Can't Run A Country'

By GottaLaff

Yesterday I posted about the Family Research Council urging donors to withhold donations to the RNC. Ouch.

Here's some video to buttress that. Watch Tony Perkins saying how much he likes Michael Steele, and it is the RNC that has to deal with all the suckitude:

AUDIO: RNC fake "census" mailer provides phone sex number by mistake

By GottaLaff

(Click on image to enlarge; via)

This is barely audible, and awfully ickworthy. Listen at your own risk:



Can these people do nothing right? And why do their little mishaps always involve sexcapades, even inadvertent ones? The RNC gives new meaning to Murphy's Law:

The Republican National Committee sent a fundraising mail piece earlier this month with a return number that leads to a phone-sex line offering "live, one-on-one talk with a nasty girl who will do anything you want for just $2.99 per minute."

Oops, that was supposed to be a 202 area code! But a Minnesota resident called the 800 number to complain about using a fake census form to entice donations. Surprise! Cringe Factor: 100.

It's not nice to deceive voters, RNC. When will they ever learn?

Not to mention, donations will likely suffer. Who wants to give money to the so-called Family Values party when they can't seem to adhere to their own standards?

But the Minnesotan was instead directed to a second toll-free number that greets callers as "sexy guy" before offering them the chance to talk with "real local students, housewives and working girls from all over the country."

The caller then sent the form to his Democratic congressman, who let the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in on it.

The RNC won't reveal how many mailers went out. But, hey, check phone records to see if there was an uptick in calls to Miss XXX. That should provide a rough idea... then check to see who called back.

Oh, but I kid...

That's all for now. Stay tuned for the next episode of How the RNC Rolls. But first, hide the kids.

Sarah Palin to RNC: Take me off fundraiser

I'm smelling some desperation in the air. Pretty soon the RNC will be advertising Democratic speakers.

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has asked the Republican National Committee to remove her name from a fundraiser the committee is planning piggybacking off of the Southern Republican Leadership Conference, POLITICO has learned.

Palin’s staff has twice told the RNC to remove her name from an invitation sent to donors, obtained by POLITICO on Wednesday, showing her as an “invited” speaker to the four-day fundraiser in New Orleans, timed to coincide with the SRLC event in Louisiana.

(snip)

The RNC invitation touts Palin along with other SRLC speakers, including Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Fox News host Sean Hannity, Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) and former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), as “invited speakers” for the event.

Santorum is the only speaker advertised on the invitation who is confirmed to attend the fundraiser.

Family Research Council: Stop RNC Donations

By GottaLaff

Blow. Back:

In the wake of the expense scandal at the Republican National Committee, the Family Research Council urged supporters to stop donating to the RNC "and instead contribute to its own coffers or to candidates with like-minded goals," CNN reports. [...]

Earlier, we noted big Republican donors are already bypassing the RNC.

When Tony Perkins isn't happy, the money goes bye-bye. And we all know it's al-l-l about the money.

Via the Family Research Council site:

The Republican National Committee (RNC) is at the center of another controversy, this one regarding nearly $2,000.00 spent at a bondage-themed strip club outside of Los Angeles. Information about the $1,946.00 dollar expenditure at Voyeur West Hollywood became public when the RNC released its most recent financial disclosure report. The public controversy over the expenditure led to the firing of the staffer yesterday who had incurred the expense. This latest incident is another indication to me that the RNC is completely tone-deaf to the values and concerns of a large number of people from whom they seek financial support. [...]

I've hinted at this before, but now I am saying it--don't give money to the RNC. If you want to put money into the political process, and I encourage you to do so, give directly to candidates who you know reflect your values. Better yet, become a member of FRC Action and learn about the benefits it offers, including participating in the FRC Action PAC which can support candidates who will advance faith, family and freedom!

The RNC has an owie. Who's gonna kiss it now?

RNC: Gluttons for punishment

By GottaLaff

How stupid do you have to be to invite more negative attention about your own scandal while releasing harmless information about your intended target? DeflectionFail:

The RNC "has been on the defensive this week because of some questionable expenditures," First Read notes, and is "pushing back today by sending around a list of what the Democratic National Committee has spent money on, including more than $2 million on luxury hotels and caterers, $75,000 for car services, and $262,000 for 'other events' at the Kennedy Center, Fenway Park, and a D.C. nightclub."

The only problem is that there is nothing shocking in the list of Democratic expenditures that comes close to matching what Republicans spent on "bondage-themed nightclubs" and private jets.

Here's an idea, RNC: Clean up your act. Once that happens (as if...), go ahead and point fingers. Until then, it might be a good idea to stop the self-inflicted wounds.

Oh, and fire your chairman... but not too soon. We need him around for a few more months.

RNC memo re: Voyeur Club- "We have requested by repayment of the $1946.25 from the individual who was reimbursed"

By GottaLaff

It pays to have Republican friends sometimes, and I have a wonderful one who passed this RNC memo on to me:

From the RNC...

Chairman Steele and Co-Chairman Mariner wanted me to update you on media reports circulating today regarding expenditure of RNC funds. Specifically, the reports point to a reimbursement of $1946.25 to an individual in California for an expenditure at a club named Voyeur West Hollywood.

Our investigation has determined that following a Young Eagles event in Los Angeles, a group of individuals did attend such a club on their own. This was not an RNC sanctioned event and was not associated in any way with any RNC official event.

Subsequently, a request for reimbursement to the private individual was submitted by a RNC staff person. That person was aware that this activity was not eligible for reimbursement and had been previously counseled on this very subject. Accordingly, that staff person has been terminated.

Additionally, we have requested by letter repayment of the $1946.25 from the individual who was reimbursed. He has verbally agreed to repay the funds to the RNC.

I want to ensure you that at no time was Chairman Steele or Co-Chairman Larimer or any member of the senior staff aware of the purpose of this reimbursement or present at the afterhours non-official get together.

I speak for all the staff when I say we fully understand the responsibility with which we have been entrusted.We are dedicated to the efficient use of RNC funds to ensure as many victories in 2010 as possible. We look forward to working with each and every one of you to bring about those victories.

Ken McKay
Chief of Staff
Republican National Committee

To quote my friend, "dumbasses". He's fed up. Can't imagine why.

CA Republican Erik Brown return RNC money; RNC cultivated young donors at Voyeurs

By GottaLaff


Michael Steele is toast. His sexcapades at the bondage-themed Voyeur club (that features topless dancers simulating sex acts), where he blew nearly two grand to hang with the who's who of voyeuritude, is getting blowback. (Fun with words!)

A California-based political consultant who charged the Republican National Committee nearly $2,000 for a night out at Voyeur - a risque West Hollywood nightclub now at center of the latest controversy surrounding RNC chairman Michael Steele - will return the money to the party, a committee spokesman told CNN Monday.

Erik Brown, president of the Orange County-based Dynamic Marketing, Inc., was re-imbursed in February for $1,946.25 worth of charges at the nightclub, according to the RNC's latest filing with the Federal Election Commission. [...]

Brown's firm, which also has an office in Washington, D.C., has done direct mail and consulting work for GOP candidates in California including Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, now a candidate for Senate, and Steve Poizner, the state Insurance Commissioner now running for governor.

Erik and Mikey are bff. Well, they're at least f:

In October, Brown tweeted: "Enjoying the football game with RNC Chairman Michael Steele. (Eagles vs Redskins at FedEx Field)."

Brown closed his Twitter account after the Voyeur story broke. His Gen Next page was also scrubbed. Sadly, I accidentally closed my tab while it was still up. But luckily, Democratic Underground copied the text and his photo (click on images to enlarge):

Erik Brown is Chief Executive Officer of DMI, Dynamic Marketing Inc. a direct marketing/media production company with offices in California and Washington DC. DMI provides services for corporations, political campaigns, issue advocacy groups, fundraising professionals, and various private concerns. Recipients of the prestigious AAPC Pollie Award in 2008, DMI’s portfolio includes work for notable candidates as well as a several prominent elected officials and public policy organizations.

A graduate of the University of California Irvine with a degree in Political Science, Erik has been an active member of The National Honor Society, Young Republicans, Friends of the NRA, Claremont Institute, and the Sheriff's Advisory Council. Apart from a passion for politics and a driving commitment to advocate on behalf of founding principles, Erik is a sportsman and a mentor to young athletes. As an ice hockey coach for over 12 years, his teams have won acclaim as State, District, and National Champions.

Erik is married to Alison Brown, a graduate of Chapman University and an MBA student at UCI’s Merage School of business. Alison has served as President of the Illuminating Engineers Society of Southern California, a mainstay of her industry. A former director of the Sunday school, Alison and Erik reside in Las Flores, California and are actively involved in the ministries of their local church.

Here's what is there now:

But wait! There's more!

What exactly was going on at that little Voyeurpalooza?

A $1,946.25 bar tab at a bondage-themed Hollywood nightclub financed by the RNC was part of a night of cultivating young Republican donors [...]

The California blog Red County reported that the outing at Voyeur West Hollywood was an after-party for a number of young Republicans who attended a Young Eagles event that night at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Those would be the same under-40s who are pallin' around with Blackwater for a fundraiser in April. I wrote about that earlier here.

The Party of No is morphing into the Party Party.

H/t: Windy City Watch, Gr8RDH

The RNC hearts Blackwater

By GottaLaff

Ben Smith reveals that the RNC has Xe hots for Blackwater. They're about to cohabitate at a fundraiser:

Spokesmen for the Republican National Committee and for Xe Services, the embattled military contractor formerly known as Blackwater, denied to me last month that the party had any plans to host a donor retreat at Xe's U.S. Training Center in North Carolina.

Today, however, spokesmen for both said the event -- which appeared in a calendar in the leaked RNC fundraising presentation -- is on.

Here is a snippet of Ben's original post:

The Republican National Committee is planning to raise $60,000 at a fundraiser next month at the North Carolina compound owned by the company formerly known as Blackwater.

The event is going to be held by the under-40somethings called the "Young Eagles".

If you still aren't familiar with who and what Blackwater really is, please take a look at the primer I compiled called "Blackwater for Dummeez".

Here are a few screen grabs of the leaked presentation. And remember, they put the FUN back in FUNdraising!

(click on image to enlarge)

Nothing more reassuring than teaming up with a bunch of thugs. That should lend as much credibility to the party as their RNC chair spending nearly two grand at a kinky bondage-themed club.

H/t: Gr8RDH

Michael Steele spent $1946.25 watching "half-naked ladies simulating oral sex on each other"

By GottaLaff

This is how Michael Steele rolls!

Presenting the face-- the chair-- of the RNC:

[...] Michael Steele considered buying a private plane, because he spends so much time flying to nightclubs and Hawaii, but he decided not to. Instead he found many other creative ways to waste money.

Once on the ground, FEC filings suggest, Steele travels in style. A February RNC trip to California, for example, included a $9,099 stop at the Beverly Hills Hotel, $6,596 dropped at the nearby Four Seasons, and $1,620.71 spent [update: the amount is actually $1,946.25] at Voyeur West Hollywood, a bondage-themed nightclub featuring topless women dancers imitating lesbian sex.

Now, Voyeur is not really a "strip club" so much as a terrible-sounding nightclub with bottle service, long lines, Lindsay Lohan, and, yes, half-naked ladies simulating oral sex on each other.

Hey, whatever floats your... floaties. Or maybe he went invested because he needed someone, or something, to inflate them again.... on his party's dime.

Here are some commenters' reviews of the club, via Yelp:

[...] There are topless "dancers" acting out S&M scenes throughout the night on one of the side stages, there's a half-naked girl hanging from a net across the ceiling and at one point I walked to the bathroom and pretty much just stopped dead in my tracks to watch two girls simulating oral sex in a glass case.

Really understated elegance here.

Also, Lindsay Lohan was at our table at one point.

***

As good as it gets in terms of places to be in LA. I can say this place is full of nothing but incredily attractive women, rich guys, and celebrities. Voyeur is very very exclusive and unless your a 8 or above ladies or willing to get bottle service ( 2 bottles =$1,100) fellas, be prepared to be turned away. I think this is one of the hottest places that I've been to in my many years in LA. The half naked models and topless dancers alone is worth the price of admission.

***

The layout of the club is terrible, and decor is not that inspiring... but Naked chicks + live porn + celebs. What more could a girl ask for?? A+ in my book. Beware of the ladies hanging above you in nets - they whip the occasional unsuspecting drunkie. Scared the bejeezus out of me. Also beware if you're ugly you won't get in.

[Note: Edited for accuracy; some text removed]

Family values are alive and well in the Rushpublic party. So is hypocrisy.

And they fired David Frum for simply opining about that hip, good-looking, sexy, jet-setting party that Steele represents. Go figure.

Voyeur Club photo via Yelp

RNC says "no" to joint statement calling for civility

By GottaLaff

Greg Sargent has two interesting tidbits to share with us.

Tidbit numero uno:

Has anyone else noticed that the Dem efforts to demand that Republican leaders condemn the threats and intimidation have suddenly gone silent today? I’m told Dems made a concerted decision to dial down the noise.

IMHO, they weren't noisy enough. But what do I know?

Tidbit numero dos:

Speaking of threats and intimidation, DNC spokesman Brad Woodhouse emails that the DNC sent a letter to RNC chair Michael Steele today asking him to issue a joint statement calling for civility. The RNC declined, Woodhouse says, which makes sense, since GOPers wouldn’t want Dems to set the agenda on this story.

But of course they declined. Politics are much more important than the health and welfare of the country. Better to maintain the boiling hot tone than to show any sign of unity. Benefiting one's party is the priority, not benefiting the nation.

Well, at least the Party of No is consistent...ly wrong.

RNC PowerPoint Fallout: 'Ashamed' donor closes checkbook

Tsk tsk, lots of money out there to lose.

A prominent Evangelical figure and Republican donor says he will end his contributions to the organized Republican Party in reaction to the leaked fundraising presentation that advised using "fear" to solicit contributions and displayed an image of President Obama as the Joker from Batman.

Mark DeMoss, who heads a major Christian public relations firm in Atlanta and served as a liaison to the Evangelical community for Mitt Romney in 2008, wrote Chairman Michael Steele yesterday that he was "ashamed" of the presentation, calling depictions of Obama, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Majority Leader Harry Reid "shameful, immature and uncivil, at best."

"I’m afraid the presentation is representative of a culture and mindset within the Republican National Committee," DeMoss, a past member of the RNC's "Eagle" program for top donors who gave the party $15,000 in 2008, wrote in the letter to Steele, which he shared with POLITICO. "Consequently, I will no longer contribute to any fundraising entity of our Party—but will contribute only to individual candidates I choose to support."

PhotOh! Billboards of hate against President Obama

By GottaLaff

My pal John over at the Daily Beast sent me a link to what freedom of speech means to some people via a post by John Avlon.

I'm including samples of the handiwork, but please go here for the rest:

As the leaked GOP PowerPoint prompts outrage, its scare tactics are field-tested on America's highways. John Avlon—author of Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe Is Hijacking America, [...] on the grassroots campaign to poison the president.

[T]ake a tour of just one dozen examples of what happens when Obama Derangement Syndrome imposes itself on roadside America. Warning: Wingnuttery Ahead.

This classic from on U.S. 63 near West Plains, Missouri.

This sign appeared in Henderson, North Carolina—the hometown of PBS’ Charlie Rose—until public outcry led the owner to take it down in October ’08. Obama won the state.

Wheat Ridge, Colorado

[This] appears to have been endorsed by the Lafayette County Republican Central Committee—cause nothing says patriotism like overturning democratic elections with an armed insurrection.