Michael Steele: "greatest party leader of all time"

[babylonsister]

:toast:

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_07/024859.php

REVERBERATIONS FROM THE RNC'S HIDDEN-DEBT PROBLEM.... Other news stories this week helped keep the Republican National Committee's problems off the front page. That's a silver lining, however, to an otherwise massive cloud.

We learned on Wednesday that the RNC's own treasurer believes the party deliberately failed to report more than $7 million in debt to the Federal Election Commission recently, as part of a scheme to make the RNC's finances look better than they really are. Hiding off-book debts is not only illegal, it also points to more system problems at party headquarters.

The Republican National Committee's disarray -- ABC characterized it as a "civil war" -- comes at a bad time for the party, and Marc Ambinder reports that Republican strategists fear the "chaos" at the RNC could lead to electoral consequences.

During midterm elections, the national committee plays two essential roles. First, it serves as a bank account that can be drawn upon to shore up House races or put others into play. Second, it coordinates the party's field operations and funds joint "Victory" committees with state parties. The RNC, at the moment, is barely fulfilling the second function and has less than $10 million on hand, so it cannot help much with House races. <...>

snip//

The latest scandal, involving $7 million that the RNC's own treasurer categorized as unreported debt, will undermine any opportunity the party has to regain its financial footing before the election.

Remember, as we talked about the other day, what makes this story serious is the fact that it has multiple angles, all of them bad news for the RNC. We have (1) the in-fighting among RNC officials, with the chairman going up against his own treasurer; (2) potentially illegal accounting tricks; (3) weak RNC fundraising in advance of a critical election season that necessitated the illegal accounting tricks; (4) another distracting scandal for Steele to deal with, just a few weeks after the last one; and (5) the fact that the controversy itself steps all over the Republican message of fiscal responsibility.

Oh, and for good measure, also note that if the FEC penalizes the party for its accounting tricks -- which seems likely -- the RNC would likely have to pay fines before the election. That's money the party would much prefer to spend on competitive races.

There's a reason Democrats tend to look at Michael Steele as the greatest party leader of all time.

—Steve Benen

[malaise]

1. If this was about the Democratic Party it would be

the only story being covered by M$Greedia.

[babylonsister]

2. Good point. Have you heard a word about Steele recently?

I can't say I have...curious that.

[scheming daemons]

4. The GOP is in the middle of trying to gin up a race war......

..the last person they want you see on TV representing them is a black man right now.

[malaise]

5. A Politico guy on Morning Joe Scum earlier today

mentioned that Coleman was about to challenge him for the post. Not a word about the hidden losses.

[saltpoint]

3. A few million bucks here and there -- I mean, who's counting?

Recommended, because for most of our lifetimes the GOP has always had a cash advantage right out of the gate, or in recent years, Far Right out of the gate. It's ok by me if they are heavily fined for any reason whatsoever, and if it comes before the election, that would be ideal.

[old mark]

6. Steele is out there doing his thing, whatever it may be, the GOP is biting itself in the ass,

running up huge bills with no money coming in and has NO ONE IN SIGHT with any kind of intelligence or real experience in solving the countrry's problems - which were maninly caused by republicans in the first place...they are losing important voters, like hispanics and working people and their "leaders" are all delusional media bigots who are not really involved in politics.
The midterm is little more than 4 months away and they are LOSING GROUND everywhere, and Boehner is talking like he really expects to be the Speaker of the House.

The republicans have been bullshitting everyone so much they believe it themselves, but they WILL meet cruel reality in November, no matter what the media says...they will have some 'splainin' to do after this election...Dems wil win big.


mark

[corkhead]

7. This article helps substantiate my theory...

that Michael Steele is a MOLE!