Rule 5 of the Republican National Committee establishes the office of Chairman of the Republican Party, states he or she shall be a full-time, paid employee, and shall serve as the "chief executive officer" of the Republican National Committee. The rule states that the Chairman can be removed by a 2/3rds vote of the entire Republican National Committee (made up generally by two representatives per state), and, most interestingly, that the Chairman "need not be a member of the Republican National Committee."
Michael Steele, the former Lt. Governor of Maryland, has been a disaster as Chairman of the RNC. Early in his term, reports surfaced that he was using his position, for which he is already paid handsomely from the funds people like you and I give to the party, to obtain paid speaking gigs for tens of thousands of dollars on the side and pocketing the money. He even signed a contract with a professional talent agency to book such speeches. Illegal? Probably not. Immoral? Possibly, depending on your morals. Bad judgment? Absolutely.
More recent evidence of bad judgment in RNC management found its way to California in the almost inexplicable situation where a group of youngish large donors to the RNC were treated to a trip to an after dinner nightclub in West Hollywood known for its sado-masochistic themes. While I have heard various rehearsed explanations of that event, nobody involved in it was looking out for the "back side" of the Republican Party, which has its roots in family values voters. A nightcap at the Four Seasons might have been acceptable on the RNC expense account when balanced against a potential donation. But not a reimbursement request for facilitating an undulating disco at a sexually confused nightclub that would be recommended by "Stefan," the sexually confused New York City tourism critic on Saturday Night Live. Eventually a couple of RNC staffers were dismissed. Even Steele’s top aide has left.
Steele also has had his share of apologizing during his term as Chairman, for saying stupid things. He dismissively called Rush Limbaugh "an entertainer." Limbaugh certainly has a bigger following in the party than Steele ever had. More bad judgment. He’s made a few other guffaws.
But Steele’s downfall surely is his most recent comments calling the war in Afghanistan essentially unwinable, and attempting to make it "Obama’s war." For this he has been soundly criticized by left and right Republican Party leaders, including Senator John McCain, the party’s most recent presidential standard bearer, Congressman Duncan Hunter, who fought in Afghanistan, and commentator Bill Kristol, who worked in the Reagan and Bush White Houses. Kristol has called on Steele to resign.
Steele’s term ends next January. But next January may be too late for the Party to be able to fully take advantage of a credible Chairman in the national news in the upcoming elections. Polls are pointing to a Republican victory in the Fall elections. But Steele’s continued presence on the scene is clearly a drag on that prospect in the national news and in the management of the RNC itself. Other committees have been set-up by leaders attempting to work around Steele’s incompetence. I receive weekly calls at home, for example, from the "Republican Governor’s Association" (whom I have donated to). When the caller makes the pitch, I always ask if my money will be used "for sex nightclubs in West Hollywood." The callers always have a scripted response that essentially says they have nothing to do with the Republican National Committee and the money I give will be used properly. That is really sad, and more evidence of Steele’s bad judgment.
A move could be made to remove Steele. But a minority of RNC members that might place mistaken loyalty in Steele could block that. But if he resigns, a simple majority vote would elect his replacement. Any national figure could be elected to replace Steele.
In this "Tea Party" era, one can imagine many possibilities for a new RNC Chairman that could light up voters and make the RNC relevant again in the upcoming election. Although she needs to figure out where Eureka College is really located, Sarah Palin comes to mind, or how about Newt Gingrich, or completely fresh and competent faces Congressman Duncan Hunter, Jr.? The list of people that would add value in replacing Steele is endless. But with Steele in that office for the next, critical four months, we will be sharing in his own bad judgment.
July 5th, 2010 at 12:00 am
In a sense the not so politically correct RNC chairman, Michael Steele, was right. If attorney Lacy and any one agreeing with him would knowingly think out the Afghan issue, they would realize that military victory is not likely in the next ten or so years. That’s why America has elected to take out our combat troops in a couple of years and revert to training Afghan soldiers for the decade or longer fight.
Of course, Chairman Steele was not hired to make policy news, a corner jealously guarded by the House and Senate Republican Conference members. His job description is supposed to be that of the late Ray Bliss of Ohio type G.O.P. chief organizer. Instead, he was actually hired principally as a bright black Republican spokesman who could point out the African-American Obama’s mistakes without carrying the additional burden of being thought of as a minority insensitive Republican.
Yep! Michael Steele is doing what he was hired to do if not so perfectly as some would wish. As the Republican chief organizer, Chairman Steele has been less than sterling as proved by, among other things, the not-so-monstrous G.O.P. fundraing results.
If Chairman Steele is to be removed, it should only happen after the November elections and only if we find a terrific organizer to head that office. Anything more hasty than that may likely do more damage to our extremely important November election effort to make Congress and the upcoming reapportion controlling state houses more red…more Republican.
Ernie Konnyu
Former Member, U.S. Congress
July 5th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Ernie, first of all, if you read my comment a little more closely you wil figure out what YOU missed: Afghanistan iis like the Cold War. I said it took EIGHT presidents, like the Cold War, to fix the Cold War. It will take several Presidents to fix Afghanistan, and turning it over to Afghan troops in two years will ensure disaster.
You have of couse forgotten I went to Bellarmine in San Jose and personally delivered you a $500 check for your first Congressional campaign from Young America’s Campaign Fund, around 1976, when $500 was real money. Otherwise I suspect you would not refer to me Impersonally as “attonrey Lacy”. Such is short memory of our politicians.
July 5th, 2010 at 12:00 am
Jim, I’m with you, and I’ll add my vote for Sarah.
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZGRmYTI0ZWVhZTA0Y2YyMGE4NGIxZGUyZDhmZThhZDE=
[Kevin D. Williamson]
…others say so too.
July 6th, 2010 at 12:00 am
My more detailed comment about the “eight presidents” handling the Cold War appears in a comment to Jon Fleischman’s blog next to mine on the Huffington Post. My point there is that those Presidents, Democrats and Republicans, had a generally consistent policy over a long time. That is what we need to win in Afghanistan.
July 6th, 2010 at 12:00 am
More on reorganizing RNC in light of the continued probs:
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/horseraceblog/2010/07/michael_steele_makes_the_case_1.html
July 10th, 2010 at 12:00 am
I stand by my description of the existing principal role of our RNC chair, Michael Steel. Namely, he was hired”as a bright black Republican spokesman who could point out the African-American Obama’s mistakes without carrying the additional burden of being thought of as a minority insensitive Republican.” It was in taht role that he criticised Obama about Afghanistan.
As to removing him, to me the issue is one of timing. I want him to finish the November elections because replacing him would hurt our fall elction effort accross the board. Whatever happens to him after November is up to the Republican National Committee.
Finally Jim as to my political memory I want to again thank you for your delivery of a $500 check to my campaign several decades ago. You’ll find out when you hit 73 as I have your memory may not remember even pleasent details such as meeting with a YAF representative and receiving their support. Again, thank you.