California Republican returning RNC money after racy club visit

[sabra]

Source: CNN

Washington (CNN) – A California-based political consultant 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.

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.

It's not clear why the RNC re-imbursed Brown for the charges or who else was with him at the club. A spokesman for the RNC said Steele was not at the club when the charges were made.

An RNC spokesman also told CNN Monday that Brown is returning the money in question to the committee.

Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/03/29/california-republican-returning-rnc-money-after-racy-club-visit/?fbid=VP2LgjjHQ1T

[Ozymanithrax]

1. Can[t have people thinking Steele was out for a Booty call.

[tularetom]

2. It's all lies but here's the money back anyhow?

Makes sense to me.

Not.

[MineralMan]

3. I guess it fell under "Entertainment."

Steele may not have gone to the club, but someone did, and on the GOP's dime. How utterly embarrassing, I'd say.

[Stand and Fight]

4. Lesbian themed bondage club anyone?

According to the Washington Post:

FEC report details lavish Republican spending, including nearly $2,000 at Voyeur West Hollywood

Updated 3:04 p.m.
By Dan Eggen

The Republican National Committee gave nearly $2,000 to a Southern California GOP contributor for meal expenses at Voyeur West Hollywood, a lesbian-themed California nightclub that features topless dancers wearing horse-bits and other bondage gear, according to newly filed disclosure records.

The RNC said Monday it is investigating the disbursement of the money to Erik Brown of Orange, Calif., who has donated about $10,000 to GOP candidates and is listed in public records as the CEO of Dynamic Marketing Inc., with offices in California and Washington. Brown did not immediately respond Monday to messages left by telephone and e-mail.

RNC spokesman Doug Heye said "I can't comment on him" when asked about Brown and his connection to the party committee. But Heye said Brown is "not on committee staff" and that the visit to the Voyeur nightclub "was not an RNC event." He said the RNC is investigating the expenditure and is requesting that the money be returned.

"It was not anything sanctioned by the committee, and that is why we have requested an investigation," Heye said. "Obviously, given the location, it's something that's not appropriate."

~~~~~~~~~SNIP~~~~~~~~
LINK: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2010/03/rnc-spends-money-on-private-pl.html?wpisrc=nl_pmpolitics

These Republicans and their "family values" never cease to amaze me. :eyes:

[Gman]

5. It don't matter now

the cat's out of the bag now!

[BumRushDaShow]

6. Was this a bribe perhaps?

RNC handing over $$$ for this guy to have a good time and not reveal something else unsavory? Was this consultant doing some sort of "research" for the RNC?

Stay tuned for the next episode of "As the GOP Turns (tricks)". :rofl:

[JuniperLea]

7. Too late! Word's out already!

Oh boy... :rofl:

[tedk_355]

8. typical repuke

[Techn0Girl]

9. This is a LEGITIMATE Expense - Obviously they were looking for Teabaggers to recruit.

[DebbieCDC]

10. Covering up for Mikey

C'mon Mike, man up.

:rofl:

[DCBob]

11. Gotta find out who else was there... inquiring minds want to know..

This is going to get very ugly for Steele and the RNC.

[bc3000]

12. Forget the "sex theme" - Republicans spend $2000 for a night out.

I don't care what he was looking at. I think the fact that this consultant thinks he can spend $2000 in RNC funds for a night out on the town is very out of touch with normal Americans. Let's face it: if it wasn't a sex-themed club, this would have sailed under the radar and been considered standar operating procedure.

[izzybeans]

13. "A former director of the Sunday school...

Erik reside in Las Flores, California and ...actively involved in the ministries of their local church."

That's on a Sunday...Saturdays? Mr. "Get down" Brown knows how to party on somebody else's dime.

http://www.gen-next.org/index.php/membership/members/profile/-/view/46/

[starroute]

14. LOL -- here's his profile

Looks like more Republican family values at work.

http://www.gen-next.org/index.php/membership/members/profile/-/view/46/

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.

[True_Blue]

25. Let's not jump to conclusions ...

Maybe he went there to invite these girls to church

[Botany]

15. RNC Says Member Will Return $2,000 Reimbursed for Visit to Bondage Club

Source: Fox

The Republican National Committee say it's getting back nearly $2,000 that it reimbursed to a member for a night out at a
bondage-themed night club in West Hollywood.

snip

An RNC source told Fox News the donor's name is Erik Brown but Heye would not confirm that. Brown, a direct mail operator
based in California, tweeted in October that he was watching a Redskins game with RNC Chairman Michael Steele at FedEx Field.

snip

The report noted that the RNC spent $17,514 on private aircraft and $12,691 on limousines in the month of February, according to
Federal Election Commission filings. Recent travel expenses also included $9,099 spent at the Beverly Hills Hotel, $6,596 dropped
at the Four Seasons in Los Angeles and nearly $20,000 combined for the Venetian and the M Resort in Las Vegas and the W in Washington.

Heye said the article was misleading because it did not distinguish Steele's expenses from finance and fundraising expenses associated
with the purpose of the travel. He added that the story "willfully and erroneously suggests" that Steele was at the club.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/03/29/rnc-asks-member-return-reimbursed-bondage-club-visit/

---

So the story is that Steele was not,



The old Sergeant Schultz defense



"I hear nothing, I see nothing, I know nothing!"

[sfwriter]

16. Pics here:

Yea baby!




What's in your trunk?




Elephant bondage!



Yup, he got his $1900 worth.

[Bolo Boffin]

17. I have to say -- Michael Steele doesn't seem the type to frequent bondage clubs

I could be wrong, it takes all types, not that there's anything wrong with that...

[Happyhippychick]

18. Oh c'mon, he's a leather daddy. And damn proud of it.

I've said it twice today, I just can't stop myself! :rofl:

[Roland99]

21. Bet he fantasizes about The Twit after her leather-bound appearance in the NV desert.

[Botany]

22. I see Michael more in the line of a "spank monster"

[Bolo Boffin]

27. My EYES!!!

What have you done to my EYES????

[hlthe2b]

19. Poor ole Sergeant Schultz--- forever immortalized

as the ultimate "excuse."

[CLANG]

20. Erik, this is Mike Steele. You really need to help me out man!!

You need to take the rap for this Bondage Club disaster. Don't worry, we'll work something out. I'll give your wife a call and explain the whole thing. You'll really be saving my life, man...

Oh, and could you take your number off my phone?:rofl:

[old mark]

23. First Palin in leather, now this - Is there something going on with the GOPers

that might actually make them interesting?

No, probably not....
mark

[UpInArms]

28. whip it good

johnny's viagra is kickin' in

[dixiegrrrrl]

24. Fox ?????? reported that????

Wow...ratting out its own.

Bet all the mouth breathing listeners are happy they donated....not.

[KeepItReal]

26. These expenses were not for a "night out"... They were for BALLIN OUT OF CONTROL.

For you to drop $2k in *one* night at the club, you are getting at least one V.I.P. booth and multiple bottles of something like champagne or vodka.

That member was partying like a rock star on the GOP's dime.

[TomCADem]

29. That's Nothing, RNC Spent Millions On Ex-Nude Model Scott Brown...

To get him elected. $2,000 is a drop in the bucket.