Republicans form new group to circumvent Steele & RNC, run by his predecessor, advised by Rove

[Amerigo Vespucci]

http://www.salon.com/news/michael_steele/index.html?story=/politics/war_room/2010/04/01/steele_rnc

Since almost immediately after he was elected to his position, Steele has been on a job deathwatch. He’s attacked Rush Limbaugh, committed multiple gaffes in public and second-guessed the GOP’s electoral chances. He criticized his own party in his book, which he hadn’t told anyone he was writing, and traveled around the country giving paid speeches -- a totally inappropriate activity for a party chairman. There have also been continuous problems with his management of the staff of the RNC. Most recently, he's gotten in hot water for the party thrown on the RNC's dime at a southern California bondage-themed nightclub.

Although Steele has already caught flak for his fundraising, things are about to get worse. In light of the recent embarrassment, conservatives of various stripes may seek to cut the RNC out of the process entirely. Tony Perkins, head of the Family Research Council, is urging Christian conservatives to give directly to candidates they support. In his next newsletter, Perkins will tell supporters, "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."

The Republican establishment is also seeking to create an organization through which wealthy business conservatives can support party efforts without having to give Steele their money. The new group, to be called Americans Crossroads, will be run by Mike Duncan, Steele’s predecessor at the RNC, and advised by other recent RNC chairs and Karl Rove. American Crossroads is seeking to raise $52 million, and by recruiting leadership of such impeccable insider credentials, is obviously presenting itself as a competent, shadow version of the RNC.

So if Steele's leadership is so bad that he’s forced Republicans to abandon their central party organization, why don’t they just toss the guy? This question has come up a few times since he became chairman, and there’s usually one answer: GOP leaders are afraid of how it would look for their all-white party to fire their first black leader. As one high-level operative told Politico in January, "You're not going to dump the first African-American chairman. That's the only reason. Otherwise, he'd be gone."

[emulatorloo]

1. Republicans in disarray. Interesting development.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. More interesting is that Rove is calling all the shots, where the money goes.

[Sebastian Doyle]

2. I can't blame our Republican brethren for doing this

We sensible centrist DLC'ers had to do a lot to get around that Loony Liberal Leftist Howard Dean when he was Democratic Party chair.

[Kingofalldems]

5. He brought us back from oblivion

Apparently no thanks to you.

[Sebastian Doyle]

6. Terry McAulliffe was the greatest DNC chair of all time

Look at all the corporate money he raised for us. It wasn't his fault that all the Loony Left Liberals voted for Nader in the 2002 election.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

10. Terry was the Greatest Chairman ever!

I can do it, too! :woohoo:

[eShirl]

4. "American Crossroads?" Sounds like a mall, or a Social Networking website.

[pinboy3niner]

9. Why did they name it after . . .

. . . a Britney Spears movie?

[Enrique]

7. so they now have a white RNC and a black RNC?

this can't end well for them.

[rocktivity]

8. I understand that even Sarah Palin has spoken out against the RNC

death knell, indeed.

:eyes:
rocktivity

[OHdem10]

11. Is this not more insulting than just replacing Steele.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

17. It is, absolutely...it's like the ongoing riff in "Office Space"...

...where Melvin's desk keeps getting moved, ultimately to the basement, where he's asked to help take care of the "cockroach problem."



But Steele will keep on keeping on with the "kiss my ass" rhetoric, and the Republicans will squeeze whatever limited value they can out of him, and it will be over.

Unless he does something to so seriously damage the brand that he's GOT to be fired. That's not an impossibility.

[Ganja Ninja]

12. They're just one big happy teabagging family.

Steele really is just a token now.

[Tippy]

13. Wonder if this will split the Republican votes like the DLC did...

[blm]

14. I expect Steele is holding out for a few million more to go into retirement. He'll leave...richer

for holding out...but...he WILL leave.

[Blue Owl]

15. Well this is working out nicely for them

For once I'm happy for the splintered, smoldering dungheap that is today's GOP.

Sarah's teabaggery and Rove's shadow party are gonna dilute the GOP into nothing but tepid sewer runoff.

:woohoo:

[GreenTea]

16. "That's the only reason. Otherwise, Blackie would be gone". Republican racism or reverse racism?

What's really the difference, the republicans are all racist.

[nc4bo]

18. Oh goodie, they're eating each other alive.

:woohoo: :popcorn: :spray:

[GreenTea]

19. So this lying republican bullshit money grabber will be called "Americans Crossroads"?

Got to stop them in their tracks!