Sacrificial Lamb scheduled to bring fried chicken & 'tater saled when GOP lands on its ASS in Nov.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Steele Already Targeted For Blame Should GOP Stumble In 2010

First Posted: 08-23-10 03:47 PM | Updated: 08-23-10 03:51 PM

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/23/steele-already-being-targ_n_691498.html



News that the Republican National Committee had just over $5 million cash on hand for the stretch run of the 2010 elections has sparked operatives in the party to start pinning blame for a potentially underwhelming outcome on Chairman Michael Steele.

There was little doubt that the RNC was struggling to recruit donors. For months now, the storyline following Steele is that his occasionally embarrassing histrionics were turning off traditional sources of funds. But Friday evening's filing produced what one operative described as a "sobering" moment. It also intensified the private -- though increasingly public -- blame game aimed at making sure Steele is the one to take the fall should things go wrong. In an election in which the Republican Party stand to make massive gains, the refrain goes, depleted coffers at the RNC could conceivably end up keeping Congress in Democratic hands.

"The bottom line is the chairman of the party has two functions. First and foremost is to raise money and secondly is to drive a message. hasn't done either," said longtime GOP hand Ed Rollins, who ran Ronald Reagan's first presidential campaign. "At the end of the day if we come up short in some of these races, Steele is going to get the blame... obviously as the party chairman he needs to put the money into races and these state parties and he doesn't have it."

As an example of his trepidation, Rollins offers up New York. The state GOP, he notes, has a piggy bank that's close to empty (the State Republican Committee has just over $100,000 cash on hand; the New York Republican Federal Campaign Committee has just $94,000 left in cash on hand). The party's gubernatorial candidate, Rick Lazio, has run a less than vigorous campaign, hasn't drawn out many donors, and won't be able help get out the vote for other Republicans. Into that void, the RNC, among others, is expected to step.

But "now we don't have the resources to do that," said Rollins. "The New York Republican Party was promised $400,000 by Steele and they won't get that."

[yellowcanine]

1. Poor Mikey. My heart bleeds for him. That has to be the worst picture ever of him also.

But he is "street wise" yeah! That will carry the day for the goopers.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

3. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy...Steele is a clueless, arrogant punk.

I will give him credit for being smart enough to know that this day would come. When he gets thrown under the bus, it will not come as a surprise to him.

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. If this were actually important at all, they wouldn't have put a stupid man

like that in charge.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

4. It was the GOP's pitiful stab at "diversity"...

...and as we all know, our gifts are on the INSIDE, not the OUTSIDE. This man has relatively few gifts beyond tenacity and a pig-headed chip on his shoulder.

[monmouth]

5. Rumor has it that DeMint is pushing for Eric Erickson to be the new

Chairman. I read this on a link to a right-wing site so who knows if it's true or not. More fun coming, that's for sure.

[DCBob]

6. Steele is out no matter what happens in November.. imo.

The only thing saving him now is the fear of a very ugly public scene a forced removal would create just prior to the elections.

[thereismore]

7. Poor Michael. Enjoy the good life while it lasts. nt