It is often said we are currently living in interesting times and everyday when I read the headlines, I could not agree more. It should also go without saying that now is not the best time for the RNC to go buck wild, but sadly that seems to be the case.
Let’s take a look at the latest drama. Porn star, yeah I said porn star, Stormy Daniels was so inspired by the RNC’s patronage of a lesbian bondage theme nightclub she has decided to switch parties. She is planning on running for the senate and will challenge David Vitter for his seat.
Politico: “While this decision has not been an easy one, recent events regarding Republican National Committee fundraising at Voyeur, an L.A.-based lesbian bondage-themed nightclub, finally tipped the scales,” she said in a statement. “For me, this spirit can be summed up in the RNC’s investment of donor funds at Voyeur. As someone who has worked extensively in both the club and film side of the adult entertainment industry, I know from experience that a mere $1,900 outlay at a club with the reputation of Voyeur is a clear indication of a frugal investment with a keen eye toward maximum return.”
She added: “As is the case with so many of my fellow Louisianans, I have been a registered Democrat throughout my life. But now I cannot help but recognize that over time my libertarian values regarding both money and sex and the legal use of one for the other [are] now best espoused by the Republican Party.”
Look at it on the bright side; the nightclub incident could have inspired Larry Flint.
While RNC’s actions are helping to recruit porn star, it isn’t really helping to keep the old faithful. After losing a major donor, the RNC has now lost committeeman NH RNC member Sean Mahoney and unpaid adviser Alex Castellanos. Both men leave with sharp words for Michael Steele.
Mahoney: "Not only has the out-of-touch, free-spending culture of Washington come to completely dominate the United States Congress, but I have watched with growing unease as the same mentality has seeped into our own national party," Mahoney said in a letter to Steele. [Read the full letter here]
Castellanos: "Chairman Steele, I think, has lost the support of two important constituencies in the Republican Party," he said, referring to the Congressional leadership and "a lot of our major donors, the donors who provide the money, the lifeblood, the oxygen the Republican Party needs to succeed on its mission to take back control of the House
"Perhaps a change in leadership here would thaw that and allow that support to flow," Castellanos said.
"I think a change in direction now at this point would do the party good," he said. "I think a change at this moment would be a good thing."
This brings us to the root of the RNC’s problems … Michael Steele. Michael Steele talks a great game about aggressively moving the GOP forward, but actions speak louder than words. To date, Steele has done nothing to regain the confidence of conservatives like myself. If anything his constant missteps has pushed conservatives further away.
I believe Michael Steele’s play of the race card has more to do with intimidating his opponents from ousting him, than to convey a public message. Republicans have always been extremely squeamish about standing up to bogus charges of the race card and Steele knows this.
If the Republicans are afraid of how it would look to oust Steele, they can always replace him with Ken Blackwell. Truth be told, it does not matter either way. The left will again paint Republicans as racists for ousting Steele and will do the same if they replace him with Ken Blackwell. Knowing this, Republicans should not concern themselves with what the left says and just do the right thing. The stakes are too high going into midterm elections to risk keeping Steele around.
