[Vision2020] RNC Chairman Steele suggested buying private jet with GOP funds

[Tom Hansen]

RNC Chair Michael Steele spent $2,000 at Voyeur West Hollywood, "a
bondage-themed nightclub featuring topless women dancers imitating lesbian
sex," which is outrageous, since that money could easily have bought
genuine lesbian sex.

Courtesy of The Daily Caller at:

http://tinyurl.com/RNC-Chair-Steele-Private-Jet

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High flyer: RNC Chairman Steele suggested buying private jet with GOP funds

According to two knowledgeable sources, Republican National Committee
chairman Michael Steele once raised the possibility of using party money
to buy a private jet for his travel.

“I know that 
 regular ongoing use of planes was something that was looked
at,” says one person with direct knowledge. “I can’t speak to how serious
those inquiries were.” Both sources say Steele considered purchasing a
plane outright, or buying fractional ownership in one, through a company
such as NetJets.

Steele’s spokesman, Doug Heye, did not deny that such discussions took
place, responding that the RNC never had a “plan” to buy a plane. “I don’t
know what somebody might have discussed or might not have discussed.”

While Steele has not purchased a plane, he continues to charter them.
According to federal disclosure records, the RNC spent $17,514 on private
aircraft in the month of February alone (as well as $12,691 on limousines
during the same period). There are no readily identifiable private plane
expenses for Democratic National Committee chairman Tim Kaine in the DNC’s
last three months of filings.

The RNC explains that Steele charters jets only when commercial service is
unavailable, or when his tight schedule requires it. “Anytime the chairman
has taken any private travel has been a either to a route that doesn’t
exist or because of connections and multiple travel to where he just
wasn’t able to do so,” Heye said. Yet Steele’s office repeatedly refused
to explain in specific terms the circumstances of the February charter
flights.

Once on the ground, FEC filings suggest, Steele travels in style. A
February RNC trip to California, for example, included a $9,099 stop at
the Beverly Hills Hotel, $6,596 dropped at the nearby Four Seasons, and
$1,620.71 spent [update: the amount is actually $1,946.25] at Voyeur West
Hollywood, a bondage-themed nightclub featuring topless women dancers
imitating lesbian sex.

RNC trips to other cities produced bills from a long list of chic and
costly hotels such as the Venetian and the M Resort in Las Vegas, and the
W (for a total of $19,443) in Washington. A midwinter trip to Hawaii cost
the RNC $43,828, not including airfare.

Steele himself declined numerous interview requests, though his defenders
point out that luxurious accommodations are sometimes necessary to attract
big-time donors, especially since Republicans remain in the minority in
Washington.

Still, the nature and size of Steele’s expenses are likely to reignite
persistent complaints from high-end donors and key party figures that the
RNC is bleeding cash in the months before a pivotal midterm election.
Several months into Steele’s term as chairman, his spending spurred
Republican committeemen to pass a resolution requiring checks to be signed
by at least two RNC officers, and contracts over $100,000 to go out to
competitive bidding.

Complaints, almost always expressed off the record, have been bitter.
“This is not somebody who is out recruiting candidates,” said an aide who
worked closely with Steele. “He is not meeting with donors. He’s not
asking for money. The guy is writing his book or doing his speaking gigs,
or whatever the hell else he fills his days with. Those are his
priorities.”

A March 20 FEC filing shows the RNC has $9.5 million cash on hand. Steele
began his tenure with $22.8 million, and has since raised $96.2 million.
During the same period, however, the RNC has spent $109.6 million, for a
deficit of $13.4 million. That spending included aid to the campaigns that
elected Gov. Bob McDonnell in Virginia and Gov. Chris Christie in New
Jersey.

“The story is less what’s left, and more what’s been spent,” said one
longtime Republican operative. “It’s difficult to draw distinctions
between various elections because the circumstances are so different. But
what is worthy of scrutiny is the March cash on hand versus where it was
January or February last year, which is essentially the same picture. And
that comes despite having raised more than $90 million dollars.”

According to spokesman Heye, the RNC is right on track with fundraising.
“We’re very comfortable with where we are financially and we know that
we’ll have the resources on the ground to be competitive in November as we
move forward to try and take back the House and Senate.” He noted the RNC
had outraised the DNC in seven out of 12 months in 2009 and was raising
gobs of money in the wake of President Obama signing health care reform
legislation into law.

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Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
and the Realist adjusts his sails."

- Unknown