[Vision2020] RNC Chairman Steele suggested buying private jet withGOP funds

[Art Deco]

This is a much better, far more productive expenditure of GOP money than a lot of their other expenditures.

I encourage them to expand this practice to many other party members.  

W.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Tom Hansen 
  To: Moscow Vision 2020 
  Sent: Monday, March 29, 2010 1:32 PM
  Subject: [Vision2020] RNC Chairman Steele suggested buying private jet withGOP funds


  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

  --------------------------------------------------------------

  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.

  --------------------------------------------------------------

  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


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