Wednesday, April 7, 2010

A Republican Porn Star and other misadventures at the RNC


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.

Via: Poltico
Via: Hot Air

25 comments:

spc said...

At the risk of sounding like an a-hole I would say this:

Steele was chosen as a "figurehead" like he mentioned in his own defense. I don't think he's a bad guy, but I think his time had passed by the time he was chosen to be the Republican party chairman.

Furthermore, I think the moment the Republican party plays into these ridiculous race games, they forfeit their discretion about the issue. Looking at things through a "racial" perspective damages all of us- I don't mean conservatives, I mean Americans.

Liz said...

Much prettier than any of Tiger's chics. You have been waiting for an excuse to put that picture up.You should have put a pic of hot black woman up too.

JColeman said...

If they tap Palin for the head of the RNC, then she can do pretty much what she has been doing. Also, it would keep her from having to answer questions about running. She can get money out of Republicans like nobody's business.

Clifton B said...

Liz:

There are very rare occasions where one gets to legitimately post pictures like this on a political blog, so I am going to run with it LOL.

iowac said...

Right on the money, doing what is right, stop being afraid of what the others will say. If it is the right thing people will see that, at least the ones that matter.

Janelle said...

Stormy Daniels had best prepare to run from the Senators.

tccc1015 said...

Perhaps I am out of the loop, but I think Michael Steele is doing a great job considering what he is up against: Dems and the MSM that are in their pockets. Some missteps? Sure, but overall I think Michael Steele is exactly what the RNC needs: a Black conservative face communicating conservative ideas. Like it or not, today's political culture is all about identity politics, symbolic imagery, and telegenics, in addition to the actual ideas.
All things considered, I think Michael Steele is doing a great job, and I would vote for him in a heartbeat.
Ted Condo

commoncents said...

THANK YOU for posting this! I really like your blog - keep up the great work.

Common Cents
http://www.commoncts.blogspot.com

ps. Link Exchange??

Bastiat Fan said...

To date, Steele has done nothing to regain the confidence of conservatives like myself.

Clifton, does this mean I'm NOT a racist because I'm not crazy about Michael Steele's performance? Whew....wiping sweat off forehead.

Anonymous said...

Well said. Power in concise, succinct truth (re last paragraph). is anybody listening?

and not least, thank you for your posts.

Samuel Gonzalez said...

Cliff

Kem Blackwell would be an excellent replacement for Steele. As you know, I've been a Steele defender, but this inplosion of the RNC has to come to an end now and quickly.

Steele needs to ge because no one person is more important than the overall goal of what needs to happen in November. Steele needs to either step down or get booted out NOW for the good of the RNC. As much as I hate identity politics, putting in Blackwell will help difuse the Left playing the race card themselves.

Let's get this over with

The Last Tradition

rosewood59 said...

Clifton! I love your blog. It's insightful and articulate and a safe place to come and get good news and comments without the b.s. one finds on Politico and Fox.

Re Steele. (and I was a strong supporter in the beginning)if he cares about the country and his own future, he should step down, not because he's guilty of any great sin, but because he has become a distraction and not an attraction. He's dividing us now and that's bad timing.

It's time for him to do the right thing. Step down and support the conservatives in this country. I believe he will step down.

Re Palin: Honestly, no one gets any more donations from me, except Ms Palin! She's got WOW!

Clifton B said...

Ozzie:

I agree that Steele is the wrong man for the times. The RNC needs someone who is truly focused on finding the kinds of candidates that will united the GOP.

The recent wins in VA, NJ and MA have more to do with Democrats damaging themselves than with the GOP really offering something.

Steele seems willing to take a passive attitude to the midterms. Nothing could be worse.

Clifton B said...

HalthcareITguy:

Palin would be a money maker for the RNC. Her conservatism is not a question and she has a history of cleaning out the deadwood. But I think Palin is actually more useful now projecting a commonsense conservative message.

If anything she should give seminars to some of the weaker Republicans.

Clifton B said...

iowac:

The RNC has been intimidated by the left for so long, I am afraid too many of them are too chicken to do what is right. We need sterner stuff in 2010.

Clifton B said...

Janelle:

LOL! Exactly! Those dudes are some major skirt chasers.

Clifton B said...

Ted Condo:

Sorry Ted, I still have to disagree. Steele's conservatism has been only so so at best. While it is great to have a black man representing our party, we must also demand we have a fully competent one too.

My other problem with Steele is that some of his mistakes feeds into the stereotypes about Republicans. That isn't helping.

Clifton B said...

commoncents:

thank you

Clifton B said...

Bastiat fan:

You are off the hook, anyone doubt it, tell 'em I said it was OK! LOL

Clifton B said...

Anonymous:

Hopefully someone is listening.

Clifton B said...

Sam Gonzalez:

You are right, now is not the time to sweat over hurt feelings, the midterms must take precedent. Replace Steele with Blackwell if it will make the racial bean counters happy. So long as the RNC gets its act together in time, I couldn't care what color they had running the show.

Clifton B said...

rosewood:

Thanks for the vote of confidence!

Steele. (and I was a strong supporter in the beginning)if he cares about the country and his own future, he should step down, not because he's guilty of any great sin, but because he has become a distraction and not an attraction. He's dividing us now and that's bad timing.

BINGO! He is becoming a distraction. If he cannot get the RNC ship shape and quietly go about serious business, then he has to go. You are correct, if he truly believes that America needs to be saved from disastrous leftist policies, then step down.

Palin has been getting my cash from the moment SarahPac started. ;-)

Hot Sam said...

I'm sorry to disagree but I like Michael Steele, and I think he's doing well.

He's not responsible for this nonsense that happened at the strip club. You can't blame someone for something they don't control. He took appropriate action when he found out about the incident.

It was an embarrassing moment, but it was a few thousand dollars of wasted voluntary donations versus a few TRILLION dollars of taxpayer money spent by the Demon Rats. I think they've got us outnumbered by a few zeros.

Steele's role was not insignificant in the Virginia governor's race, the New Jersey governor's race, and the Massachusetts Senate race. As far as I'm concerned, he's 3 for 3 and still looking pretty good for this year's races.

He earned his position as RNC Chair. The fact that he's black only continues to undermine the notion we are a one-race party. If Obama can run on his race, Steele can run on his reputation and out-black him. It's time to welcome blacks back to THEIR party. We won't accomplish that by lynching Steele and basically lending credence to the Demon Rat accusations that he is a token.

Clifton B said...

Nick Rowe:

I still blame Steele because as chairman he gets to set the tone for the RNC. With Democrats spending scam artists with a stolen credit card, it is of the utmost importance for the RNC to project an image of both fiscal responsibility and a higher level of maturity.

Regarding Steele being black as a plus for the RNC isn't always true. Steele stepped on that message several times himself by agreeing with liberals on racial criticisms of Republicans. In addition this is the second time he played the race card against his critics.

Angie Lee said...

Hey, Cliff, one of these days you and I gotta talk about Larry Flynt... hehe

Maybe another all-night chat, eh? :)

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