Blogging Against the Politics of Fear, Racism, and Republican, Right-Wing Authoritarian Personalities. "You can't not know. You can't not care."
You might have seen this story where the RNC shows that it really knows how to use the Tea-baggers donations well. Those unemployed, right-wing, NRA, racist Goopers might want to think twice before sending any more money the RNC’s way.
You see, Michael Steel wanted to use the funds to buy himself a private jet. However, Steele says he would limit its use to only those times when regular air travel was not available. I guess he’s referring to the year 1899, not 2010.
Strangely enough, GOP spokesperson and TV host Tucker Carlson broke this story. Perhaps he is tired of the way the GOP uses its money for everything but campaigns.
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.
Why shouldn’t a Republican be treated like royalty, or at least a decadent Roman ruler? Aren’t they gods themselves? Aren’t they to be worshipped?
The RNC has called the allegations false, claiming that it was an “un-named staffer”, but Tucker Carlson is standing by his story:
The complaints from the RNC about this morning’s Daily Caller article, “High Flyer: RNC Chairman Steele suggested buying private jet with RNC funds,” while loud, lack substance. Despite claims to the contrary, no one from the committee has ever explained the specific circumstances of any of the expenses listed in its most recent disclosure filings.
Our questions remain: Why did the committee spend more than $17,000 on private jets in the month of February? How and why was RNC business conducted in a bondage-themed nightclub, and how and why were the nearly $2,000 in charges that resulted approved by RNC staff?
To be clear: We did not claim that Michael Steele personally visited Voyeur West Hollywood. In fact, and unfortunately, we still know almost nothing about that trip, including its purpose. If the RNC provides details, we’ll put them on the site immediately.
The Daily Caller requested interviews with Michael Steele on Jan. 14, Jan. 15, Jan. 18, Feb. 10, Feb. 23 and again on March 23. All were denied.
The story we ran today is accurate, as the RNC knows.
Tucker Carlson responds to RNC complaints about DCs Michael Steele article | The Daily Caller.
When is the GOP going to stop acting like the party of rich, horn-dog, fraternity boys? For God’s sake, the United States is tired of funding your private harems and debauchery.
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