Top GOP lawmakers want accountability at RNC

[cory777]

Source: AP

Sun Apr 4, 8:14 pm ET

WASHINGTON – Two top congressional Republicans said Sunday the Republican National Committee must be held accountable for the way it uses the money it raises in light of nearly $2,000 spent for a night at a sex-themed Hollywood nightclub.

"This kind of thing has got to stop or they won't get any contributions," said Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate.

Kyl and Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, who is leading the GOP effort to recruit candidates and elect House members, distanced themselves from RNC Chairman Michael Steele when discussing the committee's controversial spending.

Steele has come under fire for committee spending on flights, limousines and high-end hotels, but he was not present at the Voyeur Hollywood West on Jan. 31 when a group of young Republicans ran a tab picked up by the RNC. After reporters noted the bill in a funding report, the RNC fired a staffer it blamed for the outing and said it would be reimbursed by a donor who had attended.

Asked on "Fox News Sunday" if Steele should step down, Kyl demurred but said, "The people that contribute to the committees, both Democrat and Republican, want to know that their money is well spent for the cause, and it needs to be that way."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100405/ap_on_go_co/us_republicans_spending

[DeSwiss]

1. What up?

- K&R

[shotten99]

2. April Fool's is a little late-

GOP and accountability in the same line. Good one!

[pinboy3niner]

3. Maybe they mean they want better accounting . . . you know,

better-organized, with all lesbian bondage-themed topless club expenses in a unique account (not commingled with other expenses).

[cstanleytech]

8. Oh no, they actually have always believed in accountability......

atleast for democrats.

[napi21]

4. I don't care what the leaders of the Pub party says, I care

that the donors don't want to contribute! let hem scrounge for $$! Than let them lose!

[jaxx]

5. Is Kyl a part of the new Rove 527 that is getting the money?

Or is he being honest in his assessment?

You never know with these guys, once in a while they do say something that makes sense.

[SpiralHawk]

6. At least Republicons weren't having diaper sex at the Faux Lesbian B & D Club.

So, I suppose that's Moral Progress or something for the Republicons, but then again maybe not...

What I really want to know is will the Republicons give Steeley Mike a Standing O for his, um, sexcapades, as they did for their Senator who got caught having diaper sex with hookers?

Or is Steeley Mike not due an equal measure of Republicon cheering & back slapping because he's Black?

[mac56]

12. Steeley Mike!

:rofl:

[existentialist]

7. This is a (minor) Republican embarrassment, but only minor

because most of the money that won't go to the RNC because of this will still go to Republican campaigns through other channels--but not all of it.

Other accounting scandals like the one presently hitting the Florida GOP establishment do have a cumulative effect.

Some of the money will stay home.

With luck some usually GOP voters will stay home too.

With luck a few swing voters might even vote for Democrats.


So this is good--somewhat.

[No Elephants]

9. "This kind of thing?" Have there been other incidents? Or is this their excuse to get rid of

Steele?

All this talk of private planes. I can't believe Steele is the only head of the RNC to use them for fund-raising trips.

And this? It's two damn thousand dollars, spend on big donors, at their request. Further, the woman who did it got fired. They said she had been told in advance this would not be acceptable. That's the time honored way in politics--fire someone as far down the food chain as you can possibly get away with and distance yourself. They should be describing it as an isolated incident done by a disobedient underling who has been duly punished. End of story. (See, for example, Lynndie England.)

IMO, a female VP and an African American head of the Party seemed like great ideas while Hillary and Obama had everyone revved up. But, the GOP is a rich, WASP male Party at heart. Sarah can be the clown and get the religious wing nut base stirred up, but that's about it. And Steele? Well, Steele just has got to go--and this is as good an excuse as any.

[foundingmother]

10. Is anyone, including Dobson, really under the impression that Republicans don't go to strip bars?

Seriously - and I'm sure similar entertainments have been expensed before.

[Ganja Ninja]

11. "GOP lawmakers want accountability."

As long as it's somebody else being held accountable.

[No Elephants]

13. Why do Rep lawmakers demand accountablility for something like this, when

they demanded forgiveness for Vitter and encouraged Foley to run? Steele supposedly did not even know about this.

[Ian David]

14. I think we should just trust Michael Steele and be faithful in his decisions.

I, for one, am very happy with the job he's been doing.

Let Steele be Steele.

[tanyev]

15. Not going to happen as long as they keep hiring Republicans.

[crim son]

16. They are delusional.

They created their lying, greedy, hypocritcal and ignorant new party and now they get to sit back and watch their progeny destroy the few true conservative values that old-fashioned republicans still hold dear. Heh.