Steele appoints Leavitt as Chief of Staff - GOOD LUCK WITH THAT!

[katanalori]

From a Michael Steele release tonight:

"The members of the Republican National Committee entrusted myself and every staffer to lead the loyal opposition against the destructive Obama agenda, build a stronger Republican party and win elections. This is a role I take with the utmost seriousness. With this in mind, I want to do everything in my power to ensure that the committee uses all its resources in the best possible fashion and for this reason I have appointed Mike Leavitt Chief of Staff. Through his experience in Maine working for RNC Victory 2004 and the Maine GOP; running my Senate race; working for Senator John McCain's presidential election in 2007 and his close work with Governor Bob McDonnell, Mike brings a strong ability to work to manage the building and win elections across the country."

Controversy: from:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Leavitt

"Himself a descendent of polygamists, Leavitt came under strong criticism in 1998, while Governor, when he defended polygamy by saying, "It might enjoy religious freedom."

"In June 2006, Leavitt came under criticism for using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Gulfstream III Emergency Response aircraft to, primarily, promote the newly reformed Medicare plan. Critics argue that Leavitt irresponsibly used the aircraft beginning in January 2006, logging over $700,000 worth of flight time in the 14-seat private jet."

"There has been controversy over Leavitt's family charitable foundation, the Dixie and Anne Leavitt Foundation, which the Leavitt family established in 2000 and to which it has donated nearly $9 million of assets. It has provided them with tax write-offs for the donated assets. About a third of the foundation's assets have been loaned back to family businesses, such as a $332,000 loan to Leavitt Land and Investment Inc., in which Mike Leavitt has a substantial interest. (Future affiliate transactions are prohibited because of a law passed by Congress in August 2006.)"

Michale Steele - YOU DA MAN!

Could it be that Steele did not get the memo that the big donors shall put their dollars into "American Crossroads," Karl Rove and Mike Duncan's new 527?

[UTUSN]

1. HooKAY, let's look into WIKIpedia, the most BASICS of vetting - oh joy a product of POLYGAMY!1

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Leavitt

Michael Okerlund Leavitt (born February 11, 1951, in Cedar City, Utah) is an American politician. He served as the Secretary of Health and Human Services from 2005 to 2009, and as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from 2003 to 2005. He was the 14th Governor of Utah from 1993 to 2003.

Secretary Leavitt's ancestor Dudley Leavitt, a Mormon pioneer born in Quebec of New Hampshire parents, has been linked to the Mountain Meadows massacre in 1857.<1> On a visit to the site while Utah's Governor, Leavitt expressed his regrets over the incident.

In August 2007, Leavitt became the first cabinet-level blogger in U.S. history.

Himself a descendent of polygamists, Leavitt came under strong criticism in 1998, while Governor, when he defended polygamy by saying, "It might enjoy religious freedom." He was later forced to backpedal and claimed that polygamy should be against the law.

Gulfstream
In June 2006, Leavitt came under criticism for using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Gulfstream III Emergency Response aircraft to, primarily, promote the newly reformed Medicare plan.

Critics argue that Leavitt irresponsibly used the aircraft beginning in January 2006, logging over $700,000 worth of flight time in the 14-seat private jet. Leavitt’s office maintains that the use of the aircraft was necessary and legal since the Senate Appropriations Committee approved his use of the aircraft, and commercial services could not meet the deadlines required by his engagements. During two emergencies when the CDC required use of the aircraft, it was forced to privately charter another plane since the CDC’s GIII was in use by Leavitt.

Leavitt Foundation controversies
There has been controversy over Leavitt's family charitable foundation, the Dixie and Anne Leavitt Foundation, which the Leavitt family established in 2000 and to which it has donated nearly $9 million of assets. It has provided them with tax write-offs for the donated assets. About a third of the foundation's assets have been loaned back to family businesses, such as a $332,000 loan to Leavitt Land and Investment Inc., in which Mike Leavitt has a substantial interest. (Future affiliate transactions are prohibited because of a law passed by Congress in August 2006.)


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