Shakeup: RNC Chief of Staff resigns - "full-scale bloodletting under way at the troubled committee"

[jefferson_dem]

Shakeup: RNC Chief of Staff resigns

Republican National Committee Chief of Staff Ken McKay resigned Monday, becoming the highest-ranking official to depart the committee after revelations that the national party spent nearly $2,000 at California sex club.

McKay’s departure in turn prompted one of RNC Chairman Michael Steele’s closest advisers to cut ties to the party – an indication that a full-scale bloodletting is under way at the troubled committee.

Doug Heye, communications director for the RNC, declined to say if McKay was forced out but indicated the move was directly related to the money spent at the now-infamous Voyeur Club and broader concerns about the party’s fundraising and the performance of Steele.

"This is about ensuring that we have the tightest financial controls in place and to ensure that every nickel we spend is done with the goal of winning in November,” said Heye.

Steele was more explicit in an email message sent Monday night to committee members and donors, many of whom were caught by surprise about the decision.

“Leadership requires that I can safely assure you, our donors, and the American people that our mission is what drives every dollar we spend, every phone call we make, every email we send and every event we organize,” Steele wrote in the email, obtained by POLITICO. “Recent events have called that assurance into question and the buck stops with me. That is why I have made this change in my management team and why I am confident about going forward to November with renewed focus and energy.”

<SNIP>

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0410/35414.html#ixzz0kH9vyuQo

[Fridays Child]

1. If the buck really stopped with you, you'd fire yourself, you hypocritical asshole.

What. A. Douche.

(Edited for spelling.)

[jefferson_dem]

2. More from the WaPo...

:popcorn:

RNC chief of staff Ken McKay resigns
Updated 7:20 p.m.

Republican National Committee chief of staff Ken McKay has resigned in the wake of a controversy over an expenditure at a risque California nightclub, RNC communications director Doug Heye said Monday.

McKay's resignation comes one week after the Daily Caller Web site reported that the RNC's January expenditure report included nearly $2,000 spent at Voyeur in West Hollywood, a topless nightclub.

RNC officials worked to distance Chairman Michael Steele from the controversy -- insisting that not only was he not in attendance but that he had no knowledge of the reimbursement -- and promised changes in the way that people were reimbursed by the committee.

McKay's resignation appears to be the leading edge of those moves, and an attempt by Steele and the broader RNC to show donors worried about the stability of the committee that changes ares being made.

"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," Steele said in a statement.

But other Republicans said the committee had lost a valuable contributor.

"This is a huge loss for the Republican Party," said Curt Anderson, a consultant closely aligned with Steele, about McKay's departure. "Ken is enormously talented and has been the guy who has kept things on track, he's the guy who steered the party through very successful elections last fall."

"Moving around deck chairs on the Titanic didn't make a darn bit of difference (or sense) either," e-mailed one senior Republican operative, who discussed the departure on the condition of anonymity, to avoid damaging the party. "If Ken's resignation was to signal a positive shake-up at the RNC, it will actually have the opposite effect. He was one of the few level-headed and widely respected aides at the committee."

<SNIP>

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/republican-party/rnc-chief-of-staff-resigns.html

[Mojambo]

3. Man. Even their press releases are hilarious

"The buck stops with me, which is why I canned some other guy."

[RC]

6. Sure, they're greedy and nothing is ever their fault.

So he pocketed the buck and blamed the other guy.

[Xipe Totec]

4. The name is Bondage, James Bondage. Double Oh fuck up.

:rofl:

[IndianaGreen]

5. I am so upset about this!

:rofl:

I almost dread to see the next revelation, or the next head that rolls.

:popcorn:

Bring it on, Steele baby!

[MissMarple]

7. Tragic ....quite tragic. What can I possibly say?

:rofl:

Actually, this is very sad. We need a good, cogent opposition party. The GOP is failing the country on so many levels.

[ClarkUSA]

8. Anyone have the list of names of the "Young Eagles" who attended the lesbian bondage club?

I wonder if some of the jokers were "up and coming" Republicans?

No pun intended. ;)

[KittyWampus]

15. -Young Eagles- Oy. Let the eagles soooooooooooar

[ClarkUSA]

16. ROFL! Where is that guy now?

Too funny! :rofl:

[Hekate]

21. John Ashcroft's vocal stylings were just featured on the Moment of Zen in March....

LOL, but for only 15 seconds --> http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-march-9-2010/moment-of-zen---let-the-eagle-soar

Here's the entire opus, performed at some Theological Seminary in 2006 --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woLQI8X2R6Y

Lordy, lordy.

Hekate

[crim son]

9. Interesting that it's being presented as a question of money and not "morality." n/t

[PopSixSquish]

10. Michael Steele Has to Be a Democratic Plant, He Just Has to Be

Nobody is this fucking stupid or this unlucky...

[political_Dem]

11. When the feces hits the fan, it seems like Machiavelli is the RNC's best friend.

That is, if they read at all instead of foaming over the mouth at the words of communism or socialism.

:sarcasm:

[Clio the Leo]

12. Schadenfreude! NT

[Stinky The Clown]

13. Oh please stay, Mikey. Please stay. Please don't leave. We *really* need you, Mikey.

[saltpoint]

14. Odd, isn't it, that we haven't heard that much from Focus on the Family

on this story.

[Hekate]

17. MMM-mmmm. Buttery popcorn AND my Schadenfreude Dance! Don't leave us, Mr. Steele!

:rofl: :popcorn: :rofl: :popcorn: :rofl: :popcorn:

[tanyev]

20. Schadenfreudelicious!

:9

[Hekate]

18. This really deserves to be kicked for one more day's enjoyment

:roflmao:

[Forkboy]

19. Well, this makes me a sad Panda.

Ok, it really makes me laugh my ass off. :)