Immigration

GOP Obscures Its Role In Blocking Immigration Reform

Sahil Kapur | April 22, 2012, 1:35PM

President Obama's senior campaign adviser David Axelrod pushed back Sunday on Republicans for highlighting the lack of comprehensive immigration reform as a failed Obama promise. The president's ongoing squabble with the GOP on this issue is indicative of how the two camps are trying to court Hispanic voters ahead of the election.

"To say because you have an implacable group of Republicans in the Congress who simply aren't to let that move, that the president hasn't kept his promise, is a little bit disingenuous," Axelrod said on CNN's State of the Union. "The president has tried to get [immigration reform], he has initiated those actions. I was in the room when he called together Republicans and Democrats who have been active for immigration reform in the past. ... And the president said I will work with you to get this done. Not one of those Republicans was willing to stand up and work with him to pass the bill."

Hispanic voters are upset that Obama didn't push harder for immigration reform in his first two years, when he had large Democratic majorities. But they're more vexed with Republicans, who have used their clout in Congress to thwart multiple efforts by Democrats to advance the cause. Now, heading into a presidential election with a sizable deficit among Hispanic voters, a key part of the GOP's -- and Mitt Romney's -- damage-control strategy is to obscure their own role and instead blame Obama.

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Contraception

Republicans Try To Erase The Contraception Wars

Sahil Kapur | April 10, 2012, 5:56AM

After a series of public embarrassments, and faced with polling data that suggests the GOP agenda is driving women toward the Democratic Party, Republicans may be tacitly acknowledging that kowtowing to their conservative base in an election year has some ugly ramifications.

But that doesn't mean they're chastened. They're just hoping everyone forgets.

Congressional Republicans abandoned their push to roll back the Obama administration's contraception guarantee for female employees weeks ago. But now they're hoping that they can wipe the crux of what Democrats have termed the GOP "war on women" off the books entirely.

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Health Care

Tea Partiers and Donald Trump: Voices Of Reason On Health Care Reform Case?

Evan McMorris-Santoro | March 28, 2012, 4:02PM

Jeffrey Toobin's declaration that this week's Supreme Court hearings are a "train wreck" at best and maybe even a "plane wreck" has depressed some health care reform supporters and others to see a silver lining in their signature domestic policy achievement being struck down.

That assessment from Toobin and other court-watchers should have conservatives -- particularly the tea partiers whose No. 1 cause has been the law's demise -- dancing in the streets. Instead, the same groups that staged chaotic protests and heated town hall sideshows in response to health care reform are keeping cool heads, either ignoring the speculation game or urging fellow "Obamacare" haters not to count their chickens before they're hatched.

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Twitter

Republicans, Conservatives Co-Opt #WeCantWait On Twitter

Brian Beutler | October 24, 2011, 12:26PM

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and President Barack Obama

Republicans don't have the White House's megaphone, but give them credit for creativity.

They've co-opted President Obama's new jobs mantra, "We Can't Wait," and turned it around on Democrats. On Twitter.

For the most part, Republicans are using the hashtag, #WeCantWait, to pressure Senate Democrats to pass House-passed anti-regulation legislation. They claim those bills will grow the economy, quickly, though most experts disagree.

Here's House Speaker John Boehner on jobs. And here's RNC Chairman Reince Priebus using Obama's slogan as a rallying cry for the future GOP presidential nominee.

Republicans did basically the same thing several weeks ago, when the White House asked voters to tweet Twitter Town Hall questions for Obama with the hashtag #AskObama. Let's see if Democrats get in on the game.

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Wisconsin Recalls

Priebus Toasts Wis. Recalls: 'We Need To Have A Country Of Makers, And Not A Country Of Takers' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | August 10, 2011, 2:14PM

Republican National Committee chairman and Wisconsin native Reince Priebus is very upbeat about the results of Tuesday's state Senate recalls, in which Republicans were able to retain their majority. And what's more, he says it presents a valuable lesson -- and a pocket-sized John Galt speech -- for the whole nation.

MSNBC host Contessa Brewer asked Priebus what message could be 'extrapolated' from the recalls, which were launched by the Democrats and organized labor in a backlash against Gov. Scott Walker's new law eliminating most collective bargaining rights that public employee unions had previously enjoyed. Democrats picked up two seats, just short of the three that they needed in order to flip control of the chamber.

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Wisconsin Recalls

RNC Chair: Pay No Attention To The Wisconsin Recalls, National Reporters

Evan McMorris-Santoro | August 3, 2011, 1:54PM

Reince Priebus

RNC chair Reince Priebus, a former chair of the Wisconsin Republican Party, says there's no need for national political reporters to try and glean anything about the 2012 elections from the state Senate recall fight underway in his home state, where Democrats seem to have the momentum.

"I don't think its a test run," Preibus said on a conference call with reporters this morning. He added that even though some of the key issues on the ballot in the coming weeks in his home state are "a similar debate to what we're having in the country," the "the localized nature of it doesn't allow it to be analogous to the 2012 election."

If the polls are to be believed, that's good news for the GOP.

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Reince Priebus

RNC Accuses President Obama ... Of Fundraising

Benjy Sarlin | August 3, 2011, 12:05PM

President Barack Obama

RNC chair Reince Priebus is raining on President Obama's 50th birthday fundraiser in Chicago, saying the president is too focused on campaigning.

"I suppose the White House thinks he should stick to the job he really likes, raising money from fat cat donors, while the rest of America struggles with trying to make ends meet," Priebus said in a call with reporters on Wednesday.

The messenger for the attack was a bit odd given that the RNC's primary duty is fundraising for Republican campaigns. In Priebus' case, he campaigned for the job specifically based on his ability to reel in big-money donors that had left during Michael Steele's tenure. "We will work to regain the confidence of our donor base and I will personally call our major donors to ask them to rejoin our efforts at the RNC," he wrote in a letter to committee members last year.

Priebus was asked by a reporter on Wednesday's call why Obama's fundraising crossed the line.

"I think it's another case of this president's rhetoric not matching his deeds," Priebus replied. "He's tried all week to try this spin that now the White House is pivoting to jobs, which they've tried many times before, and the first job Obama is interested in saving is his own."

2012

Democrats Look To Protect Latino Vote From GOP Outreach

Benjy Sarlin | July 22, 2011, 1:34PM

DNC TV Ad "En quien confiar"

Democrats are looking to put the kibosh on conservative outreach efforts to Latino voters before they start.

The DNC's first major ad buy of the season is a Spanish-language ad running in areas with high concentrations of Latino voters around the country. The new spot comes just two days after the Republican National Committee and Karl Rove's Super PAC, American Crossroads, launched their own ad campaigns aimed at the key Democratic voting bloc in battleground states like Florida and Colorado.

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Pres '12

RNC Chair Priebus Dismisses Birthers

Eric Kleefeld | April 26, 2011, 1:04PM

Reince Priebus, Chairman of the Republican National Committee

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus is dismissing the birther phenomenon within his party's base -- a further sign that the Republican establishment is trying to put some distance between itself and the conspiracy theories still popular on the Tea Party right.

"Trump and the candidates can talk about it all they want, but my position is that the president was born in the United States," Priebus told reporters at a breakfast hosted by the Christian Science Monitor, CNN reports.

"I don't think it's an issue that moves voters," Priebus added. "It's an issue in my opinion that I don't personally get too excited about, because I think the more important question is what's going on in this country in regards to jobs, to debt, and the deficit and spending. Those are the things that people are worried about. People aren't worried about these other issues."

Racism

Pat Buchanan: Donald Trump Is Not A Racist

Brian Beutler | April 15, 2011, 1:02PM

If you're trying to burnish your racial bona fides you probably want somebody other than Pat Buchanan sanding down your rough edges for you.

After setting self-awareness aside this week and telling the world "I've always had a great relationships with the blacks. Some of my best friends are blacks," GOP presidential hopeful Donald Trump found himself in the hot seat with the media.

Today on MSNBC, Pat Buchanan leaped to his defense.

"I don't find any malice in what he said in that statement about the black folks," Buchanan said. "I'm a Catholic, and if he said I have a great relationship with the Catholics, I don't think I'd take great offense."

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Budget

White House Reticence On Budget Speech Gives GOP Opening For Attacks

Susan Crabtree | April 13, 2011, 9:31AM

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus

President Obama and the White House have steadfastly refused to provide details on this afternoon's landmark speech on his vision for reducing the country's debt in the days and hours preceding it, and the reticence is giving detractors ample opportunity to frame the debate.

Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) has spent the last two days ginning up the public against any mention of a tax increase as a way to rein in the deficit, and the latest incoming fire comes from Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus who has labeled the speech a budget "do-over" and ridiculed Obama's self-proclaimed role as the adult in the room, the only one willing to stop the political games and strike a compromise.

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RNC

RNC Chair: Obama Puts NCAA Bracket Ahead Of Important Issues

Eric Kleefeld | March 15, 2011, 6:43PM

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus and President Barack Obama

Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus has a message for President Obama: How dare you be a sports fan!

Priebus just posted this on Twitter, linking to a right-wing blog post that attacked Obama for videotaping a brief segment on ESPN:

How can @BarackObama say he is leading when puts his NCAA bracket over the budget & other pressing issues? http://bit.ly/ieSuCI

Maybe Obama would have been better off not talking about sports -- that way, conservatives could stick to attacking him as an out-of-touch elitist.

Michael Steele

Michael Steele Faces Off Against The Daily Show's Puppet Michael Steele (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | February 2, 2011, 10:38AM

Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele appeared on the Daily Show last night -- both of him!

"Wait a minute," Jon Stewart said at the start of the interview. "You're not Michael Steele."

"What?" Steele responded.

"We've had Michael Steele on the show, like, five times," said Stewart. "I don't -- you look -- you're not him."

"Jon, Jon, I can assure you -- I'm Michael Steele."

"I have to tell you," Stewart began -- only to be interrupted by the blue Sesame Street puppet that the Daily Show used during Steele's tenure at the RNC, voiced by a rhyming, jive-talking Wyatt Cenac.

"Yeah sorry I'm late, Watergate," said Puppet Michael Steele. "Who's this extremely handsome gentleman?"

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RNC

Priebus: RNC's True Finances Even Worse Than Our FEC Report Says

Eric Kleefeld | February 1, 2011, 1:06PM

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus

Newly-elected Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus is putting all the bad news right out there. With the RNC releasing a year-end federal report showing over $21 million in debt, he simultaneously put out a statement saying that fully-adjusted numbers would ultimately show that it's even worse -- that is, he has an even bigger hole to dig out of.

"While the year-end FEC report reveals the Republican National Committee is $21 million in debt, I believe it is best to get out all the facts as we know them associated with our financial position," Priebus said in a statement. "To date, the committee has approximately $23 million in debt: $15 million in loans, and $8 million owed to vendors."

Priebus also implicitly put the blame on his predecessor as chairman, Michael Steele, who he defeated this past January. In the statement, Priebus says that prior fundraising operations were very inefficient:

"The RNC transition team is committed to improving the committee's financial situation in two areas: lowering costs of raising small donations and restoring the trust of major donors in the Republican Party. The RNC did raise nearly $105 million in 2010 mainly through low-dollar solicitations online and in the mail, but the costs to raise it were simply too high at approximately 64 cents for every dollar raised. Even more troubling, our major donor programs are at 10-year lows.

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RNC

Priebus Assembling RNC Finance Operation -- And Replacing Steele Aides

Eric Kleefeld | January 21, 2011, 1:33PM

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus

Newly-elected Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus is already busy at work, on such issues as fundraising and party organization -- and turning the page from predecessor Michael Steele, who he defeated for re-election last week.

"I have no goal to become ... some cable TV rock star," Priebus told USA Today. "I'm the guy from Wisconsin. I'm somebody who is willing to work like a dog."

And, it seems, part of working like a dog means getting rid of the people who worked for Michael Steele.

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Michael Steele

Michael Steele Claims His RNC Was 'A Very Lean Machine' (VIDEO)

Ryan J. Reilly | January 20, 2011, 9:30AM

Michael Steele

Recently ousted Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele -- who oversaw the organization's expenditures at bondage-themed restaurants, its plunge into $22 million in debt and a bare bones fundraising effort -- claimed Wednesday his RNC was "a very lean machine."

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RNC

Priebus's New Team Includes Ed Gillespie, Henry Barbour

Eric Kleefeld | January 19, 2011, 2:14PM

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus

Newly elected Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus officially announced today the line-up for his transition team, with a clear message that the RNC wants to put the controversies of the Michael Steele years behind them -- or, in the press release's words, "implementing the plan to restore faith in Republican donors and communicate with the American public."

Notably on the team are Ed Gillespie, a former RNC chairman during President George W. Bush's first term, and Henry Barbour, an RNC member from Mississippi -- and a nephew of Gov. Haley Barbour, who for his part is also a potential presidential candidate and a former RNC chairman.

"When I ran for Chairman of the RNC, I promised to make changes and begin the outreach process with key Republican donors," Priebus said in the press release. "Today, I am honored to announce the team that will help ensure Republicans have a top-notch ground game in the 2012 election cycle. Together, we will build on our success in 2010 and take back the White House and the United States Senate."

Michael Steele

Steele Blasts Priebus For Betrayal: 'I Know Exactly How Caesar Felt'

Eric Kleefeld | January 19, 2011, 10:13AM

Former RNC Chairman Michael Steele

Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele sat down for an interview with Tim Mak of FrumForum, to defend his record after he was defeated for re-election last week. And for Steele, one sore point seems to be the victory of the new RNC Chairman Reince Priebus -- a former seeming ally of his, who then turned on him.

Mak reports:

"I know exactly how Caesar felt," Steele says, without a hint of irony. "It is what it is." He claims that Priebus had been planning to defect for six, seven, eight months before announcing a bid for the chairmanship. Steele was blindsided. "I trust my friends. Well, I guess the adage is right. In Washington, you should get a dog...We put a lot of resources in Wisconsin over the last two years...that's what you do for [the] team."

Steele is referring to the assassination of Julius Caeasr, who was stabbed by group of Roman senators that included his great friend and ally Brutus. According to legend, Caesar said to Brutus, "Et Tu, Brute?" -- "And you, Brutus?"

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Jon Stewart

Daily Show Bids Farewell To Puppet Michael Steele (VIDEO)

David Taintor | January 18, 2011, 10:42AM

Jon Stewart

Just days after Republicans elected Reince Priebus as the Republican National Committee's new chairman, Jon Stewart last night welcomed puppet Michael Steele to The Daily Show, one last time.

Puppet Steele has a rich history with The Daily Show, and the real Steele, of course, has his own record of gaffes.

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Reince Priebus

GOP Elects Reince Priebus As 65th RNC Chairman

Brian Beutler | January 14, 2011, 5:24PM

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus

On the seventh round of balloting, the Republican National Committee elected Reince Priebus to be its next chairman.

Priebus won 97 votes, followed by Saul Anuzis with 43 and Maria Cino with 28. Michael Steele and Ann Wagner dropped out earlier.

Priebus becomes the 65th chair of the RNC, and takes over a committee that had something of a tumultuous two years with Steele at the helm.

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Ann Wagner

Wagner Drops Out Of RNC Chairman's Race, Does Not Endorse

Brian Beutler | January 14, 2011, 4:58PM

Ann Wagner

After slipping into last place in the RNC chairman's race, Missouri Republican Ann Wagner has dropped out, and released her supporters to back...nobody in particular.

"It is time that this committee heal and unify and remember that it is our job to beat Barack Obama in 2012," Wagner said. "I release my supporters, because I respect this process, very, very much, to do what they feel they should do in their heart."

If five of her backers move into Reince Priebus' camp, and he bleeds no support, he'll wrap this thing up.

Michael Steele

RNC Chairman's Race, Round Five Goes To Priebus

Brian Beutler | January 14, 2011, 4:16PM

Reince Priebus and Michael Steele

After ballot five, some real movement.

The overall tally, in descending order:

Priebus: 67
Cino: 40
Wagner: 28
Anuzis: 32
Anonymous, Ineligible Write-In: 1

Steele's bid to throw support to Maria Cino doesn't seem to have worked out exactly as he planned. Instead it appears that under half of his supporters broke for Cino, the rest for Priebus. Now Priebus is really closing in on the magic number, 85. It's a question of whether Wagner and Anuzis supporters accept him as Steele's successor, or decide to play queenmaker for Cino.

Michael Steele

RNC Chairman's Race, Round Four Goes To Priebus

Brian Beutler | January 14, 2011, 3:41PM

Michael Steele

The fourth ballot has been counted in the RNC Chairman's race, and we're still stuck, with Priebus enjoying a modest, but by no means overwhelming lead.

The overall tally, in descending order:

Priebus: 58
Cino: 29
Steele: 28
Wagner: 28
Anuzis: 24
Anonymous Write-In: 1

Priebus enjoys a small, four vote gain. If somebody doesn't drop out soon and endorse him, we're in for a long night. Speculation is that Steele will throw his support to Wagner, which would put her in a dead heat with Priebus. Stay tuned.

Michael Steele

RNC Chairman's Race, Round Three Goes To Priebus

Brian Beutler | January 14, 2011, 3:05PM

RNC Chairman Michael Steele

The third ballot has been cast in the RNC Chairman's race, and the winner, again, is Reince Priebus, with 54 votes.

The overall tally, in descending order:

Priebus: 54
Steele: 33
Wagner: 32
Cino: 28
Anuzis: 21

Strange results. Cino's lost all momentum, and Wagner's slowly climbing, but Priebus isn't building on his lead.

Michael Steele

RNC Chairman's Race, Round Two Goes To Priebus

Brian Beutler | January 14, 2011, 2:26PM

RNC Chairman Michael Steele

The second ballot has been cast in the RNC Chairman's race, and the winner, again, is Reince Priebus, with 52 votes.

The overall tally, in descending order:

Priebus: 52
Steele: 37
Cino: 30
Wagner: 27
Anuzis: 22

Maria Cino underperformed compared to round one, which will fuel speculation that Priebus parked some votes with her to set her up as his mano-a-mano opponent. This is just one of many unsourced lines of speculation floating around the convention center, bu it's got plenty of traction. Steele, predictably, is sinking quickly -- he lost seven votes between the first and second rounds.

Michael Steele

The Results Are Anyone's Guess As RNC Chair Election Kicks Off

Brian Beutler | January 14, 2011, 12:38PM

Reince Priebus and Michael Steele

The RNC chairman's election will commence momentarily, and members are expected to pick a replacement for Michael Steele. But the arcane rules of the committee's election process allow Steele to remain in contention as long as he wants.

Here's the intelligence we have so far.

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RNC

Facing Near-Term Shortfall, RNC Raises Its Own Debt Ceiling

Brian Beutler | January 13, 2011, 2:37PM

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele

Whoever wins the RNC chairmanship tomorrow will inherit a committee deeply in debt. According to Reid Wilson of The Hotline, the party faces more than $21.8 million in outstanding debt as of the end of 2010.

But in an ironic twist, the RNC basically raised its own debt ceiling. The committee was scheduled to make a $5 million payment on its debt by the end of February, but has been granted a significant reprieve.

At its winter meeting in National Harbor, Maryland, a hurried RNC Treasurer Randy Pullen confirmed to me the party had "negotiated an extension from the bank for one year," on its debt.

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RNC

Report: John Sununu Supporting Priebus For RNC Chair

Eric Kleefeld | January 13, 2011, 11:21AM

Reince Priebus

Wisconsin GOP chairman Reince Priebus has picked up a big endorsement in the Republican National Committee chairmanship race, CNN reports, winning the endorsement of New Hampshire GOP chairman John Sununu.

Sununu, who is stepping down as state party chair, is definitely a big name in GOP politics. He was governor of the state from 1983-1989, and was then White House Chief of Staff for nearly three years under President George H.W. Bush. His son John E. Sununu was a Congressman and Senator for New Hampshire, losing re-election in the Democratic wave of 2008.

This brings Priebus's vote count to 41, against incumbent RNC chairman Michael Steele's 17, former Missouri GOP chair Ann Wagner's 15, former Michigan GOP chair Saul Anuzis' 14, and former RNC deputy chair Maria Cino's 12. The election is tomorrow, and it could potentially take multiple ballots to reach the winning 85 votes out of 168 in total.

RNC

Will Reince Priebus Surge To The RNC Chairmanship?

Eric Kleefeld | January 13, 2011, 10:38AM

Reince Priebus and Michael Steele

The Republican National Committee is set to meet Friday to elect its chairman -- and from the looks of things, incumbent RNC Chair Michael Steele's history of gaffes, combined with the party's recent financial problems, will doom him at the vote. But can Wisconsin GOP Chair Reince Priebus, the frontrunner headed into the vote, seal things up?

In the latest count from National Journal, Priebus has 40 committed votes, Steele 17 -- a truly awful place for an incumbent to be -- former Missouri GOP chair Ann Wagner 15, former Michigan GOP chair Saul Anuzis 14, and former Deputy RNC chair Maria Cino 12.

This is not to say that Priebus has it locked up -- far from it, when one takes into account that the single largest group are the 70 committee members who have not publicly declared a choice. As a percentage, then, Priebus is at 24%, Steele at only 10%, Wagner 9%, Anuzis 8%, and Cino 7%, with "uncommitted" in the lead at 42%.

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Stephen Colbert

Colbert: What's A Reince Priebus? (VIDEO)

David Taintor | January 6, 2011, 11:40AM

Stephen Colbert

Stephen Colbert last night took on Monday's Republican National Committee chair debate, deeming Wisconsin GOP chair Reince Priebus as the candidate to beat.

"Folks, this could be the perfect name for the chairman of the RNC, which I believe is pronounced "'Reince,'" Colbert said.

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Jon Stewart

Jon Stewart Lampoons The RNC Chair Debate (VIDEO)

David Taintor | January 5, 2011, 11:26AM

Jon Stewart

Jon Stewart last night lampooned Monday's Republican National Committee chair debate, highlighting some of the candidates' better gaffes.

Stewart began by critiquing Ann Wagner's wardrobe. "Wagner, what are you doing?" Stewart asked. "The lady Dole train left the station in 2008. These are Palin days!" He then performed an impromptu makeover, adding some bangs, a flag lapel pin and a leather jacket, among other things.

"You just got grizzlied!" he added.

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RNC

Ann Wagner Owns Way More Guns Than Other RNC Chair Candidates (VIDEO)

David Taintor | January 3, 2011, 4:41PM

Ann Wagner

Republican National Committee chair candidate Ann Wagner blew away the competition when Grover Norquist asked each candidate at today's debate how many guns they own.

"About 16," replied Wagner, whose family actually just got a new gun case for Christmas.

Read more »

RNC

RNC Candidates: We Heart Fighting Voter Fraud

Eric Kleefeld | January 3, 2011, 3:15PM

This afternoon's RNC chairmanship debate saw the candidates being asked what they would do about a perennial issue that is near and dear to GOP hearts: The threat of alleged Democratic voter fraud.

As you probably know, voter fraud is a frequent complaint among Republicans, motivating their efforts to enact laws such as voter-identification, and to dispatch poll-watchers to precincts in (heavily Democratic) urban areas. At the other end of the spectrum, Democrats are quick to point out that very few voter-fraud prosecutions ever actually take place, and that the GOP's efforts would have a great impact of making it harder for lower-class and minority demographics to vote.

[TPM SLIDESHOW: Michael Steele's Summer Vacation: Elect Republicans, Then Reelect Me!]

Reince Priebus was first. "Well that's a good question for me, because I was chairman when we sued our Government Accountability Board in the state of Wisconsin over our non-compliance with an eight-year-old HAVA [Help America Vote Act] law," said Priebus, who then criticized the very open voting system in his state. "We are one of the few states in the entire country, in Wisconsin, where you can actually vote on Election Day without registering. And you can also vote without any picture identification at all. So our challenges in Wisconsin are astronomical."

He also added: "I think we need to win more races in the legislature so we can pass photo ID in all states, and make sure that we either have photo ID or real ID, or some method of protecting our constitutional right to vote in this country. And I think it has to be a top priority of the next chairman."

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RNC

Steele Opposes GOP Litmus Test -- Priebus Backs It

Eric Kleefeld | January 3, 2011, 2:23PM

In a fun moment at the RNC chairmanship debate, incumbent Chairman Michael Steele and Wisconsin GOP Chairman Reince Priebus took very different positions on whether the party should have issue litmus tests for candidates -- and both got some good applause for their position.

The candidates were asked a question about what sort of non-conservative issue position a candidate could have which would cause them to not be welcomed as a Republican. Ann Wagner and Maria Cino both gave more general answers about how candidates should uphold all the party's core beliefs, while Saul Anuzis was a bit more open to differences -- though he said that a prospective GOP candidate should be with the party 80 percent of the time or more.

[TPM SLIDESHOW: Michael Steele's Summer Vacation: Elect Republicans, Then Reelect Me!]

Then Steele chimed in, coming out strongly against drawing such a hard line.

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RNC

With Priebus Surging, Is Michael Steele Heading For A Big Loss?

Eric Kleefeld | December 31, 2010, 8:54AM

The race for the Republican National Committee chairmanship is heating up -- with Wisconsin GOP Chairman Reince Priebus now having emerged as the frontrunner to defeat the incumbent Chairman Michael Steele.

The next big event to watch is this Monday, January 3, when the candidates will meet for a debate hosted by Grover Norquist's Americans for Tax Reform.

In many ways, it seems odd that Steele could very well lose, after a cycle in which the GOP made big gains in offices large and small. And if there's one thing we've learned about Steele, it's that he has an impressive ability to weather scandals and gaffes that would fell others. But now, after all those gaffes and scandals, his opponents are now striking back in the open at election time.

Steele faces a crowded field of challengers that includes: Priebus, a former Steele ally whose smashing success at painting his state red this year has helped him shoot to the top; former Michigan GOP chair Saul Anuzis (also a previous 2009 RNC candidate, and the first challenger to get in this time); former Bush Administration official Maria Cino (who has been endorsed by Dick Cheney); former Missouri GOP chair Ann Wagner; and to top it all off, former high-ranking Steele aide Gentry Collins.

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RNC

Preibus Wins Key Endorsement In RNC Bid

Evan McMorris-Santoro | December 7, 2010, 4:17PM

Reince Priebus

Reince Priebus, the chairman of the Wisconsin GOP and the latest entrant into the crowded field of Republicans seeking to replace Michael Steele as chair of the Republican National Committee, just snagged a big name endorsement, CNN's Peter Hamby reports. Henry Barbour, RNC member from Mississippi and nephew of the state's governor, sent an email to the 168 voting members of the committee praising Priebus' tenure as RNC general counsel, a job he resigned this weekend.

"Let's face it, that was a tough job and he did as well as reasonably can be expected," Barbour wrote of Priebus. "He was always fair-minded, candid and inclusive with members. I also believe Reince was one of the few people in the inner circle who talked straight with Chairman Steele when he disagreed with him."

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RNC

Former Steele Backer To Make His Own Run For RNC Chair

Evan McMorris-Santoro | December 6, 2010, 12:46PM

Wisconsin GOP Chairman Reince Priebus

Ending widespread speculation today, Wisconsin Republican Party chairman Reince Priebus has thrown his hat into the ring to be the next chair of the Republican National Committee. Priebus -- a key backer of current chair Michael Steele's 2009 election to head the RNC and until this weekend a powerful member of Steele's staff -- sent a letter to RNC members today announcing his campaign to run for chair and taking a swipe at Steele, the man he helped take the reigns at the RNC a little less than two years ago.

"The RNC must be at its best during this next election cycle. There is too much at risk for our Party and, more importantly, for our country. That is why I am running for Chairman," Priebus wrote in his letter, according to the Hotline. "It is not just about fundraising. It is not just about communicating our message. It is not just about standing up for our conservative values and party platform. It is not just about putting together successful victory programs. It must be all those things to win in 2012."