RNC

GOP Operative: Party Campaign Committees Probably Won't Honor 'Purity' Resolution

Eric Kleefeld | November 25, 2009, 12:27PM

RNC chairman Michael Steele

A Republican operative tells us that if the Republican National Committee ends up passing the so-called "purity" resolution - which would cut off party support for candidate that violate three or or more out of ten key conservative policy positions -- it's unlikely that party campaign committees will actually abide by it.

"The litmus test puts too little emphasis on people's most pressing concerns of spending and taxes and therefore cannot be considered an effective tool to fully judge a candidate," the source said. "Because of this, its doubtful this will be a major factor in candidate support."

The resolution officially calls for cutting off support for candidates from the Republican National Committee. But another important question with this resolution is whether the party's other campaign committees -- such as the NRCC and the NRSC, among others -- would obey the edict to exclude candidates who don't measure up. As far as this one GOP operative says, probably not.

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Alex Castellanos

CNN Keeps Castellanos, Dems Hit Back

Brian Beutler | November 24, 2009, 1:53PM

RNC Communications Director Alex Castellanos

CNN will retain the services of Alex Castellanos, despite his new role as unpaid flack for the RNC (his official title will be Senior Communications Adviser).

"CNN has political strategists that provide unpaid advice to both sides of the aisle, and Alex will remain as a CNN contributor," a CNN spokesperson emails. "CNN will continue to be vigilant in disclosing contributor affiliations and their profiles."

Castellanos' consulting firms have produced ads for the Chamber of Commerce and America's Health Insurance Plans as part of the groups' ongoing efforts to defeat key Obama agenda items like climate change legislation and health care reform.

And now, Democrats have latched on to the development both to criticize CNN for allowing such a partisan figure to appear on the network as a news analyst, and to attack the Republican party for its closeness to industry.

"By bringing on a senior strategist for the Chamber and AHIP, the Republican Party can no longer pretend that they aren't in the pocket of big business and the insurance industry lobby and it made it crystal clear who Republicans are fighting for -- and it's not our families and small businesses," DNC spokesman Hari Sevugan emails. "When Castellanos is on CNN as a top strategist for the GOP, the insurance industry, and the Chamber of Commerce, he certainly won't be offering any 'independent analysis.'"

Alex Castellanos

In Quest To Reform Steele's Image, RNC Hires Republican Attack Dog Castellanos

Brian Beutler | November 24, 2009, 11:28AM

RNC Communications Director Alex Castellanos

Pretend for a moment that you're Michael Steele. You won the RNC chairmanship earlier this year, and have been at the helm of the GOP for months as it has waged a fierce internal battle over the future of the party. You also have a reputation for being a bit of a buffoon. So the off-year elections roll around, and things go OK. Dede gets Scozzafav'd, but for the most part the media trains its eyes on gubernatorial pick ups in New Jersey and Virginia and declares victory for the GOP.

You might think that's a pretty good outcome. But Steele apparently wanted more credit for the Christie and McDonnell wins. So what's a political chief to do?

According to Politico the answer he arrived at was 'fire my communications director and fill the void with CNN's celebrity GOP talking head Alex Castellanos."

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RNC

A Purity Test For The GOP?

Eric Kleefeld | November 23, 2009, 2:50PM

RNC chairman Michael Steele

The Republican National Committee could be on the verge of imposing a strict purity test on GOP candidates and officeholders, if a proposed resolution passes at their upcoming meeting in January: If you disagree with the party line on three or more out of a list of ten key issues, no money or official party support for you.

The resolution, officially called "Proposed RNC Resolution on Reagan's Unity Principle for Support of Candidates" draws its standard through a literal interpretation of an old saying of the Gipper's -- that someone who agreed with him 80% of the time is his friend, not his 20% enemy. Thus, this resolution sets 80% as a floor for support of GOP issues.

The resolution could set up a new problem for chairman Michael Steele. Earlier this year, he successfully turned back a symbolic measure that called upon the Democratic Party to rename itself the "Democrat Socialist Party." This latest resolution -- coming after the NY-23 special election, in which moderate GOP nominee Dede Scozzafava was forced out in favor of a third-party Conservative, who then lost to the Democrat -- could have real material impacts.

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Fundraising

DNC Outraises RNC, $11.5M In October

Christina Bellantoni | November 19, 2009, 5:40PM

DNC Chair Tim Kaine

The Democratic National Committee raised $11.5 million in October, breaking the fundraising record for an off-year election.

A party source tells TPMDC the DNC will report that it has $12.3 million cash on hand and owes $4.4 million.

The Republican National Committee, as we reported earlier, has zero debt and $11.2 million in the bank. They raised $8.7 million.

Year to date and including transfers and in-kind contributions, the DNC has raised $73.3 million. The RNC has raised $76.9 million.

Late Update: The actual filing has the DNC with $12.9 million cash on hand.

Fundraising

DNC Outraises RNC, $11.5M In October

Christina Bellantoni | November 19, 2009, 5:40PM

DNC Chair Tim Kaine

The Democratic National Committee raised $11.5 million in October, breaking the fundraising record for an off-year election.

A party source tells TPMDC the DNC will report that it has $12.3 million cash on hand and owes $4.4 million.

The Republican National Committee, as we reported earlier, has zero debt and $11.2 million in the bank. They raised $8.7 million.

Year to date and including transfers and in-kind contributions, the DNC has raised $73.3 million. The RNC has raised $76.9 million.

Late Update: The actual filing has the DNC with $12.9 million cash on hand.

Fundraising

RNC Touts Grassroots Cash: Raised $8.7M, Spent $7.9M In October

Christina Bellantoni | November 19, 2009, 8:58AM

RNC Chair Michael Steele

The Republican National Committee announced this morning they raised $8.79 million in October, an off-election year record.

The haul comes after the party captured two governorships and as they are attempting to make gains in 2010.

The RNC said they had $11.2 million cash on hand and no debt. Last month they reported $18.9 million cash on hand, so doing the math, they spent $7.9 million in October.

The party says they "averaged 2,543 new donors per day in October and had an average contribution of $32," with more than 1 million active donors by the end of the month.

"As of November 11th, the RNC has already broken its own record of new donors in an off year, with 305,000 new donors so far in 2009," the party said in a release.

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Health Care

Busted! GOP Drops Abortion Coverage For RNC Employees

Brian Beutler | November 13, 2009, 10:15AM

RNC Chairman Michael Steele

Faced with the charge of hypocrisy for providing employees health insurance that covers abortion, the Republican National Committee has moved to strike the benefit from their policy.

"Money from our loyal donors should not be used for this purpose," said chairman Michael Steele. "I don't know why this policy existed in the past, but it will not exist under my administration. Consider this issue settled."

With one exception--Rep. John Shadegg (R-AZ) who voted 'present'--House Republicans voted unanimously for an amendment to health care legislation that forbids women who receive government insurance subsidies from buying policies that cover abortion.

Of course, given the definition of "insurance," the RNC can only really escape the sin of financing abortions by buying insurance from a company that has a blanket policy against covering abortions.

Health Care

RNC Adds Nelson To 'Flip-Flop' Campaign

Christina Bellantoni | November 12, 2009, 2:16PM

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE)

Even though it's cold outside, flip-flops are back in season.

As Evan reported earlier this week, the RNC is exploiting tensions within the Democratic party to compare wavering senators with Sen. John Kerry, using his "I voted for it before I voted against it" video.

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) is the next target.

Mike Steele:

"Ben Nelson has taken part in the classic Potomac two-step of telling his constituents one thing in Nebraska and doing another thing back in Washington, D.C. Ben Nelson's double-speak has not gone unnoticed by voters in Nebraska and now it looks like Nelson may take this double-speak on health care reform one step further by voting for government-run health care before voting against it. Politicians cannot have it both ways - just ask John Kerry. Nebraskans can spot a phony politician when they see one and they know that any vote to move the Democrats' health care bill forward is a vote for a government-run health care experiment."

Ad after the jump.

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NY-23

RNC Backs Hoffman In NY-23 Shakeup

Christina Bellantoni | October 31, 2009, 1:35PM

NY-23 Candidates Doug Hoffman (Conservative) and Bill Owens (D)

The Republican National Committee announced it will immediately back Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman following GOP candidate Dede Scozzafava's campaign suspension in the special election in New York's 23rd Congressional district.

Here is Chairman Mike Steele's statement.

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Michael Steele

Steele Calls For Investigation Of White House Fundraising

Eric Kleefeld | October 28, 2009, 10:13AM

RNC Chairman Michael Steele

The Republican National Committee is up in arms over a Washington Times report that the Obama administration is allegedly using access to the White House as a fundraising tool for the Democratic National Committee, and the RNC is now calling for an investigation.

"The seriousness of this issue requires an immediate investigation looking into the degree and details of fundraising efforts between the White House and DNC, whether there was any quid pro quo offered to donors, and the names of White House officials who were involved in such activities," RNC chairman Michael Steele said in a statement.

VA-GOV

Steele Calls Out DNC For Its Commitment To Deeds

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 27, 2009, 2:28PM

RNC Chairman Michael Steele

RNC Chair Michael Steele looked pretty confident when asked talking about Virgina in an interview on Fox News this morning. He's got good reason to smile: a week before voters go to the polls to choose a new governor, GOP nominee Bob McDonnell is dominating the polls with double-digit leads.

Steele seemed so sure of a GOP win in Virginia he was already taking credit for his part in it. The RNC has spent more than $8 million on McDonnell this year. The DNC has only offered Deeds a $6 million investment.

"You've got the DNC running ads on YouTube and on Facebook," Steele said. "But we put real resources on the ground."

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Fundraising

RNC Raises $8.7M And Has No Debt

Christina Bellantoni | October 20, 2009, 9:15AM

RNC Chair Michael Steele

The Republican National Committee released September fundraising figures this morning showing the GOP has a strong bank account heading into the election's next month and primed for 2010. Chairman Mike Steele said the money will help the party "ensure victory" next year.

The RNC raised $8.74 million last month and have $18.9 million in the bank. They also have no debt, according to the party.

And in a bit of homage to the way Barack Obama built his campaign machine on the small donor grassroots, the RNC release notes they averaged 2,400 new donors each day, with an average contribution of $36. The number of donors is an off-election year record, the RNC said.

"It goes without saying that we have been working hard to establish a new brand for the RNC," Steele said. "From giving a voice to the frustrations of many Americans over the president's health care experiment, to the launch of our new web platform, our efforts have resulted in record breaking fundraising numbers for September which continues an extremely strong trend for us since February."

Steele added: "It is clear that the Republican message of lower taxes, less spending and common sense health care reform resonates with working families and small businesses alarmed by the course the president and Congressional Democrats have taken. As we move closer to the elections this fall and in 2010, these funds will enable the RNC to provide Republican candidates throughout the country the financial resources needed to help ensure victory on election day."

NY-23

National GOP Giving More Aid To Scozzafava -- And Making Right-Wingers Madder

Eric Kleefeld | October 16, 2009, 2:19PM

NY-23 Candidates Dede Scozzafava (R) and Doug Hoffman (Conservative)

The national Republican Party is stepping up its efforts to support moderate GOPer Dede Scozzafava in the upcoming NY-23 special election, sending in money and big endorsements -- which might just make the current split with the right wing on this race even worse.

Scozzafava is being opposed by not just Democratic candidate Bill Owens, but also by Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman, who has the support of right-wing groups such as the Club For Growth, the Family Research Council, and conservative bloggers who are incensed at Scozzafava's liberalism on issues like gay rights and abortion.

The Republican National Committee, after having not put in resources, will now give $85,000 to the coordinated campaign, and transfer an undisclosed six-figure sum to the state GOP to help Scozzafava. In addition, the Scozzafava campaign has rolled out the endorsement of the big conservative icon of the 1990's, Newt Gingrich himself -- which is only making the right-wingers even madder.

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RNC

RNC Web Site Pays Tribute To Ronaldus Magnus

Eric Kleefeld | October 14, 2009, 3:26PM

Fmr. Pres. Ronald Reagan

The new Republican National Committee Web site has been derided for its "GOP Heroes" section -- which teaches us that almost all of the great Republicans lived in the 1800's, and about half of them were black -- but there's another illustrious name on the list: Ronaldus Magnus.

The site's page on Ronald Reagan includes this citation of the party's great hero, giving him a stylized name we might see on a Roman emperor:

Our country has to decide, said Ronaldus Magnus, "whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether to abandon the American Revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capital can plan our lives better than we can plan them ourselves."

And to think that the GOP makes fun of the Democrats for allegedly worshiping Obama.

We've called the RNC office for comment on how this got there, giving them the benefit of the doubt that maybe this is a product of those hackers we've been hearing about as a result of the site's security problems. They have not gotten back to us yet.

Late Update: The page has now been edited, removing Reagan's Latin throne name. It now simply says, "Our country has to decide, said Reagan..."

GOP

GOP.com Changes The Game On 'What Up?'

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 14, 2009, 9:21AM

Overnight, it seems the RNC started tweaking the new GOP.com, which emerged yesterday as something of a fail for Michael Steele.

This morning, Steele's much-derided "What Up?" blog has undergone a name change, one of several changes at the site we'll be tracking throughout the day. Steele's posts can now be found at a chairman's blog called "Change The Game."

The RNC did not respond to questions about the changes this morning.

Late Update: Politco covers yesterday's GOP.com controversy, and catches up with Steele. "Betas are about learning, and I promise that we are learning today," he said. "We never meant for the site to ever be complete. It will never be complete."

GOP

The New GOP.com Crushed Under Weight Of Mockery, Dem Says

Evan McMorris-Santoro | October 13, 2009, 2:34PM

The new GOP.com appears to be struggling through its first day online. Reporters found holes in the site's content this morning, and lately visitors have found the site to be down altogether or, at best, extremely slow.

"You know your web program is in trouble when your site can't even handle the traffic bump from people making fun of your web program," Joe Rospars of Blue State Digital told TPMDC.

Rospars helped craft the Obama Internet strategy as director of new media for the campaign.

The RNC did not respond to a request for a comment.

Late Update: Over at LiveWire, Rachel catches Michael Steele's response to the controversy. Steele to critics of GOP.com: "It's not even really a website."

Michael Steele

GOP Leaders To Steele: Back Off On Policy

Eric Kleefeld | October 5, 2009, 9:46AM

RNC Chairman Michael Steele

In a meeting with Michael Steele, top Congressional Republicans told the national GOP chair to back off from having the RNC roll out policy initiatives, due to the potential of stepping on the elected officials' prerogatives.

As the Politico reports:

And at one point, Steele, a Washington native, said that his upbringing in the "streets" made him a fighter and that he was determined to continue fighting and aggressively defending the party, according to two people familiar with the account.

Senate GOP Conference chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) said that the two sides came to an understanding. "We are elected to set the policy," said Alexander. "But in my view, the national committee's job is to create the environment in which Republicans can be elected to set policy. Michael Steele said that was exactly his point of view, so I think we see eye to eye on it."

Michael Steele

RNC Raising Money Off Of Schoolchildren Singing About Obama, Comparing It To Stalin And Kim Jong Il

Eric Kleefeld | September 30, 2009, 4:14PM

RNC Chairman Michael Steele

In a new fundraising e-mail sent out by the RNC, chairman Michael Steele attacks the Democrats over the video that has circulated of a small group of schoolchildren singing about President Obama:

In the video, impressionable youngsters at a public school in New Jersey, most of whom are no more than six or seven years old, have been instructed to sing the praises of "Barack Hussein Obama." One song is even set to the tune of The Battle Hymn of the Republic.

This is the type of propaganda you would see in Stalin's Russia or Kim Jong Il's North Korea. I never thought the day would come when I'd see it here in America.

This is the type of fanaticism Republicans are up against as we fight to stop the Obama Democrats' radical leftist transformation of America.

Check out the full e-mail after the jump.

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Health Care

GOP: Inartful to Suggest Health Care Reforms Would Discriminate Against Republican Patients

Brian Beutler | August 27, 2009, 2:12PM

RNC Chairman Michael Steele

As an update to this post, the RNC says it screwed up by suggesting that, under the Democrats' health care reform proposal, " the government could use voter registration to determine a person's political affiliation, prompting fears that GOP voters might be discriminated against for medical treatment in a Democrat-imposed health care rationing system."

"Although the question was inartfully worded, Americans have reason to be concerned about the failure of the Democrats' health care experiment to adequately protect the privacy of Americans' personal information," an RNC spokesperson tells Greg Sargent.

Right. It's just a hop, skip, and a jump from "inadequate privacy protections," to "doctors might discriminate against Republican patients."

RNC

GOP: Reformed Health Care System Could Discriminate Against Republicans!

Brian Beutler | August 27, 2009, 12:28PM

RNC chairman Michael Steele

Recently, the Republican National Committee mailed out a survey to an unknown number of voters--including at least one non-Republican--spreading misinformation about the Democrats' health care reform proposal.

The most egregious question: "It has been suggested that the government could use voter registration to determine a person's political affiliation, prompting fears that GOP voters might be discriminated against for medical treatment in a Democrat-imposed health care rationing system. Does this possibility concern you?"

Of course, this hasn't been suggested except in the minds of the GOP officials who drafted these questions.

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Michael Steele

Steele Today: "Don't Cut Medicare!" Steele in 2006: "Cut Medicare!"

Brian Beutler | August 24, 2009, 1:31PM

RNC Chairman Michael Steele

So RNC chairman Michael Steele took to the pages of the Washington Post to warn seniors, "we need to protect Medicare and not cut it in the name of 'health-insurance reform.'" A convenient refrain for the current political climate, but, in bad news for Michael Steele, a complete departure from GOP business as usual. Here, for instance, is an October, 2006 exchange on cutting Medicare between Tim Russert and--wait for it--Michael Steele.

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