Michael Steele Has Turned the RNC into Enron Arthur Anderson AIG

It's as if funny accounting is second nature for these guys:

The Republican National Committee at the end of last year struck a deal with the Michigan Republican Party that if the state party could raise what turned out to be a half a million dollars for the RNC from its donors, the committee would immediately give the money back, in a scheme apparently devised to increase the RNC's 2009 fundraising numbers.

"It was a known secret that a deal had been struck on the topic," a former RNC official confirmed to The Daily Caller.

"I think the benefit to them was them getting guaranteed money," the source said of the Michigan GOP, "and the benefit to the RNC was getting higher fundraising numbers."

While making Michael Steele look successful seems to have been the primary concern (Got Enron?), this also appears to have been a way to circumvent campaign finance law:

Chairman Michael Steele has boasted bringing in over $90 million dollars since his term as chairman began in 2009. Michigan state law allows individuals to donate an unlimited amount to political parties, though contributors who give to the party are subjected to federal campaign laws that restrict spending on federal races to $10,000 per year, per individual....

No state came close to reaching the half a million dollars disbursed back to the Michigan GOP over the following two months. Michigan received by far the most disbursed money of all states over January and February, followed by Delaware, $129,800 (including in-kind equipment); Oregon, $75,000; Colorado, $66,500; Massachusetts, $42,000; and Mississippi, $15,000.

The large amounts to Michigan are especially interesting, since there are no high profile races there, whereas Massachusetts received very little money during a year with a Senate race. It's probably just a coinky-dink.

Meanwhile, the national party claims they have no debt. I'm sure that's legit too.

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So I guess it is Ohio State versus Florida for the national championship. Florida leapt over Michigan in the BCS rankings and the Wolverines are fated to meet USC in the Rose Bowl (my money is on Michigan).
Mourn, Michigan fans. On the eve of the most important Big Ten game of the season this year between two of the greatest rivals in college football history, the University of Michigan and Ohio State University, the greatest coach in U. of M.
If you live in Michigan, read this: The state has withheld its October payment from the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station and MSU Extension.
This is an endorsement by Climate Hawks Vote, which I support.

"To Legit. To Legit to Quit!"

Does this sound like the new RNC slogan? I wonder if they can lease the rights to the song?

By DGKnipfer (not verified) on 09 Apr 2010 #permalink

The more I learn about Michael Steele the harder I root for him. You've got to admit he's done a great deal to advance non-conservative agendas.