RNC Spent $340K On Hawaii Meeting
The RNC spent more than $340K at a semi-annual meeting in Honolulu in Jan., the latest example of the party spending lavishly on itself while GOP officials worry they won't have enough money to take advantage of a promising national landscape this fall.
According to FEC reports filed late Tuesday, the RNC spent $167K on facilities for the 3-day meeting, which took place at a posh resort in Waikiki. That figure doesn't include rooms and office space for the party employees who staffed the meeting, which added up to at least another $90K.
At least 33 RNC staffers and officials made the trip to HI, including top members of the political, communications and research departments, as first reported by Hotline OnCall. Party staff were reimbursed for meals and travel as part of the trip.
RNC communications director Doug Heye, who did not work at the committee when the meeting in Honolulu took place, declined to comment on the expenses Tuesday night.
The $340K documented in FEC filings does not include airfare for each staffer, which could amount to tens of thousands more. FEC rules require the party committees to disclose how they spent their money, including listing merchants who received payments, but it does not require the RNC to list destinations of air travel. Given that the RNC spends thousands of dollars for air travel every month, that means there is no way to account for the staffers who flew to Honolulu.
The total spent on the semi-annual meeting, at which routine party business occurred, means the party shelled out more than $2K for each of the 168 members of the national committee. That does not include airfare for those members. Only the top 3 RNC officials -- chairman Michael Steele, co-chair Jan Larimer and Treasurer Randy Pullen -- had their flights paid for by the RNC. Every other committee member had to pay his or her own way.
A total of 29 staffers received reimbursements for expenses made during the meeting. Steele and then-executive director Ken McKay, both of whom attended the meeting, did not report receiving any reimbursements.
The new disclosures in FEC reports come just weeks after several party officials resigned in the wake of a party thrown at a risque Hollywood nightclub. McKay and a junior RNC official left the committee after the $2K expense, first reported by The Daily Caller, showed up in last month's FEC report.
The amount the RNC spent in HI is likely to eclipse the amount the national committee will spend on a crucial special election to replace ex-Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D) next month. Abercrombie quit to pursue a GOV bid; in his place, 2 prominent Dems and a strong GOP candidate are running in a May 22 winner-take-all election.
According to FEC filings, the RNC has transferred an additional $94K in direct and in-kind contributions to the HI GOP. The party will be allowed to spend $87K in coordinated funds with Honolulu City Councilor Charles Djou (R), the party's leading contender to replace Abercrombie. Recent polls have shown Djou running neck and neck with the 2 Dem candidates.
Instead of RNC funding, it is likely the NRCC will spend heavily on independent expenditures aimed at stealing the Dem-heavy seat. The DCCC, which is quietly backing ex-Rep. Ed Case (D) over state Senate Pres. Colleen Hanabusa (D), has already spent at least $139K to attack Djou's candidacy.
And the RNC has the bloody audacity to continuously send me letters asking for donations.
F*ck them...
Can you believe these guys?
We have the chance to win big this year and these guys are taking risks that make me think of John Edwards. This is why I give (when I can) to individual candidates, never any party apparatus.
I'll keep sending cash as long as they keep winning Luke in Virginia, Mass, and New Jersey. Stop trying to hate, politics is not church GROW UP
The RNC is out of touch and mismanaged: There's an excellent opportunity to POSITION itself as Un-flashy, basic, and effective. We should fire Steele not because he's black, but because he is not capitalizing on the opportunity to properly brand the RNC.
There is simply no reason to have a conference at a Hawaiian vacation resort when "routine" business is conducted. That could be done at RNC headquarters in DC, or the business end of it could have been done at any hotel conference facility in DC as part of the RNC booking rooms for the state reps who flew in. There would have been no extra expenditures for the staffers, etc.
But, it is the state reps who decide the leadership, and as long as the leadership they pick is willing to fly them off to Hawaii for a working vacation, they will continue to pick those guys.
The ONLY way to put a stop to this is to stop contributing to the RNC. Send the money to your favorite candidate, or your favorite 10 candidates if you have it to spend. Send it to the NRCC, and let them decide which candidates to support.
But quit giving it to the professional consultant class to support the lifestyle they feel entitled to.
Isn't it kind of obvious that a fiscally responsible image should be projected by the GOP for the upcoming election season? The RNC leadership should be changed.
Why is no one asking Mr. Reid what kind of return was made on this investment. Or how much of the taxpayers money O'blahblah blew on plane trips last week trying to fundraise for his party. Inquiring minds ask questions. Liberal minds just eat their pablum (national media reporting).
Whatever happened to 'Gotomeeting.com'? I hear about it all the time on the radio. I'm sure Rush/Dennis Prager would gladly let them use their promotional code!
You guys are right. I'm done with the RNC. I'm giving to individuals from now on.
One more glaring example of stupidity at play.
This exemplifies what is wrong in Washington: citizens scrimp and retract to fund candidates they hope will get America on the right course while elitist party leaders (sic) party instead.
If Republicans think they are going to get votes because of the letter after their name they had better reconsider. Fiscal responsibility tops the list of voter demands, and this boondoggle doesn't bode well for the RNC.
Do I dare guess that the most recent sophomoric survey from the RNC was crafted by these same dolts?
Fiscal responsibility my butt. Looks like Republicans are hypocrites at every turn.
The Daily Show broke this story back in January and John Oliver interviewed some to the staffers.
I think that Steele must be a Democrat in Republican clothing, a double agent as it were.
He is breaking the Republican bank, thus causing a cripple effect on having the resources to that would be earmarked to help Republicans that are running for office.
Typical Republican mindset and practices. Once they get to a place where others pay for their way, be it corporate welfare or, in this case, spending donors' money on themselves, it's do as I say, not as I do. Conservative fiscal and moral values are for ya'll on the other side of the tracks, not the self-annoited elites. That's how they get you to vote against your individual best interests, you poor souls, all the while pushing your buttons and partying and squandering and doing exactly what they criticize others for allegedly doing.
The "Country Club" bunch is still in charge and guarantees that even if the Dems are ousted, the Repubs will NOT cure the situation.
Senator Reid is not the head of DNC.. So it doesn't matter what Reid spent you moron... The Republicans spent like there was no tomorrow they didn't pay for 2 wars or the Medicare prescriptions bill and you think that they will change. November is still a long way off so Republicans are wishing everything stays the same but the economy will improve and Democrats will keep the House and Senate.
Just as a comparison, how much tax payer money was spent by Pres. Obama on his vacation in Hawaii? Who and where did it go to?
Spiff
This blows me away, Steele is a con man and useless to any one in that party. That is why I switched to independent why do people allow criiminals to be at the top
Aren't these the guys who are constantly talking about reigning in SPENDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Deflect criticism of Steele by harassing the name of Reid into the story who is not even a DNC honcho like Steele. Add more flavor to the soup with Obama's Hawaii trip by forgetting Bush also made trips and golfing while Katrina battered New Orleans. You people have short memories. GOP does not admit mistake and take things to correct the misdeed.
Those who have good sense here have the ability to divert their donations to individuals (not parties) who will better serve the country and beholden to no one.
Looks like the party of "no" can't say no when it comes to showering themselves with luxurious getaways. Every day the GOP continues to put another nail in its coffin. How can you claim that the Obama administration is fiscally irresponsible when you continue to do stuff like this? So much for 2010... or 2012 for that matter!
How much the president spent on anything is irrelevant to the fact that the RNC is mishandling OUR donated money. Who gave money to have them go to Hawaii? Most people gave to have them elect more republicans.
Stop talking nonsense about Obama and focus. Idiots.
This was obviously written to take focus off the president and his warped policies. If you want to start worrying about spending take a look at the national debt. NOBODY CARES HOW MUCH THESE GUYS ARE SPENDING IN HAWAII! WHAT WE CARE ABOUT IS GETTING RID OFF HALF OF THIS CONGRESS AND GET RID OF THIS MORON OBAMA!
These are the guys that are constantly talking
about reigning in spending..only they mean your
spending!!
To answer Spiff's question at 10:32 - President Obama PAID for his family vacation in Hawaii.
I also note Sonny Lee tossing out the costs of Obama's fundraising trips. It's amazing how so many develop Alzheimer's as they never stood up and questioned Bush about his fundraising flights, or his over 300 trips to the Texas White House Ranch, or how he paid for the Medicare prescription bill and how Bush cooked up a separate set of books for the two wars that were not paid for as those didn't show up in the budget figures EVER while he was in office which made it look like the national debt was lower. Did any of the GOP or the Baggers ask questions then or protest overspending. NOT A PEEP. Hypocrites all.
As reported in a past WH press conference, Obama personally covered expenses for trips to Hawaii -- his home state and where his sister lives. Home visits are costly, but his books (and his ideas) have been popular so he can afford it.
This is what is making me so sick with the Republican party. They will not give President Obama a break on anything he does. The man is jumping hurdle after hurdle to clean up the horrible mess he inherited from the previous administration. I never saw this much action or criticism during 2001-08. If it took 30 years to get in this mess how in God's name do you think it can be corrected in less than two(2) years? Such m/f idiots.
I have been looking at the rising national debt for the last 8 years.
340K! That's a lot of lap dances.
yeah! keep donation to the RNC! those jackals love to party on your dime!
What idiots! They have such a great opportunity to move things this Fall, and are handing the momentum back to the Democrats. Who is going to believe Republicans on fiscal matters when the RNC behaves like this?
Watching them is akin to watching a skydiver jump out of the plane, then, instead of seeing a parachute, realizing they aren't wearing one, climaxing with a small clound of dust as they hit the ground.
These people simply don't get it. This reflects years of bad policy within the party, and reflects how politicians run things in general.
If there are any individual politicians who you want to support - send it directly to them and bypass the RNC - if the renounce the RNC spending.
Well, well, well. The Party of No has morphed into the Party of Parties. They are a bunch of pathetic hypocrites. They think of themselves as elites, while accusing the Dems for the same thing. People who live in glass houses financed by their wealthy donors and friends shouldn't throw stones. You might get American Express cards thrown back at you.
As noted already, where was the "outrage" on Bushies constant trips to "clear brush"? Also to be noted is that President Obama is just that, the PRESIDENT. He is also a PRESIDENT who wants to be among the people. Bush had to hide at the ranch and was not even ASKED to campaign for the repugs in '08, except for a taped speech at the convention. Steele is like the rest of the repugs who are fighting tooth and nail to stop our country from moving forward, thanks to the deep pockets of the drug, NRA and bank lobbyists. The air of "entitlement" that the repugs believe that they are entitled to is starting to stink...it always stank, it's just now it's a public "stank".
The Daily Show reported on this months ago! Why not at least give them some credit? How come Jon Stewart is the only real journalist working in America right now?
I wish Sarah Palin would replace Steele, then all of our problems would be solved. Dang it.
do these guys even know what "conservative" means? literally, "to conserve" or save, not spend. H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-T-S!
It seems to me that the RNC is very representative of what the Republican has become. It is not the party that I joined years ago.
i keep getting emails from the rnc for donations. forget it!!!
Did you know that Erik Brown (the guy who spend donor money at Voyeur) still has not returned the $2000 he owes the RNC? Is anyone going to follow up on this?
We should fire Steele not because he's black, but because he is not capitalizing on the opportunity to properly brand the RNC.
Larry Flanders |
----
Michael Steele has played the race card when confronted on the issue of spending at the RNC and has goaded the party to fire him so far they are keeping him. For the simple reason, political races and it will make the party look bad and having to defend itself right in the middle of it.
Come to think of it, it doesn't surprise me.
One word:
WAIKIKI!!!
Sounds pretty nice right about now, doesn't it?
Sometimes I feel bad for Republican voters and donors.
Oh no wait, no I don't.
To be fair, read this article in the Washington Post about how political parties spend money. They are both to blame. I would never ever contribute.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/20/AR2010042005183.html
ONCE I READ THE JOHN EDWARDS BIOGRAPHY, I DECIDED THAT I WILL NO LONGER BE VOTING -- ON ANYTHING -- EVER AGAIN. I OFFICIALLY QUIT. POLITICIANS ON BOTH SIDES ARE JUST IN IT ALL FOR THEMSELVES AND WHAT THEY CAN PERSONALLY GET OUT OF IT, ALL WHILE TRYING TO JUST SAFEGUARD THEIR OWN JUBS. THEY ALL JUST MAKE ME SICK......
The Daily Show did a wholr segment on this event months ago. Way to catch up MSM...
Well, at least they weren't going to Lesbian bondage bars out in Hawaii. Well, none that we know of yet.
The RNC, like the entire extremist party, certainly is good at spending other peoples' money. I suppose that asking them to spend their own would be a bridge too far?
...and do not forget Tea Party supported MARCO RUBIO.
Google Marco Rubio and all you get is his FBI, IRS and State CRIMINAL investigations for misuse of RNC credit cards.
I am afraid, I will have to vote a straight Democrat ticket if Rubio (that Richard Nixon crook) is the Republican candidate for the Flordia Senate seat.
I used to donate quit a bit of money to the RNC. Never again. This is unnacceptable use of our money.
Yep. They lost my respect. How are they different than Democrats? How is the tea-party different when they charge $500+ to see Sarah Palin speak? I am appalled and disgusted.
NO MORE!
The RNC spending spree cancer has metastasized to Marco Rubio and the FL GOP.
Maybe somewhat off track, but there were a few Republiclone posters with typical anti-Obama comments,as usual.
Can one of you Clones please tell me one thing, yes one good thing that President G.W. Bush did for all Americans during his eight years in office?
Yes, I know he did clear a lot of brush in Crawford which helped the Crawdads, but what about the rest of Americans?
How does the RNC expect to sell Republicans as fiscal conservatives ever again. I'm not buying it. Michael Steele must go NOW. I wonder if Sarah would accept his job. She has shown an ability to get rid of the "good ole boys".
Viejoken
It's spelled 'reining in', not 'reigning in' spending, you morons.
Good thing RNC supports public education. Or do they?
Actually, now that I think about it, what DOES the RNC actually support?
Remarkable phrase and it is duly
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