Does Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele really need the headache? He has enough on his plate, trying to retake control of the House and Senate from the Democrats. An unnecessary storm of negative publicity is swirling around Steele over reports the RNC expensed nearly $2,000 for “meals” at the Voyeur Club in West Hollywood, a noted sex-themed nightspot. A partner at the Club, which features topless dancers and bondage outfits, told the Los Angeles Times the joint is supposed to be “risqué and provocative” equipped with “a combination of intimidation and sexuality.”
The GOP today fired the organizer of the “Young Eagles” Jan. 31 event, an outing that drew a sharp rebuke from conservative group Concerned Women for America, which wants answers. “As women we find the very idea of officials from either party conducting business inside an establishment that objectifies and demeans women outrageous,” Penny Nance, CEO of CWA, said in a statement. She continued: “Concerned Women for America is asking the Republican National Committee to explain the party's expense for a $1,946.25 visit to a club with topless dancers and bondage outfits.” Aren’t the Republicans the “social values party?” Whatever happened? The GOP can't afford to irritate a core supporter group like the Concerned Women.
Steele was neither at the VC shindig nor did he know about it. A GOP donor has picked up the tab for the VC. Those Young Eagles had to know their night of partying would eventually make the news in our current 24/7 information world. They had to know VC coverage would reflect badly on Steele. The Young Eagles threw their captain overboard.
Steele’s financial stewardship of the GOP coffers also has come into question. The Washington Post reports that the GOP had more than $22m in the bank when Steele took over last year. Despite raising a record $96M under Steele, the RNC now only has $10M in the coffers. Christian PR man Mark DeMoss, who heads DeMoss Group in Atlanta, has knocked GOP spending as “mind-boggling.” Failure to cut back spending, according to DeMoss, “suggests either a tone-deafness or just that they don't care, which would maybe be worse.”
One can only wonder what DeMoss’ evangelical audience base thinks about the fun and games at the Voyeur Club.