Michael Steele To End RNC Tenure With One Last Demonstration Of Incompetence

Michael Steele's tenure as the chairman of the Republican National Committee has been primarily marked by gaffes and financial mismanagement and scandal and donor mocking and people quitting in disgust and near constant calls for him to resign. Democrats are going to miss him when he's gone! And gone he soon shall be, as well. As competitors emerge to challenge Steele for the RNC top spot, their suits are steeled by polling data that supports his ouster.

But, hey, how about one more Steele-related mishap, for auld lang syne? Over at TPM, Ryan J. Reilly notes that Steele is under fire for the money he's lavished on a "longtime assistant":

Critics of RNC Chairman Michael Steele have also focused on a lucrative job given to his longtime aide, Belinda Cook, convention-related gigs given to her family and friends and a variety of large expenses footed by the RNC.

The Washington Times first reported on Cook's salary -- which is nearly three times what her predecessor made -- earlier this month. Over two years ahead of the 2012 convention in Tampa, Steele signed a contract making Cook a "convention liaison" and paying her $15,000 per month.

FEC records show that Cook was also paid $25,000 for "Political Strategy Consulting" back in July. Records reflect thousands of dollars in additional reimbursements made to Cook for travel, food and beverages.

Additionally, Reilly notes that the RNC has already dropped $636,800 on the 2012 Republican National Convention:

That's 18 times the amount spent that was spent in a comparable time frame four years ago, the Washington Post reported, causing more than a few raised eyebrows within the party.

You wouldn't have thought it possible that Steele could make his colleagues' eyebrows raise any higher, but there you go.

RELATED:
Michael Steele's Longtime Assistant, Her Family Living Large On RNC's Dime [TPMMuckraker]

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Comments

[tiarra03]

07:10 AM on 12/07/2010

long time assistant = side piece

[RapidProf]

07:37 PM on 12/02/2010

Bye-bye, Michael. It's been a blast!

[DessLoch]

01:14 AM on 12/02/2010

I'm sure she earrrned it!

[wonderfullone]

09:26 PM on 12/01/2010

Michaele Steele has always said that he has a "strategy" for everything he does. Maybe getting canned as RNC Chairman he feels he can make more money, like his mentor, Sarah.

[wonderfullone]

09:15 PM on 12/01/2010

Michael Steele will be missed by the news media. He was pure comedy gold.

[wonderfullone]

09:14 PM on 12/01/2010

Michael Steele will be missed by the news media. He was pure comedy gold.

[wonderfullone]

09:13 PM on 12/01/2010

The news media will miss Michael he was "pure comedy gold".

[cbsnwdc1]

06:36 PM on 12/01/2010

Hey Mike, stop being a cry baby. This can't be the first time you've been told you are incompetent. Just file for unemployment. Oh! I forgot, your party wants to cut off those benefits, so they can give rich people tax cuts. Oh well, you can always complete a Walmart application. They are hiring during the Xmas rush

[ShanaJuly]

05:47 PM on 12/01/2010

Michael the rnc needs you out of the way so they can raise money again. This time they need to raise record amounts to buy the presidency so you are in the way. Join the ever growing list of GOPers who have been cast to the wind after being used and abused by republicorp...Cya around...how's unemployment looking for ya...oh that's right maybe one of your rich republicans will give you a job shilling for them...if you are lucky...because nobody is going to hear your name after your time is up...oh well...republicorp at its best...

[alicam]

05:14 PM on 12/01/2010

I hate to see him leave. What joy he has brought us Democrats. He should now pursue a career in comedy next.

[buzzbeedc]

04:20 PM on 12/01/2010

Goodbye...I'll miss you. He was by far the best RNC chairman ever.

[motherfather]

03:45 PM on 12/01/2010

I guess the Republican experiment failed! LMBAO!

[Mad Jack]

02:47 PM on 12/01/2010

In a recent Philadelphia Tribune posting Charles D. Ellison remarked that the replacing of Steele would be an act of racism. Interesting, so the Republicans elect someone just so they can demonstrate their racism by firing him. Can American policics get any more bizarre?

[Manny Peddy]

03:19 PM on 12/01/2010

Although I was attacked for this elsewhere in the comments, everything about this situation is entertwined with "race" problems:

1. Steele's education

2. Steele's career before going to the RNC

3. Steele's appointment to the RNC

4. Steele's retention of the position in spite of obvious problems

5. The relative lack of criticism of Steele during his tenure

6. The attacks on Steele as an Uncle Tom his entire public career

7. Now, his potential termination.

Until US culture can get past race and treat everyone just as a person, it will be tripping over this politically correct nonsense.

[Farzan]

02:08 PM on 12/01/2010

TRANSLATION: Dumb down to the level of dummer electorate.

When in Rome, be as Romans.

Good time to be an American. This ain't no Apollo program America no mo'.

[Manny Peddy]

03:19 PM on 12/01/2010

Dummer and dummer

Yep, really dumb.

[DaBluAce]

02:00 PM on 12/01/2010

they can fight tooth and nail to remove mike but old sarah keeps tugging along and will be the next candidate for gop in 2012