Posted on 08/04/2010 1:48:32 AM PDT by iowamark
The Republican National Committee is trying to set up meetings between Chairman Michael Steele and foreign ambassadors to the United States, according to an email obtained by POLITICO – an effort that has puzzled diplomats as well as fellow Republicans.
An RNC intern sent a message late last month to at least one ambassador on behalf of Neil Alpert, a senior finance aide, with little explanation...
“In his role as RNC Chairman, he meets with leaders in Washington and throughout the country,” said Heye.
But one European embassy official told POLITICO his embassy had received the generic-sounding message in a general inquiry in-box and indicated that he didn’t know what to make of the note.
The staffs of high-level American political figures typically go directly to an embassy’s political officer officer to set up meetings with an ambassador.
Steele’s outreach to foreign representatives heading into the final stretch of the mid-term election cycle is exasperating senior Republicans, already fed up with the controversial chairman’s knack for bad publicity.
“They can’t give any money and they can’t vote,” said former RNC Chairman Jim Nicholson of the ambassadors. “I don’t know why you’d take time to do it.”
It is illegal for foreign nationals to contribute to American candidates or political parties...
But for Steele’s critics, the idea that he would be looking for face-time with foreign ambassadors instead of trying to raise money for the party underscores the view that he’s in the job to promote himself instead of the GOP. What’s particularly galling to Republicans is that Steele’s diplomatic overtures come at a time when the party desperately needs to boost its mediocre fundraising to be competitive in the many House, Senate and gubernatorial contests this fall where Democrats seem vulnerable...
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Steele does whatever he wants, despite what his job requires.
If we win, it will be IN SPITE of this awful chairperson.
Fire him!
Michael Steele is a mental case. His nutty streak surfaces from time to time. Hiring this dolt was obviously a reaction to 0bama beating McCaine. The logic being “Black is where it’s at. We need a black man running the RNC”
Haley Barbour was the best recent RNC chairman. He should be consulted on Steele’s replacement
I think he’s trying to get the ambassadors to give the GOP some attaboys. Like getting in Bummer’s face.
Barbour has his own agenda for 2012.
He’s as much a traitor to the GOP as Obama is to the US.
Has anybody asked Steele for an explanation?
Sounds like he declined to comment through his RNC spokesman, because his spokesman surely would have asked him.
Barbour needn’t bother.
uhhhhh, I wouldn’t expect Steele to appoint a curious spokesman, bur rather a droid.
I don’t like this. My first thought is that he is just trying to get some relationships that will lead to speaking fees through international contacts because of his money problems.
Steele will be tossed after the election. Watch for him to pull a Crist.
what is GOP doing with a leader who cant explain what he is doing?
If RNC wanted to hire a black chair person there were plenty of good conservative to choose from...Steele thinks he is an expert at snow jobs.I also think he is trying to make the most of his position for himself. Its past time the GOP had a heart to heart talk with him.
“The Peter Principle: A Case Study”
In other words, since no conservative supports Steele... he’s out looking for foreign aid.
And’ll probably get it from Saudi Arabia... or China... or Russia... or Iran.
Or just plain lobbying after he’s booted in January.
Hold on gang, it’s not much longer. He’ll be replaced after the election and we just need to make sure we don’t appoint another “soft” person again. The head of the RNC should be a bulldog for our platform, out there daily defending our guys, and raising money like crazy.
I guess no one in the U.S. is buying his book so he’s going to try to sell it to furriners.
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