Ex-RNC chiefs rip Steele speaking fees

Michael S. Steele, Republican National Committee chairman, is using his title to market himself for paid appearances nationwide, personally profiting from speeches with fees of up to $20,000 at colleges, trade associations and other groups - an unusual practice criticized by a string of past party chairmen. <snip>

EXCLUSIVE: Ex-RNC chiefs rip Steele speaking fees - Washington Times

Excuse me. But doesn't almost every politician do this in one way or another? Speaking fees? Consulting fees?

Write a book. Special interest group buys 200,000 copies of it and gives them away?

It's just another kickback loophole, fer sure, but why focus on Steele?

Probably because he's openly doing it.

Captain America said:

Michael S. Steele, Republican National Committee chairman, is using his title to market himself for paid appearances nationwide, personally profiting from speeches with fees of up to $20,000 at colleges, trade associations and other groups - an unusual practice criticized by a string of past party chairmen. <snip>

EXCLUSIVE: Ex-RNC chiefs rip Steele speaking fees - Washington Times

Excuse me. But doesn't almost every politician do this in one way or another? Speaking fees? Consulting fees?

Write a book. Special interest group buys 200,000 copies of it and gives them away?

It's just another kickback loophole, fer sure, but why focus on Steele?

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I don't think it is a kickback at all. I mean he's taking time out of HIS schedule to go do this stuff. Not like he's going around begging people to give speeches. However I do see this as kind of unethical if he is in fact making money off the simple fact that he is the RNC Chairman. It sounds like a very horrible use of your job title and something that could get anybody else fired elsewhere.

Because he's not an ideological purist so many of the wingnuts want him gone.

Korimyr the Rat said:

Because he's not an ideological purist so many of the wingnuts want him gone.

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Well, they really don't need Steele now. Obama got the black vote anyway.

Captain America said:

Michael S. Steele, Republican National Committee chairman, is using his title to market himself for paid appearances nationwide, personally profiting from speeches with fees of up to $20,000 at colleges, trade associations and other groups - an unusual practice criticized by a string of past party chairmen. <snip>

EXCLUSIVE: Ex-RNC chiefs rip Steele speaking fees - Washington Times

Excuse me. But doesn't almost every politician do this in one way or another? Speaking fees? Consulting fees?

Write a book. Special interest group buys 200,000 copies of it and gives them away?

It's just another kickback loophole, fer sure, but why focus on Steele?

Click to expand...

Part of your assumptions are in error. Yes many popular politicians use their former positions to make lots of money from very lucrative speaking fees and some who have nothing worth a damn to say get very lucrative book deals.

However many of the claims of special interest groups buying up books are made to try to detracted from the authors popularity. It's a Rules for Radicals tactic.

In the case Mr Steele I only wish he was a serious conservative and using his speaking engagements to restore credibility after it came to light that a Liberal, Dierdre Scozzafava had been posing as a Republican got the RNC to backed her.

Captain America said:

It's just another kickback loophole, fer sure, but why focus on Steele?

Click to expand...

Because he's black. Where you been? You know how Republicans are.

He's not an elected official, he can do what he wants.

American said:

He's not an elected official, he can do what he wants.

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He is elected though from th article:

Mr. Steele, elected in January to the $223,500-a-year RNC post, is working with at least four outside agencies in Washington, New York, Boston and Nashville, Tenn., that book the speaking engagements. He charges between $8,000 and $20,000 for an address, plus first-class travel and lodging expenses.

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Seems like a conflict of interest to me. He should be focusing on the RNC post, not making money personally for appearances.

I do agree this is an RNC problem though, so if they are ok with it, that's their business.

I can't see what the big deal over this is. The RNC would be the only ones who have a real right to bitch, and if they don't have a problem, then who cares.