RNC spending stories raise questions not addressed by media

The Republican Party is grabbing headlines that supporters would prefer not to grab. Pundits right and left are expounding about Party spending at the national level and in my home state of Florida.

We’re not talking about spendthrifting taxpayer money—that would be the bailiwick of the Democrats at present. We’re talking about private funds donated directly to the Party for whatever legal purpose the Party chooses to spend on. The Party is accountable to donors for that.

RNC chair Michael Steele appeared on Good Morning America. Steele answered questions from  George Stephanopoulos, Democrat stratetgist/adviser turned TV pundit on Monday. Steele talked about the national dustup over funds spent for a visit to a nightclub best described as alternative entertainment.

The employee who authorized the roughly $2,000 L.A. nightclub trip was fired.

But a most curious incident relates to an alleged typo on a fundraising letter that led donors to call a phone sex number.

I’ve written and designed many direct mail campaigns over the years. I’ve never made a mistake on any of them.

The first thing I asked myself: was there no one on staff who thought to test dial the number before the piece was actually printed? Direct mail 101 and all that.

Trying the number before you print is similar to clicking on a link I embed in a web column to make sure the link takes the reader to a credible website. Or salting the list with your own name as a primitive sort of control.

The second thing I asked myself—who approved that fundraising letter? Is there a chance this was done deliberately?

It’s ironic that Party spending has received more attention than President Barack Obama’s earmarks during his brief term as a junior senator. It’s even more ironic when you consider Democrats in Washington are spending taxpayer money at record levels, beyond all reason.

Where were all the media exposes on Obama’s European fundraisers?

Steele said he shares one challenge with Obama—having a “slimmer margin” when it comes to being judged because (drum roll and violins, please) both are African-American.

I’d remind the chairman (and the president) that anyone who accepts great responsibility should also accept the need for great accountability. The color of a person’s skin has nothing to do with that, and it is time leaders from all quarters stop making divisive statements. It serves only to further divide this country and it serves only a political purpose.

I’d also remind Steele and the RNC in general there is a political war of words ongoing in media and Democrats hold a distinct advantage with dinosaur brands located in the Northeast and on the left coast.

But the biggest question of all, in my opinion, is simple and has nothing to do with race.

How did that fundraising letter sidestep the proofing process?

(Commentary by Kay B. Day/Apr. 5, 2010)