by Mark Silva
Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves, and now the party of Lincoln has gotten a refund for the $1,950 it shelled out at a West Hollywood club with a theme of sexual bondage.
See what happens when you get away for a few days?
"The party of no-no,'' as the Washington Post's Dana Milbank summed it up, got caught with its family values down. But GOP chairman Michael Steele appears to have beaten any rap for it all.
It's actually somewhat satisfying to have missed the blow-by-blow news accounts this week of the night out for young Republican Party donors at Voyeur.
We've returned from a long weekend with the family (honestly) to find that: The Republican National Committee has fired Allison Meyers, director of the party's "Young Eagles'' program who organized the Jan. 31 after-party for young GOP major donors in L.A.
The Daily Caller's discovery of this entertainment expense on the party's financial reports created something of an embarrassment for Steele, the RNC chairman -- whom, the party was quick to note, had nothing to do with this escapade and was returning from the birthplace of Barack Obama on the evening of infamy.
The buried detail in the Caller story about Steele's own penchant for expensive hotels and interest at one point in a private jet for the party seems to have pushed all of that to the background.
The evening at the fairly new club that features topless dancers, bondage gear and simulated sex acts followed a Young Eagles dinner for about 50 party donors at the Beverly Hills Hotel. About a dozen, including Meyers, moved on to Voyeur.
Among the widely reported voyagers to Voyeur: Erik Brown, a GOP consultant and donor whose firm has served Republican campaigns. The Post says Meyers tried to put the $1,946.25 tab on a credit card but it was rejected, the story goes, so Meyers asked Brown to cover the bill with a promise of reimbursement. The RNC gave Brown a check on Feb. 4.
RNC Chief of staff Ken McKay told The Post: "Our investigation has determined that following a Young Eagles event in Los Angeles, a group of individuals did attend such a club on their own. This was not an RNC sanctioned event and was not associated in any way with any RNC official event."
Yet the party's young donors program, which requires annual donations of $2,500 to $7,500, has more fun planned: The Young Eagles are planning a retreat in North Carolina on April 22 at a firearms training facility run by Xe Services, the military contractor formerly known as Blackwater.
It's good to be home.
(The photo above by Samuel C. Frost depicts some of the furnishings at Voyeur in West Hollwyood, which calls its decor a mix of "a little S&M and a little Gothic.")
Comments
It won't be long before we get an excuse like this coming from the Republican leadership.....:
"If Republicans Can't Spend Donor Money On Lesbian Themed S & M Strip Clubs, The Terrorists Will Win! ".
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http://voices.washingtonpost.com/tomtoles/2010/03/30/c_03312010.gif
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Posted by: HHH | March 31, 2010 2:43 PM
Republicans and conseratives are outright against 2 females being married but they certainly enjoy watching 2 females having hot steamy fun together on the stage and/or in the bedroom. But RNC buffoon Steele doesn't know this...or does he.
Posted by: Doug R. | March 31, 2010 3:11 PM
GOP apres-Voyeur: Sex and War Games"
So people, what lessons can we all take away from this?
First, that it's a good day when you see headlines that say, "RNC to investigate spending at bondage-themed nightclub featuring lesbian sex acts".
And second, that the RNC's explanation that the "brain trust" in their financial department accidentally paid out $2000 for a night out for the "boys" at a strip club isn't going to inspire their donors. That they had to put out a statement assuring those donors that Michael Steele doesn't go to bondage-themed strip clubs was just a bonus.
Mission accomplished, Young Eagles!
Posted by: HHH | March 31, 2010 3:58 PM
And don't forget to make out your checks for the RNC Gitmo Waterboarding BBQ.
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | March 31, 2010 4:47 PM
Big deal...no one drowned in a 1969 Oldsmobile or got a bj in an oval office.
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | March 31, 2010 5:12 PM
GOP SPEAKS! We'll meet you at the Hotel, Motel, GOP Holliday INN! Blame it on the Booty! Blame it on the Nookie! We'll meet you at the Hotel, Motel, GOP Holliday INN! We're the Party of No! Oh lets! Oh lets not! We're the Party of Just Hell NO! Oh lets! Oh lets not! She's the EVE in EEVS! He's YOU LIE! We'll meet you at the Hotel, Motel GOP Generational Theft by Deception Holliday INN! Just come on down, you're the next Election contestant. Too Much "Chicken and Change" in America! Just call me Richard! Just call me STEELE! Because We're the GOP "REAL DEAL!" We'll meet you at the Hotel! Motel! Mitt Romley, Sara Palin, John McCain GOP HOLLIDAY INN! Pawlenty!
Posted by: Roger Morris | March 31, 2010 7:32 PM
Send them your money Paulo, otherwise....
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | March 31, 2010 7:40 PM
Does anyone know where Larry Sinclair was?
Posted by: Terry | March 31, 2010 8:02 PM
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Does anyone know where Larry Sinclair was?
Posted by: Terry | March 31, 2010 8:02 PM
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Yeah Poser Terry, we know who he is. He's a liar that only members of the low IQ element of the Wingnut base like you are stupid enough to believe.....again.
Posted by: HHH | March 31, 2010 9:17 PM
Dems need to show some class and keep quiet about this one.
Remember: when your opponent is destroying himself, don't step into the ring and get in the way.
Also: hubris. Dems have a long history of sex scandals, despite the recent record of the other side......
Nemesis is hovering overhead always.....
Posted by: ornery | March 31, 2010 10:38 PM
* * * * *
Posted by: Roger Morris | March 31, 2010 7:32 PM
.
Roger, have you ever heard of slam poetry? I think you'd be a natural at it (if you aren't already).
Posted by: John W. | March 31, 2010 11:29 PM
"Big deal...no one drowned in a 1969 Oldsmobile or got a bj in an oval office.
Paulo"
___________________
Then stop preaching the Republican Family Values. . .when there is none! Admit it! Nobody is perfect. . .if you are going to preach against gays and abortion cuz thou art too Holy. . .then take a look in the mirror first! :-)
Posted by: HmongRodneyKing | April 1, 2010 12:25 AM
Child Rape in Trenton
Sure, today’s generation of teens is a troublesome lot, but teens are almost always troublesome to one degree or another. Sure, they’re more rowdy and less disciplined than the teenagers of times past. Sure, they’re more sexually active and less inclined to be churchgoers than the kids of just twenty years ago.
All of that has been fully documented.
Still, once in a while teens go beyond even the loose boundaries and minimal restrictions placed upon them in the America of the twenty-first century and commit deeds that in the jargon of tabloid journalism shocks the conscience to the core.
Such a shocker occurred in the mean streets of New Jersey’s downtrodden capital last weekend.
A young girl of 15, charged with the responsibility of looking after, babysitting, her 7 year old step sister instead took the young child on an excursion into human degradation so depraved it amazed Trenton’s mayor and police officials who had thought they had seen it all.
They hadn’t until last weekend. . .
(Read more at http://www.genelalor.com/blog1/?p=1605)
Posted by: Berlet98 | April 1, 2010 2:35 AM
Friend of yours Trickled On?
Posted by: Terry | April 1, 2010 6:45 AM
Deny,deny, deny, we know the buck does not stop with Steele. If he was in charge, he should know what's going on. I wonder if this "family vacation" he was on was also paid for by the GOP donors?
Posted by: lochnessmonster | April 1, 2010 6:54 AM
Crack that whip, Chairman Steele, The Republican-Libertarian-T.Baggers need more discipline, if the are going to win Dog-Catcher, this year !! This year, it seems, they are all tied up and Neut Getrich aught to be a shamed of himself, wearing that leather suit, two sizes, too small. Who does he think he is, Rushie or O"Really !!?
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, IL | April 1, 2010 9:00 AM
If they'd taken a foursome to play Pebble Beach for two grand no one would say a word.
This is non-story is simply pretext for the Republicants to finally get rid of Steele. Which is bad news for Dems.
Posted by: a blinkin | April 1, 2010 9:04 AM
It's amazing how a post with no bad words, no name calling can get censored by the Tribune Gestapo. A simple yawn in response to this non-story gets censored. Criminal!
Posted by: John D | April 1, 2010 11:15 AM
Johnny D,
You posts have a#*hole written all over them!
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport | April 1, 2010 5:34 PM
What the Hell? Now the Young Republicans are going to Xe Services (Blackwater, with Eric Prince) for more indoctrination? What the hell is going on? Is it all about sex and thugs? Remember the republicans never do anything for this nation they only do things to this nation! whiteagle38
Posted by: Raymond L. Juneau | April 3, 2010 12:27 AM