Posted on 11/18/2010 7:50:36 PM PST by jazusamo
Former personal assistant paid $15,000 a month
SAN DIEGO | Republican National Committee Chairman Michael S. Steele hired his former personal assistant to manage the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., for $15,000 a month plus a $25,000 signing bonus, The Washington Times has learned.
The contract, signed by Mr. Steele on the RNC's Committee on Arrangements (COA) letterhead, calls for Belinda Cook to serve "as RNC liaison to the convention."
The Tampa press has been identifying Mrs. Cook as "convention manager" - a position invariably filled in the past by Republicans of considerable federal-level experience in negotiating many contracts each worth millions of dollars.
Former RNC convention managers say they know of no such previous title as "liaison to the convention" and questioned the need for such a position in the second half of 2010.
They also say the contract with Tampa to be the host city was made six months earlier than with host cities in the past, thus causing an already cash-strapped RNC to spend more money sooner than in the past on the national nominating convention.
"Strikes me that this liaison mission is premature and overcompensated," said former RNC general counsel David Norcross, who in 2004 also served as chairman of the COA, the RNC panel that oversees the quadrennial presidential nominating convention.
"I know of no prior 'liaison' position, nor do I know what such a person would do," said Mr. Norcross, who is in San Diego for the annual Republican Governors Association meeting.
"There is no need for a full-time person starting more than two years out from the beginning of the convention," Mr. Norcross told The Times.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
So is Belinda an AA hire?
Not sure. Steele sure as hell is.
I quit giving to the RINO National Committee years ago, so this changes nothing.
“I know of no prior ‘liaison’ position, nor do I know what such a person would do,” said Mr. Norcross, who is in San Diego for the annual Republican Governors Association meeting.
“There is no need for a full-time person starting more than two years out from the beginning of the convention,” Mr. Norcross told The Times.
Norcross makes no sense. He doesn’t know what the person is gonna do but it shouldn’t be done so soon.
I do think Norcross sounds immensely qualified for the Obama admin.
I only give to candidates of my choice too but this seems to stink. People that do give to the RNC probably don’t give for inflated salaries.
Washington Times is usually a trustworthy source.
Lots of serious people wanting to be rid of Steele, and this may be just the ticket.
I wouldn’t shed a tear if they ushered him out the door personally.
Wanna bet there is a "love child bonus" we won't hear about until October 2012?
That's what got my attention, they're not noted for writing hit pieces against Republicans.
I think Steele is is a Steelican, NOT a Republican. ;)
Dunno.
I care quite a bit less since I quit sending any money to the GOP.
Now that they get nothing from us, and are in line to get a whole lot more nothing in the future, with or without Steele, we don't know and we don't care if its legit. If Steele left tomorrow, it would still be a long time before I;d send them anything for any reason, since the people left are the ones who have tolerated and enabled that crook for so long now.
The GOP will need to do a deep-clean on their dirty house before they get any money from us. I highly recommend others do the same. Hold the GOP accountable for their crooked thievery, sleazy nepotism, and lousy decision making.
Well, I think the criticism is correct. This is an exceedingly dumb thing to do at this particular moment in time.
The Republicans are just getting their act together and deciding who will get which posts. So Steele goes ahead and just does this without consulting anyone?
It doesn’t pass the smell test. OR the intelligence test. What kind of dumb*ss would do this when his own job was hanging in the balance and people were wondering if he would cooperate with the new conservative wave in the party?
With tea party supporters demanding fiscal conservatism, Steele just kicked them in the teeth. Is he paying these people out of his own salary? Or, on the other hand, is he stealthily setting up 2012 for Obama to continue in office?
Maybe this lady is his girlfriend.
Norcross was the chairman of the RNC committee that ran the 2004 convention. Here is a link to the staff that year:
http://www.gwu.edu/~action/2004/convs/rconvorg.html
Agree with you both. The Repub Party doesn’t need this seemingly kind of scandal now or at any time, this sounds like somethings Rats would do.
Mr. Steele compensates well, it seems.
http://www.coachisright.com/michael-steele-you%e2%80%99re-an-affirmative-action-choice-who-can%e2%80%99t-cut-it-stop-embarrassing-us-and-resign/ pegged by coachisright.com on March 3 2009
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