Down $25 Million, Steele blows RNC funds on private jets and lesbian-bondage sex clubs

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Quick, which party flies around in private jets and spends thousands at lesbian-bondage-sex clubs in West Hollywood?  If you guessed “Democrats” you’d be wrong; a story in the Daily Caller today suggests that none other than Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele has aquired a taste for expensive hotels and more expensive transportation, blowing through literally tens of thousands of dollars on ritzy hotel accommodations on individual trips.  Federal disclosures also show that Steele and the RNC spent more than $17,000 on private aircraft (and another $12,000 on limos) in the month of February alone.

Despite the benders, including the nearly $2000 at Voyeur West Hollywood, the GOP is in fairly good financial shape for the 2010 election cycle.  The RNC has out-raised the DNC by about $9 million in the 2010 cycle and outspent them by about $20 million.  With no debt and $9 million in cash, the committee is in good financial shape for the upcoming races in November, though some question if Steele’s extravagances have made that position weaker than it should be.

The RNC and DNC are not the only financial organs gearing up for the 2010 race.  Other partisan organizations including the Republican and Democratic parties themselves as well as their respective Congressional and Senatorial committees are likewise filling their war-chests.  While Steele’s RNC maintains a narrow fund-raising lead over its Democratic counterpart, the Democrats as a whole are on much better financial footing than the Republicans for 2010.  Considering all cash on hand and debts, the Democrats have a $25 million head start on the GOP for 2010.

The Daily Caller quotes one Republican operative as observing “The story is less what’s left, and more what’s been spent.”  Steele’s RNC has raised $96.2 million but spent $106.9 in the same period and the $13.4 million deficit makes up more than half of the Democrats’ $25 million head start.  While The Hill reports that the major reason for the RNC’s cash-flow problems was the committee’s significant involvement in the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial races of 2009, criticism for the shortfall, particularly if 2010 Republican gains in the House and Senate are not as great as expected, will fall on Steele’s shoulders.

$25 million may prove to be merely a drop in the GOP’s bucket, however.  Partisan outrage over the Democratic Healthcare Reform Bill has reached a fever pitch and if the Republicans can manage to tap into the pockets of angry Tea Partiers, the fund-raising potential between now and election day is tremendous.  Meanwhile, Democrats, despite winning a major legislative victory, have suffered a long and demoralizing fight.  A large percentage of those opposed to the bill cited its failure to “go far enough,” drawing into question the extent to which the Democrats can rely upon the same party faithful that helped Obama shatter fund-raising records in 2008.