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The Spectacle Blog
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele has been both defended here (over his book and paid public speeches — a Washington staple for better or worse) and criticized (for his early seeming disavowal of Rush Limbaugh, which was itself quickly disavowed).
Mr. Steele is running for re-election as RNC Chair. The election results, whatever one wishes to make of them (stunning success… there could have been more success if only this, that or the other thing… yada yada yada) are in. And Chairman Steele will, as he must, defend his record and do all those candidate type tasks. He has a challenge from Saul Anuzis, the former Michigan State Chair.
The electorate is the membership of the RNC and beyond that an interested audience of donors.
No sides are being taken here.
But it is easy to say that the kerfuffle over a resignation letter from RNC political director Gentry Collins does not reflect well — on Collins.
It is always a source of amazement to see and read the number of staff people in Washington who believe their boss is an idiot and thus some inner voice only they can hear is telling them the smart thing to do is trash the boss in public or audibly behind the scenes. The inevitable loser in these escapades (the McCain staffers who made a point of generating anti-Palin stories during the heat of the 2008 campaign come to mind) are the reputations of the staffers involved. Short of some outright act of criminality by a boss, if you really have a problem X with the boss — then by all means leave and move on. But the kind of public temper tantrum Mr. Collins has just exhibited in his leaked letter telegraphs only one thing, and that one thing has zero to do with Michael Steele.
The message received is that Mr. Collins sees the 2010 election as all about — him.
Collins is displaying not only an ego problem but loyalty and competence problems that will be a red flag to any one looking to hire him. Loyalty because one doesn’t trash one’s boss in writing — knowing the letter can easily be leaked. A problem made worse still if in fact Collins himself was the leaker. And competence because it immediately suggests the fact that Collins either doesn’t understand this or doesn’t care, both of which indicate a professional judgment problem in a town where both judgment and circumspection are standard professional equipment.
Which is to say Mr. Collins’ political skills are unaccompanied by a basic requirement — common sense. And in a town where the “now hiring” sign is out on all manner of Republican doors, what potential boss can be certain Collins, if hired, isn’t busily taking notes for his next very public disgruntled resignation letter?
Not good.
In fact, dumb.
A public apology to Mr. Steele from Mr. Collins is in order.
View all comments (10) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Jeffrey Lord
http://spectator.org/blog/2010/11/17/who-is-gentry-collins
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Charles Prescott| 11.17.10 @ 11:32AM
Steele defunded the 72 hour program. That has been the most effective part of RNC operations since the 2000 election. It cost us seats from statewide races down to town council. And he spent the money that could have been used for GOTV operations in a foolish manner, on extravagent perks and as a premium for be able to tell high dollar donors to fuck off.
Michael Steele owes the GOP an apology.
Jeffrey Lord| 11.17.10 @ 11:54AM
It seems my opinion of Collins - whom I don't know - is shared by someone who does know him. And Newt weighs in.
http://theiowarepublican.com/h.....17/collins’-rnc-diatribe-is-no-surprise/
Yosemeti Sam| 11.17.10 @ 1:29PM
" Who Is Gentry Collins? ...."
Perhaps a timely whistle-blower.
Perhaps his is a call to arms - 2012 not being that afar off.
Steele has a flashy smile, flashy threads -
apparent flamboyant style.
Now, was it Steeles' style or rather the 'grass roots' including Tea Partiers who made possible the resultant mid-terms?
IMO, 2012 is too important to double down on Steele for continued RNC leadership.
Rich Fisher| 11.17.10 @ 3:33PM
Michael Steele had absolutely nothing to do with the Republican victory and everything to do with the fact that we didn't take over the Senate. His leadership has been pathetic at best. Unfortunately these posts always seem to go to the "Ruling Class" so I don't know that a change would help that much. Just once I'd like to see someone that no one has ever heard of get a post like this. They certainly couldn't do any worse and maybe wouldn't be beholden to the "elite". If offered I will gladly serve. Nobody has ever heard of me.
Tim*| 11.17.10 @ 7:39PM
Shine the light on the problems & the beefs & let the chips fall where they may.
David| 11.23.10 @ 5:27PM
Collins is simply a Romney stooge who will probaly do whatever he can to stop Sarah Palin if he is Chair, at least Steele was a Palin supporter. My major problems with Steele was the scandals his dumb website design for the party and that he stupidly chose to defund the 72 hour program.
Collins sounds like he is an oppurtunist ...more about his Iowa days here - http://theiowarepublican.com/h.....17/collins’-rnc-diatribe-is-no-surprise/
jackson| 1.3.11 @ 4:52PM
Love to see the scorpions fighting with the snakes. Steele. Collins. Palin. McCain. Romney. You all deserve each other. It's nice to see your devious, desperate, sociopathic arrows pointed at one another. May you all succeed in your various character assassinations. I guess the party of the rich white man just couldn't stand the token black after all...
jackson| 1.3.11 @ 4:55PM
Oh, and wasn't Steele against Palin before he was for her? She so bright...can't see how anyone would oppose her. Wonder if she's figured out which newspapers she reads yet?
Oops, I forgot. It was "all of them," right.
What a joke.
Too bad old man McCain was staring at her ass and not her resume.