It was never really about this Erik Brown character, a local “Young Republican” and businessman who has done business with the likes of Chuck "Tea-brain" DeVore and our own Don “Spanky” Wagner. Mr. Brown evidently was told by an RNC staffer to help take these people to the kinkyesque Voyeur nightclub (inspired by the movie "Eyes Wide Shut" and artsy-fartsy decadence and weirditude), and when the staffer’s credit card was rejected, he offered his own. Under the circumstances, clearly he should have been reimbursed (as indeed he was).
Chip "Staunch" Hanlon of Red County has been hopping mad about this whole business—mostly, it seems, ‘cause he really dislikes RNC chairman Michael Steele and his lavish and sloppy ways. (Or maybe it's because Steele isn't right-wing enough for 'im.) He’s defended Brown from the start.
Today, he’s still plenty steamed (THIS is the RNC's Response?!!). He notes the ugliness of the RNC’s handling of the scandal:
So, let’s see… in response to this week's little spending scandal, so far the RNC has:• Let [Brown] twist in the wind while his business has been devastated
• Initially issued a misleading statement meant to mollify donors that it would recoup that money from [Brown]. The RNC has known all along that it would not be recouping money it reimbursed him for. [Brown] has categorically denied that he would ever repay the RNC money it owed him, something which the RNC is both aware of and agrees with (privately).
• Fired one staffer, one who obviously had the impression that spending money at a risqué nightclub was a normal RNC business expense
• Misled on the topic of leadership in attendance; in fact, two national committee members were present at Voyeur….
I’m looking forward to the inevitable leakage of the identity of these “two national committee members.”
Gosh, what do you suppose they’ll say?
“We really didn’t want to be there—gosh, we were scandalized! But, y’know, we didn’t want to embarrass our hosts, so….”
Right, so you stuck around and spent two grand.
* * * *
Earlier today, I was in our office at Irvine Valley College. The Reb and I laughed about John Stewart's treatment of the scandal last night—and our recent Wagner/Brown post with its faux Wagnerian sexy political campaign literature.After a bit, I said: “OK, this is funny, but you know—we’re being kinda unfair.”
I was referring to Brown and Wagner. I mean, these guys deserve ribbing, sure. But, really, this schnook Brown is obviously just a little guy who was thrown under the bus by the RNC. (Why is nobody surprised?)
And you can’t expect Don to know that his local right-wing propaganda supplier is stupid enough to go along with this faux-lesbian “Voyeur” excursion!
So, it’s a little unfair.
“OK, slightly,” said Reb.
Still….
“It’s the hypocrisy,” said the Reb.
Yes, that’s it. All the goddam endless hypocrisy.
* * * * *
Got home a couple of hours ago. Just got a call from the Reb, who was still at the college.Said Reb: “Good grief! Look at the email we just got!”
I looked. The email, from a certain IVC administrator, was entitled, "University of Phoenix Classroom Presentation." At the top of the email was the University of Phoenix logo (see).
The administrator(?) wrote:
[U of P] Offers online and on-campus degree programs at the associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral level — each is a balanced combination of academic theory and practical application.What?! Good freakin’ grief!
The University of Phoenix is interested in presenting a 5 minute overview of the degrees offered on their campus.
Help your students learn about another transfer opportunity.
To schedule a presentation please contact Michael XXXX, Corp. Ed. Liaison University of Phoenix at 949-380-XXXX
Reb told me that she couldn’t find anything at the college hard enough to bang her head against.
So she decided to head home.
(See Troubles Grow for a University Built on Profits (NYT))
