First on the Ticker: Steele's letter to RNC members
(CNN) - Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele sent a e-mail to RNC members on Monday following the departure of top RNC aide Ken McKay.
Read the full letter after the jump.
Friends,I wanted you to be the first to know that, this evening, I accepted the resignation of RNC Chief of Staff Ken McKay, effective immediately. He will be replaced by Mike Leavitt, who has been serving as Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications.
We at the RNC have a sacred charge. Over 600,000 Americans have entrusted us with their money, almost 30 percent of them for the first time only recently. When they feel under siege, when the America they grew up in is fading away, when they write an unthinkable check to the IRS, the next check they write is to the RNC. Our average donation is under $40. These are hard-working patriots who want to save their country. And they are right to be nervous. The very foundations of our Constitutional Republic are under assault by Democrats in Washington and state capitals across the country. These are serious times and we are engaged in a pitched battle for the soul of our nation and the future for our children.
Just as everyday Americans have entrusted the RNC with their money and their hopes for a better country, so also, you have entrusted me with the stewardship of this organization to make those hopes a reality. I take this grave responsibility seriously. Leadership requires that any distractions from our most serious mission be addressed immediately and decisively. Leadership requires that I can safely assure you, our donors, and the American people that our mission is what drives every dollar we spend, every phone call we make, every email we send and every event we organize. Recent events have called that assurance into question and the buck stops with me. That is why I have made this change in my management team and why I am confident about going forward to November with renewed focus and energy.
And we have every reason for confidence. Americans are wide awake to the threats to their country posed by Democrats. Our candidates are stronger than ever. The Democrat overreach with the government-run healthcare experiment, the failed stimulus, and future plans of cap-and-trade - all these policies have provided a moment of clarity like never before. Voters are able to make the clearest choice in decades - do they want to surrender their freedom and their security to Washington, or do they want Washington to secure their freedom? The polls overwhelmingly tell the story - Americans have had enough. Come November, we will be in a position to make their voices heard.
This couldn't happen without your leadership, your support and your diligent efforts on behalf of our cause. Thank you and please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions about the management transition.
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If he is so worried about "the soul of our nation and the future of our children" he should resign and take the rest of the Republican'ts with him.
Michael Steele, the gift that keeps on giving! You've just gotta love em!
Is Steele telling RNC members GOOD-BYE?
Can Steele stoop any lower? He has got to go. The GOP used to stand for real values. Now it's about making money off of fear. The country is not under seige, not fading away, not nervous. We are better than that, stronger than that, and any attempt to make it otherwise for the gain of a party is shameful.
Nice letter and all, but which strip club are we going to tonight?
Yes we wante the same old people who authorized this expense to continue authorizing the payment of such checks as the club expense.
If the buck stops with him why isn't he the one resigning?
Does this man think he is fooling people the GOP values his advice. He is no more than a "Patsy."
It is truly sad to see a true american hero debase himself to the point of being an embarassment–all for a senate seat –John save yourself and retire
"Sacred charge?" Getting a little carried away, aren't we Steele?
When are you going to resign?
Mr. Steal is a jerk
He says its a resignation then he says this is why he has made the organization change and he refers to spending $$$. Sounds to me like two folks gone in a week that he (Steele) had inadequate leadership of the RNC spending and found two scapegoats.
I guess this is called "translucent politics".
You guys in the US of A always seem to have to spin it counterclockwise.
Steele writes, "We at the RNC have a sacred charge."
SACRED?!? Since when is the RNC a religious organization? Talk about ego!
He goes on to talk about people feeling like the "American they grew up in is fading away."
There's an African-American in the White House, a woman Speaker of the House, an African-American Attorney General, etc., etc. For some people, this really rocks their world – they just can't handle not having a bunch of stogy old white men in charge, even though those very white men were the ones who took our country to the brink of financial collapse!
I find this letter laughable. "And we have every reason for confidence. Americans are wide awake to the threats to their country posed by Democrats. Our candidates are stronger than ever. The Democrat overreach with the government-run healthcare experiment, the failed stimulus,..."
The initial stimulus package was put through by President George Bush priot to President Obama taking office. Could you at least trouble to get your facts right. And the mess we are in is the one that you folks created. If you can't contribute to the solution, would you mind getting out of the way?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I'm going to love Steele when he debuts on Comedy Central.
"Our average donation is under $40"
That is VERY hard to believe. That means that everytime they get a donation of $4000 they have to get over 200 donations of $20 to make up for it. Be serious.
Steele should resign too. He's one of the biggest jokes in Republican Party and he's doing a great job of making them look even worse than they do now.
worth nothing..ok
And gee, McKay "looks" like the face of the new, young Republican, too. Guess that was the influence used for the choices he made.
A change in leadership is just a drop in the bucket. This man will be the scapgoat for what has happened over the past few weeks.
The Republican Party needs to open its doors to people with new and different ideas All Republican should not be thinking the same way about every little thing. We need some open minds and open hearts to get the GOP back on track.
Michael Steele, you should be the next to leave. You are a figure-head. A true leader would've addressed the issue and resolved it before it became "News". You are so busy trying to trip-up Barack Obama, the man who actually got you the job that you have(....we'll get a black man to criticize him because then it won't seem as if we're racist), you can't lead, You haven't a clue. And you know why? You really don't subscribe to the Republican party. You don't feel that "anger" that is required to be a convincing Republican. You can't show anger. Who would follow any angry black man? You know the Republican party has nothing but figure-head positions for people of African descent...ask J.C.Watts. But you do have a beautiful smile. Show those teeth my brother !!!!!
"The buck stops with me" and therefore I am firing my chief deputy.
Can you spell H-Y-P-O-C-R-I-T-E
Voters will have a choice: the party that "can do"
OR
the party of Bush, NO!, and tax cuts for the rich