RNC

RNC

Since Michael Steele won the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee (RNC) last year, he had been involved in several scandals, both his own and those of the RNC. These have all culminated in the recent resignation of the RNC Chief of Staff, which has sparked talk that Steele is unable to carry out his responsibilities as the leader of the Republican Party. It is the job of the RNC to promote the Republican Party on a national scale, and Steele is, by tarnishing what reputation the party has left, not completing that job.

Soon after being declared chairman, Steele called Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal his "slum" buddy, referring to the Indian official in what many considered a racial slur. Later, the chairman came under fire for not hiring staff after a massive overhaul of RNC employees. More recently, Steele and the RNC have fueled contention over their spending and fundraising habits. A private RNC slideshow comparing President Obama to the Joker and calling Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid the "Evil Empire" was intercepted by Politico. The slideshow was an incentivizing fundraising presentation for high value donors, and was presented with the knowledge of Steele. Most recently, spending documents of the RNC have revealed expenses at inappropriate clubs in Los Angeles and an a liquor store.

These are not ways to improve the reputation of any party, let alone one that was sweepingly defeated in the most recent national election. Steele obviously is not the right person to project an image of a 'new' Republican Party to America- but who is? Certainly not the party's most visible members, its television representatives like Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin. Nor is the party's loudest member, Rush Limbaugh, right for the job. The Republican Party needs to turn within itself- as the Democratic Party did not so long ago- and decide what direction the party is headed. Will they turn towards their loud, fumbling leaders like Steele? Will the Tea Party become the new norm? Or will the party return to their long-loyal politicians like Mitt Romney? The decisions made over the next few years about the direction of the Republican Party could, ultimately, decide the longevity of the party on a national scale.