Leaked RNC Emails Show Barbour/Priebus Alliance In Trouble

Conversations and leaked member emails documenting behind the scenes action in the race for RNC Chair suggest Reince Priebus' bid for RNC Chair is taking on water, while his key supporter Henry Barbour may only be adding to his troubles with a flailing effort to bail him out. 

In email, Barbour demonstrates his disdain for the GOP base, suggesting he'd "like to have these folks down to Yazoo City, so I can wash their mouths out with soap." Heavens, let's hope he isn't going to have Yazoo City's once all white Citizen Council jump in to hold them down.

Meanwhile, other sources claim Priebus' support is quickly softening as his many weaknesses are exposed and the rationale for supporting him initially isn't holding up. He had been sold as the only way to un-elect current Chairman Michael Steele. But now with two better qualified challengers gaining traction, Saul Anuzis and Ann Wagner, some Priebus supporters are said to be giving the race a second look. "Priebus is clearly no longer considered the only viable alternative to Steele," said one member.

It's also interesting to note that, while Priebus is publicly distancing himself from the Barbours, yet once again, it's Barbour to the rescue in an email to the committee with a totally misguided effort to prop him up. Be sure to see a second leaked email below to appreciate just how silly is Barbour's defense of Priebus. Some committee members are said to have rolled their eyes upon seeing it. Barbour at least appears to be pushing back against this blog post.

From: Henry Barbour <redacted>

Date: January 8, 2011 7:27:08 PM EST

To: Henry Barbour <redacted>

Subject: give me a break…

As we approach the final days before the RNC makes a decision on the Chairman's race, there is an increasing amount of misleading and ridiculous, nasty misinformation out there targeting all our candidates.  I hate to even respond to the most recent attack on Reince, but I think I must because I did make a mistake in an email I sent the Cmte a few days ago.
 
I have stated to Cmte members many times the fact that Reince helped the WI GOP bring in $14 million in his 3.5 years as Chairman.  That is the truth and it's impressive.  I said in an email earlier this week this same thing, but I added the words "personal contributions" because I wanted to emphasize the fact that WI cannot raise corporate money.  Well, whoever these people are that seem to wake up each morning hating all of our candidates for chairman jumped on my use of the phrase "personal contributions" and are acting like I was somehow trying to mislead folks.  Give me a break.  I'd like to have these folks down to Yazoo City, so I can wash their mouths out with soap.  And I see Saul just sent a similar email responding to this sort of childish behavior, so I know he shares my fatigue with these anonymous attacks.

Here's Barbour's real problem below – and it gets even worse below that. This has nothing to do with corporate money. Barbour and Priebus have repeatedly claimed he raised $14 million in 3.5 years. Now that we've learned $9 million of it came from the RNC, they are completely caught out grossly misrepresenting Priebus' fund raising ability. But you keep spinning, Henry. You dance pretty good for a white guy! Heh!

Anyway, Reince and the WI GOP did bring in $14 million over the 3.5 years while he was Chairman.  None of it was corporate money, which is the point I had hoped to make, but did not say it the right way.  As you know, state parties, particularly targeted states during election years, do receive funds as a result of participating in joint fundraising committees and transfers.  Some of the $14 million in WI – just as was the case in states like MO, MI, etc. – came from means such as this.  This does not change the truth that Reince has a track record of wearing out his telephone raising money and that the WI GOP brought in $14 million under Reince's leadership, but these unhappy people will try to get you to believe I am trying to mislead folks.  Well, if you know me (and these folks don't know me) you know that I tell the truth and don't play games.  I am going to tell you what I think and do what I say.
 
The fact remains that Reince did an incredible job as Chairman in raising money, recruiting candidates and winning.  Raising millions of individual dollars with a 10,000 limit and no corporate money of any kind is incredible.  These misleading emails can't take that away.
 
I am supporting Reince because I think he's the strongest candidate and can lead us to victory.
 
See y'all at the meeting…
 
Henry Barbour
NCM, Mississippi
 
Henry Barbour
Capitol Resources, LLC 

What makes it worse is that another member had already chimed in pointing out the real problem, or is that, Riehl problem, with Priebus that makes him absolutely the wrong guy to head the RNC right now. Evidently, Barbour never even took the time to read that first.

Someone picked up on my post, Randy Ruedrich of Alaska, according to NRO, did some more digging and discovered that Priebus has been going backwards in Wisconsin when it comes to major donors. And what is the RNC's biggest short coming right now? Can you say, major donors? I knew that you could. In short, the current front-runner to solve an RNC problem with major donors has a real problem with major donors back at home. This is what happens when decisions get made based upon who you know, or like, and people don't vet candidates, or use objective measures of genuine competence. Haven't we had enough of such backroom deals? This is the Tea Party age, RNC – this old style of corrupt politics based on cronyism has to go.

It's time to turn the page at the RNC. Reince Priebus has come to represent the worst of the mistakes of its past.

At this rate, the GOP might want to think about changing its platform when it comes to the 2nd Amendment. It may be the only way to stop the national committee from shooting itself in the foot with Priebus. Stay tuned for more RNC coverage here, or at Big Government, tomorrow and Monday. There are a few more layers to peel back before members assemble in Washington to vote next week.

Subject: My Review of Riehl World posting

Fellow Members of the RNC:
 
After seeing the Riehl World post on fund raising, I went to the FEC site to see for myself.  The REPUBLICAN PARTY OF WISCONSIN – C00074450 reports are correctly summarized in the riehlworldview table.  In the last four years, the RPW reports slightly over $15 million in total contributions.  Therefore the $14 million in 3 ½ year that Henry Barbour refers to below appears to be funds raised during Chairman Reince Priebus term.  Henry suggests that the $14 million are personal contributions. But funds raised include individual contributions, Other Political Committees, RNC Transfers and other minor items.  RNC Transfers are the largest source of funds for Priebus’ RPW – $9,129,890.  Reince Priebus raised 60% of his money in the RNC headquarters.
 
The next largest source of funds for Mr. Priebus is unitemized contributions – $3,339,202.  Reince raised 22% of the RPW funds from small donors (less than $200/yr).  I noticed that 2010 small donor contributions were less than 2006 small donor contributions (comparable year in 4 year cycle).  Similarly 2009 small donor contributions declined from 2005 small donor contributions.  Clearly Mr. Priebus has not grown his small donor base.
 
The 11.c contributions from other political committees did increase from $149,775 in 2006 to $809,251 in 2010.  The Other Funds tab on the reihlworldview file lists several of the committees that provided these funds.  The Ron Johnson for Senate campaign contributed $330,000.  Five Wisconsin Congressional Campaigns contributed more than $300,000.  Hence more than 78% of the other political committees contributions were accounting entries for services rather than funds raised.
 
Now let’s consider the key elephant standing in the corner, the Wisconsin major donor contributions.  The RNC major donors must be re- energized.  Where is Mr. Priebus on his major donors?  The RPW’s FEC report in line 11.a.i. shows $432,850 for 2010 which is less than the $577,419 in 2006.  Looks like Mr. Priebus lost ground with major donors also.
 
If the $432,850 had been in $10,000 checks only, that is 43 checks in 52 weeks.  Less than a transaction per week will not get the job done.
 
I am not claiming that Wisconsin Party fundraising is particularly poor, it is likely similar in scope to other states of that size.  Rather, I am suggesting that the claims of $14 Million are designed to distort the real record for the purpose overstating Mr. Priebus’ fundraising abilities.  At this crucial time, we need a Chairman who delivers what they say and who doesn’t feel the need to embellish their real records.

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