January 31, at Voyeur Hollywood West, a sex-themed nightclub, a group of young Republicans ran up a nearly $2000 tab and had the RNC pay for it.  Ouch.  Not exactly the kind of thing that instills confidence in the GOP during a time when confidence and competence are sorely needed.

However, instead of shrugging their shoulders and saying, “Oh, ha ha, you know, those young kids and their lesbian fixations!  I mean, we all did the same thing when we were kids, didn’t we?  Ha ha!  No harm, no foul.”, the leadership in the GOP is looking to hold the RNC accountable for its indiscretion and poor, poor judgment.

Please note that the GOP and the RNC are distinctly different organizations, but with a common goal.  For those of you who might need a refresher, the RNC is the Republican National Committee, and they are the activist arm of the GOP, so to speak.  If the GOP needs money, the RNC holds a fundraiser.  But the GOP kinda frowns upon the RNC using money to go to a stripclub in Hollywood, dontcha know.  For obvious reasons.

The name of this website is Political INTEGRITY Now, and this issue presents a great opportunity to show some integrity in a time when it is definitely lacking.  According to AP:

Two top congressional Republicans said Sunday the Republican National Committee must be held accountable for the way it uses the money it raises in light of nearly $2,000 spent for a night at a sex-themed Hollywood nightclub.

And rightly so.  Michael Steele is the newest head of the RNC and is coming under not a little fire for what happened, from GOP leaders.

Steele has come under fire for committee spending on flights, limousines and high-end hotels, but he was not present at the Voyeur Hollywood West on Jan. 31 when a group of young Republicans ran a tab picked up by the RNC. After reporters noted the bill in a funding report, the RNC fired a staffer it blamed for the outing and said it would be reimbursed by a donor who had attended.

“The RNC does have some challenges that they need to correct. Not only does the American people request it but the Republicans requested it as well,” McCarthy said. “If we are going to show … the American public that we believe in accountability and bringing it back to Washington, we have to make sure that the RNC has the accountability just the same.”

He added: “I think Michael Steele has worked very hard. I think when you find the challenges going forward that you heard in the last week … he’s trying to correct it. But you’ve got to bring the trust back, and that may mean shaking some other roles inside the RNC as well.”

I am very proud of the GOP right now, as they pursue this issue and demand accountability.  The Republicans have long maintained a moral viewpoint that rings true with a great many Americans and things like this need to be dealt with openly and decisively.  Bravo.

To the Democrats I would tell them to take notes and consider being harder and harsher with anyone who espouses or wears the Democrat label and behaves less than sterling.  Unless, of course, it is normal behavior for Democrats to act poorly.  The words of Clinton, Reid, Pelosi, Frank, Jackson, etc, etc, still hang in the air like a cloud of pollution and yet I have heard nothing from the “higher-ups” in the Democrat Party to admonish or correct them.  Interesting, that.

Perhaps accountability and admonition are foreign concepts in a political group that preaches ‘do what you want and everything is cool’?  The Republicans have it in them to truly be The Party of NO, and show some character, strength, and morality.  I hope Mr. Steele tightens up his ship and restores trust where it is needed most.

Accountability: never fun, but always fruitful.