Duck & Cover

RNC Chair Reince Priebus Pleads With Donald Trump: You're Hurting The GOP

Via the Washington Post:

The head of the Republican National Committee, responding to demands from increasingly worried party leaders, spent nearly an hour Wednesday on the phone with Donald Trump, urging the presidential candidate to tone down his inflammatory comments about immigration that have infuriated a key election constituency. The call from Chairman Reince Priebus, described by donors and consultants briefed on the conversation and confirmed by the RNC, underscores the extent to which Trump has gone from an embarrassment to a cause for serious alarm among top Republicans in Washington and nationwide. But there is little they can do about the mogul and reality-television star, who draws sustenance from controversy and attention. And some fear that, with assistance from Democrats, Trump could become the face of the GOP.

Yesterday Trump declared that he has "nothing to apologize for."

PFAW Slams RNC Over AFA-Paid Trip To Israel For Dozens Of GOP Legislators

GOP: We'll Build On Success Of Our Bold Innovative Ideas In The New Congress

Reince Priebus Takes Victory Lap

"America is tired of Obama's failed policies."

LGBT And Civil Rights Groups To GOP: Denounce The FRC's Values Voter Summit

A coalition of LGBT and civil rights groups today published a full-page ad in the Washington Post, demanding that the GOP denounce this weekend's Family Research Council Values Voter Summit. Here is the text in full:

Dear Mr. Priebus, Fifteen years ago, your predecessor called for party members to shun the Council of Conservative Citizens because of the group’s “racist views.” “A member of the party of Lincoln should not belong to such an organization,” GOP Chairman Jim Nicholson said. His comments had their intended effect: Senior members of Congress distanced themselves from the group. Today, Chairman Priebus, we ask that you take a similar stand and call upon Republican officials to disassociate themselves from the groups behind the upcoming Values Voter Summit.

The reason is simple: These groups engage in repeated, groundless demonization of LGBT people — portraying them as sick, vile, incestuous, violent, perverted, and a danger to the nation. The Family Research Council, the summit’s host, is vigorously opposed to extending equal rights to the LGBT community. Its president, Tony Perkins, has repeatedly claimed that pedophilia is a “homosexual problem." He has called the “It Gets Better” campaign — designed to give LGBT students hope for a better tomorrow — “disgusting” and a “concerted effort” to “recruit” children into the gay “lifestyle.” He has condemned the National Republican Congressional Committee for supporting three openly gay candidates.

Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association, a summit sponsor, has said the U.S. needs to “be more like Russia,” which enacted a law criminalizing the distribution of LGBT “propaganda.” He has also said, "Homosexuality gave us Adolph Hitler, and homosexuals in the military gave us the Brown Shirts, the Nazi war machine, and six million dead Jews.” Similarly, Mat Staver of the Liberty Counsel, another summit sponsor, has compared those who do not denounce same-sex marriage to those who remained silent during the Holocaust. Marriage equality, he has said, is the “beginning of the end of Western civilization.”

This kind of extremism should not be legitimized by elected officials, because it is contrary to our nation’s highest ideals. As you have said, “People in this country, no matter straight or gay, deserve dignity and respect.” Yet, as in years past, several prominent members of your party — including U.S. Sens. Rand Paul and Ted Cruz, and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal — are currently planning to address the Values Voter Summit that begins on Thursday in Washington. So, the question now is: Will you live up to your own words and tell the members of your party to shun groups that demean other people and deny them dignity? Will the GOP condemn anti-LGBT bigotry as vigorously as it opposed racism 15 years ago? Political leadership makes a difference. We ask that you urge the members of your party not to attend the Values Voter Summit.

The letter is signed by the heads of GLAAD, the HRC, the SPLC, the NAACP, Faithful America, and People For The American Way. Embiggen the image above to see the letter.

RNC Vs DNC On Hobby Lobby

GOP Launches New Campaign: Another Clinton In The White House Is Nuts

The Republican Party has launched a bizarre campaign featuring the "HRC Squirrel" - a giant sports mascot-type who has been showing up at Hillary Clinton's book signings. As you can see, the squirrel has a Twitter account. RNC chairman Reince Preibus appears in the below clip.

NEVADA: Tony Perkins Cheers After Las Vegas Withdraws Its Bid To Host The 2016 Republican Convention

One month after the Nevada GOP dropped opposition to same-sex marriage and abortion from its platform, the Republican National Committee announced this afternoon that Las Vegas has withdrawn its bid to host the 2016 convention.

Heidi Hayes, spokeswoman for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, said timing played a big role in the decision to withdraw the bid. "After analyzing the requirements and needs of the RNC, particularly the timing of the event, it was determined our existing convention calendar filled with previously booked business made it difficult to host the event at the Las Vegas Convention Center," Hayes said in a statement to FOX5. "We understand the decision and wish the RNC well in their endeavors." The Republican National Committee said the field of cities to host the convention had been narrowed to Cleveland, Dallas, Denver and Kansas City. A vote on a final choice could be made by late summer or early fall.

KKK-affiliated hate group leader Tony Perkins is exulting in the news and implies that Las Vegas withdrew after pressure from RNC chairman Reince Priebus.

"We are pleased to learn today that Las Vegas has withdrawn its bid to become a host city - a decision that comes only weeks after the state party ignited a party-wide firestorm by stripping pro-life and pro-natural marriage language from its state platform. We commend RNC Chairman Reince Priebus for his work to ensure the party upholds the core principles found in the party's platform. Those Republicans who want to rip up the planks of life and marriage in their party's platform will only succeed in building a boardwalk to a permanent GOP minority. The reality is that after two failed presidential cycles, the GOP can't afford to jettison the planks of life and marriage, which would only alienate a segment of voters which is the difference between victory and defeat."

RELATED: After the 2012 GOP convention, Perkins crowed that he had personally written the anti-gay marriage portion of the national party platform.

UPDATE: In tonight's daily message to FRC supporters, Perkins doesn't mention that Las Vegas withdrew voluntarily from consideration.

The reality is that these issues are non-negotiable to the base of the party. The Nevada Republican Party found this out the hard way after its party leaders removed the life and marriage planks from their platform. The plank stripping stunned Republicans around the country and caused many within the party to pull back from giving consideration to Las Vegas as the host site for the 2016 Republican National Convention. Today, the RNC announced that Las Vegas is no longer on the short list of possible host cities. Republicans like Governor Tom Corbett can continue to rip up these planks but they will only succeed in building the GOP a boardwalk to a permanent minority.

Priebus: Hillary's Health Is Fair Game

Via Talking Points Memo:

Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus provided back-up to Karl Rove on Sunday, arguing that it's "fair game" to discuss Hillary Clinton's health and age. And like Rove, Priebus isn't entirely convinced that the former secretary of state will run in 2016. "I think that health and age is fair game," Priebus said on "Meet the Press." "It was fair game for Ronald Reagan, it was fair game for John McCain." Priebus acknowledged that there probably isn't "a graceful way to bring up age, health and fitness for a candidate that wants to president of the United States," but he also said he doesn't view a Clinton candidacy as a sure thing.

SCOTUS Rules That Limits On Total Campaign Donations Are Unconstitutional

The US Supreme Court today ruled that limits on total individual campaign donations are unconstitutional, effectively giving the nation's mega-wealthy even more power over election results. The ruling comes in the long-festering McCutcheon Vs Federal Elections Commission case.

The justices ruled 5-4, in a decision written by Chief Justice John Roberts, that limits on the total amount of money donors can give to all candidates, committees and political parties are unconstitutional. The decision frees the nation's wealthiest donors to have greater influence in federal elections. "The government has a strong interest, no less critical to our democratic system, in combatting corruption and its appearance," Roberts wrote. "We have, however, held that this interest must be limited to a specific kind of corruption — quid pro quo corruption — in order to ensure that the government's efforts do not have the effect of restricting the First Amendment right of citizens to choose who shall govern them."

The ruling is a victory for the Republican National Committee and Alabama coal tycoon Shawn McCutcheon (above), who challenged the $123,000 limit on total donations that an individual can give in any two-year federal election cycle.

McCutcheon's challenge did not extend to the $2,600 limit a donor can give to a federal candidate in each primary and general election or the $32,400 limit that can go to a national party committee, because of concerns about corruption that are at the root of the federal law. Under the court's ruling, donors will have to stick to that $2,600 limit but can give to as many campaigns as they want without worrying about the previous $123,200 ceiling. The decision also could jeopardize separate contribution caps in at least a dozen states, from Arizona to Wyoming.

Common Cause has denounced the ruling.

“Today’s decision in McCutcheon v FEC is Citizens United round two, further opening the floodgates for the nation’s wealthiest few to drown out the voices of the rest of us,” said Miles Rapoport, president of Common Cause. "The Court has reversed nearly 40 years of its own precedents, laid out a welcome mat for corruption, and turned its back on the lessons learned from the Watergate scandal,” said Rapoport. “This decision once again demonstrates the Court majority’s ignorance of the real world of American politics, the one in which big money buys big returns.”

Thanks to today’s decision, a politician will be able to solicit a $3.6 million check for party committees and federal candidates from a single donor, consigning to background noise the hundreds of millions of Americans who can’t afford to give more than $5, $10 or even $100 to parties or the candidates of their choice. “This is a return to the ‘soft money’ era, in which donors could hide six- and seven-figure gifts to individual candidates by donating the money to joint committees or party committees that simply passed it to the intended recipient, Rapoport said. “It’s naïve to think that such vast sums of political money do not buy special access and favors.”

Our new national motto: E Pluribus Billionaires.

Reince Preibus: Monica Lewinsky Is "On The Table" To Fight Hillary In 2016

Reince Preibus: Despite Apology, MSNBC Remains On Probation With The GOP

Via Mediaite:

On Thursday, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus demanded that GOP politicians and committee staffers boycott MSNBC after the network sent out a tweet accusing the “rightwing” of being offended by a commercial featuring a biracial family. On Thursday night, Priebus joined Fox News Channel host Sean Hannity where he lauded MSNBC President Phil Griffin for quickly responding to the controversy. He warned, however, that the network was “on probation.” “In their professed world of tolerance, they’re sure hitting on all eight cylinders of intolerance,” Priebus said of MSNBC. He reveled that he called Griffin personally and left a message asking for an apology and asking for a corrective action.

The SPLC notes that for all his "raaaacist" screams, Preibus had no problem a few weeks ago when he appeared on the radio show of the KKK-affiliated Tony Perkins, who also once spoke before Louisiana's White Citizens Council, which opposes "race mixing" and calls black people "a retrograde species of humanity."

GOP Calls For Boycott Of MSNBC, Bans All RNC Staffers From Working With NetworkUPDATE: MSNBC Fires Twitter Staffer, Apologizes For Third Time

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus has issued a call for a boycott of MSNBC over yesterday's tweet which suggested that "right wingers" would hate the biracial family featured in a new Cheerios commercial. The tweet was deleted almost immediately and was followed by two tweeted apologies. Via Breitbart:

"Until you personally and publicly apologize for this behavior, I have banned all RNC staff from appearing on, associating with, or booking any RNC surrogates on MSNBC. I have asked Republican surrogates and officials to follow our lead," Priebus told MSNBC President Phil Griffin in a letter sent today. Priebus also sent a memo to Republican officials and surrogates urging them not to appear on the network until Griffin apologizes. "This is more than just a tweet or an offhand comment. This is part of a pattern of behavior that has gotten markedly worse, and until Phil Griffin personally apologizes and takes corrective action, we cannot be part of this network's toxic programming," Priebus said. "MSNBC hosts---including Alec Baldwin, Martin Bashir, Melissa Harris-Perry, Alex Wagner, and Ronan Farrow just to name a few---have had a troubling streak in the last several weeks of making comments that belittle and demean Americans without furthering any thoughtful dialogue. Perhaps it's time for the executives at MSNBC to consider whether their network is upholding a meaningful journalistic mission," the Wisconsin Republican added.

As I noted in my post about this nonsense earlier today, neither Breitbart nor Preibus seem to remember that General Mills had to block commenting on the last Cheerios commercial because of the thousands of racist comments being made by God's Gentle People. Many of those comments mocked President Obama for being biracial himself.

UPDATE: MSNBC has issued another apology and fired their Twitter person.  From MSNBC president Phil Griffin, here is the apology that was read on the air this afternoon.

“The tweet last night was outrageous and unacceptable. We immediately acknowledged it was offensive and wrong, apologized and deleted it. We have dismissed the person responsible for the tweet. I personally apologize to Mr. Priebus and to everyone offended. At MSNBC, we believe in passionate, strong debate about the issues, and we invite voices from all sides to participate. That will never change. Signed, Phil Griffin.”

Reince Preibus To Thomas Roberts: Maybe You Should Apply For A Job With Obama

Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus sparred with MSNBC host Thomas Roberts today and Roberts didn't not back down. Talking Points Memo recaps:

"Why do we need to attach the solutions or changes that go along with the law that has been vetted by the Supreme Court, by a mandate by the people reelecting the president and both houses of Congress," Roberts asked. "Why should that be attached to to shutting down the government and as the president is saying basically writing a ransom note and asking for some type of goody bag in response for Congress doing its job to govern?" "Those are some pretty good talking points," the RNC chair shot back. "Let me just rewind." "They're not talking points," Roberts interjected, referring to a speech Obama gave in Maryland moments before the exchange. "That's directly from what the president just gave us." "I think you should apply for a job in the Obama administration," Priebus said later, after several minutes of sparring with the MSNBC host.

Watch the clip and enjoy.

Dems To GOP: You're Doing It Wrong

HomoQuotable - Thomas Roberts

"Reince Priebus, when I got engaged, congratulated me at the White House Correspondents' weekend. Last year, Sean Spicer congratulated me on getting married to my husband. Yet they incorporate into the platform of the RNC their stance against marriage equality. It's odd, because why congratulate me? I didn't bring it up, I didn't say give me a congratulations, but they offered it. So it's odd, because then they'll go out and drumbeat that they're against marriage equality. It's weird." - MSNBC host Thomas Roberts, speaking today on Morning Joe. Spicer, who is the RNC's communications director, emailed Politico to respond: "Believing marriage is between one man and one woman and being polite, courteous and respectful are not mutually exclusive."

GOP Warns Networks: Drop Hillary Clinton Documentaries Or We'll Pull Out Of 2016 Presidential Debates

Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus has sent letters to CNN and NBC, warning that unless plans for documentaries about Hillary Clinton are dropped, the GOP will not allow its 2016 presidential candidates to participate in televised debates. Here an excerpt from the letter Priebus sent to CNN:

I find CNN’s actions disturbing and disappointing. Your credibility as a supposedly unbiased news network will most certainly be jeopardized by the decision to show political favoritism and produce an extended commercial for Secretary Clinton’s nascent campaign.

And here's what he said to NBC:

I find this disturbing and disappointing. NBC cannot purport to be a neutral party in American politics, and the credibility of NBC News, already damaged by the partisanship of MSNBC, will be further undermined by the actions of NBC Universal executives who have taken it upon themselves to produce an extended commercial for Secretary Clinton’s nascent campaign.

They are terrified of Hillary Clinton. And they should be. But Preibus, as usual, is blowing smoke. There's no way they'd let a GOP contender miss a nationally televised debate.

Priebus: GOP Not Embracing "Tolerance"

Brian Tashman writes at Right Wing Watch:

Speaking with David Brody of the Christian Broadcasting Network posted today, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus confirmed that the party will try to reach out to groups like gays and lesbians by simply appearing to be more respectful without actually changing its views on issues such as marriage equality. After Brody said conservative evangelical voters are nervous that the GOP thinks “we have to be more tolerant,” Priebus said there is nothing to worry about. “I don’t know if I’ve used the word ‘tolerance,’ I don’t really care for that word myself. I don’t have a problem with it, I just think it has another meaning politically that can go the other direction,” the party chairman said.

Wingnut Site Daily Caller (Sort Of) Drops N-Word On RNC Chairman Reince Preibus

Tucker Carson's Daily Caller today issued a tweet referring to RNC chair Reince Priebus by an acronym that stands for "head (N-word) in charge." The tweet was later deleted but not before it was picked up by Gawker, Wonkette, and others.  Even the wingnuts at Twitchy are disappointed.  Apparently Daily Caller was trying to riff on the fact that there's a rapper named Rhymes Priebus.