Michael Steele's Idea Of Responsible Spending

That nice Michael Steele, the new RNC chair, delivered his own YouTube address today (they're real original thinkers over there) and he slashed and burned the Democrats over their wasteful spending:

For the last two weeks, theyve been trying to force a massive spending bill through Congress under the guise of economic relief.

All of us Republicans and Democrats agree the government must act to kick-start the American economy. American families are doing their best to balance their own budgets and pay their mortgages.

The fastest way to help those families is by letting them keep more of the money they earn. Individual empowerment: thats how you stimulate the economy.

Democrats in Congress want a one-trillion dollar spending bill. Youve heard about the pork-barrel programs they want to fund 45 million dollars for ATV trails and removal of fish passage barriers is one that caught my eye. Exactly what is a fish passage barrier and why does it cost 45 million dollars to stimulate the economy with it?

It really is terrible how the Democrats are using the stimulus to waste the people's money with projects that create jobs. Certainly the RNC under Michael Steele would not use money in a wasteful fashion to benefit a few... sorry, what's that?

Michael S. Steele, the newly elected chairman of the Republican National Committee, arranged for his 2006 Senate campaign to pay a defunct company run by his sister for services that were never performed, his finance chairman from that campaign has told federal prosecutors.

Federal agents in recent days contacted Steele's sister, a spokesman for Steele said yesterday.

The recent allegations outlined four specific transactions. In addition to the payment to Steele's sister, (Alan) Fabian said that the candidate used money from his state campaign improperly; that Steele paid $75,000 from the state campaign to a law firm for work that was never performed; and that he or an aide transferred more than $500,000 in campaign cash from one bank to another without authorization.

The bank transfer was made against the explicit wishes of other Maryland Republicans, who had hoped to use it to support the campaigns of state legislators, said aides to Steele and former governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.

See, Republicans are the fine stewards of the people's money. Democrats just waste your hard-earned tax dollars by building roads and schools and trains. Republicans use it wisely by paying off friends and relatives.

...This is funny, some hack at The Corner thinks the leak of Steele's payments are politically motivated, even though the US Attorney in the case was appointed by George Bush.

Well, considering that U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein was appointed by George Bush, my guess is that he will indeed lose his job pretty soon. Just like all the rest of Bush's USAs. As for an investigation, that seems like it would be a petty and vindictive partisan attack on a Bush appointee who's going to be out of office soon anyway, but I guess it's OK with me if conservatives insist.