Sources: Michael Steele Took Deal ("more lucrative than RNC chairman's salary") For Endorsement

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Sources: Steele Took Deal For Endorsement
By Reid Wilson
January 15, 2011 | 6:00 AM

http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2011/01/sources-steele.php

Former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele dropped his bid for a second term on Friday after being offered a lucrative deal in exchange for his endorsement, sources on the committee tell The Hotline.

Steele dropped out of the race for chairman after four ballots on Friday and threw his support to Maria Cino, a former Bush administration official who finished third in the race. Steele endorsed Cino from the stage after ending his bid, a rare public announcement in a contest marked more by quiet member-to-member conversations.

That endorsement came at a cost, according to committee insiders. As candidates jockeyed for position, Steele sat down with aides to both Cino and former RNC co-chairman Ann Wagner in search of a deal. Eventually, Cino allies offered Steele a deal that would have been more lucrative than the chairman's salary, the sources said. The RNC chairman makes $224,500 a year. Whether the deal included guarantees of contracts or of future employment was not immediately clear to sources who spoke with The Hotline

Cino herself was not involved in the conversation. At one point, Cino campaign manager Matt Schlapp spoke with Steele and promised no Cino allies would bad-mouth the outgoing chairman or stand in his way as he sought to make the move to the private sector, according to a source who was briefed on the meeting. The source said Schlapp offered no financial deals or jobs. Steele did not respond to an email seeking comment.

[Contrary1]

1. I have to wonder why Steele's endorsement was worth anything at all.

He's been nothing but an embarrassment to them.

[Amerigo Vespucci]

2. To keep him from being a further embarrassment, I guess...

...if part of the deal was that Cino's people couldn't "bad mouth" Steele as he entered the "private sector," you can bet that deal worked in reverse...Steele was probably paid well to STFU and go away quietly.

[DCKit]

3. "...guarantees of contracts or of future employment..."

Seriously, is there ANY doubt?

But if that clown is going to Faux, I'm going to block the channel so we never stumble upon it by accident. That kind of stupid is damaging - burnt eyes, ringing in the ears and dead brain cells.

[starroute]

4. Gee, is that Matt Schapp of the Brooks Brothers Riot?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A31074-2005Jan23.html

As we begin the second Bush administration, let's take a moment to reflect upon one of the most historic episodes of the 2000 battle for the White House -- the now-legendary "Brooks Brothers Riot" at the Miami-Dade County polling headquarters.

Some of those pictured have gone on to other things, including stints at the White House. For example, Matt Schlapp, No. 6, a former House aide and then a Bush campaign aide, has risen to be White House political director.