Is Reince Priebus 'Shovel Ready' in Race For RNC Chair?

Reince Priebus is currently being touted as a front-runner to replace current RNC Chair Michael Steele. But Priebus’ leading role among a select group of high-powered Wisconsin attorneys targeting clients to assist them in maximizing stimulus dollars, at the same time the anti-stimulus RNC employed him as interim general counsel, raises some troubling questions, not just for Preibus, but for the Republican Party as a whole.

Michael Best Creates Economic Stimulus Team Press Release February 20, 2009 – lists Reince R. Priebus

Priebus isn’t only listed among a short list of key contacts, from 4 – 5, on multiple press releases like this one dated March 5, 2009 – he’s also listed as a co-author of the document. He’s also Co-Chair of the Construction Group and Government and Public Policy Group at Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, with ties to the National Utility Contractors, as well. He’s claimed to have two jobs in recent interviews, politics and law. But once one looks beneath the surface, it appears the two are somewhat indistinguishable.

Wisconsin Receives $529 Million in Federal Stimulus Money for Transportation Projects: Contractors Should be Ready for Fast Bidding and Expedited Project Timelines

It’s also worth noting that during Priebus’ first cycle as the Republican Party of Wisconsin chairman, the party paid his law firm, Michael Best & Friedrich (MBF), $80,000 for unspecified “legal fees.” All payments were made from 10/31/2008-11/13/2008. A review of FEC reports found the only prior RPW payments to MBF occurred in the 2004 election cycle. By that accounting, Priebus’ so called two jobs aren’t separate at all. He seems more interested in using one hand to wash the other, at the expense of taxpayers and donors. There is nothing new in that kind of politics, and very little that’s good for America, or the GOP – especially now.

Want to cash in on $42.5 million in stimulus spending, in addition to $300 million already alloted – call Reince Preibus.

He co-authored that document, apparently while also working for the RNC, as well. Additional documents here and here. Yet, just one week after annoucing his bid for RNC Chair, according to PolitiFact, Priebus was using social media to attack the very same stimulus package he used to enrich himself. Unfortunately, his hypocrisy couldn’t be any more clear.

In the wake of election victories, officials are working them into interviews and even social-networking messages, such as this Nov. 16, 2010 Twitter post from Reince Priebus (@ReincePriebus), chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin:

“Obama has grown fed. payroll by 141k workers-not counting Census, postal, & uniformed military. Wants to add 125k more.”

Priebus weighed in on this national topic — coincidentally we assume — about a week after his name came up in speculation about succeeding Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele at some point.

For perspective, here is current RNC Chair Michael Steele on the Stimulus in February 2009. In essence, at the same time the RNC was giving lip service to opposition against Obama’s huge spending that has left America piled with debt, the RNC’s general counsel, Reince Priebus, was out repeatedly beating the bushes for new clients to cash in.

If the Republican Party wants to regain its credibility with its base and a rising tide of Tea Party-minded voters, it simply can not nominate Obamacare lobbyists like Maria Cino, or stimulus junkies like Reince Priebus to head its national organization. It’s time for principled leadership within the Republican Party, including at the RNC. If the GOP continues down the road of politics as usual, it could experience a disastrous split in 2012. Clearly, Reince Priebus is not someone who would represent a turning of the page in that regard. I hope committee members will take the time to consider how their choice of an RNC Chairman in January will resonate across the base, for better, or worse.

The following is a transcript of RNC Chairman Michael Steele’s weekly Republican address: “This is Michael Steele, Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Democrats have controlled both branches of government for less than a month. And you have to wonder if all that power has gone to their heads. “For the last two weeks, they’ve been trying to force a massive spending bill through Congress under the guise of economic relief

“That’s why Republicans in the House voted against uncontrolled spending. This is not a bragging point, but rather a statement that at least Republicans would stand with the American taxpayer. “But voting ‘no’ is not enough… and Republicans have offered innovative ideas to help struggling families and small businesses.We’ve offered plans to spark job creation and investment through lower taxes, to stop the taxation of unemployment benefits, and to help Americans keep their jobs and their homes.

Update: While this post was being prepared, some of the information leaked out. Reince Priebus is now scrambling to scrub his own history. This page was saved before he started scrubbing his law firms website. This is how the page looks now.

Priebus is no longer listed as a “co-author” of the memo. But, he is still listed as a point of contact for people looking to maximize their haul of stimulus dollars.