Dick Morris: Donating to RNC 'Waste of Money'

Fox News commentator and bestselling author Dick Morris says the profligate spending under RNC Chair Michael Steele, spotlighted by the RNC's "strippergate" scandal, indicates that "when you give money to the
Republican National Committee, you're wasting your money."

He says donors should instead send money to other conservative organizations that directly contact voters on behalf of GOP candidates.
Morris stops short of saying RNC Chairman Michael Steele should step down. Steele has endured harsh media criticism following the news that $2,000 of RNC money was spent, without his knowledge, at a bondage-themed nightclub in West Hollywood, Calif. But the real problem is the RNC's entrenched bureaucracy, Morris says.

Editor's Note: See the entire Newsmax.TV interview with Dick Morris below.

Get Dick Morris’ New Book ‘2010: Take Back America’ with FREE Offer – Click Here Now

"They have a bureaucracy there, and consultants who are sort of getting used to being at the trough," says Morris in an exclusive interview with Newsmax.TV's. "The shocking statistic to me… is that from the beginning of this year's cycle, which was Election Day '08 until now, the Republican National Committee has raised $101 million -- which is great.

"But they've spent $107 million, which is terrible. And that means before there's an election, before they do any advertising, any voter content, any get-out-the-vote activity, they have wasted $100 million on overhead. And to me, that's the problem. I don't care where the nightclub is, I don't care if they're going to the Christian charity nightclub, as far as that's concerned. They shouldn't be spending money on anything other than direct content with the voters," he says.

Morris, who serves as a pro bono strategist for the League of American Voters, another political organization that raises donations from conservatives, predicts that the image problems caused by the revelations won't hurt conservative candidates.

"But I do think that what hurts them is that $100 million is gone, it walked out the door," he adds.

Morris, the author of the soon-to-be-released "2010 Take Back America: A Battle Plan," tells Newsmax that the key to winning back GOP control of Congress is to "make America understand that there is no such thing as a moderate or conservative Democrat.

"The Democratic majorities in the House and the Senate are built on Senators and congressmen who say they're not real Democrats, who say they're not liberals, they're not following the Reid-Pelosi-Obama line, but in fact they are. And we need to debunk that myth and make clear to everybody who wants to be conservative that the only way to do that is to vote Republican."

Another dynamic that will affect the outcome, Morris says, is voter anger over the recently passed healthcare reform legislation. He doesn't expect that frustration will fade with time – in fact, quite the opposite.

"The anger will increase because they'll be seeing all around them the consequences of this law," Morris says. "In the last week, we've had evidence that Boeing is laying off 500 more people simply because of this law. AT&T has taken a $1 billion write down against their profits."

He adds: "We are all going to see our health insurance premiums increase dramatically. And that will have the effect in many cases of losing jobs, or of employers denying everybody coverage, then paying the fines because the premium costs just go crazy."

Other revelations from Morris:

• The president's decision to drop his opposition to expanded off-shore drilling was "terrific." "It was really good, it took courage on his part. It might be the beginning of his moving to the center, adopting some of the lessons of my own tenure with Bill Clinton," he says.
• Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., is in serious political trouble because his public flip-flop on the abortion language in healthcare reform. "I think Stupak is in danger because he acted so stupidly, if you'll pardon the pun, right in front of the American voters," Morris tells Newsmax.
• The Obama administration is "deliberately humiliating" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an effort to force him to accept more liberal partners into his governing coalition who could then be used to leverage further Israeli concessions with the Palestinians.
• State Sen. Kim Hendren will "absolutely" defeat incumbent U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., given that the latest polls show him with a comfortable 51 to 35 lead. "When a challenger is ahead of an incumbent they're almost certainly going to lose, and when a challenger is over 50, it's even worse," Morris says.
• In California, Republicans may win both the Senate seat up for grabs and the statehouse. Incumbent Democrat Sen. Barbara Boxer faces two tough GOP challengers in former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina and free-market economics professor and former congressman Tom Campbell. And former eBay CEO Meg Whitman has opened up a solid lead over perpetual Democratic candidate and former Gov. Jerry Brown for the governorship.
• The Republican Party will recapture control of both the Senate and the House in this year's midterms, Morris predicts.

Get Dick Morris’ New Book ‘2010: Take Back America’ with FREE Offer – Click Here Now