For a political party that presents itself as the party of morality and family-values, should spending $1,946 at a topless, West Hollywood bondage club be interpreted as family bonding? While both parties occasionally fail to spend political donations most efficiently, the Republican National Committee [3] (RNC) faces questions as major newspapers reported [4] last week on the RNC's expenditure at Voyeur [5], a topless bondage club in West Hollywood.The expenditure was listed on RNC's monthly financial disclosure report to the Federal Elections Commission [6] (FEC). The entire situation is filled with irony as the Republican Party purports to be the party of morals. How moral is it to spend political donors' money at a club with topless dancers? 

More importantly, this latest development adds to the list of growing criticisms against RNC Chairman Michael Steele [7]. Fellow Republicans have already criticized Steele for falling behind in fundraising efforts. Now, he is answering questions regarding "Bondage-gate." Some critics have called for Steele's resignation, but Steele has shrugged these off and played the race card. Confronting criticism of the committee for picking up a $2,000 tab for donors and staff at a West Hollywood strip and bondage club, Mr. Steele said [8] in response to a question on Good Morning America on ABC that he and President Obama [9] were being "held to tougher standards because they were black." To make matters worse, Steele faces competition for campaign dollars from an independent GOP group, American Crossroads [10], which is spearheaded by Karl Rove [11] and Ed Gillespie [12]. As a [[527 committees| organization], American Crossroads can raise unlimited funds from corporations and individuals to influence upcoming elections. 

Whether Steele will last as RNC Chairman remains to be seen. The race card is not a factor in Steele's criticism, and I'm inclined to agree with the words of White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs [13], "I think Michael Steele's problem is not the race card, it's the credit card."