The problem with Ronna McDaniel: RNC Chair's issues run deeper than Vivek Ramaswamy's jibes
WASHINGTON, DC: Tensions escalated on the stage of the third GOP debate as presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy criticized the recent losses of Republicans in key state elections and dubbed his own political faction a "party of losers."
During his opening statement, Ramaswamy targeted the Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, calling for her resignation due to the current state of the party.
However, it seems like the issues with the RNC Chair run deep, spanning from controversies about campaign donations to mocking remarks made toward Democrats.
Vivek Ramaswamy vs Ronna McDaniel
"We've become a party of losers at the end of the day," asserted Vivek Ramaswamy during the third GOP debate, adding, "Since Ronna McDaniel took over as chairwoman of the RNC in 2017, we have lost 2018, 2020, 2022, no red wave, that never came. We got trounced last night in 2023."
After the debate, McDaniel swiftly fired back at Ramaswamy on Fox Business Network’s 'Varney & Co', claiming that the presidential hopeful "needs a headline" due to his low polling at 4 percent.
Moreover, she defended the RNC's stance, mentioning they were not involved in the state-level races and suggesting Ramaswamy was relatively new to the party.
The rift deepens as the GOP faces internal strife following significant losses in key races across states such as Kentucky, Virginia, and Ohio during the Tuesday, November 7 elections. Next month's debate only ups the ante with raised polling and donor requirements, as per The Hill.
Issues surrounding RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel
Soon after Vivek Ramaswamy's jab at Ronna McDaniel, the Internet seemed to side with the presidential hopeful, especially due to the controversies that have plagued the RNC Chairwoman since her ascension to the role in 2017.
Backlash over a statement about the LGBT community
In 2021, Ronna McDaniel made headlines by issuing a statement in support of LGBT Pride Month, a move that garnered praise but also triggered backlash from social conservatives. The chair's failure to issue similar statements in 2022 and 2023 intensified criticism, leading to accusations of wavering commitment.
To address the fallout, McDaniel apologized for not communicating the initiative adequately, clarifying that the RNC Pride Coalition she announced did not alter the GOP's stance on same-sex marriage.
Claims regarding supposed 2020 electoral fraud
Ronna McDaniel's involvement in perpetuating unfounded claims of widespread electoral fraud following Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election drew the ire of Donald Trump's critics.
Despite lacking evidence, McDaniel asserted large-scale fraud, aligning herself with then-President Trump. Notably, he endorsed McDaniel for re-election as RNC chair during the January 2021 election, further intertwining her fate with the controversial post-election period.
Accusations surrounding campaign donations
Ronna McDaniel faced scrutiny for her handling of campaign donations, particularly in connection to accused figures. After Harvey Weinstein, a major Democratic Party donor, faced allegations of sexual abuse in 2017, McDaniel called for the return of his contributions.
However, when Steve Wynn, RNC finance chairman, faced similar accusations in 2018, McDaniel advocated for "due process" and delayed returning the donations until an investigation occurred.
The controversy intensified when it was revealed that Wynn had donated nearly $400,000 to the Republican Party in May 2019, raising questions about the RNC's ethical considerations.
'Pay-for-play' allegations over Ambassador nomination
In September 2019, Ronna McDaniel allegedly emailed Doug Manchester, a stalled Ambassador nominee, requesting a substantial $500,000 donation to the Republican Party. The email, described by some as a "possible pay-for-play scheme," raised eyebrows and drew attention to potential ethical breaches.
Subsequent reports of a federal grand jury investigation in 2021, focusing on McDaniel, Manchester, and others, added further intrigue to the claims.
Attacks on James Comey, Twitter, and election process
Under Ronna McDaniel's leadership, the RNC supposedly set up a website in 2018 explicitly designed to undermine former FBI Director James Comey, accusing him of being a "liar" and a "leaker."
Additionally, in 2018, she claimed that Twitter was shadow-banning Republicans, though Twitter (now X) denied this, attributing the issue to a glitch.
Reports surfaced in November 2018 that McDaniel urged Republican candidate Martha McSally to adopt a more aggressive stance during the ballot counting process in the Arizona Senate race.
ProPublica's revelation about RNC contracts
In May 2020, ProPublica reported that significant RNC contracts were awarded to companies closely associated with Ronna McDaniel, including her husband's company and those supporting her 2015 run for the chairmanship of the Republican Party in Michigan.
The revelations raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest surrounding her leadership.
Mocking Democrats
On October 27, 2022, Ronna McDaniel supposedly mocked prominent Democratic politicians, including then-Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania and US Senate candidate John Fetterman and President Joe Biden, over their speech impediments.
The incident drew criticism for insensitivity, especially considering Fetterman was recovering from a stroke at the time.