Rob Bickhart
Encyclopedia
Rob Bickhart is a former finance director for the Republican National Committee
. He was appointed to his post by the current RNC chairman, Michael Steele. On May 7, 2010, Steele fired Bickhart and replaced him with Mary Heitman.
by Politics Magazine.
, with one Republican National Committee
donor complaining to POLITICO that Bickhart "earns more than the president of the United States
". RNC treasurer Randy Pullen, who is also the chairman of the Arizona Republican Party
, has expressed concerns about Bickhart's consulting fees.
In 2010, Bickhart joined Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies, a subsidiary of the law firm Cozen O'Connor
. Bickhart works out of the firm's Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia office, where the law firm is headquartered.
, that had urged Republican fundrasiers to use "fear" of President Obama to raise money, and that had made use of images
depicting President Obama as The Joker (as played by Heath Ledger
), Harry Reid as Scooby Doo, and Nancy Pelosi as Cruella de Vil
, while referring to the Obama administration as the "Evil Empire
" and encouraging the fundraisers to stoke fear of "socialism
". The presentation was delivered at a party retreat in Boca Raton, Florida
by Bickhart and Peter Terpeluk, a former ambassador to Luxembourg who is now the RNC's Finance Chairman. This presentation was criticized by Randy Pullen as "not the kind of professionalism I'm used to seeing" at the RNC. RNC chairman Michael Steele also criticized the presentation, saying through a spokesman that it used "unacceptable" imagery. The Democratic National Committee
referred to the presentation as "RNC Fear-Gate", and its spokesman said that the presentation was evidence that the Republican Party had been "taken over by the fear-mongering lunatic fringe".
In response to the controversy, conservative commentator and former Republican congressman Joe Scarborough
called for Bickhart's firing. However, Curly Haugland, a member of the Republican National Committee from Bismarck, North Dakota
, defended the presentation and the tactics used in it, saying "this conversation is in the mainstream already, it's not just a public relations tool". Another RNC member, Donna Lou Gosney of West Virginia
, also defended the contents of the presentation, but expressed frustration that one of the retreat-goers had left behind a copy of the presentation, which was intended to be private, in the hotel where the retreat was held.
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
. He was appointed to his post by the current RNC chairman, Michael Steele. On May 7, 2010, Steele fired Bickhart and replaced him with Mary Heitman.
Political Influence
Bickhart has been listed as one of the "Top 10 Republicans" in PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
by Politics Magazine.
Earnings
Bickhart's annual salary, paid by the RNC, was estimated to be roughly $196,000, while his consulting fees for the second half of 2009 were roughly $240,000. These high wages, estimated at over $500,000 annually, caused controversy within the Republican PartyRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, with one Republican National Committee
Republican National Committee
The Republican National Committee is an American political committee that provides national leadership for the Republican Party of the United States. It is responsible for developing and promoting the Republican political platform, as well as coordinating fundraising and election strategy. It is...
donor complaining to POLITICO that Bickhart "earns more than the president of the United States
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
". RNC treasurer Randy Pullen, who is also the chairman of the Arizona Republican Party
Arizona Republican Party
The Arizona Republican Party is the affiliate of the Republican Party in Arizona. Its headquarters is in Phoenix.- Elected officers of the State Committee:- State Executive Committee :- State Committee :* The 15 county Republican chairmen...
, has expressed concerns about Bickhart's consulting fees.
In 2010, Bickhart joined Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies, a subsidiary of the law firm Cozen O'Connor
Cozen O'Connor
Cozen O'Connor P.C. is a large U.S. law firm based in Center City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The firm was ranked 99th on the AmLaw 100 Survey in 2011, ranked 114th on the AmLaw 200 Survey in 2008, and ranked 89th on the National Law Journal's list of the 250 Largest American Law Firms in 2007...
. Bickhart works out of the firm's Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia office, where the law firm is headquartered.
2010 Fundraising presentation
In 2010, Bickhart wrote a PowerPoint presentation, leaked to The PoliticoThe Politico
The Politico is an American political journalism organization based in Arlington, Virginia, that distributes its content via television, the Internet, newspaper, and radio. Its coverage of Washington, D.C., includes the U.S. Congress, lobbying, media and the Presidency...
, that had urged Republican fundrasiers to use "fear" of President Obama to raise money, and that had made use of images
Barack Obama "Joker" poster
The Barack Obama "Joker" poster is a digitally manipulated image of United States President Barack Obama, designed by Firas Alkhateeb in January 2009, that has been adopted by some critics of the Obama administration and described as the "most infamous anti-Obama image"...
depicting President Obama as The Joker (as played by Heath Ledger
Heath Ledger
Heath Andrew Ledger was an Australian television and film actor. After performing roles in Australian television and film during the 1990s, Ledger moved to the United States in 1998 to develop his film career...
), Harry Reid as Scooby Doo, and Nancy Pelosi as Cruella de Vil
Cruella de Vil
Cruella de Vil is a fictional character and the iconic villain in Dodie Smith's 1956 novel The Hundred and One Dalmatians, Disney's 1961 animated film adaptation One Hundred and One Dalmatians, and Disney's live-action film adaptations 101 Dalmatians and 102 Dalmatians. In all her incarnations,...
, while referring to the Obama administration as the "Evil Empire
Evil empire
The phrase evil empire was applied to the Soviet Union especially by U.S. President Ronald Reagan, who took an aggressive, hard-line stance that favored matching and exceeding the Soviet Union's strategic and global military capabilities, in calling for a rollback strategy that would, in his words,...
" and encouraging the fundraisers to stoke fear of "socialism
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
". The presentation was delivered at a party retreat in Boca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton, Florida
Boca Raton is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, USA, incorporated in May 1925. In the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 74,764; the 2006 population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 86,396. However, the majority of the people under the postal address of Boca Raton, about...
by Bickhart and Peter Terpeluk, a former ambassador to Luxembourg who is now the RNC's Finance Chairman. This presentation was criticized by Randy Pullen as "not the kind of professionalism I'm used to seeing" at the RNC. RNC chairman Michael Steele also criticized the presentation, saying through a spokesman that it used "unacceptable" imagery. The Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
referred to the presentation as "RNC Fear-Gate", and its spokesman said that the presentation was evidence that the Republican Party had been "taken over by the fear-mongering lunatic fringe".
In response to the controversy, conservative commentator and former Republican congressman Joe Scarborough
Joe Scarborough
Charles Joseph "Joe" Scarborough is an American cable news and talk radio host, lawyer, author, and former politician. He is currently the host of Morning Joe on MSNBC, and previously hosted Scarborough Country on the same channel...
called for Bickhart's firing. However, Curly Haugland, a member of the Republican National Committee from Bismarck, North Dakota
Bismarck, North Dakota
Bismarck is the capital of the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Burleigh County. It is the second most populous city in North Dakota after Fargo. The city's population was 61,272 at the 2010 census, while its metropolitan population was 108,779...
, defended the presentation and the tactics used in it, saying "this conversation is in the mainstream already, it's not just a public relations tool". Another RNC member, Donna Lou Gosney of West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, also defended the contents of the presentation, but expressed frustration that one of the retreat-goers had left behind a copy of the presentation, which was intended to be private, in the hotel where the retreat was held.