Thank You for Calling the Clueless RNC; How Can We Not Help You?

(Chuck Muth) – There’s a critical meeting of the Republican National Committee coming up in January where the next national chairman will be elected – and this will give you an idea of just how screwed up things are RNC HQ these days which, in turn, is why so many people are considering running against the incumbent.

I called the Media Office this morning as the publisher of Nevada News & Views to ask a very simple question: What’s the date of the Winter Meeting and in what city is it being held?

The only person in the Press Office apparently was an intern named Nicole who was absolutely clueless. Not only did she have no idea what I was talking about, she apparently couldn’t find anyone in the entire building who knew either.

For the record, the RNC only meets two times a year – and the dates and locations are established well in advance.

After being put on hold by Nicole and then getting transferred around to voice-mail hell for several minutes, I finally gave up and hung up.

I called back and pressed “4” to be connected directly to the Chairman’s office this time. I asked the guy who answered the phone the same simple question: What is the date of the RNC’s Winter meeting and where is it being held?

“Who are you with?” the guy asked, though I don’t know why that would matter. Shouldn’t the RNC be happy to tell anyone who calls when and where its meeting is being held…or is that some kind of state secret?

“I’m with Nevada News & Views in Las Vegas,” I replied.

“OK, I’ll connect you to…”

“No! I already got jerked around by the Press Office which was no help whatsoever,” I quickly interjected before being sent back to voice mail hell. “Do you mean to tell me that no one in the Chairman’s office knows and can tell me when and where the Winter Meeting is?”

“Hold on, let me check.”

At that point I was transferred to….the Press Office. Which this time didn’t even pick up the phone. Went straight to voice mail hell.

So I hung up and called back again. This time I tried going through the Co-Chairman’s office. Reached someone named Katy. Told her what I was looking for: the date and location of the Winter Meeting.

“Hold on, I’ll transfer you to Member Services.”

“No, wait, I just need the date and….”

Too late. Transferred to yet another dead-end voice mailbox.

At this point, I’m now on a mission and will not give up until victory is achieved.

Called back yet again. This time I pressed “5” for the Political Office. I mean, if the Political Office doesn’t know when and where the Winter Meeting is, turn out the lights, the party’s over, right?

Reached a gal named Kaitlyn. “One second, let me see who would know that.”

Placed on hold. Still holding. Still holding. Kaitlyn returns.

“It’ll be from January 12th through the 15th.”

Wahoo!

“Great, thanks. And where is it being held?”

“Um, let me connect you to Susan. I think she might know.”

Oh, for God’s sake.

“Hi, this is Susan, who’s this?”

Again, why my identity is needed simply to say where a public meeting of the Republican National Committee meeting is being held is a mystery to me.

“Chuck Muth.”

You see, I learned from previous experience not say I was with any kind of media organization, lest I be sloughed off to Press Office voice mail hell once again.

“It’ll be held at the Gaylord National Harbor in Prince Georges, Maryland, just outside of Washington.”

Finally.

I suspect it will take me less time to fly from Las Vegas to DC than it took me to wrest this top-secret information from the ever-efficient, well-informed and uber-helpful staff at Chairman Michael Steel’s Republican National Committee.