Last One Out, Turn Off The Lights

[babylonsister]

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_05/023941.php

LAST ONE OUT, TURN OFF THE LIGHTS.... It can't be easy doing working for the human resources department at the Republican National Committee. The turnover is brutal.

RNC Research Director Jeff Berkowitz has left his post, POLITICO has learned, becoming the latest party official to part ways with the national committee.

Berkowitz's departure was made official on Friday but it's unclear if he voluntarily left or was pushed out.

An ally of the oppo man , lamenting the state of the committee, said Berkowitz was asked to leave. RNC spokesman Doug Heye declined to offer details about why the staffer left.

Berkowitz's deputy, Matt Moon, parted ways with the RNC at the same time.

The departures began in earnest about two months ago, shortly after reports of the RNC spending nearly $2,000 in donor money at a nightclub called Voyeur West Hollywood, an establishment where "impromptu bondage and S&M 'scenes'" are "played out on an elevated platform by scantily clad performers throughout the night."

The heads have been rolling ever since, even in departments that had nothing to do with the controversy.

It's been tough to keep track of the staff shake-ups. The party's finance chief and deputy finance director were recently forced out, as were three members of the RNC's communications team. Those announcements came on the heels of departures from the party's chief of staff, a top RNC strategist, and Alex Castellanos, who was brought on to help shape the party's message. All of this has unfolded since late March.

The party may want to consider revolving doors at RNC headquarters.

It's hard to say exactly what's behind all of this. Some of the staffing changes are the result of the embarrassing "Voyeur" story, but other departures are reportedly the consequence of disarray in the main office.

It's quite a professional operation Michael Steele is running.

—Steve Benen