RNC: We'll pay to keep WWII Memorial open

RNC chairman Reince Priebus announced Wednesday afternoon that the Republican National Committee will pay to keep the World War II Memorial "open" for visitors for the next 30 days after the Obama administration ordered the memorial barricaded during the ongoing government shutdown:

(Image: RNC)

“The Obama administration has decided they want to make the government shutdown as painful as possible, even taking the unnecessary step of keeping the Greatest Generation away from a monument built in their honor,” said Chairman Priebus.

“That’s not right, and it’s not fair. So the RNC has put aside enough money to hire five security personnel to keep this memorial open to veterans and visitors for the next 30 days. Ideally, I’d hope to hire furloughed employees for this job.

Priebus also extended an invitation to the Democratic National Committee to pitch in on the effort after Democrats launched a massive fundraising effort over the shutdown this week.  If I were Priebus, though, I wouldn't hold my breath.  CNN reported Tuesday that the DNC is having a budget crisis of its own and nearly broke.

“These brave Americans have sacrificed so much for our country. House Republicans have acted to keep parks and monuments open; Democrats are standing in the way. We want to do what we can, in the face of the intransigence from the White House, to support our veterans," Priebus added.  "If the White House complains that such action is not permitted, I’d simply remind them that their unilateral action to give exemptions from Obamacare to big business and their political allies wouldn’t seem permissible either. If they can go to such lengths to protect their political interests, surely they can do something to support the interests of those who fought in World War II.”

How do you fight back against President Obama's Shutdown Theater? With a little political flair and theatrics of your own, naturally.