RNC, NRCC Tied To Site Circulating Obama As Osama Video

Patriot Depot is a right-wing website that sells "birther" paraphernalia and other "supplies for the conservative revolution." Last week, the site sent an email to its subscribers promoting a "parody" video depicting President Obama as Osama Bin Laden.  The video juxtaposes images of Obama and the Al Qaeda leader, comparing their facial features and concluding that they are literally the same person.  The email describes the video, which doesn't appear to be a parody at all, as "too darn funny not to share."

Under normal circumstances, the deranged fantasies of right-wing fringe groups wouldn't be worth much attention.  But, as it turns out, Patriot Depot is tied directly to the Republican establishment.  Today's "Patriot Update" (which is a product of Patriot Depot) actually features a direct fundraising appeal from RNC Chairman Michael Steele:

February 1:

January 27:

In the past year, the RNC has also rented email lists from WorldNetDaily, a leading driver of "birther" conspiracy theories, and Newsmax, which published (and eventually retracted) a column advocating a military coup to remove Obama from office.

Conservative blogger Jon Henke previously criticized the RNC for refusing to distance itself from WorldNetDaily.  "In the 1960's, Goldwater and a few Republicans had the integrity and guts to denounce the irresponsible fringe in the fevered swamps of the Right," Henke wrote. "Today, as far as I can tell, the Republican National Committee works with them."

The NRCC and U.S. Senate candidates Sue Lowden and Carly Fiorina also have utilized Patriot Depot's email list: