David All, a DC-based Republican web consultant, hates golf, or so it seems.

In a series of Twitter postings today, All lambasted current RNC Chairman Mike Duncan for using a background of a Wisconsin golf course on his reelection website. “Using an elitist golf course as his background image is exactly what is wrong with the GOP,” All contends. Not only does using a bucolic, rural background qualify one as card carrying member of “the [oogedy boogedy] establishment” in All’s eyes, but it apparently lessens one’s ability to court “the youth vote, the Ron Paul’rs, the punks, the goths, [and] the techies.”

So it’s golf that doesn’t appeal to Ron Paul voters, huh?

In May of 2007, Michigan GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis, All’s candidate of choice, said of Ron Paul, “I think he would have felt much more comfortable on the stage with the Democrats in what he said last night. And I think that he is a distraction in the Republican primary and he does not represent the base and he does not represent the party.” That “distraction,” as Anuzis called it, was enough for him to begin circulating a petition to Republican National Committee members to bar the Texas Congressman from future primary debates.

Now at this point I’m sure you’re confused, as am I, so let’s review. All’s theory holds that voters love it when you play reverse psychology. You know what they love even more? Barring their candidate of choice from engaging in an RNC-sponsored debate. And, perhaps most importantly, golf is an evil tool of the elitist establishment to bar non-traditional voters from engaging in the process.

Jamie Wynacht, a member of the PGA (Professional Golfers Association), evidently missed All’s memo for success. He endorsed and donated to Paul’s campaign. But maybe he’s an agent of the establishment, too.

If we’re in the business of making incredulous assessments purely from websites, here are a few to consider: First, Anuzis lists among his interest on Facebook as skiing and sailing, neither of which I would characterize as sports of the common man. In response to criticism, All argued that golf “sends an elitist message to anyone who didn’t/doesn’t feel welcome to the GOP because of ‘Country Club’ stereotypes.” Perhaps, but I suspect those same individuals wouldn’t feel welcome at a yacht club or ski resort either. Second, according to Self SEO, a free website speed tester, Anuzis’ website ranks last among the top tier candidates in terms of load time. Now what does that say about the self-proclaimed “tech candidate?”

The 168 voting members of the RNC will not be looking to website backgrounds as indicators of leadership, organizational skills, or fundraising abilities. Both Duncan and Anuzis are known quantities in the RNC: The former raised $417,332,196 in the 2008 cycle and the latter oversaw a 17 point loss to Obama – the worst drubbing in Michigan since 1964.

Chris Taylor, a spokesman for Duncan, said of the manufactured outrage: “I don’t believe that the decision of the 168 RNC members will be made over arguing about backdrops to websites. I believe that it comes down to the issues, that is what these members are focused on. And that is what Chairman Duncan is running his campaign on.”

All’s hyper-sensitivity to this issue doesn’t serve the better interest of the Party, or his candidate. I’m curious, however, where the use of website imagery ranks in relation to substantive issues like recruiting fresh candidates, embracing new technologies, and courting non-traditional voters.