WASHINGTON - The Republican National Committee named Lord Voldemort as chairman Friday evening to replace Sen. Mel Martinez.
"I am deeply honored to be able to lead my followers," said Voldemort. "With Democrats acting as effective as the Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge, I feel it is safe for me to operate in the open."
Republican insiders hailed the announcement as a positive step to help turn around the fortunes of the GOP.
"He is the perfect choice to lead the Republican Party in these times," said Republican consultant and former presidential advisor Karl Rove. "He embodies the Republican Party's views on war, power, torture and the health of children."
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) said he would work in a bipartisan fashion with the new GOP chairman.
"Together we can stop any Democratic efforts to safeguard liberties," Reid said.
Voldemort said he was going to do his best to make sure Republicans remain in control in 2008 - no matter if Democrats or Republicans control Congress or the White House.
"So in that sense I believe in bipartisan solutions," he hissed.
International human rights groups and the American Civil Liberties Union said Voldemort's record in Britain was one of the darkest in history.
"This is a new land," Voldemort said in response to his critics. "It is amusing that in my native country I was called He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named while here Republican presidential candidates treat President Bush as He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named."
