Nothing says respect for women like orange hot pants; nothing says disrespect for women like Bob Filner.

Taking advantage of the media frenzy surrounding this summer’s Bob Filner sexual harassment scandal, the Hooters chain of beer-and-chicken-wings bistros, which also feature scantily clad young female waitresses, got lots of publicity out of its vow to ban the besieged mayor from its establishments. When the campaign went viral, the Chris Matthews show on MSNBC investigated and reported that the “Ban Filner” signs posted by the eateries had been downloaded from the website of conservative talk-show host Glenn Beck. “Hooters has stated, however, that their decision to use the sign was not political,” the broadcast noted.

That may be, but local Republicans apparently have found the company of the well-conditioned ladies at Hooters conducive to talking politics. According to its most recent federal campaign disclosure report, covering last month, the party forked over $57.43 at the Mission Valley Hooters branch to host an unspecified number of volunteers for lunch. The GOP’s really high rollers found themselves a bit further up the class ladder, being treated at a “donor appreciation” event held at the Excalibur Fine Cigar & Wine Bar on Clairemont Mesa Boulevard to the tune of $2675. Says Excalibur’s website: “Sink into our big, comfortable leather chairs, watch your game on one of our wall-to-wall large plasmas or flat screens, and enjoy a cold beverage of your choice from a great selection of Micro Brews on tap.”

The Republicans’ big donor of the month, apartment-house baron and San Diego Zoo and Opera philanthropist Conrad Prebys, gave $10,000 on September 23. … Roll Call is reporting that the investment skills of the nation’s wealthiest member of Congress, San Diego County Republican Darrell Issa, who got rich with car alarms, have been put to good use making money for his campaign fund. “The committee reported it had earned $82,457 from investments in the third quarter, including $19,293 in dividends on investments with Merrill Lynch, and $63,164 on unrealized gains. In the second quarter the committee earned $32,108. In the first quarter the committee earned $37,541.”