Palin drops $150,000 in clothing at the likes of Saks Fifth Avenue - where REAL Americans shop

That's about what the Palins declared as their income to the IRS. Republicans: do you know where your campaign contributions are going?

Sounds like class warfare.

I thought Democrats wanted to discuss the issues.

I agree with Lee. Talk about the issues. I sent in a contribution to the McCain/Palin campaign and it doesn't bother me.

Don't forget pro-americans shop at Target, Kohls, and Old Navy.

When it does not suit them. Talk about the issues. Newsflash: that's for the campaigns. Obama and his campaign are talking about the issues.

Back to Caribou. She, just like McCain are hypocrites. They parade Joe the plumber, she talks about loving real America, then they turn around trying very hard to belong to Fake America. McCain loves stars and famous people. She apparently loves their fashion styles.

Class warfare?

Are you stupid or just trying to be? You should level that charge to Sarah Palin. REAL AMERICA, FAKE AMERICA. What is that? Mavericky style bringing the country together?

Then she shops Sacks. We point it out, and we are conducting Class Warfare?

You are not tring to be stupid after all.

Geesh, if she didn't dress well you all would be bitchin' about that!

Let me tell you about hypocrites. Barrack Obama has a half brother who lives in Kenya on a dollar a month. He doesn't help him. Yet, he has gotten a Global Poverty Act passed and is going to send 845 billion dollars overseas. That's 845 billion US dollars! He and his wife only gave 1% of their income to charity and only when he started running for president did they up it to 6%.

I want this country fixed first. I don't want Obama sending our money to third world countries. Let him send his money!

Yes, there is class warfare going on in this country. Believe it or not!

You make no sense. Obama was left by his father who God knows how many kids he has. It's Obama's job to chase them around? Cindy McCain has ignored her half sister who lives in America. Not a continent away. Poor sister got $10,000 when elder sister died.

Bottom line. She shops Sacks. That's the story.

Don't bother. These people are limited.

John McCain does not need this. McCain needs to make his case and he can't do that with a Palin story popping out every other day.

The bottom line, he brought it to himself. A bold move is a high risk, high reward move. Now, $150k in closing is totally fine. It's a problem when you try to divide America into Real and Fake, real being small town. Clearly Sacks is nowhere near small town. Not even Macys.

This has nothing to do with our serious issues, but people will look at these things. Reformer, save people cash. Why didn't you pay for it? You keep the clothe right? Pay for it.

This is not just about Sacks and so. People making half a million a year certainly don't spend a third of their annual income in clothing. This is six figures in 2 months. Obviously she can't afford it. This is her annual income according to her tax returns. While I think $150k is fine in clothing a new VP nominee, it goes against their rhetoric.

Oh! I see your strategy.

"Yoooouuuu staaaaarted it. Nah, Nah, Nu, Nah, Nah."

And what issues did you want to talk about?

Christos, the point exactly. This is RNC's money. I am sure their donors don't mind.

David Gergen has just said that clothing allowance is unheard of. That's not even the point. Legitimate or not, the media will jump on it tomorrow. Another day lost for McCain. One story like this every other day and this loss for McCain will turn into a landslide.

Lee, take your pills. November 4th will be painfull. You will really get it handed to you up yours. Good night.

The point here, is that the GOP sells her as one of "Us"; the regular folks who are going out, working hard, drinking beer and taking the kids to hockey games. She rails against the elitist, latte drinking and sushi eating set; the type of people who get their clothes at Saks Fifth Avenue or Neiman Marcus. We knew that surely this icon for Middle America shopped at Wal-Mart and in fact, we saw her there. One of the GOP photo ops weeks ago showed her toting bags in Wal-Mart. Surely she would never be so disingenuous as to claim to be one of the regular folk while shopping shoulder to shoulder with the elitists against whom she leads the angry charge of the legions of Joe six-pack.

I wonder if the hordes of "low information livers" will have the intellectual where-with-all to figure out that they are being sold a bill of goods.

Thanks I'm a real American and usually shop at Target. The woman is in this thing for the freebies. Free clothes and trips for her family. How about a free trip for them to Alaska on Nov.5?

Saks 5th Ave is in across the county line in the rich area around here by the multi-million dollar homes.

great point Jerry. They took the cameras to Wal Mart. Why didn't they take the cameras to Sacks?

lol can you imagine what it must have been like for the wicked witch of the west to come out in public and make an apology for that statement lol.

Who cares where Palin shops. If she can afford Sacks on her pay then Alaska must be doing better than we all knew about considering the amount of welfare Alaska receives from the rest of the country, or maybe its that big lobby money that gives her the good life.

I'm a real American and would not set foot in a target or Wal-Mart. Everyone to their own thing and I do not believe its real American to support companies that support communism for cheap labor.

Jack, who cares is right if she was not selling herself as a Hockey Mom Wal Mart shopper. It's their money. They decided to put it in cothing instead of the ground game they badly need. More power to them. Then she comes back and tells us about government spending and all that B S. Then it's relevant, not as criterion to vote on, but for everyone to know that this hockey mom who likes talking about Joe Six Pack shops where the elite shops.

What else does she do just like the elite and turns around and claims otherwise?

Obama wears $1,500 suits. It's his money. I don't care. He is not trying to tell us that he is Joe Six Pack.

Oh, I do like her clothes, I must admit, but can't afford Saks, that's for sure!

And what about hubby's expense account? I know he doesn't wear those fancy suits when he's zipping around the state capital in his snowmobile.

OK, I've thought about this overnight and I am kind of pissed about it. The McCain camp has really run their campaign badly, it seems.

Lera with a "flip-flop" she really is a true McCain supporter. "I was for spending $150K& on clothes and make-up for Caribou Barbie, before I was against it". These people are so sad and they are robbing the average middle class American people blind. It is only the beginning of what they will do if by some serious misfortune they manage to pull this election out. Just a continuation of the ripping off that GWB/DC/KR/JSMcCain has been doing for the last eight years.

WTG RNC supporters your donations and tax dollars went to buy a 8 or so year old girl a "Louis Vuitton bag " that she could carry around with her Mickey D. Drink in the other hand on 9/11 no less. You should be so proud!!!

Jack E., I don't think you are getting one point here. It is not what Sarah Palin can afford, if it was it wouldn't be a big deal. It is the fact that is is contributions and tax dollars that are going to buy her and her children an expensive wardrobe and make-up plus also has been used in her role as Govenor of Alaska to take her children anywhere she wanted them to go. SAD!! This "outsider" may be the biggest "insider" there has ever been when it comes to the dirty tricks of politics. She has learned so well how to rip off the system in her minor roles as small town mayor and Govenor of a sparsely populated state. Imagine what she will do if God Forbid she becomes VP!!!

My Flyers haven't won a game yet since this woman got the crap booed out of her when she dropped the first puck of the season. Man she is like toxic waste!!!

Personally, I don't care what she does with HER money. That's her business. She wants to shop at swanky places and whip out HER checkbook, who cares. But when it's donor money - well, that's just wrong.

*Not sure, it might be illegal too*

But if you're going to come off as just a regular person, you can't drop $150k in clothes and such in 5 weeks. Plus taking your kids with you on the states dime? Sad. Just sad.

Exactly N. K.

If this is what she does with donors' money, what will she do with tax payers money. Tax payers are even more distant.

Purchasing $150k in clothing could be a far better investment than spending millions for a TV spot. If you are seeking voters who are swayed by style rather than substance, it could be considered a smart and fiscally responsible use of resources (provided you don't lose the latter because of it!).
That doesn't mean the expense is right-- it may even be contrary to some of the party lines. But the candidates are pulling out all the stops to get into office.

When confronted with this story, the Republicans said that when she is done needing these clothes, they will all be donated to charity.

I don't think that makes it any better... But... Whatever helps them sleep at night, I guess.

When confronted with this story, the Republicans said that when she is done needing these clothes, they will all be donated to charity.

Lainie P., Oct 22, 2008, 11:51am EDT

There are going to be some smartly dressed drag queens in our nations capitol come mid-November. : )

How about that $4,000 plus for hairdressers and makeup? And we thought John Edwards $400 haircut was too expensive.

And those clothes. Didn't she look at the price tags when she was trying things on? Everything I ever bought at Neiman Marcus had a price tag, same with Saks, but maybe they had some "no price tag" departments of which I was not aware.

Sarah is so far out of her depth she can't even see what would be obvious to me. She is making a fool of herself. $150.000 on clothes and accessories. Guess Cindy took her shopping.

It's okay, she's an elitist repugnicon.

Carol, she is the gift that keeps on giving. 13 days from election, and this drops. In addition to her still not knowing what the VP does, and her falsifying records to cover her tracks in Alaska.

People defending her want to focus on the money. My issue is with the hypocrisy. Start the watches. If she has not already, she will be talking about standing up for the Joe the plumber and fighting GREED in Washington.

The AIG executives spent their company money on $2000 massages and everyone was outraged. What is the difference?

The AIG executives spent their company money on $2000 massages and everyone was outraged. What is the difference?

Jared P., Oct 22, 2008, 12:42pm EDT

None. It's a total disregard for us, the average Americans who are just getting by on the day to day.

At least the AIG executives paid taxes. This was tax free since RNC spent the money. Imagine that.

She is not to blame. The absurdity of people who believe that politicians are just like them and will fight for them. I don't care if you are voting Obama or McCain. When either party sells you that their politicians are just like you, they are insulting you. Obama is not selling to anyone I am just like you on the basis of income and behavior related to income. He's been there. So did Sarah. But now, he's been selling books and making pretty good money as he often reminds us. Republicans won't just stop there. They come back and sell this "I shop where you do, I struggle just like you."

STOP. It's BS

What??? No Needless Markup?

P.S. She IS the gift that keeps on giving:
Ain't that a fake LV bag?

Shing, you betcha that LV bag is real.

Have to confess, I've never seen one.

Geesh, if she didn't dress well you all would be bitchin' about that!


So does that mean those of us who shop at lower priced stores, taking care to look for sales, etc., don't dress well?

She could dress just as well for less than half the money and I'd have thought a hell of a lot more of her FOR it.

There is only one person bitchin' here.

Who needs socialism? Just run for office and get Joe the Plumber paranoid enough about socialism and the Muslim devil that he dips into his grocery money to send you $50 you can apply toward a shopping spree at Neiman Marcus. Real Americans need $150,000 make overs? That's a lot of mortgage payments for some needy family who is a little more real than Sarah Palin and her pedicures.

Worse than this is the taxpayer money she used in Alaska to treat her kids to the life style of the jet set. Do it on your own dime like the rest of us have to, lady.

"Lera with a "flip-flop" she really is a true McCain supporter. "I was for spending $150K& on clothes and make-up for Caribou Barbie, before I was against it"."

Bob, how about you STFU!!!

On October, 15, 2008, Michelle Obama used Democratic campaign funds to spend $447.39 on room service (for 2) at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel for an "Afternoon Snack" of Lobster Hors D’Oeuvres ($50.00), Whole Steamed Lobsters (100.00), Iranian Osetra Caviar ($150.00), and Bollinger Champagne ($44.00).

There's a good example of "The Working Man" theme, who Obama professes to represent. How many of the blue-collared working class get to snack like this?

That's just an "Afternoon Snack." It is alleged that Michelle entertains lavishly, and frequently, at campaign fund expense. There are no residuals from this spending; whereas, Palin's clothes will be donated to charity.

Sophie, anybody can make stuff up.

Yes, Jared, I know. You do well. :)

//OK, I've thought about this overnight and I am kind of pissed about it. The McCain camp has really run their campaign badly, it seems. //

I appreciate that you said that, Lera. It isn't easy to change your mind publically and everyone needs space to be able to do that, we especially need that in these divisive times and it doesn't help it happen if you are heckled for doing so. In these troubled economic times, these kinds of excesses, with other people's money, seem particularly insensitive. She needs to look nice -- yes; she needs to look professional -- yes. But that doesn't require $150,000, not in the real America the rest of us have to live in.

Gee, isn't that nice. And many of us regular people are just trying to pay our bills with so many having lost jobs.

I guess though it's not as outrageous as the $300,000 outfit that Cindy McCain wore one night of the Republican convention. That is about 10 times my annual salary.

Sophie, did you get that menu from Cindy McCain's cooking book (the one she plagiarized)?

Carla your comment about Cindy McCain hit home with me also...but in all fairness - she can use her own money...remember shes the one with the millions...and there is not a darn thing wrong with that....

But then we get back to Ms. Palin and Mr McCain referring to being just like us...all the Joe the Plummers out there...THAT IS NOT FUNNY ANYMORE...

Found this posted today...
Palin's Shopping Spree Legal? Yes, but Barely

When news broke that Gov. Sarah Palin and her family managed to spend $150,000 of other people's money on clothes after joining the McCain ticket, many scratched their heads. Is that legal?

Thanks to a loophole in federal law the answer, experts say, is yes.

Handily, the loophole was codified into law by the landmark campaign finance law passed by her ticketmate, Sen. John McCain.

Yeah Donna, when you write the law, you know the loopholes. Still no campaign buys clothe for candidates. This reveals a lot about them. As far as the money is concerned is their business and their donors. As far as hypocrisy is concerned, it's for every voter to draw their conclusions.

"Palin's daughter with a Louis Vuitton bag on September 11th"

Hey! STFU, as Lera so eloquently puts it. Doesn't every child of a candidate running for VP of the US need a Louis Vuitton bag to win her mom the campaign? Jesus, get a life, people. Palin wouldn't have a chance if her daughter didn't carry around a designer bag on the campaign trail! Next, you'll be questionning little Trig's designer diapers. Where's your decency? Don't think that she would have a freakin' CHANCE if he didn't shit in designer diapers!

God, you people are SO unAmerican. I bet you all live in....in...cities. Ugh.

The interesting thing to me is that she somehow managed to find the least flattering clothing available. Palin manages to look like she got her clothes at a thrift store. Now we learn that she paid Sak's prices for it.

Sheryl, you are so right and I feel so bad now that I am going to write a check out to the RNC but with a condition that it be used to buy Piper a Coach bag.

I am such a smuck and a heel and that STFU set me straight. I have seen the error of my ways. I will never put down people who steal from taxpayers and campaign contributors again. Or at least until my next comment. ;-)

You'll have to excuse me now, I am going to STFU for a while and do penance about my fierce wrong doing!!

Too good for the store the rest have to shop at, Wal-Mart, thanks to eight years of repugnicon policies?

Talk about lip stick on a "pig".

Nippy, the red leather jacket is a nice piece but none of the rest of the clothes fit her right.

Elitist crap.

On the Cover of PEOPLE mag:

Financial disclosure statements documented by Politico.com show the retail outlay for Palin and her family since early September included a $75,062.63 expenditure at a Minneapolis Neiman Marcus and shopping trips to Saks Fifth Avenue in St. Louis and New York that resulted in a combined tab of $49,425.74, all paid by the Republican National Committee.

Hair and makeup accounted for another $4,716.49 billed to the RNC in September, with no such costs reported in August. (October expenditures will not be made public until after the Nov. 4 national election.)

Raised Eyebrows
The disclosures raised eyebrows even on the other side of the Atlantic, including in The Times of London, published by Rupert Murdoch, whose News America holdings include the conservative FOX News.

Todd Palin Photo by: TANNEN MAURY / EPARepublicans Spent $150,000 on Sarah Palin's Wardrobe| 2008 Presidential Elections, Sarah Palin
The paper notes that Palin appears not to have been photographed in the same outfit twice during the campaign and suggests that "First Dude" Todd Palin may have benefited from a recorded $5,000 outlay at the upscale men's boutique Atelier.

In a statement sent to many mainstream media outlets, spokesperson for the John McCain and Sarah Palin campaign, Tracey Schmitt, said: "With all of the important issues facing the country right now, it's remarkable that we're spending time talking about pantsuits and blouses. It was always the intent that the clothing go to a charitable purpose after the campaign."
______________________________________________________________________

Reply to the above...First of all I guess they did not have a Super Cuts open...and secondly and most disturbing was the statement put out by Tracy Schmidt...in response of the criticism....it ls like all the replies the McCain group give out when they are cornered...they turn the page and start a totally different conversation....

That has been so noticeable to me in the last 2 weeks - Even McCain...who I believe thinks he is being funny - ha ha - has become an expert of avoiding a direct answer...If the Republicans had any hopes and dreams of really helping America, they have produced a group of "groupies" who are following the "Joker" of the party, and they just keep going further and further off into the distance...What a shame....

I think she's going to try to sneak off with at least the Louis Vuitton bag when she has to pack up and go home to Alaska on Nov. 5th. Bye bye fancy expensive clothes---hello parka and moose huntin' boots.

As I said in a follow up to my post on this, why did the mcCain campaign focus on her clothing, when they could have hired somebody to tutor her on foreign policy or constitutional law and spent less money. So a third grader asks her yet another question about what does a vice president do, and yet again, she gets it wrong by exaggerating the VP role in the U.S. Senate. All you get to do is break a tie, Sarah, and there are going to be so many Dem Senators this time that there are not going to be any ties if you are elected.
But that's okay, because Sarah LOOKS GOOD in those shiny new outfits while she gets the answers wrong......

She would sound like someone who knows something. Her base does not like that.

I didn't realize clothes were such an important issue for Democrats I mean I didn't hear anything about this in the debates.

What does the Democrat platform say about Clothes?

Come to think of it I don't know how the Republicans stand on Clothes.

These are trying times with the economy and all and I just can't make up my mind which ticket dresses properly and buys clothes at approved stores.

Man, I'm in a fix now. Who should I vote for? Two suits or one suit and a skirt?

Good thing Alan and Jard are on Gather so they can set me straight on the important issues of this election!

Maybe you should vote for the party that is better prepared Lee, the party that is not out spending 150K on clothes for their VP candidate who once again got what the job entails wrong. The party whose VP wasn't recently cited for abuse of power. The party whose presidential candidate doesn's say by his own admission that "he doesn't know much at all about the economy". The party whose Presidential candidate is not the one that claims "I have been tested" when the truth is actually that he was a poor military member who crashed four planes, was involved in a crash that killed his own crewmates on an aircraft carrier and while his remaining crewmates were recovering the bodies and putting out the fire he was off to Rio for some "much needed R&R". Or that was broken by the Viet Cong and gave them classified information in exchange for medical treatment. Or has been a pampered member of the Senate for many years now with a rich wife who bought him his power and abused that power by helping screw old people out of their life savings by helping Keating rob them.

Do you have any more questions?

No, I don't have any questions about your propaganda.

I just enjoy reading about the "important issues" being discussed between Democrats and Republicans. It's quite entertaining at times.

How a person could vote for a candidate who's VP's daughter carries a McDonald's cup in one hand and a Louis Vuitton bag in the other is beyond me. Dam! I betcha she has her own cell phone too. Why can't these stupid Republicans see the hypocrisy!

I totally agree Lee!!! That is what my response was all about, so why are you calling it "propaganda"? ;-) It is sad that we do talk about issues like this but when you consider the fact that the "campaign finance bill" has John McCain's name on it and it may have made this kind of thing illegal it kind of tells you something about the "character" of the candidates of the Republican party.

In 1993 Johnny Mac is quoted as saying "The use of campaign funds for items which most Americans would consider to be strictly personal reasons, in my view erodes public confidence and erodes it significantly" hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

WOW that is a lot of $$$$ for some clothing.

And I heard that she is donating her wardrobe to charity after the election. I don't care about where she got her clothes or where she bought them. I want to hear both parties talk about issues on how they are going to fix this country.

It's funny. The right wingy Republicans all criticized this article. "I though you wanted to talk about issues!"

Hah! Look at the comments and articles posted by these people. Into four categories: 1) Obama isn't American/ Can't prove it/ Won't prove it 2) Obama is a terrorist 3) Obama is a socialist 4) Obama is a false messiah

And the issues are: 1) The economy 2) the world economy 3) Iraq 4) Afghanistan 5) education 6) health care 7) peace in the world

Hey, look! They speak out of both sides of their mouths at the same time!! Surprise!

Donating her clothes to charity afterward. Yep. I'm sure your average single mom trying to make it on minimum wage, paying for daycare, housing, food and transportation is really gonna want Neiman Marcus clothes. That makes despair look juuuuuust right. Freakin' idiots.

By the way, I don't know about the rest of you, but I can just see Cindy and Sarah out shopping together. "Oh you'd look so mavericky in that, dear!" "You betcha!"

If I didn't know this is marginally against campaign rules, I wouldn't be surprised by it at all. I kind of suspected that this occurred anyway.

"I wonder if the hordes of "low information livers" will have the intellectual where-with-all to figure out that they are being sold a bill of goods." Nope. Because, in the words of Horace Clumberpatch, their spokesman, “So havin my mind made up by a robot in Brooklyn ain’t nothin new.”

X Tabber and Bob C answers cover responses for C. While this has nothing to do with the top 4 or 5 issues, it is an issue. Campaign finance is an issue. McCain is running around whining about being outspent by Obama, "who did not keep his word."

Well McCain, clearly, you don't need more money. You would not know what to do with it. You would spend $300K on Palin?

Finally. You want to talk about an issue instead of class warfare. Campaign Finance. And what excatly is the difference between Obama and McCain. They both have problems in this area and neither of them proposes to fix it.

If you liberals want to nail McCain to the wall why aren't you talking about the McCain-Fiengold bill? It has nothing to do with politcal parties buying clothes for their candidates as Bob C. would have us to believe. It has everthing to do with silencing the opposition. Especially third party cadidates. Obama can buy tv spots to run 24/7, but the McCain-Fiengold bill won't allow you are I to buy ads with so-called soft-money for newspaper or tv to express our views. It's illegal 60 days before an election. The McCain-Fiengold bill is a blatant violation of our 1st amendment rights. Why isn't Barack H. Obama and his disciples all over this? It seems you want to prove your claim that Obama is somehow not as bad when it comes to campaign finance. I am not interested in the lesser of two evils. I want to get to the source of the problem. Neither Obama nor McCain have a sincere respect for the Constitution.

Lee,

So far, I haven't seen either candidate blatantly do unconstitutional things. So, I'm not sure how you would defend your statement "Neither Obama nor McCain have a sincere respect for the Constitution. "

As for "If you liberals want to nail McCain to the wall..." that's the big difference between us and you. We're out to fix the country's problems, not worry about "nailing" a political candidate to the wall.

The awful legacy of Gingrich and Rove lives on in the Republican's inability to focus on anything but talking points. Repeat a lie enough times, the weak minded will think it's true.

If you get rid of all the liberal intellectuals, who'll tell you when you're being lied to by your masters? :)

"The use of campaign funds for items which most Americans would consider to be strictly personal reasons, in my view erodes public confidence and erodes it significantly"

John McCain; May of 1993

(Sponsor of the "McCain Law on Campaign Finance Reform") which specifically barred any funds "donated for the purpose of supporting the activities of a federal or state office holder" from being used for personal expenses , inncluding clothing.

Lee, it would appear that the noted "liberal" Johnny Mav Mac has previously had much to say about this particular issue.

X Tabber ,

If you get rid of all the liberal intellectuals, who'll tell you when you're being lied to by your masters? :)

I LOVE IT!!!! also the nail McCain to the wall comment, I wish Jukebox Johnny well in his future, as long as that future has nothing to do with him being POTUS. I do not want to nail him or anyone else to the wall at all. In fact I am too worried about my house and the homes of many others getting foreclosed on every day. That would mean that they wouldn't "have walls to nail anyone to"

As was said by another great "LIBERAL" (yeah right) in POTUS history, "it's the economy stupid"!!

Sophie, it has been proven that Michelle Obama was NOT EVEN STAYING at that hotel. The whole story about the lobster room service was a lie. Can you guess which candidate's staff made up the lie? Can you guess which tools have spread the lie?
Now, shall we go back to examining why RNC donations were used to outfit the Palins to the tune of $150,000?

I stand corrected.
Sec. 313 under the miscellaneous Title III. of the McCain Feingold Act prohibits the purchase of clothes using campaign contributions.

It's unbeleiveable how this is more important to some people than the fact the law violates the first amendment.

Bob and Tabber can't see the obvious problem of the McCain-Feingold act. Blocking individuals and organizations from being able to express their views by paying for media is a blatant violation of our first amendment rights. I suppose you both are for the fairness doctrine as well. McCain who sponosored it obviously doesn't have a problem with it except when he violates it himself. I just can't believe that Obama and his cronies don't use the fact that the law is Un-Constitutional against McCain. This obvious communist style censorship is apparently acceptable with Obama.

Democrats are out to fix the countries problems? It appears they want to deputize themselves as the fashion police? They are more concerned about how a candidate spends money on clothes than the fact both candidates aren't willing to uphold the constitution.

Nail them both to the wall for taking away my freedoms.

Give me liberty or give me death. Freedom is still worth fighting for.

The last line of the above comment we can both agree on.

I guess I just don't see McCain Feingold being a barrier to First Amendment rights. The First Amendment doesn't give you COMPLETE freedom of speech. The speaker still has the duty to speak responsibly. Most notably, you can't yell "fire!" in a crowded movie theater, regardless of your right to free speech.

The big test of free speech is whether or not it unfairly shackles the thoughts of a group of people while allowing others to speak their thoughts freely. McCain Feingold was supposed to free us of the influence of special interest groups, PAC's and other undue influence on the political process. It remains to be seen whether it is effective at doing so.

The big workaround to getting money in the candidates' hands seems to be letting companies with which you have a financial stake get government contracts, e.g., Haliburton.

I don't agree with your analogy Tabber.

It's illegal to yell "Fire" in a crowded movie theater 24/7 all year long every year. It's always wrong. Why is it ok to express our personal views about a candidate all the time except 60 days before an election? Is our country in such a sad state of affairs that people can't "speak responsibly" 60 days before an election? When there is a mistatement or a blatant lie concerning a candidate the average American citizen or group of concerned citizens can't voice there views 60 days before an election by purchasing ads using so-called "soft money." Yet the "mainstream media" can put their slant on the issue in the name of "news reporting." Do you believe all the networks have always remained neutral in this election? Why is it the media can pretty much say what they want but my speech is limited when I want to express my views shortly before an election? Where in the constitution does it say that an individual's freedom of speech concerning a politcal candidate can be limited 60 days before an election? How soon will it be before this is expanded to 120 days, then 365 days every year? If we give the career bureuacratic politicans an inch of our freedom they will eventually take a mile with ease.

you can't change the mind that is closed. Republicans ... conservatives should be all ABOUT fiscal responsiblity. That should be a big issue to them. but when your mind is welded shut and the only orifice you take information in is glued to rusty limbaugh you are going to be out of touch with reality

I will speak slowly so rusty can tune me out $150,000 on you, and your family's look is not responsible
$20k so your kids can travel with you, at the taxpayers' expense is not responsible
only listening to the crazy conservative core wako blogs is not responsible

hiding behind the constitution, yet not supporting it, is not responsible

allowing the current president to continue to destroy the country without speaking out, is not responsible
supporting a candidate who is going to continue the bush policies is not responsible



btw, bush has been in the whitehouse more than 60 days

She missed the boat..should have taken that 150 thou and shopped GoodWill ..
GoodWill is a leading employer of people born with disability ..my step daughter is Down's and has a great job with Goodwill.
Sarah P is an 'empty suit' as the saying goes..the clothes will never make the man or woman in this case..
oh and whoever was chosen as the stylist must hate Palin..fugly wardrobe!I think it was Sin-dy McCain ..LOL
SPalin shoulda just stuck with the moose skins circa 10 Million BC the movie.

What do you have to say about Obama's $1,200 suits....dozens of them and his $590 pair of loafers. Isn't that too excessive for a community organizer? Don't be sexist!

And by the way,
Cindy McCain does charitable work all around the world and gives 1/3 of her income to charity just like the Clintons. And now how many percent did Obama give? He should teach himself how to "spread the wealth" around first before forcing his philosophy on others. By the way, Palin alone gave more to charity in one year than Biden did in 10 years COMBINED. I make less than Biden and give more than him! That's the problem with liberals, they're cheapskate when it comes to helping the less fortunate. They expect others to do it.

McCain/Palin '08

Several hours after Politico posted its findings, the topic remained nearly untouched by the major right-wing outlets. Though as Marc Ambinder at the Atlantic opined:

"Republicans, RNC donors and at least one RNC staff member have e-mailed me tonight to share their utter (and not-for-attribution) disgust at the expenditures. ... The heat for this story will come from Republicans who cannot understand how their party would do something this stupid ... particularly (and, it must be said, viewed retroactively) during the collapse of the financial system and the probable beginning of a recession."

PS: I heard today at a rally, she was comparing her shopping trip to Obama and something about shopping for lights..and stagging....but then I forget - she knows Russia....she can see it from Alaska.. She has the ability to justify just about anything that comes out of her mouth.

That same article about Charity giving and who gave what...made the point of his being known, for freely giving of his personal time to organizations raising funds where he can -

So, once again, another twist another innuendo that surrounds the Palin/ McCain ticket...it is getting to be a joke...

Oh - and by the way...I have to wonder if Michael, Sarah, and Cindy would be so giving of their dollars to charities if it were not considered a very good "tax deduction"?????

what kind of idiot are you Michael? Too much for a community organizer? Try US senator, author of two books, senior lecturer at Chicago law school and so on.

You people want to cling to Obama's job 20 years ago. Stay on that until November 5th. The day you finally wake the efff up.

Donna,
I give way more money to charitable organizations than Biden. Sarah Palin gave more money to charity in ONE year than Biden did in TEN years COMBINED!!! Cindy McCain does tons of humanitarian work all around the world. You hardly ever hear Obama or Biden doing any humanitarian work.

McCain/Palin '08

OK, I'll add mine. I heard today that the single largest institution to contribute (about 3/4 million) to Obama's campaign was the University of California - a STATE school!!!!!! So the taxpayers of California have contributed to The One, whether they wanted to or not, right?

Oh, I noticed in the two pictures you have up there that she's wearing the same dress - just with a different jacket. Now THAT'S a normal person!

ALSO, there are some hard-working, middle-class people involved in manufacturing those clothes. Are you saying you want them out of a job and on the welfare rolls?

AND shall we bring up the lunch that Michelle Obama ordered the other day - caviar and champagne?

Let's stop being children and concentrate on what matters - such as capitalism vs. socialism.

Jared, where are you?

I've voting for Tina Fey

Poor Sarah just used resources available to her to stimulate the economy. She's such a patriot. Real good then. Yeah sure you betcha!