http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14805.html
The Republican National Committee has spent more than $150,000 to clothe and accessorize vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and her family since her surprise pick by John McCain in late August.
According to financial disclosure records, the accessorizing began in early September and included bills from Saks Fifth Avenue in St. Louis and New York for a combined $49,425.74.
The records also document a couple of big-time shopping trips to Neiman Marcus in Minneapolis, including one $75,062.63 spree in early September.
The RNC also spent $4,716.49 on hair and makeup through September after reporting no such costs in August.
The cash expenditures immediately raised questions among campaign finance experts about their legality under the Federal Election Commission's long-standing advisory opinions on using campaign cash to purchase items for personal use.
Politico asked the McCain campaign for comment, explicitly noting the $150,000 in expenses for department store shopping and makeup consultation that were incurred immediately after Palin's announcement. Pre-September reports do not include similar costs.
A review of similar records for the campaign of Democrat Barack Obama and the Democratic National Committee turned up no similar spending.
$150,000 in CAMPAIGN DONATIONS was used to dress the Palin family. That's more than I make over three years of salary! How many "Hockey moms" do you know that have a $150,000 wardrobe?
I find it funny that while the McCain camp is pretending to be worried that a $10 donation might be coming from somewhere outside the U.S., they are spending $150,000 in donor money to turn Palin into a Barbie doll.
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Comments: 24
2.) They did say that when everything is said and done (when McCain/Palin lose or when Palin is no longer needing the clothes), they will be donated to charity.
3.) Did you ALSO hear that Palin submitted receipts for reimbursement for her children's travel expenses in Alaska? She then re-submitted them and said that they were on "official business" even though the children were not invited to the events they attended. Alaska is saying that she has done "nothing wrong" though.
(ha ha that first comment)
Great article Julie, all have a lovely day!
Is there a high rate of alcoholism and self-hate in Alaska? I really don't like to think there is a state with that high a stupidity factor that they can't see this moose cow isn't robbing them.
Alaska.
Cindy McCain has been criticized in the past about her wardrobe. Wouldn't you think they'd take a hint?!
When people are losing their homes and savings, they're out there spending that kind of money?!
I really don't like Obama but the McCain camp has really run their campaign very badly.
Comment #1 says it all.
The hypocrisy of these people is incredible. Palin went to Wal Mart the other day, they took the cameras of course. Where were the cameras when she went to Sacks. The issue here is not that the RNC spends lavishly while we are in crisis. It's their damn problem. However, they are positioning this barbie doll as hockey mom who knows what Joe Six Pack goes through. Then they dress her at Sacks for her to go talk to the people who are suffering.
OK?
To say the least. I don't like Obama's policies instead of not liking Obama. I don't have to like any politicians and I don't like 99% of them.
It's not only the McCain campaign. It's the man himself. I describe myself (polically) as a conservative on all issues related to fiscal policy and monetary policy. On that alone, McCain wins hands down. However you have to look at everything. When you do, with an open mind, Obama is the man. I started considering Obama when McCain picked Palin. For months, he was telling me you need experience, which I agree with and he picks Palin. It would not matter if he were 60. At 72, a cancer survivor, that's an insult to our intelligence.
Regarding this $150K. Palin might not even know how much this all thing costs. She has been manipulated by the McCain camp. She needs her own people looking for her career long term. McCain is done. If she spends these 2 weeks the same way she spent the last 4, her career is done as well. And I hope she has one. There are far worse than her all over the GOP, my party.
As I said. Nothing to do with the current economic crisis. They simply think we are stupid. Hockey mom, pitbull with lipstick, who likes Real Americans like Joe Six Pack, and shops at Saks. Only the republicans can think they can pull this off.
Your comment could be understood to translate to this..."Because there are many other Republicans that are far worse (unspecified weaknesses) than Palin...then she, Palin, is not so bad comparatively speaking."
The trouble is, the basis for your comparison is so low that it really doesn't take much to exceed that base line for the comparison. It's like saying that a "d" grade is good because it is better than an "f" grade.