Breaking: RNC appears to shell out $150K for Palin fashion

[Perky]

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14805.html


The Republican National Committee appears to have 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.

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.

Spokeswoman Maria Comella declined to answer specific questions about the expenditures, including whether it was necessary to spend that much and whether it amounted to one early investment in Palin or if shopping for the vice presidential nominee was ongoing.



“The campaign does not comment on strategic decisions regarding how financial resources available to the campaign are spent," she said.

[gatorboy]

1. So they bought her that red leather commie hooker get-up she's been wearing?

[medicswife]

3. I saw that outfit today and wondered where she hid the whip!!!! nt

[gatorboy]

11. I love that she was taking a question from a third grader while wearing it.

"Into the corner, Brandon!" *whippowww!*

[Sub Atomic]

15. What is up with that jacket?

I wonder if Michael Jackson knows it's missing.

[medicswife]

2. Bwahahahahaa I knew they were buying a bunch of shit for her.

I'd want to win too if I got to have all that loot spent on making me comely for Joe Sixpack!!!!

This is better than Miss America if you ask Palin, I'd betcha anything!

[gatorboy]

6. She's a walking earmark!

:rofl:

[medicswife]

13. ROFLMFAO

A Walking Earmark!!!!!! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

omg that is too much!

I want a wardrobe too!!!! Dammit, I should have said "You Betcha!" when McCain asked me to be his running mate instead of saying I didn't think I was qualified!!! ;)

[Milspec]

17. Oh me too me too...

I can cross dress (well never tried but I'm sure that a 50 something somewhat overweight male could find something flattering)

[saracat]

4. So what? Who cares? No one even mentions men's suits or makeup.

I can't dstand palin but this is silly.

[Perky]

8. Its the amount of money and the stores selected.

[malletgirl02]

21. Also

Don't forget the big deal that was made of the $400 Edwards haircut.

[saracat]

24. The average politico's wifes outfits are around 5 grand . So? The VP's should be less?

And as for makeup and stuff, that ids what the price is. So? Get her on her crap about religion and her phony morals .This is puffery.

[demokatgurrl]

36. What about her cynical portrayal of herself as

"everywoman", you know, small town, Joe-sixpack kind of chick?

What about her alleged disdain for earmarks and pork?


Fucking hypocrite.

[saracat]

39. Now there, I would agree!

[CreekDog]

23. Her family is not all women...in case you couldn't be bothered to read

and don't pretend your standards are higher than this. read some of your stuff --they aren't.

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

26. I don't think "saracat" CAN read. n/t

[saracat]

29. I can not only read but read to comprehend as well, a feat some have difficulty

with. I addressed ONLY the issue of the clothing having no desire to enter into the other issue of the children's travel.This monitoring of candidate clothing and grooming expense is stupid no matter what the sex of the candidate involved. I found the nattering about the price of Bill Clinton's and John Edwards haircuts stupid as well.Men spend a fortune on suits and it isn't an issue and shouldn't be an issue. I am merely pointing out the fact that this is more of an issue as she is female.

Most on this site, including me, do not like this women. I find her philosophies repugnant but she is the Vice Presidential candidate on a national ticket and there is no reason to think she should dress in a manner less than becoming to the position. The fact that intellectually and experientially she may be "less than becoming" to the office itself is the real point in fact.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

30. Well, if you can read, maybe you should try it some tome.

"A review of similar records for the campaign of Democrat Barack Obama and the Democratic National Committee turned up no similar spending."

[saracat]

31. Does Barack have a woman on his ticket I am unaware of? You certainly miss the point.

And there have been numerous articles about the makeup artist who is hired by all the campaigns. the same person actually "made up" all the primary candidates for both sides. It depends what you mean by "similar expeditures". She travels with special blended makeup for them all.Obama may have alr4ady purchased his wardrobe. Who knows and who cares? It is still silly. Whatever.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

35. Oh, I get it.

You started off arguing sexism (they never talk about mens expenses), then failing that argument, you resort to sexism (only women have these expenses).

If you're going to lose an argument, learn to lose one gracefully.

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

38. Issue as she is female?

It's an issue because Sarah Palin decided to "market" herself to the electorate as a simple, ordinary "hockey mom". Just as John Edwards came under fire over his house and $400 haircuts.

[saracat]

40. Actually, I can agree with that point. But then what candidate ever is everyperson?

None of the candidates really are the norm and Palin is indeed a hypocrite in portraying herself as such.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

32. I think you really like Palin.

Yes, I really do.

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

37. I thought she was leaving DU? n/t

[Perky]

5. Anyone catch the subtle reference on KO: " Do I get to keep the clothes.?'

was that a reference to the movie "Pretty Woman"?

[Tallison]

7. There goes her contempt for elite New York fashion

Another thing she was against before she was for it?

[mwei924]

9. She's overpaying.

Those outfits aren't that special. They look the same and aren't especially off the runway or "trendy". Seriously, no wonder the McCain campaign is bankrupt.

[OnionPatch]

27. Lol, I was thinking

Hell, I coulda got that look at Ross Dress for Less and Fantastic Sam's. :rofl:

[Tinksrival]

10. Caribou Barbie

Accessories not included!

[Supersedeas]

22. dress her up and take the whole family everywhere

[Lucky 13]

12. And what a pretty pretty Princess she is!

My my, they certainly are lucky to have her on the ticket!

[stray cat]

14. So is this complements of GOP donators? Sounds like socialism clothing your candidates....

[Starbucks Anarchist]

16. Saks Fifth Avenue in New York?!?!

That's one of those anti-American cities! :sarcasm:

[Bad Thoughts]

18. Isn't this the party coordinating with the campaign?

I thought that McCain could not coordinate with his party if he took public financing. Of course, had he paid for it from campaign accounts, clothing Palin would have come at public expense.

[Chloroplast]

19. She's been wearing some expensive clothes but I wonder about what they bought.

Unless she's buying Cavalli leather jackets, wearing Louboutins, and buying shangtung silk jackets, I think the numbers include shopping sprees that have nothing to do with the campaign whatsoever. We've all seen Gov. Palin's outfits and I don't see where the money went. Sorry.

[Batgirl]

20. Wow, it costs a lot to look like an extra in an 80s Loverboy video!

[grantcart]

25. Republicans unhappy about the expenditures

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x7554055

[obiwan]

28. Sorry RNC. If you put lipstick on a pig, it's still a pig.

[Az_lefty]

33. just a common girl from Alaska? She's a total phony.

:puke:

[marshall]

34. They need John Edwards's hair stylist to do something about that bird's nest on her head

Since they've got money to throw away they might as well go for the best.