withdrawn

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

I have to admit I don' know if Palin's gear togs were paid for by the McCain campaign or the RNC. If the later, my sinister spin is inoperative.

[grantcart]

1. Well actually didn't the money come from the RNC and not the McCain campaign?

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

5. People were questioning the legality of it, so I thought it was McCain campaign money

If it's RNC money I stand corrected, for the hundredth time today.

[vaberella]

12. Actually the legality is in question not because it's RNC money.

The issue is, is it ethical or even legal for campaigns to use the money for their clothing. It's not a necessary expenditure. This is not paying staff, this is not paying for flyers, posters, or advertisements, it's not for paying location rent, it's not for fuel for the buses or planes for campaign travel. Basically this was a shopping spree and although I'm sure there's no REAL statement on how to spend the money. I think it's basically realized that superfluous things like that are not something to put on the tab of donaters. I mean really. It's just unethical in my eyes. Obama is running around with majorly scuffed shoes and inexpesneive gear and this woman managed to spend 2500 a month of donater money to her clothing. It's non-sensical. Even if obama did spend some of the campaign money on such things I see him putting it right back....but I sincerely doubt it since he wrote 2 books which garnered him a few million.

That's really the issue.

[Jackpine Radical]

13. Aw, siddown.

You can sit corrected as well as stand, and it's easier on your feet, especially if you've been having THAT kinda day.

[grantcart]

16. I think there is still a question of legality even if it is RNC money

you cannot spend political contributions for personal use like clothes - so the issue is valid just not from the McCain campaign.

[vaberella]

7. Yeah...not really from taxes. But defintiely devoted taxpayers of the republican party

gave their money.

[gmoney]

2. and outfits for her spiffy family... (n/t)

[Jackpine Radical]

3. SOME American taxpayers--

namely, those who contributed to the RNC.

That particular group would also include a lot of American tax EVADERS (who want to continue evading).

[MNDemNY]

6. No, ALL taxpayers, as McLame is using Federal funds for his campaign.

[Jackpine Radical]

10. I thought it was the RNC, which is not funded by taxpayers.

Anyway, if McNasty wants to blow his federal funds like that, who am I to stand in his way?

I would encourage him to maybe buy a Boeing 707 with the rest of it. (He can auction it off on eBay after the election.)

[DrToast]

11. His campaign didn't pay for it, the RNC did. (nm)

*

[MNDemNY]

15. My bad.

[MNDemNY]

4. Not "unfair" at all.

[crazy_vanilla]

8. you are so right, I never looked at it that way

I think it was reported that the money came out of the campaign - out of the public financing, which in turn came out of my and your pocket.

Neiman Marcuss? This is ridiculous and appalling. Her outfits didn't look that great anyway. Not at $8 K a piece.

Imagine how many homeless or jobless people you can feed with $150K.

[Juche]

9. The RNC paid for her clothes

However in 2006 the taxpayers paid for GOP political campaigns.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/16/us/politics/16trips.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&pagewanted=print

[mrJJ]

14. Dumb Cheap Mistake

Putting it out as an expenditure was dumb. Cheapo's should have had one of their rich supporters pay for the couture express out of their own pockets.

Glad they did it the way they did though... ROFLMAO

[Jennicut]

17. RNC payed for it but it still looks frivolous