GOP donors re Palin threads: "I'd like my money back"

[grantcart]

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14840.html

The Republican National Committee’s $150,000 investment in Sarah Palin’s wardrobe has prompted some teeth gnashing among the party’s big donors about its political sensibility and a feisty debate among campaign finance specialists about its legality.

“As a Republican Eagle and a maxed-out contributor to McCain’s general campaign, I’d like my money back – he can still have my vote,” complained one irate donor on Tuesday.

“I’m not one who says a candidate shouldn’t wear fine clothes,” he added. “I’d just like to think they were successful enough in the private sector to have afforded their wardrobe with their own money, not the party’s or the campaign’s, which is really our money as contributors.”

Another big donor was sympathetic to the effort, but critical of the execution.

The Alaska governor was tapped by Arizona Sen. John McCain to become his vice presidential running mate just days before the Republican National Convention in Minnesota, the donor noted.

Given the short notice and the Palins’ relatively modest means, “she could probably not go into her closet at home in Alaska to come up with a wardrobe appropriate for her status as a vice presidential candidate," he said.

“Having said that, $150K is big money,” he added. “It kind of makes it worth running. Even if you lose, you’ve got a whole new closet.”

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As Republican donors absorbed the news, the consensus among several prominent Washington-based attorneys was that the purchases were legal, albeit in a fuzzy area of the law.

Campaign finance laws prohibit candidates from spending donor cash to their authorized personal campaign committee on costs “that would exist irrespective of the candidate’s election campaign,” including clothing, vacations and gym memberships.

But the law does not prohibit such expenditures by party committees, and Congress has killed legislation to expand the personal use ban to those and other types of political committees.

The fuzzy part in the Palin case is that the RNC used money from an account designated for “coordinated,” or shared, expenditures with the McCain-Palin candidate account.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. I'm sure pervy Republican tool Rich Lowry would be willing to pay top dollar

for Sarah's underwear.

[Blaze Diem]

2. After Tawd got done with them. ewwwwwwwwwww

Palin's wardrobe malfunctiongate.

[Blue Diadem]

3. I like this part from the article:

Wiley Rein lawyer Jan Baran, an adviser to several Republican candidates and committees, agreed with Gross, but added that the Palins may still be forced to comply with tax laws.

“The receipt of goods and services by the taxpayer usually constitutes reportable ‘income’,” Baran said. Consequently, Palin may have to declare the value of the fashion gifts as income and pay taxes on it.

“She might be able to offset some of the taxes by donating the items to charity after the campaign, Baran said, “although she will only be able to deduct the fair market value at that time.”

The campaign said Monday that Palin intends to donate the clothes to charity after the election.

[grantcart]

10. Palin better get a really good lawyer after the election

seems like a lot of stuff will be coming up

[Hansel]

4. "I'd like my money back, he can still have my vote." WTF?

We are $10 trillion in debt and our economy is collapsing. The McCain campaign shows complete and absolute disregard in handling their donor's contributions and this moron is still going to vote for him, but he's irate? He's going to be a lot more irate if these gluttons make it into office.

These are the same people who are running as fiscal conservatives because they care about tax payers supposedly. They have already proven how wasteful they going to be, demonstrating that they could give a rat's butt about how they spend money entrusted to them.

[Greyskye]

5. What an interesting example of Socialistic wealth re-distribution...

:evilgrin:

[Cha]

6. Rec'd~ This highlights palin's passing herself

off as a "hockey mom" but not as a "hockey mom who wears designer clothes".. just more shit from palin.

[Indenturedebtor]

7. But but but they're the party of fiscal responsibility right?

Right? :eyes:

[crossroads]

8. K&R

[anneboleyn]

9. This is a huge amount of money -- as much as many peoples houses. Did she buy Chanel suits?

I could understand even $15,000 for a politician who needs well-tailored, well-made suits for a month's worth of appearances. But this amount is beyond even Cindy McCain level.

[grantcart]

11. and it appears that it was bought by a guy for her lol

[tblue37]

15. I saw that one white jacket-top cost $2,500. That is a ridiculous sum

for a jacket. And of course she had to have a Louis Vuitton bag.

[Tigress DEM]

12. Everyone bitched about Hil tipping her hairdresser, but it WAS Hil's money.

[DeepModem Mom]

13. K&R

[Top Cat]

14. Modest my ASS... She worth a couple of million I read somewhere

Plus let's not forget all the money she has taken from Alaska

[FatDave]

16. Even republicans are complaining about too many Palin threads?