RNC spends 150ks on dresses, make-up for Sarah Palin & family

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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Does this sounds expensive? You betcha! But its not easy to put lipstick on pit bull either. :smiley:

RNC spends thousands on dresses, make-up for Sarah Palin & family

RNC spends 150ks on dresses, make-up for Sarah Palin & family

By KENNETH R. BAZINET
DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU

WASHINGTON - Lipstick isn’t the only difference between America’s top hockey mom and a pit bull.

Sarah Palin also has a spectacular new wardrobe, and Republican campaign donors picked up the breathtaking tab.

The Republican National Committee spent $150,000 on clothing and accessories for the vice presidential candidate and her family since early September, according to a report by the Politico Web site.
RELATED: PALIN SAYS SHE’S REALLY SORRY FOR ‘REAL AMERICA’ COMMENT

At Saks Fifth Avenue stores in Manhattan and St. Louis, the RNC paid for $49,425.74 in Palin apparel, the report said, citing financial disclosure records.

There also was a $75,062.63 shopping spree at Neiman Marcus in Minneapolis, where the Palins stayed during the Republican National Convention last month; $9.447.71 at Macy’s in Minneapolis; and $5,102.71 at Bloomingdale’s in New York.

That much cash can buy a closet full of the pumps, hot red leather jackets and form-fitting business suits for the Alaska governor to wear on the stump

Another $4,716.49 on hair and makeup came from the GOP while wooing “Joe Six-Pack” to vote for John McCain, the records showed. And more than $5,000 went to a men’s store and a baby clothing store.
PHOTO GALLERY: PALIN’S PRICEY FASHIONS

At first, the McCain-Palin campaign and RNC refused to explain the spending.

“The RNC does not discuss expenses as it relates to strategy,” said spokesman Danny Diaz.

Late Tuesday night, McCain-Palin spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt said the clothes will be tossed in a charity bin of some sort after Nov. 4.

“It was always the intent that the clothing go to a charitable purpose after the campaign,” Schmitt said.
RELATED: IT’S TRULY KEYSTONE STATE FOR McCAIN

The Obama-Biden camp had no comment. But were Democrats salivating over the prospects for ridicule? You betcha.

“I wonder how ‘Joe the Plumber’ feels about his donation going to Sarah the Shopper,” one Democratic operative joked. “I guess she can also see Saks from her doorstep,” the party source said - a taskeoff on Palin’s comment that you can see Russia from Alaska.

Joe Biden’s uninspired wardrobe does not receive a campaign subsidy, a source close to Biden said, and the follicle-challenged Democratic veep nominee gets $20 haircuts from a barber in Wimington, Del., according to past reports.

Federal law would bar the McCain-Palin campaign from converting campaign funds to “personal use” - a definition that specifically includes clothing purchases.

But a Republican strategist said the expenditure by the party committee was legal.

Palin also faces questions over a separate report Tuesday that she charged the state of Alaska more than $20,000 since taking office to take her children with her while traveling, sometimes to events at which the kids were neither invited nor expected.

Among the trips cited by the Associated Press was a July meeting of the National Governors Association. Palin charged the state $2,741.26 to take daughters Bristol and Piper to Philadelphia, where the girls had their own room for five nights at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, for $215.46 a night.

Taylor Griffin, a McCain-Palin campaign spokesman, said Palin followed state policy allowing governors to charge for their children’s travel. He said the governor’s office has invitations requesting the family to attend.

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When she said she wanted to bring "change" to Washington she meant a change of clothes for the next 4 years? Maybe designer diapers for her daughter and boyfriends soon to be born baby?

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Re: RNC spends 150ks on dresses, make-up for Sarah Palin & family

Aren't these the same kind of petty smears we often accuse Republicans? I mean, yeah $150k on clothes etc is completely over the top and ostentatious, but guys, we are talking about a US Presidential election - lets keep our eyes on the ball i.e issues and who will be better equipped to handle America's problems and take the country out of the current economic problems. $400 haircuts (Edwards), $450 shoes (McCain), expensive clothes ... these are all mere distractions. In the larger scheme of things, they actually mean very little.

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Re: RNC spends 150ks on dresses, make-up for Sarah Palin & family

I am not sure how she is going to reform washington, seems like seems is in the same boat as those in washington. She has very limited knowledge and understanding of both domestic and foreign issues; seems to me she is worst then some of those in washington or if not worst then just like them.

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Re: RNC spends 150ks on dresses, make-up for Sarah Palin & family

Well…she has to work the magic…otherwise who would vote for her “charisma” if she doesn’t look charismatic? :halo:

A latest survey now shows that Palin is more a liability for McCain than a boost factor. Her own popularity is dwindling and with it, the credibility of McCain camp altogether.

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True, but its not a beauty contest. People voted for bush in 2000/04 b/c they thought he was like them..the guy they can have beer with. My question to such idiot is what do u know about running the country? If nothing, thn don't vote for a guy who is just like you. Vote for a guy who actually KNOWS wtf he is doing. Bush screwed up this country, made his buddies rich, started unnecessary wars & now the USA is bankrupt. Palin & McCain are no different & now is not the time to trust grandpa and bimbo with the country. She has no experience or qualifications & McCain has one foot in grave & other on banana peel.

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Re: RNC spends 150ks on dresses, make-up for Sarah Palin & family

^ Yes, fine. Thats what I am saying .... lets stick to the issues. I am sure there are more important issues and differences between the candidates/parties in this election; rather than talking about Palin's dresses. Talk about her lack of knowledge / qualification / experience / whatever. Of course, if you are a Republican donor and now want your money back, just go for it!! :)

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Re: RNC spends 150ks on dresses, make-up for Sarah Palin & family

I think this excessive spending on clothes and makeup is a valid point since Palin chooses to describe herself as just a 'regular American Hockey mom'. It's clearly not the case, she tries to create this "I'm one of you" and she's not, this exposes her as a liar.

This week she claimed at home her family is "frugal". Well gosh darn doggone it she's not very frugal with the American tax payers money now is she? She has spent tens of thousands of tax money on flying her children to political events that they weren't invited to and over $50,000 of tax money on refurbishing her offices in Alaska. And now over $100,000 in donations have been spent from the GOP for her clothes and tens of thousands of dollars spent on makeup artists for her and she wants to pretend she just a "regular 'ol gal", how many republicans are that gullible? What are they trying to hide behind all that lipstick? We'll from the interviews we know what they are trying to hide, a hardright winger who can't give coherent answers to complicated questions. Thanks, but no thanks.

Are there more important things and issues to discuss? Yes, clearyl their are, (and they are things that Palin seemingly can't grasp) but pointing out her hypocrisy is fair game and should be done.

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Re: RNC spends 150ks on dresses, make-up for Sarah Palin & family

What cracked me up yesterday was when Palin herself talked about this "controversy". Her defence: "these are not my clothes" - so apparently don't blame it on me.

Oh really??

Yes, clearly these are not YOUR clothes, Ms Palin, these are paid for by Republican donors and Republican National Committee, but as luck would have it, only YOU are wearing them. So they are kinda your clothes (while they are still not), and sorry to burst your indignant bubble, but you have to own up to the responsibility of spending $150k of your party's money on these. After you are done, these will ostensibly be donated to charity. Worthy as it may sound, please take a better defence on this issue.

And who the heck spends $150k in six weeks on clothes. I wouldn't even know how one can do that. Ms Palin, you are some serious competition for Hollywood divas, I'd assume, with the difference, of course, that they spend their own money.

Having said that, I still believe there are better and more important things to discuss and disagree in this election. This is more of an interesting distraction, and something Democrats will gleefully exploit for all its worth.

Insan kab marta hai?
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Re: RNC spends 150ks on dresses, make-up for Sarah Palin & family

Actually Vanity Fair reported that Mrs. Cindy McCain's dress (+ shoes + bling + accessories ) that she wore at the convention in Minneapolis cost $300,000. So relatively $150 k in six months is not too bad. The thing is Mrs. McCain doesn't claim to be a 'Hockey Mom', she is pretty proud of all her six houses and the private jet etc.

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I guess we can’t blame Palin to much, she comes from a party that expects free things…

…
Sen. Stevens found guilty on corruption charges

**Alaska lawmaker was accused of lying about $250,000 in gifts **

WASHINGTON - Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens was convicted of corruption charges Monday in a trial that tainted the 40-year Senate career of Alaska’s political patriarch.

Stevens, 84, was convicted of all seven charges he faced of lying about free home renovations and other gifts he received from a wealthy oil contractor. Jurors began deliberating Wednesday at noon.

Stevens faces up to five years in prison on each count when he is sentenced Jan. 26, but under federal sentencing guidelines, he is likely to receive much less prison time, if any.

The verdict, coming just days before Election Day, adds further uncertainty to a closely watched Senate race. Democrats hope to seize the once reliably Republican seat as part of their bid for a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.
The monthlong trial revealed that employees for oil services company VECO Corp. transformed the senator’s modest mountain cabin into a modern, two-story home with wraparound porches, a sauna and a wine cellar. Stevens never paid for VECO’s work.

Sen. Stevens convicted on corruption charges - Capitol Hill - MSNBC.com

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Again, while Ted Stevens convinction couldn't have come at a better time for Democrats, and it is directly comparable to Palin's image problem with this $150k of brouhaha, I think the larger point is that whatever claim to fame Republicans had that they are fiscally conservatives and keep a tight purse string and small government ..., that myth is well and truly blown away to smithrens in the last 8 years under George W Bush. The whole trickle-down economy may actually trickle down slowly, but the big government spending and the trillions of dollars of debt that Bush is saddling future American generations will be a hard act to follow.

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lol ture & she spends her own money, unlike Palin. From what I understand Cindy is worth about 100 million $$$s.

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Re: RNC spends 150ks on dresses, make-up for Sarah Palin & family

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Re: RNC spends 150ks on dresses, make-up for Sarah Palin & family

^hahahaha