Sarah Palin's sharp looks on the campaign trail come at a price: more than $150,000 on clothing and accessories from high-end department stores since the Alaska governor was the surprise pick by John McCain to be his running mate, records reveal.
Financial disclosure statements documented by Politico.com show the retail outlay for Palin and her family since early September included a $75,062.63 expenditure at a Minneapolis Neiman Marcus and shopping trips to Saks Fifth Avenue in St. Louis and New York that resulted in a combined tab of $49,425.74, all paid by the Republican National Committee.
Hair and makeup accounted for another $4,716.49 billed to the RNC in September, with no such costs reported in August. (October expenditures will not be made public until after the Nov. 4 national election.)
Raised Eyebrows The disclosures raised eyebrows even on the other side of the Atlantic, including in The Times of London, published by Rupert Murdoch, whose News America holdings include the conservative FOX News.
Todd Palin
Photo by: TANNEN MAURY / EPA The paper notes that Palin appears not to have been photographed in the same outfit twice during the campaign and suggests that 'First Dude' Todd Palin may have benefited from a recorded $5,000 outlay at the upscale men's boutique Atelier.
In a statement sent to many mainstream media outlets, spokesperson for the John McCain and Sarah Palin campaign, Tracey Schmitt, said: 'With all of the important issues facing the country right now, it's remarkable that we're spending time talking about pantsuits and blouses. It was always the intent that the clothing go to a charitable purpose after the campaign.'
GUESS IT MUST BE GOOD TO GET THAT AMOUNT FOR HAIR AND MAKEUP . . .WONDER if they even have a NEIMAN MARCUS in ALASKA
MJDoc12
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Re: Palin's Wardrobe 150K
Posted by MrsQ-in2007 Per the article, it's 'all paid by the Republican National Committee.' Now, as to where they get their funding, I'm not sure. So it may or may not be tax dollars, I honestly do not know.
Just a little trivia for everyone---when you file your taxes--there is a little box on the 1040 that says 'Do you wish to contribute $3 for the Presidential Election Campaign?' -- you personally do not pay $3 of your refund, but if you check the pay--$3 representing 1 taxpayer is added to the fund. Then that amount is put in a fund and when a Presidential campaign happens that money is distributed to each party.
About 30 million+ taxpayers check that box and add to the fund...its not a HUGE amount, but regardless that money is going to the political parties during election time and you are contributing a small amount to the elections. So in part, a tiny amount of money is being paid for by taxpayers.
GinaZ
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Member since
Re: Palin's Wardrobe 150K
I bet this is common with candidates. I read how Hillary had people who dressed her according to the background color of where she was speaking. I think especially for a woman in politics, they can't really wear the same things over again and need to look sharp and smart. These people are picked apart so badly that they have to dress perfect or else it'll be scrutinized. As much as the cost sounds crazy, it doesn't really surprise me. If Hillary was running, I bet she ould have gone through the exact same thing.
ETA: I agree that Obama and McCain must be getting top of the line custom made suites for the campaign. As have everyone else who was running for president. it was never an issue before. As long as tax payers are not paying, I don't really care.
ETA: Also, in regards to the post about the $3 donation to the elections, if people do that, then they should realize the money is going to go towards a ton of different aspects of the election and parties. So if the parties think dressing the candidates is important, then some of that mney will go towards it. its all apart of the process. The people who paid the $3 should realize this.
But I think most of the funding comes from individual donations and donars.
NinaChris07
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Re: Palin's Wardrobe 150K
Posted by MJDoc12
i'm not a palin supporter at all---BUT -- i feel like the media is picking on her because she's a woman. its a horrible double standard. do we really think that Obama & McCain don't have custom suits made? c'mon now...no one has EVER questioned the wardrobe of nominees who were men.
if she didn't have good looking outfits -- we'd all tear her apart for not looking nice enough....and yes she's a woman so she can't wear the same suit over again with different ties. if we saw her repeating outfits -- again, the media would put side by side shots of her in the same suit with what dates she wore them on.
i know its an issue of frivilous spending and such--but really i think the whole thing of her being a woman is putting a harsher light on this one.
TOTALLY, 100% agree with this, couldn't have said it better myself
Butterfly123
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Re: Palin's Wardrobe 150K
The McPalin campaign should think twice before calling Obama a 'celebrity' when theyre the ones using campaign money on their personal appearance though. And I think compared to what people have been calling Obama, she has it pretty easy.
GinaZ
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Member since
Re: Palin's Wardrobe 150K
Posted by Songstress
The McPalin campaign should think twice before calling Obama a 'celebrity' when theyre the ones using campaign money on their personal appearance though. And I think compared to what people have been calling Obama, she has it pretty easy.
I think both sides have been harsh. McCains campaign i think has been harsher to Obamas though. However, I believe both campaigns and parties have put funding towards appearence. Im not a big Palin fan at all, however I think the whole thing about her wardrobe is being blown out of porportion.
Aug07OFCbride
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Member since
Re: Palin's Wardrobe 150K
Posted by MJDoc12 i feel like the media is picking on her because she's a woman. its a horrible double standard. do we really think that Obama & McCain don't have custom suits made? c'mon now...no one has EVER questioned the wardrobe of nominees who were men.
if she didn't have good looking outfits -- we'd all tear her apart for not looking nice enough....and yes she's a woman so she can't wear the same suit over again with different ties. if we saw her repeating outfits -- again, the media would put side by side shots of her in the same suit with what dates she wore them on.
i know its an issue of frivilous spending and such--but really i think the whole thing of her being a woman is putting a harsher light on this one.
ITA!
who are we kidding?... every time i see mccain and obama they look all dressed up in incredible suits. why does no one care about that? i think ppl look for any reason to jump on palin these days and its a definite double standard being that shes a woman.
Snick n Nick
Posted:
Member since
Re: Palin's Wardrobe 150K
Posted by MJDoc12
i'm not a palin supporter at all---BUT -- i feel like the media is picking on her because she's a woman. its a horrible double standard. do we really think that Obama & McCain don't have custom suits made? c'mon now...no one has EVER questioned the wardrobe of nominees who were men.
if she didn't have good looking outfits -- we'd all tear her apart for not looking nice enough....and yes she's a woman so she can't wear the same suit over again with different ties. if we saw her repeating outfits -- again, the media would put side by side shots of her in the same suit with what dates she wore them on.
i know its an issue of frivilous spending and such--but really i think the whole thing of her being a woman is putting a harsher light on this one.
I totally agree. She's trying to be the first woman elected as a VP, she's gotta lay it all on the line. And I guarantee Barack and John boy are wearing custom suits on a regular basis.....
BoxOfRocks
Posted:
Member since
Re: Palin's Wardrobe 150K
I'm not a Palin supporter either, but I absolutely agree that there is a level of sexism in both 1) the attention that these expenditures are getting and 2) the fact that the standard of appearance--variety of outfits and grooming--of women is so much higher than that for men that such expenditures are even perceived to be warranted. And that's in all walks of life, not just politics.
Palin has only been in national politics for a few months, if that, and in state politics for only a few years. I understand how a shopping spree was considered necessary. In contrast, someone like Sen. Hillary Clinton has been in politics for years in her current position, as First Lady, and has wife of a governor. She's had decades to pull together a wardrobe suitable for public life.
Not to mention $150K is a probably fraction of what either campaign spends on advertising!
That said, I also think part of the brouhaha (in addition to the 'who's paying' question) is that spending $150K on clothes from Neiman Marcus and Saks and Hollywood-caliber makeup artists and hair stylists is incongruous with the 'hockey mom' / 'friend of Joe the Plumber' image the campaign is cultivating.
twinkle164
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Member since
Re: Palin's Wardrobe 150K
I think looking respectable is VERY important, but I believe that you can were an outfit more than once and still be respectable. Princess Diana never wore an outfit twice, nor has Madonna. I think that is wasteful, regardless of weather the clothes go to charity afterward or not.
NinaChris07
Posted:
Member since
Re: Palin's Wardrobe 150K
Posted by Snick n Nick
Posted by MJDoc12
i'm not a palin supporter at all---BUT -- i feel like the media is picking on her because she's a woman. its a horrible double standard. do we really think that Obama & McCain don't have custom suits made? c'mon now...no one has EVER questioned the wardrobe of nominees who were men.
if she didn't have good looking outfits -- we'd all tear her apart for not looking nice enough....and yes she's a woman so she can't wear the same suit over again with different ties. if we saw her repeating outfits -- again, the media would put side by side shots of her in the same suit with what dates she wore them on.
i know its an issue of frivilous spending and such--but really i think the whole thing of her being a woman is putting a harsher light on this one.
I totally agree. She's trying to be the first woman elected as a VP, she's gotta lay it all on the line. And I guarantee Barack and John boy are wearing custom suits on a regular basis.....
totally agree!
Also, Palin isn't independently wealthy like Obama or McCain...
Butterfly123
Posted:
Member since
Re: Palin's Wardrobe 150K
Posted by NinaChris07
Posted by Snick n Nick
Posted by MJDoc12
i'm not a palin supporter at all---BUT -- i feel like the media is picking on her because she's a woman. its a horrible double standard. do we really think that Obama & McCain don't have custom suits made? c'mon now...no one has EVER questioned the wardrobe of nominees who were men.
if she didn't have good looking outfits -- we'd all tear her apart for not looking nice enough....and yes she's a woman so she can't wear the same suit over again with different ties. if we saw her repeating outfits -- again, the media would put side by side shots of her in the same suit with what dates she wore them on.
i know its an issue of frivilous spending and such--but really i think the whole thing of her being a woman is putting a harsher light on this one.
I totally agree. She's trying to be the first woman elected as a VP, she's gotta lay it all on the line. And I guarantee Barack and John boy are wearing custom suits on a regular basis.....
totally agree!
Also, Palin isn't independently wealthy like Obama or McCain...
Sarah Palin makes 6 figures
NinaChris07
Posted:
Member since
Re: Palin's Wardrobe 150K
Posted by Songstress
Posted by NinaChris07
Posted by Snick n Nick
Posted by MJDoc12
i'm not a palin supporter at all---BUT -- i feel like the media is picking on her because she's a woman. its a horrible double standard. do we really think that Obama & McCain don't have custom suits made? c'mon now...no one has EVER questioned the wardrobe of nominees who were men.
if she didn't have good looking outfits -- we'd all tear her apart for not looking nice enough....and yes she's a woman so she can't wear the same suit over again with different ties. if we saw her repeating outfits -- again, the media would put side by side shots of her in the same suit with what dates she wore them on.
i know its an issue of frivilous spending and such--but really i think the whole thing of her being a woman is putting a harsher light on this one.
I totally agree. She's trying to be the first woman elected as a VP, she's gotta lay it all on the line. And I guarantee Barack and John boy are wearing custom suits on a regular basis.....
totally agree!
Also, Palin isn't independently wealthy like Obama or McCain...
Sarah Palin makes 6 figures
Yes she does - and has five children, etc - that's not wealthy. She is not a millionaire like the other two.
It was obvious from the way she dressed beforehand that she didn't have alot of expendable cash...
Butterfly123
Posted:
Member since
Re: Palin's Wardrobe 150K
Well actually to be more accurate, her and Todd's 2007 income and the estimated value of their property and investments, they appear to be worth at least $1.2 million. Definitely not the average Joe sixpack. Id consider her wealthy even with 5 children.
Last year Obamas income was reported at 991,000. Not that far behind and not sure how theyre doing NOW but Im sure those numbers have gone up.
My point is its not like the woman is poor and needs donations of clothing.
beram63
Posted:
Member since
Re: Palin's Wardrobe 150K
Posted by lila
as long as she's not having taxpayers pay for it, don't really care.
mccain accepted public financing for his campaign. in a sense, we are.
lizzie217
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Re: Palin's Wardrobe 150K
I think 150k is totally excessive for anyone male or female to spend.
beram63
Posted:
Member since
Re: Palin's Wardrobe 150K
Posted by lizzie217
I think 150k is totally excessive for anyone male or female to spend.
ITA with you, but her wardrobe is such a trivial thing to focus on when we're dealing with such a dangerous candidate. what if we focused on any number of the following reasons why people should be pi$$ed that mccain so impulsively and irresponsibly chose her as his running mate?
(1) she has no respect for the separation of church and state, an ideal that is at the very foundation of our democracy, calling the war in iraq 'god's war.' (2) her husband has quite angrily declared on numerous occasions that he wants alaska to secede from the union and his wife is 'a heartbeat away from the presidency (of the union)' (3) she's stupid and underqualified (4) while the email forward was inaccurate, she did try to bully the librarian into getting rid of books, and has been brought up on other abuse-of-power charges, including seeking revenge for a personal vendetta and using alaskan tax dollars to foot the bill for her children. (5) she wants to overturn roe v wade, but she's also against sex education, which is a one-two punch that would basically guarantee a new trend of botched abortion procedures and DIY abortions, something women fought against for decades.
she is dangerous, and it has nothing to do with her valentino jacket.
