Sarah Palin's $150,000 Wardrobe Malfunction?

Sarah Palin, small-town hockey mom and everywoman? More like Sarah Palin, pampered princess. Jeanne Cummings at Politico reports that the RNC’s monthly financial disclosure reports reveal that the Republican National Committee has spent tens of thousands of dollars on the vice presidential candidate's wardrobe and accessories since she was nominated, including $150,000 in September alone.

So it seems you can take the girl out of the beauty pageant, but you can’t take the beauty pageant out of the girl.

Palin's clothes came from retailers such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy’s, Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus and Barneys New York, and expenses included nearly $5,000 for hair and makeup. Maybe this is actually her one-woman economic stimulus plan. Lord knows the retail sector needs it.

Still, voters must find it unfathomable for Palin, who has been presented as a woman “like us,” to spend that kind of money on clothes in these difficult financial times, to see her speaking so passionately about Joe the Plumber while plumbing campaign coffers for Valentino jackets and pencil skirts. And yet, they’ve eaten it up, tittering on chat sites about Palin’s Kawasaki eyeglass frames and her Naughty Monkey red peep-toe pumps. (See our earlier take on Gov. Palin's style here.)

Palin’s spokewoman is saying this is much ado about nothing, that we should be talking about more important issues. But can you imagine the outcry if it were revealed that Hilary Clinton’s rainbow of pantsuits was paid for by campaign contributions? Or if college kids’ $50 checks to the Biden/Obama campaign were putting those men in $5,000 custom suits? (Obama’s suits are by Hart Schaffner Marx out of Chicago, and cost in the $1,500 range.)

In Palin’s defense, being a woman in the public eye has its own kind of pressures. And it’s unlikely she has been stepping off the campaign trail to join the ladies who lunch for shopping sprees at Neimans. Instead, she is probably working with a wardrobe stylist, who brings her things to try on and choose from. But the issue of clothing and hair expenses has always been a land mine for politicians (John Edwards' $400 haircuts), and someone should have been sensitive to that.

You also have to wonder how it feels, as a woman, to have everyone know that you really have been dressed up and trotted out like a beauty queen for the American public to wag their tongues at. Caribou Barbie indeed.

-- Booth Moore, Los Angeles Times Fashion Critic

Photo: Republican VP candidate, Gov. Sarah Palin at a campaign rally in Carson, California on October 4, 2008. Michael Robinson Chavez/Los Angeles Times.

Comments

[R K Savage]

Whats all this Talk about suits and hair and things got to do with anything? I know the economy is a issue of concern but it is not the only one. I haven't heard one word addressing Illegal Immigration and how this country is being given away piece meal. or about Mexican Drug dealers opening fire with automatic weapons on Hidalgo county Texas sheriffs Deputies who were protecting our border from Drug smugglers. Deputies chased Mexian drug runners back accross the boarder. They abandoned there vehicle in the river and then demanded that they be allowed back to retrieve their drugs and when the sheriffs refused they opened fire with automatic weapons. The mexican Government lets these killers run free and should be held to account for such activity.

[lindaj]

I think her makeover is more of a makeunder. No woman with such a trim figure would choose to mismatch those colorful short jackets with black pencil skirts unless they came from a state where a snowsuit substitutes for fashion. Where's a gay Republican friend when you need one?

[JGabriel]

I'm finding out from these comments what it means to be a modern Mainstream Republican Conservative:

A report on a Democratic candidate overpaying for a rush haircut to a total of $400 = Objective, Necessary, Hard-hitting Journalism

A report on a Republican candidate overpaying for clothing to the tune of greater than $150,000, i.e., more than three times the median income = Biased Liberal Commie Gay Bias!

Interesting.

And they wonder why they have no credibility.

.

[mark]

Really this is only pointing out that she didn't have anything to wear. At least nothing appropriate for someone that had never been in the national arena. There's a reason for that. We call it "Inexperience"!

[Chris in Texas]

I don't care how much McCain's contributors paid for Frau Palin's clothes. If they think that their campaign dollars should be spent on clothes that's their business. What I find interesting is that she purchased said wardrobe from the "other America". You know, from us left wing, liberal, socialist/communist, anti-war, child molesters. Where, in fact, 80+% of the US actually lives, not in her celebrated "small towns". What a hypocrite.

[Virginia Lady]

I was mostly amused at the article and the responses. But I saw a glimmer that encouraged me. Folks want to see the issues written about not trivia. It's not hard to take any position and turn it into biased news - and the more ridiculous the better for the newspaper because at least they know someone is reading the news. However, I believe the reason Obama is now 10 points ahead is more and more discreditable stories are coming out about Palin - in particular paying for so many personal expenses by the Alaska government. Up until McCain picked Palin as a running mate many of us were leaning towards him. However, when he loses the election I believe it is because he chose her. Heaven forbid anything would happen to him if he was president and she had to assume the duties of the Commander in Chief for the United States. Like many others I've watched family and friends suffer and struggle from economic woes. It's heartbreaking to many Americans who have carefully saved and invested and have lost so much. Sure the market will recover some year, but what about all those who have lost homes and jobs in the process. It's really a tragedy all the way around that so much money is spent on the campaign and the people involved in the race. We might be able to make a huge stride in reducing the debt for our country if we were more like Great Britain and other countries who do not allow this level of funding and spending for campaigns. How wonderful if all the people spending these big bucks could use the money to save our economy rather than just show us how poorly off we really are. I'm nervous too about Obama's lack of experience but not as much as I am worried about Palin having any real role in running our country.

[Scott]

You people are all doing what they (both parties) want. Arguing amongst yourselves while they continue to live off your sweat equity. Nothing will ever change until we all realize that it is time to overhaul the system. Neither party is interested in solving any problems. Why should they? Your attention spans are all 30 seconds long.

This "bailout" is a joke. In what world does borrowing more solve the money crisis you are presently in? Thank goodness I do not have any children. Otherwise I would feel very badly about passing this incredible debt onto future generations.

WAKE UP AMERICA>>>NEITHER PARTY WILL SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS. THEY'LL ONLY EXACERBATE THEM.

[micheleinmichigan]

"I wonder when the reports of Michelle Obama's donated coture freebies from Oprah's designer will be mentioned by the adoring press ..."

Well if a designer decides to donate to someone that is marketing for the designer AND it is taxable income to the recipient. The original Politico article also examined the Obama/Biden campaign and found no such wardrobe expenses.

Actually, I find it surprising that the people who most likely donated to the RNC are the least offended. I love shopping, but I gotta say $2,300 dollars a day (from being selected VP to Election day) seems a bit steep. Ann Taylor, Macy's and Nordstrom's make very presentable clothes for much less...or maybe a designer could have been induced to donate some looks.

Posted by: GEAH | October 22, 2008 at 10:49 AM
I wonder how many families you can feed with $150,000.
-----
I don't know about feeding a family, but my son's surgery last year cost $15,000. So Palin is wearing 10 cleft palate surgeries. Luckily, his was paid for by our insurance, which we could eventually lose if McCain became president and implemented his health plan.

Can you imagine what we'd pay for on insurance for a child with a pre-existing condition that will require a minimum of 3 more surgeries and weekly speech therapy? Oh yeah, we ARE going to need one of those "cadillac" insurance programs that pays for plastic surgery so my son can do things like talk and eat with-out food coming out his nose.

And speaking of special needs. Maybe as an expert on special needs Palin can tell us how much a parent of an autistic child spends on speech and occupational therapy. Insurance doesn't pay for it. Most school system's are woefully inadequate...

Republican's claim to be able to cut back on government spending, please.

okay, done with rant.

[stevew]

This is newsworthy because it says something about Palin's (and the RNC's) values. Moose hunting hockey moms don't spend $150,000 on clothes. They don't even have $150.000!

Palin is a fraud, and a sanctimonious one at that. And she cares more about being a clothes horse than she cares about being a good steward of the money that people like Joe the Plumber have given to McCain's campaign. Of course, what do you expect from someone who steals from the citizens of Alaska so she can take her children with her on trips??? Does your company pay travel expenses for your children to take business trips with you? Maybe if you work for ING.

All you people who are jumping on the media about reporting this were all over the reports that John Edwards spent $400 on a haircut. You thought that was great. You can't have it both ways-- what's good for the goose is good for the gander.

[CHARLES]

WHAT IS OF NOTE IS THAT SHE HAD TO BUY ALL THIS BECAUSE SHE ISNT SOME ELITIST THAT HAS SPENT YEARS BUILDING A WARDROBE.

She is one of us, and NEEDED to buy clothes to be on television 24hrs a day. Any working American in her position would have to do the same.

[dressed to kill]

The Times has sunk to a new low. Like the Dow, it appears that there is no floor under the Times vindictiveness. Shame, shame, shame.

[artemisia]

We are sick of McCain & Palin. He is out of touch, borderline insane by now and she is naive, inexperienced and ill informed. Neither is fit to lead nor handle the office of the President of the United States. Like most voters I wish the elections were yesterday. Can't take this anymore.

[Stone]

Democrates are complaining about Palins wardrobe cost but she is a politician running for office. Who is paying for Obama's wife and her entourage to fly around the country?

[krussell]

Wow! S.Palin sure does generate lots of interest, democratic and republican.

[Joseph]

Will she be required to pay taxes on these expenditures?

[Justin]

A hoopla story, but it offers a little more insight.
McCain decided to take the federal funding, instead of raising the money. If he thinks spending it on outfits for Palin, instead of helping them raise awareness, grow their campaign, or use it to spin their spending in a good light. That is their choice.. A poor choice, that shows a glimpse of the underbelly of those two..

They should have came forward with this spending and Charity Spin before the scoop by the press.. Now it just looks like a cop-out.. It would have increased the attention of what she was wearing, increased auction prices on those garments(up to election day), and made McCain/ Palin look better. Maybe make Palin look like she was really working to help Disabled Children, not just her own.

Personally, we are dumped on ether way you vote. A president and cronies can get us in this mess, but it is going to take 585 people +1 to get us out. However, I am going to vote for the person that has fresh ideas, a good temperament, and the two that have the greatest overall experience in national politics..

[David]

The Palin selection is, and has been, an unmitigated disaster for McCain, and this latest issue--$150,000 in wardrobe payments by the campaign-- is simply one more nail in the coffin for McCain. You really can't blame Palin for the spending spree, it goes back to McCain's absurd selection of her in the first place. She should have never been placed on the ticket. What did he accomplish by her selection? Surely, he solidified his support by right-wing Republican zealots(which he should have had in the bag anyway), but did absolutely nothing for adding critical moderates and independents of which I am included.

[Walter Festoon]

Please get the story correct! LA Times always leaves a bit out, don't they. Sick libs.

[OpenMind]

Obama spent money donated by people like you and me. He collected millions because millions donated money out of their free will. Unlike McCain who used up the money from our tax dollars. So when you blame Obama to be the big spender, you should realize that 3.1 million small donations Added up to what he got. So in other words its the COMMON PEOPLE like us who are supporting the cause and NOT the GOVERNMENT MONEY.

[Rosie]

But Obama paid for his own clothes

[Peter J Haselman]

Well ,it sounds very typical to me of th republican party....spend, spend, spend. Just goes to show you, DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER!!!!!!!

[Domoore2]

This is news because it supports a disturbing pattern for this Palin. Using power to fire a Law Enforcement officer who would not fire her brother in law, using state funds to cart her children across the country, lying about the Bridge to Nowhere, and now using RNC funds to buy an expensive wardrobe. The hypocrisy is overwhelming.

[noone]

Yes it's a big deal. She embodies the very look style and swagger all these paris hilton wannabes strive for in todays society. Face it she is a rich bi--ch that doesn't give a hoot about the people. I'm not voting for either candidate by the way. It is all a show to try and buy the white house for corporate interests. The repubs had thier chance to nominate Ron Paul and blew it so now you get what you deserve and that is 4 years of obama socialism. Anybody who thinks that this lady should be in a position to be president needs to be have their head examined. One other thing that irks me. Why do people insist on taking their children to political rallies to stand behind Mccain and Obama? These kids are not old enough to form decisions on what political party they want to be part of. It should be outlawed. Just today I saw a girl maybe 10 or 11 with a tshirt with "republican" written across the front. Anyone else disagree with that?

[craig]

This is rediculous reporting.

How much did Obama spend on house (with Rezko subsidy)?

Who is the only candidate who has actually had to budget on a modest income (Palin).

What about the other candidates??

This is another pure hit job, and shows how trivial and useless the mainstream media has become.

[Will]

Fact Check: Yes, Barrack Obama wears classy attire, it's costly, not inexpensive; however, the DNC is not footing the bill. Obama's own personal finances pay for his image, not his campaign contributions.

The issue here is not a sexist one, persay. Palin has a clear history of mooching... Alaska pays for her family trips. Alaska foot the bill in several occasions where it would most definitely be deemed unethical.

We're not upset she is fashionable... we're upset she hasn't made a single ethical decision, in well any documentation...

Fashion to her is a baby seal coat and an endangered wolf shawl.

But in reality this is all petty. Obama has such a lead over these foolish people that at this point the only chance McCain has is Diebold systems completeling manipulating yet another election (2000,2004)

I hope every old Republican's blood pressure is rising, at the rate honest Americans are losing their savings and homes. Survival of the fittest and your old world tactics are long obsolete.

[Jack Anderson]

This is relevant because it shows how the candidate wastefully spends and mismanages. Even in high times we don't need this sort of greed spending.

[Marcos El Malo]

This anti-Sara backlash is sickening. Do you people really want Sara Palin campaigning in clothes she made herself (made from the skins of animals she killed herself)? That sort of thing might play well in Alaska, where they dress in fur suits and prom dresses are made from old curtain material. But Palin, the GOP Cinderella, is campaigning on the national stage. If the campaign wants to play fairy godmother, who are we to begrudge her the fancy clothes? I, for one, hope she fully enjoys herself before the clock strikes 12.

[Bridgett]

The issue isn't how much she spends for her clothes, it's the fact that she's using taxpayer's dollars and donations to do it. I sent in a check for $75 and this is what it went to?

My new employer didn't pay for my clothes for the job interview...

[Monique]

"Women need a much bigger wardrobe than men. Otherwise everyone would complain that she was trashy or low class"
REALITY: Your sexist comment is ignorant. A woman is "trashy" by the quality of their look and "low class" as in quality of their brain.
Palin is an embarassment to our race; She's also a major contributor to the teenage out-of-wedlock, pregnant, and non-educated-by-choice future adults.

[robin]

I agree that spending that much money on clothing is ridiculous. BUT You need to be fair in your reporting of the news. you people in the media are supposed to be UNBIASED I have not seen that at all I think you are all dead on democrats. All the articles I have read in a long time always have that slant to them. Publish something stating actual facts for both parties. Thank you.

[Carl]

You gave us the boxer or briefs answer, but you slackers didn't tell us panties or thong.
Such shallow reporting.

[Marcos El Malo]

Oh, and one more thing:

Those of you raging against the journalistic standards of the L.A. times . . . you do realize this is the Style and Fashion blog, don't you?

[Matt]

C'mon now people. She has to look good while she rules the Senate.

[Chard]

RE: this is not newsworthy. Well, kinda true, but...

There is a lot of room for a lot of different stories. Not every article on this race has to be on economics, or who's lying, or the war, or whatever. There ARE lots of stories on that. This is on something different.

I have 300 channels on my TV. I watch maybe 10. Some somewhere must care about those other 290.

[RJA]

The reason that this information is newsworthy is due in large part to the fact that Sarah Palin represents herself as a down to earth, one of the crowd, hockey mom. Spending a fortune on clothes in this economic climate, wherever the money came from, makes her look like a total hypocrite. Kind of like her runnng mate John McCain, the ultimate hypocrite. He actually had me thinking of supporting him a few years ago when he was portraying himself as a moderate, and a supporter of the environment. Now to get the nomination from his party ,and the support of the radical right wing wackos, his true colors are showing. He isn't a Maverick, he's a chameleon.

[Tree]

You heard it here. A fashion critic decrying fashion in the
name of thriftiness!!! Balderdash!!

The entire fashion industry exists because people are willing to spend thousands on things that cost very little to make. A parasite complaining about the host. Ungrateful.

[Alann]

Normally I would ignore this sort of thing, something like a 400 dollar haircut or pretty much anything that's less than my paycheck (or even two paychecks) doesn't phase me.
In this case it would take me probably seven years to save this kind of money, and that just pisses me off. I really don't pay much attention to how much things cost, I was assuming she owned her own clothes and her wardrobe was in sync with the kind of money a governor or senator makes (100k-200k). As govenor of Alaska she makes 125k so even with a family to support, I expected her to have nice clothes, but this is way too much.
In the scheme of politics I suppose 150k isn't worth batting an eye at when you are spending millions. It may even be more effectively spent than on campaign adds, its just something which rubs me the wrong way.

[John Hallowell]

Gee, I wonder whose side the LA Times is on.

[lacy]

i think it's unbelievable that Palin spent that much taxpayers money on clothes! she should be impeached! and it should be illegal to spend money on clothes like that.Somebody told me that Obama gets his clothes from Sears like everyone else and thats why i am going to vote for him.

[gustav]

SURAJ CORDA:
That's an old trick. We all know you're a liberal posing as a former McCain supporter. Weak.

[Are You From The Past?]

To all the people referring to this blog post as an article you have a lot to learn about the 21st century and how opinion is now disseminated. This is an opinion piece by the fashion editor. I have read plenty of opinion pieces during this election on blogs and it always makes me chuckle when people angrily accuse the writer of bias and lack of balanced journalism. When you see the term blog you have to look at it with as an opinion with a point of view, not as a traditional five Ws article. Feel free to comment on the content of the article, but to just use your comments to attack that someone has a point of view in a blog is ludicrous. Last I checked they still deliver and sell newspapers that have the opinion section and letters to the editor. This might be a better place for those who cannot handle the 21st century news sources.

[Jay]

I'm an Obama supporter who does not think this really matters much, but I do think it would be interesting to see which charity this stuff gets donated to, and what the charity does with it after they get it. I am constantly amazed at how bitter McCain supporters are on these blogs. The overwhelming majority of the country who will be electing Obama is wrong, and they are right! Ok, that makes a lot of sense to me. They must like the depression we are headed toward, and they must all be making more than $250,000 a year. Yeah, I'm sure that's it. There is no way that a person from a red state who is making less than $250,000 would ever vote for another Republican who probably has less regard for them than the terrible socialist liberals is there???

[Keith Sarver]

Well, I agree with Meg. I'm tired of this stupid labeling back and forth. Nothing is black and white. We all have different ideas and opinions and backgrounds on every issue. Stop with the pointless name calling and discuss some actual concrete subjects. And that's the actual point for me. Instead of spending huge amounts unnecessarily on her hair and nails and clothes (and moreover, I wouldn't pay $5 for that jacket she has on in the photo, it's horrid), and instead of constantly ignoring the issues and attacking Obama and Biden, why don't Palin and McCain show a bit of thrift if they're so gosh darn Amurrican, you betcha, by golly wow, maverick, Joe the plumber lovers! Oh, I forgot, typically, "THOSE" people usually do spend our country into the ground...

[Enorme Nuez]

$150k on personal items paid for by their campaign is a big deal. Especially when she is whipping her crowds into frenzies. Those "Joe's" struggle to make a living and here comes a lady who has spent $150k on herself in one month? Wow.

If this were Hilary we would be giving her crap the same way Paliin deserves this. The same way Edwards was given grief for those $400 dollar haircuts.

As for Scott asking "How much did Obama spend renting Denver Stadium "to make himself look good"?" Well that wasn't on HIM, that was for the entire party and if I am not mistaken tickets were sold. He didn't spend the money pampering himself of goodies that serve his purpose. It would be different if Palin spent her own money, but she didn't. It came from people who donated their hard earned money to a cause they believe in.

All this shows me is that she is self-absorbed and selfish. And this is someone who should be the second in command?

[slavicdiva]

If Sarah Palin wants to spend $150,000 of her own money on clothes, that's her own business. But she didn't - and the stinking, hypocritical RNC wants to portray this complete moron as "Jane 6-pack" while spending more than we paid for our house on her, in a single month!

She's just like me? In whose lifetime will I ever spend $150,000 on clothes, in a single month? It would take me about 4 years to earn that much, and I sure would not be spending it on clothes. For $150,000, I could buy clothes for myself and my husband for quite a few years. And we are both professionals, BTW.

As for the cost of Barack & Michelle Obama's clothes, or Joe Biden's - the DNC is not paying for their clothing, so there simply is no comparison.

If this silly woman couldn't afford her own wardrobe, she has no business applying for the job.

[Malahuna]

YOU POOR REPUBLICANS JUST CAN'T WIN.

"YOU JUST CAN'T WIN"...GET IT?

[M Winter]

Both sides seem to forget that the money spent on Palin comes from the public funds that McCain has taken for his campaign. Obama has taken no public funds. If his expenditures offend, then those who contribute to his campaign have every right to cease any and all contributions. It makes me wonder what McCain would be spending on if he had Obama's (almost) unlimited funds. That's what this matter has to do with the important issues -- how taxpayer monies are spent!

Mawinn

[Politricks]

this is the games so called politicians play but after all i don't believe this should be an important issue, Palin is not a politician, she's an alaskan preacher! she needs to retire or resign from the camp... what a disaster for Mcain. I am a proud independent and they keep singing the same tune over and over. If i am to decide i will vote for OBAMA.

[jla]

Unbelievable. How could anyone possibly want a person like this a heartbeat away from the presidency. Even if McCain were absolutely perfect in all other aspects (which he's obviously not), anyone with half a brain would have to vote for BARAK OBAMA just to keep Sarah Palin away from the White House.

[Robert]

Typical vile dribble from a well know Left wing news rag. I guess you have to be from MexiKalifornia to appreciate this garbage.