Those designer duds for Sarah Palin and her family? Some, unworn, have already been returned

Some of the clothes, worth a reported $150,000, purchased by the Republican National Committee to outfit vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin and her family have already been "given back," John McCain said this morning on NBC's "Meet the Press."

To hear Palin's own comments on the clothes controversy, view the video by clicking on the Read more line below.

"Look, she lives a frugal life," McCain told the show's moderator, Tom Brokaw. "She and her family are not wealthy. She and her family were thrust into this, and there was some -- and some third of that money is given back. The rest will be donated to charity."

McCain senior advisor Mark Salter told The Times' Bob Drogin this morning that about a third of the items went back immediately, before they were worn in public, because they were the wrong size or not to Palin's taste.

The McCain-Palin campaign has taken considerable heat since it was disclosed on Oct. 21 that within days of Palin's....

...selection for the ticket, a GOP operative had gone on a spending spree at Saks Fifth Avenue ($49,425), Neiman Marcus ($75,062) and several pricey boutiques. When she gave her acceptance speech to the GOP convention in St. Paul, Palin wore a $2,500 ivory silk shantung jacket by the Italian designer Valentino, reportedly purchased at Saks.

On Friday, in a bit of damage control, Palin told Fox News that her favorite store was Out of the Closet, a consignment shop in Anchorage, and she elaborated on the topic today during a campaign stop in Tampa, Fla.:

“Those clothes -- they are not my property, just like the lighting and the staging and everything else that the RNC purchased. I am not taking them with me. I am back to wearing my own clothes from my favorite consignment shop in Anchorage, Alaska.”

She also told the Tampa crowd about some of the accessories she was wearing:

"Let me tell you a little bit about a couple of accessories, didn’t think that we would be talking about it, but my earrings -- I see a Native Americans for Palin poster. These are beaded earrings from Todd’s mom, who is a Yupik Eskimo up in Alaska, Native American, Native Alaskan.

And my wedding ring -- it’s in Todd’s pocket 'cause it hurts sometimes when I shake hands and it gets squished -- a $35 wedding ring from Hawaii that I bought myself and 'cause I always thought with my ring it’s not what it’s made of, it’s what it represents, and 20 years later, happy to wear it.”

--Leslie Hoffecker

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Photo credit: Alex Wong / Getty Images

Comments

[scootmandubious]

Palin, not wealthy? Maybe by McCain's 7 home standards. However, earlier this month, AP reported that as of last year, the Palin's assets were over a millon dollars. That hardly makes them poor.

So, what do Alaskans think of their native daughter?

One major Alaskan paper (there are only 3) today, in their editorial today, endorsed Obama, and trashed John McCain's judgement, concluding: "few who have worked closely with the governor would argue she is truly ready to assume command of the most important, powerful nation on earth."

Meanwhile, a second op-ed from another major Alaskan paper referred to Palin as "the real bridge to nowhere."

I have both pieces highlighted, with links to the complete articles, at

http://scootmandubious.blogspot.com/2008/10/latest-alaskan-press-not-pretty-for.html

[Sarah]

Her wedding ring gets squished when she shakes hands??? Does she shake hands with her left hand?

[Jason87]

Remember McCain defined wealthy as having an income of $5 million or more. So, by the McCain definition, Gov. Palin is not wealthy. But she's working on it. Youbetcha!

[spoonido]

A governor who isn't wealthy? Come, now. Would she like to sell some ice to her constituents, as well?

[Ericmiami]

Palin's choice by McCain was an insult to all Americans.

[Steve424]

Whether or not 1/3 of the $150,000 worth of clothing has already been returned is immaterial. Whether or not the rest of the clothing will be donated to charity after the election is immaterial. What *is* material, is that Palin could have been shown some true grit and Just Said No when she was taken to those expensive stores, when she was trying on the expensive clothing and accessories, when she went to the expensive stylists and cosmeticians, and especially when the totals were bring rung up.

But she didn't. Instead of holding fast to her Hockey Mom roots, she sold out her pretense of representing "real America" for some pieces of fabric and silver. One can only wonder what she would sell if she became proprietor of the United States.

Or maybe Palin is just suffering from the same malady as her buddy Ted "I didn't know it was a gift" Stevens.

[Brian]

1 Million in assets... that really might not be what it sounds like. A lot of us who bought homes 15 years ago have close to that in equity, and therefore, assets, but it doesn't necessarily mean you're rich. Come on. I'm probably worth close to that, and I can't afford to take a vaction to hawaii... so whatever people.

She said she returned the goods, what's the big deal here? Isn't there some virtue in her being frugal?

Further, it's pretty obvious that Obama, being a man, can outfit his frame quite well for a lot less, simply because men's clothes are so much cheaper.

This issue amounts to nothing... hill of beans.

[saddlepack maker]

Taken as a whole, this is really a non-issue unless the practice of paying large sums of money for clothing was solely provided to Gov. Palin. Have any money by the RNC been provided to Sen. McCain? Have any money by the DNC been provided to Sens. Obama or Biden?

During her convention speach, Gov. Palin did refer to the Greek columns present during Sen. Obama's convention speak as being fake and fabricated as opposed to the realness of Sen. McCain and herself. Perhaps this experience points to a double standard she has used.

[Mark]

I actually work on the north slope in Alaska (but not in the same shop as Todd Palin) and know for a fact his income when he was working full-time was under $140,000/yr. Less than half of what Senator Obama's wife was making in her job as a public relations rep for a Chicago Hospital.
The house they live in was built by Todd Palin himself, and is the bulk of their assets. It's worth maybe $500,000. Sarah Palins salary is a little over $80,000/yr.

[Rich]

Article seems to have missed it was due to them not fitting vs. being frugal.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/26/politics/main4546247.shtml

A little late, but good to see they might have thought this was a mistake.

I still want to see the person who gets the $2,500 ivory silk shantung jacket.

[SuznAZ]

Sarah & Todd have a combined income of about $230k a year plus businesses, fishing rights, and land ventures. That's hardly struggling. Their new lake home, whoever built it for them, is half a million. Whether or not she returned clothes after it became an issue...she still wore a $2500 jacket at the convention and other high end duds and her make up artist is the highest paid person on the campaign. That's no hockey mom.

[Abbracadabbra]

Brian, you ask, "What's the big deal here?"

I'll tell you what it is. This is the campaign that claims they can solve our economic problems by reigning in spending in Washington. Yet this clothing expenditure proves they can't even reign in spending in their own campaign.

Saddlepack maker, you questioned whether the RNC also paid for McCain's clothing, or whether the DNC paid for Obama's or Biden's. Good question. The answer is "NO". Biden, Obama and McCain (and their wives) wear their own clothes on the campaign trail. Hillary Clinton also wore her own clothes.

It is understandable that the VP candidate would need clothing for the campaign, given that she is travelling through various climate zones, none of which are quite like her own. And just like the workplace, there is a double standard - it makes sense that she would have to maintain a certain image. But $150,000.00 is way over the top. It appears that their values are somewhat skewed when Palin's makeup artist is the highest paid member of the campaign team.

[cm grigg]

So people who have the means to enter snow mobile contests and run for office are scraping by like the rest of us. My wife and I could afford insurance if we gave up our cheap apartment (750 a month). I gotta listen to this candidate acting like she's one of the folk? She's another under prepared Bush type getting elected by pimping out her religion, wedge issues and her kids. Sorry Gov. Palin but some of us have been paying attention to the past 40 years of American history. This is not an example of hard work and dedication but instead a glaring example of opportunism. And when are those Alaska rebate checks gonna get shared with the lower 48. We have a stake in those federal oil fields too.

[Knifeslice]

Who would believe anything from the Obama Networks!
Anything they can do to destroy the McCain Palin ticket they will.
Notice that no news media has questioned or investigated Obama on anything. And if they do they no longer get to follow the “Obama” campaign, they are then out of the loop.
I never thought I would see the day when an investigative reporter would use the persons or “OBAMA’S” own web site and factcheck.org to confirm that also happens to be owned and operated by the same individual who employed Obama in his community organizing career. And who has been a strong supporter and involved with the Obama campaign.
The media doesn’t question were his money is coming from; maybe Muslim extremists (do ya think). From his associates!!!!
Who are his past friends and business associates? Most that just happened to be major extremist! “On record”
They all seem to hate the “US, God, freedom and white people!” (Do ya see a pattern here)?
Or are you so blinded by “THE ONE” to see your selling out your FREEDOM and the freedom of your children and there children.
As an example of what’s to come Biden was asked a simple question by a reporter this morning, the Obama campaign thought it was too tough so they cut their News agency from any other Obama Biden events or any more questions or interviews from them.
That sounds like the One World Socialist Government Obama and his Muslim financial supporters have planned for America. Biden is too dumb to know the difference he’s just a pawn. And Obama is getting away with all this because of a group of misguided fools who truly don’t know what do. “God Please Come Back to Bless Us before Nov. 4th” Amen.

[Freda]

Returned what? After she got caught with her hands in the "cookie jar", she "returned" what?

We need a list of what was bought and what was returned. What about the family member's clothes and accesories? A seven year old with a desinger bag is just beyond my belief.

I am a hockey Mom and I go to KMart for my clothes.

[Knifeslice]

Who would believe anything from the Obama Networks!
Anything they can do to destroy the McCain Palin ticket they will.
Notice that no news media has questioned or investigated Obama on anything. And if they do they no longer get to follow the “Obama” campaign, they are then out of the loop.
I never thought I would see the day when an investigative reporter would use the persons or “OBAMA’S” own web site and factcheck.org to confirm that also happens to be owned and operated by the same individual who employed Obama in his community organizing career. And who has been a strong supporter and involved with the Obama campaign.
The media doesn’t question were his money is coming from; maybe Muslim extremists (do ya think). From his associates!!!!
Who are his past friends and business associates? Most that just happened to be major extremist! “On record”
They all seem to hate the “US, God, freedom and white people!” (Do ya see a pattern here)?
Or are you so blinded by “THE ONE” to see your selling out your FREEDOM and the freedom of your children and there children.
As an example of what’s to come Biden was asked a simple question by a reporter this morning, the Obama campaign thought it was too tough so they cut their News agency from any other Obama Biden events or any more questions or interviews from them.
That sounds like the One World Socialist Government Obama and his Muslim financial supporters have planned for America. Biden is too dumb to know the difference he’s just a pawn. And Obama is getting away with all this because of a group of misguided fools who truly don’t know what do. “God Please Come Back to Bless Us before Nov. 4th” Amen.

[shin]

did anyone forget that hockey isn't a cheap sport?

[Jose Rodrigues III]

Yeah right.. you betcha wink wink...

How many charities have REAL PEOPLE out there that can use a $2500 Valentino suit? The curtain has been drawn back and the beast exposed for the truth. I was leaning toward McCain but I just don't like the two-faced double talk. Elite? Neiman Marcus and Saks caters to the elite. Must be nice up there.
My wife would be laughed out of her factory job wearing a $2500.00 suit.
You Betcha!!!! Wink Wink!

[Richard]

Awwe c'mon... a person is rich with $1 million in assets? These days a tarpaper shack on the wrong side of the tracks can cost a million $....at least our local estate agent would have you believing so... Seems to me hubby Todd has a fishboat and probably some species licenses to go with it.. a but of serious coin there...

They are probably not poor but by Alaska standards, where everything costs more, they are hardly what you could consider "rich". I'd say she even needs money from the Governors stipend just to keep up with the Jones'es down the street.

1 minute poll... not a chance... Diva?... maybe... or maybe just illusions of grandeur setting in... she's seems to have a 'my way or the highway' mentality and not the kind of team player image Obama/Biden projects.

Obama doesn't exactly have a lot of experience either, but he's smart enough to surround himself with people who do. He's smart; a fast learner in the mean streets of a rough 'n tumble business that has a very steep learning curve.. but me thinks he'll do OK in the end. Biden was the perfect choice...

It seems absurd to think of it but had McCain phoned Hillary Clinton and asked her to join the ticket, it would have in the end been a better choice.

[Campbell]

Hmm. All this to trash Palin. She did not have the clothes or the money so the RNC purchased them for her just for the campaign. Obamas clothes and vacations have been paid for by the DNC and no one wants to mention that? Hypocrites.

[PicabosMom]

I'd like to see an itemized list of expenses for both parties. Guarenteed, the obama team would be redfaced for sure. lol

[Frank Provasek]

$150,000 can feed 3,000 starving children in Darfur for a year! www.fmsc.org This is just another example of the "compassion" of the Republican party.

[Concerned]

Sorry Cambell, but the Obamas, Bidens and Clintons spent their own money on their clothes. And what vacations are you talking about? Stop the silly lies.

Having said that, it's really a non-issue. If the campaign donors don't care where their money goes, why should I?

Also, this case wasn't cracked by the Obama camp. The media did it. Obama's too busy talking about the issues to engage in this kind of smear. The McCain camp should take note.

[jadetiger]

OK, so. Let me get this straight: quote: about a third of the items went back immediately, before they were worn in public, because they were the wrong size or not to Palin's taste./quote.
Does that third come off the top of the $150k, or is this over and above the $150k? I mean, where does this "third" show up? My guess would be it's already been deducted from the total...Meaning the actual dollars spent was significantly higher?
Now the wedding ring- she shakes hands with her left hand? And bought her own ring- couldn't first dude afford to buy the ring for her?
I notice also she didn't say "no" to the $22k for 2 weeks worth of makeup, or the hair makeover- I suppose they held her down and forced that stuff on her.

[mary Steeb]

Oh pleeze!
Given to charity...? I can just see some minimum wage mom at a homeless shelter sashaying around in Sarah's designer jacket and 4 inch heels.
How out of touch are these republicans?