Sarah Palin went on some kind of RNC-financed shopping spree, Politico says

If there's one thing political journalists love, it's a whiff of hypocrisy.

That's why John Edwards, who campaigned for the Democratic nomination as a champion of the lower class, got so much flak when it was revealed that he favors $400 hair cuts.

And it's why journalists were unforgiving when John McCain, who claims he is the candidate to solve the nation's housing crisis, had a hard time remembering exactly how many homes he and his wife own.

So we expect the media will revel in this news, which Politico's Jeanne Cummings reported today: It appears that the Republican National Committee has shelled out more than $150,000 on clothing and accessories for vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and her family.

The spending spree included a $75,062.63 visit to Neiman Marcus and two stops at Saks Fifth Avenue that totaled $49,425.74, according to Cummings.

Doesn't sound like "just your average hockey mom." In fact, the ...

... average American spends only about $1,874 a year on clothing and services, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. 

The Ticket tracked down the RNC's financial disclosure records for September and October and confirmed that the RNC did indeed charge the purchases that Cummings cites (they were billed as “campaign accessories").

They include purchases made at Bloomingdale’s ($5,102.71), Barney’s ($789.72), a men's boutique called Atelier ($4,902.45) and at two baby clothing and accessory stores.

It's unclear whether all of the charges were related to Palin (e-mails sent to the McCain-Palin campaign about the nature of the charges were not returned Tuesday night), but some of them almost certainly were.

Newsweek reported in September that a campaign aide took Todd Palin shopping at a Saks Fifth Avenue, where he bought a new suit to wear to the Republican National Convention. And the New York Post reported that Palin gave her big speech in St. Paul in a $2,500 jacket designed by Valentino Garavani and also purchased from Saks.

It is legal for campaigns to buy clothes for their candidates, but it is unusual. Most candidates running for office pay for their own clothing. Politico's Cummings reports that a review of similar records for the campaign of Barack Obama and the Democratic National Committee revealed no similar spending.

Meanwhile, in other Palin spending news, the Associated Press reported today that as governor of Alaksa she mischarged the state for her children's travels.

Palin often took her children along while traveling, the AP reports, including to events where they were not invited. The AP says Palin's office later amended expense reports to specify that they were on official business. Here is an excerpt:

The charges included costs for hotel and commercial flights for three daughters to join Palin to watch their father in a snowmobile race, and a trip to New York, where the governor attended a five-hour conference and stayed with 17-year-old Bristol for five days and four nights in a luxury hotel.

In all, Palin has charged the state $21,012 for her three daughters' 64 one-way and 12 round-trip commercial flights since she took office in December 2006. In some other cases, she has charged the state for hotel rooms for the girls.

— Kate Linthicum

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Photo credit: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Darnell]

Sarah Palin loves to spend other people’s money. This must be what she meant by having executive experience. I’m glad Barak Obama doesn't have executive experience because he pays as he goes just like the rest of us. The great people of the states of Alaska, I can't wait to give you back your great governor.

[a-dub]

So much for the McCain-Feingold Act...
It must be true that you can't make a silk purse from a pit bull's ear.

[Truth]

Sounds like real expensive welfare to me - what about you all? Is this what republicans mean by socialism.

Just another hockey mom? Hmmm. Ladies whats your clothing budget?

Sarah Palin talk is cheap you are just another of the same and we do not need that bridge to nowhere. Thanks but no thanks.

Hey John so this is what you do with your donors money; huh?

You betcha! Wolves dressed in real expensive clothes.
No pork here. Reform all the way to the bank, those that are still operation on TAX dollars!

[maria]

that shopping spree for the whole family would have paid for 150 of the $1200 hospital investigative rape kits which Mayor/Govenor Palin required victims to pay for, until some lawyer pointed out how crazy that was.

[Larry]

Oh, cut her some slacks. Er, slack.

She's just redistributing that public campaign financing wealth (to herself).

[Jim Treacher]

How many millions has Obama spent on ads? Where did he get all that money?

[Johannes Larsen, New Zealand]

To Jim Treacher.
And the Moon is made out of green cheese. Stick to the subject. Duh!

[DTK]

Sara for First Seamtress! DTK

[LTJ]

For many it is impossible to stick to the subject. Sarah Palin did something outrageous, but at this point I really don't she cares. I believe she is going to get as much out of this VP thing as she can before it's over. I don't believe she's very cerebral, but I do think she's smart. She's looking at her situation and adjusting accordingly. Blame the media and take the money and run.

[jaxfldesi]

You said: Doesn't sound like "just your average hockey mom." In fact, the ...... average American spends only about $1,874 a year on clothing and services, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

But you forget, she is just not an average hockey mom (AHM) but she is an average hockey mom with lipstick (AHMWL) - it's the lipstick that accounts for the difference of ~$148,000.

[Cy]

Her husband needed some Armani's and Ferragamo's ,all he had were camo suits :)

[joe]

SO MUCH FOR COUNTRY FIRST!....

IT'S MORE LIKE ME FIRST

SARAH PALIN SPENT A 150K IN ABOUT TWO MONTH AND THE RNC CALLS OBAMA A ROCK STAR

LOL

[T R Dunkin]

Where did Obama get all that money? From millions of people like me making less than $250k a year. We all donate as much as we can because we want real CHANGE! Apparently, Republicans think that money should come from somewhere other than their own pocket like Mrs. Palin.

[Ohhh Ahhh]

"....just like dressing a Barbie that contains a pre-programmed voice box ready to spout anti-Obama retoric and demogougery at a moments notice....only problem is that this Fembot was not wired correctly at the factory and must be sent back for repairs....."

[Fred]

Jim Treacher has a point. Someone campaigning for president uses tens to hundreds of millions of people's money in order to get a job that pays $400,000 a year (which isn't worth the stress and everything else you have to deal with, but that's beside the point). If they get that job, they can use the money however they like. If the candidate doesn't get the job then millions of dollars were "wasted" on the campaign.

I'm not agreeing with this spending for personal things (although I'm sure most or all of the clothing has been used at all the events the family goes to, so it could be argued that it is campaign-related). However, in the end it is no different than spending people's money on advertising or airfare or a bus and gas for the bus except in this case at least someone has something to show for it.

[Beth]

If Palin spends so much on clothes, why does she always look so dowdy? This woman would not know chic if it hit her in the face. What a waste!

[Bill Becker]

There is nothing at all contradictory -- and, ispo facto, "hypocritical" -- about spending $400 for a haircut and advocating for the lower class; or owning several homes (and forgetting how many) and being able to solve the housing crisis for the middle class. Senator Kennedy is quite rich, I have heard, but he has been a consistent advocate for the poor. Ms. Linthicum needs to exercise more care in her insinuations, as do most reporters.

Palin's acceptance of high-price perks from the RNC while posing as a watchdog against political influence is hypocritical, though.

[andre miller]

Just another example of the double standard that IS the world of Palin. People that live in glass houses should not throw stones, she is learning this the hard way. If she had any sense and moral fortitude she would have politely declined McCain's offer, knowing full well she is hardly qualfiied to be a Governor let alone VP.

[Terence Weyenberg]

- How many millions has Obama spent on ads? Where did he get all that money? -

Obama's donations come entirely from everyday folks, mainly through $5-$100 donations. Not from PACs or 527s, the special interest groups that control the RNC.

The McCainiacs continue to lie and spread misinformation, fanning the flames of hatred and fear. They claim they are "pro-America" while trying to convince you that people who don't think like they do are "anti-America".

America is a land of diversity and tolerance, a land where t is illegal to discriminate against someone based on age, sex, race, creed, color, or orientation. Remember, our founding fathers realized how important it was to keep religion and politics separate. Why then are the McCainiacs preaching hate at every opportunity, and trying to insert their god into our government?

Don't tolerate politics as usual, expect more from your leaders.

[Janine]

I guess this is how the Republicans spread the wealth. Sounds like W's exhortation after September 11th when he told the country to go shopping. If McCain were to be elected, it sure would be like Bush's third term. Thank God he's going to lose.

[Wayne Beeman]

When a participant, "candidate For the Presidency" wants to put paint on an accessory to his campaign, it should improve the product. In this case the only change is where the money was spent. It appears that the rebuilding of the selected running mate shouild have started with application exam to deam the applicant indeed was worth rebuilding.

It reminds me of the comparison of attire, between Cindy McCain and Michell Obama's clothing at their respective appearances at their party conventions. Cindy wore an estimated $150,000 outfit, where as Michelle was wearing a very attractive $59.00 off the shelf dress.

It comes down to who has a true desire to help the nation, and who merely has a vision of the ride to take while aquiring all they can on route.

The old quote, clothes do not make the man nor woman. The heart, honesty, and ethics form the quality of any candidate or applicant for any position.

It is a real insult to any parties campaign to amuse the idea of spending for wardrobes for the entire family, paid for by the Party, and charging immensive amounts of money on per dium accounts to stay in your own home, charged to your own state.

Palin is unqualified, unmerited, uncaring, untrustable, and not thankfull for the opportunity she was awarded. How is it possible to justify this actions as the needs of the American people. The air around the Republican Parties behavior is starting to smell like "Rotting Pork for the Fembot"

[Mark]

If she spent $150,000 for the whole campaign (roughly 2 months), that figures out to $2,500 PER DAY. Can you clothe yourself for $2,500 per day appropriately? I should think even half of that would be more than enough. This is ridiculous!

[Bill Becker]

Had Ms. Linthicum made it clear that Edwards had used campaign funds for his $400 haircut, I would have been less critical of her accusation of hypocrisy against Edwards. (See Oct 22, 09:17 above.) I assumed that Edwards paid for the haircuts with his own money. I read that he did reimburse the campaign after being criticized for it, which I think was the right thing to do.

But, none of that makes him a hypocrite as regards helping the lower classes.