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RNC shells out $150K for Palin fashion
Politico ^ | 10/22/08 9:24 AM EDT | JEANNE CUMMINGS

Posted on 10/22/2008 7:21:50 AM PDT by Issaquahking

The Republican National Committee has spent more than $150,000 to clothe and accessorize vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and her family since her surprise pick by John McCain in late August.


According to financial disclosure records, the accessorizing began in early September and included bills from Saks Fifth Avenue in St. Louis and New York for a combined $49,425.74.


The records also document a couple of big-time shopping trips to Neiman Marcus in Minneapolis, including one $75,062.63 spree in early September.


The RNC also spent $4,716.49 on hair and makeup through September after reporting no such costs in August.


The cash expenditures immediately raised questions among campaign finance experts about their legality under the Federal Election Commission's long-standing advisory opinions on using campaign cash to purchase items for personal use.


Politico asked the McCain campaign for comment, explicitly noting the $150,000 in expenses for department store shopping and makeup consultation that were incurred immediately after Palin’s announcement. Pre-September reports do not include similar costs.


Spokeswoman Maria Comella declined to answer specific questions about the expenditures, including whether it was necessary to spend that much and whether it amounted to one early investment in Palin or if shopping for the vice presidential nominee was ongoing.

“The campaign does not comment on strategic decisions regarding how financial resources available to the campaign are spent," she said.

But hours after the story was posted on Politico's website and legal issues were raised, the campaign issued a new statement.

"With all of the important issues facing the country right now, it’s remarkable that we’re spending time talking about pantsuits and blouses," said spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt. "It was always the intent that the clothing go to a charitable purpose after the campaign."

Slideshow

Palin Fashion

The business of primping and dressing on the campaign trail has become fraught with political risk in recent years as voters increasingly see an elite Washington out of touch with their values and lifestyles.

In 2000, Democrat Al Gore took heat for changing his clothing hues. And in 2006, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) was ribbed for two hair styling sessions that cost about $3,000.

Then, there was Democrat John Edwards’ $400 hair cuts in 2007 and Republican McCain’s $520 black leather Ferragamo shoes this year.

A review of similar records for the campaign of Democrat Barack Obama and the Democratic National Committee turned up no similar spending.

But all the spending by other candidates pales in comparison to the GOP outlay for the Alaska governor whose expensive, designer outfits have been the topic of fashion pages and magazines.

What hasn’t been apparent is where the clothes came from – her closet back in Wasilla or from the campaign coffers in Washington.

The answer can be found inside the RNC’s September monthly financial disclosure report under “itemized coordinated expenditures.”

It’s a report that typically records expenses for direct mail, telephone calls and advertising. Those expenses do show up, but the report also has a new category of spending: “campaign accessories.”

September payments were also made to Barney’s New York ($789.72) and Bloomingdale’s New York ($5,102.71).

See Also As clock ticks, hope dims for McCain savior Democrats' gloom deepens California gives most to Obama camp Macy’s in Minneapolis, another store fortunate enough to be situated in the Twin Cities that hosted last summer’s Republican National Convention, received three separate payments totaling $9,447.71.

The entries also show a few purchases at Pacifier, a top notch baby store, and Steiniauf & Stroller Inc., suggesting $295 was spent to accommodate the littlest Palin to join the campaign trail.

An additional $4,902.45 was spent in early September at Atelier, a high-class shopping destination for men.


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: antiamericanleft; clothing; hair; palin; rnc; sarah; style
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1 posted on 10/22/2008 7:21:52 AM PDT by Issaquahking
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To: Issaquahking

oopsie...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/search?m=all;o=time;q=quick;s=fashion


2 posted on 10/22/2008 7:23:57 AM PDT by xcamel (Conservatives start smart, and get rich, liberals start rich, and get stupid.)
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To: Issaquahking

What Not To Wear and Total Makeover would be proud.


3 posted on 10/22/2008 7:24:20 AM PDT by Constitutions Grandchild
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To: Issaquahking

Oh give me a break...


4 posted on 10/22/2008 7:24:42 AM PDT by farlander (Try not to wear milk bone underwear - it's a dog eat dog financial world)
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To: Issaquahking

What Not To Wear and Total Makeover would be proud.


5 posted on 10/22/2008 7:24:52 AM PDT by Constitutions Grandchild
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To: Issaquahking
Do anybody know how this compares John Edwards "primping" costs in 2004?

;)

6 posted on 10/22/2008 7:25:10 AM PDT by BureaucratusMaximus (Game over man...GAME OVER!)
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To: Issaquahking

PRIVATE FUNDS.


7 posted on 10/22/2008 7:25:38 AM PDT by Tempest (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNlXgzzdJQA)
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To: Issaquahking

Your donations everyone, I’m sad to say. For a lady who buys diapers from Walmart.


8 posted on 10/22/2008 7:26:12 AM PDT by kc8ukw
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To: Issaquahking

Where’s the DNC bill for crack?


9 posted on 10/22/2008 7:26:29 AM PDT by Stentor (Obama is Bill Ayers' Renfield.)
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To: Issaquahking

if these maggots are so convinced that obama wins in a landslide..why do they even care about this crap?

truly pathetic

HOW ABOUT SPENDING THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME LOOKING FOR BARRY SOETERO BIRTH CERTIFICATE!!!!!


10 posted on 10/22/2008 7:26:33 AM PDT by housedeep
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To: jan in Colorado; Perdogg; AuntB; Jeff Head; cgk

If this is all they have to go after her, bring it on! Nevermind that she is the most intelligent, freedom and liberty supporter that the nation has seen!


11 posted on 10/22/2008 7:27:58 AM PDT by Issaquahking (Maverick Barracuda voter! Drill baby drill!!)
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To: Issaquahking
Oh so these high end liberal number crunchers expect that Sarah bring along her washboard and clean her clothes at day's end.

Now wonder who is dressing Meeshell and funding her lobster and Iranian caviar champagne snacks, in up scale motels.

12 posted on 10/22/2008 7:28:45 AM PDT by Just mythoughts (Isa.3:4 And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.)
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To: Issaquahking

This is outrageous that you would actually wardrobe the VP candidate! /s


13 posted on 10/22/2008 7:29:01 AM PDT by Williams (It's The Policies, Stupid.)
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To: Issaquahking
Considering Bambi is getting in kind donations from favorable reporting from the MSM at ABC, NBC, CBS, MSNBC and CNN in he TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLALRS TO LOOK GOOD and tens of thousands of fraud realted votes from ACORN, stacked polls to hoist the false messiah and hundereds of millions in suspicious donations a lot from overseas, I would say so what to this article. The money has been spent not only on her but her husband and kids, so they look sharp wherever they go. BTW, search is your friend this has been posted already.
14 posted on 10/22/2008 7:29:36 AM PDT by jrooney (I am not voting for Spread the Wealth/Senator Government. I am voting for the War Hero and Baracuda.)
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To: Issaquahking

I have no problem with this at all. She’s a woman running for office who has earned the trust of GOP voters who support the party financially.

If it was something like 500,000 then it might raise an eyebrow. Otherwise, there’s still no excuse for a man getting a $400 haircut.


15 posted on 10/22/2008 7:29:43 AM PDT by rjp2005 (Lord have mercy on us)
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To: Issaquahking

You know that Obama's Clothes are the same situation. The emperor’s new suit is bought and paid for by the Obama Campaign is is Michelles clothes and their expensive snack tastes.

They can make this just another issue of going after Sara Palin but its a fact of life that the expense accounts of canidates while traveling on the road is pretty extreme.
The Emperor to be is an empty suit!
Michelle to Barack! Sweetie?
I think that I will order a little room service
Just a little light snack
Little people eat McDonald's
but I'm on the $400,000,000 Campaign express
Nobody will audit my expenses
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Sweetie “ I really love the Iranian Osetra Cavier
” When we go and meet Mahmoud Ahmadinejad maybe he will send me back to the Whitehouse with some free samples.”
Heck I would give him anything he wants for more of this Cavier.
Even Israel
George Soros told me it was the best.
Love,
Barack Hussein Obama

16 posted on 10/22/2008 7:30:44 AM PDT by ncfool (Obama stands for The New United Socialist State or "TNUSSA")
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To: kc8ukw

I have no problem with my donations going to this. If you do, don’t donate. I want Palin to look great because that generates votes to win against the false prophet.


17 posted on 10/22/2008 7:31:28 AM PDT by jrooney (I am not voting for Spread the Wealth/Senator Government. I am voting for the War Hero and Baracuda.)
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To: Issaquahking

I’m only posting because I want to be the first to use the term “Neiman Marcusgate”.


18 posted on 10/22/2008 7:32:24 AM PDT by Artemis Webb (Barack Hussein Obama is a Socialist. GO SARAH !)
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To: All

$150,00 Only?

I’d say the GOP got their money’s worth in Palin - a candidate who has raised the bar in this nation higher than ever before in a political campaign season.

She models the clothing very well - I am suprised the designers haven’t been fighting to get her to wear their spring collection models.


19 posted on 10/22/2008 7:32:25 AM PDT by imintrouble
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To: Issaquahking

Whatever Obama is paying these media whores to run out the clock, its money well spent.

Deflecting attention from his “spread the wealth” gaffe and Biden’s war gaffe.


20 posted on 10/22/2008 7:33:08 AM PDT by Finalapproach29er (Democrats still want to get Pres. Bush and/or VP Cheney; there might be show trials in Feb09)
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