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Palin: HRC Never Criticized for her Clothes; McCain Gets Testy re. immigrants. A fascinating article
Palin denies accepting $150K in designer clothes
By BRENDAN FARRINGTON, Associated Press Writer
Thursday, October 23, 2008
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(10-23) 21:39 PDT Ormond Beach, Fla. (AP) --
Sarah Palin is blaming gender bias for the controversy over $150,000 worth of designer clothes, hairstyling and accessories the Republican Party provided for her, a newspaper reported Thursday.
"I think Hillary Clinton was held to a different standard in her primary race," Palin said in an interview with the Chicago Tribune posted on the newspaper's Web site Thursday night. "Do you remember the conversations that took place about her, say superficial things that they don't talk about with men, her wardrobe and her hairstyles, all of that? That's a bit of that double standard."
Palin, who is John McCain's vice presidential running mate, said the clothes were not worth $150,000 and were bought for the Republican National Convention.
Most of the clothes have never left the campaign plane, she told the newspaper.
"It's kind of painful to be criticized for something when all the facts are not out there and are not reported," Palin said.
"That whole thing is just, bad!" she said. "Oh, if people only knew how frugal we are."
News of the purchases of designer clothes, largely from upscale Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, contrasts with the image Palin has crafted as a typical "hockey mom."
McCain was asked several questions on Thursday about the shopping spree ? and he answered each one more or less the same way: Palin needed clothes and they'll be donated to charity.
"She needed clothes at the time. They'll be donated at end of this campaign. They'll be donated to charity," McCain told reporters on his campaign bus between Florida rallies.
Asked for details on how they'll be donated, McCain said, "It works by her getting some clothes when she was made the nominee of the party and it will be donated back to charity."
Asked if he was surprised at the amount spent, McCain said, "It works that the clothes will be donated to charity. Nothing surprises me."
McCain offered no further comment, except to say that the Republican National Committee doesn't buy his clothes.
Also on Thursday, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, a private watchdog group in Washington, filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission against Palin, the Republican National Committee and several political operatives alleging that the purchase of clothing for Palin and her family violates Federal Election Campaign Act.
The law prohibits a candidate for federal office from converting campaign funds to personal use. CREW notes that FEC regulations make clear the prohibition applies to clothing but also provide that donations by candidates to charity are not for personal use. CREW argued this exception might apply to Palin's clothes but doesn't appear to apply to clothes for her family.
Asked Wednesday who had paid for the suit he was wearing, Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden told WSLS-TV in Roanoke, Va.: "I pay for my suits. I pay for all of my own clothing."
McCain also said that Barack Obama's money advantage is probably why one Florida poll shows the Democrat doing well in the state. A Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday showed Obama up 5 percentage points overall in Florida, which went Republican in the last two presidential elections.
They spent more, that's the element," McCain said. "If it's true ? organization. But we've energized volunteers, we'll get our vote out."
He then criticized Obama for not accepting public campaign financing after initially indicating he would. That means he can raise and spend as much as he can, and he's doing so at a clip of about $5 million a day. McCain did accept public financing and can no longer raise money. Obama began October with $134 million in the bank, compared to $47 million for McCain. However, McCain also is getting help from the Republican National Committee, which has far outraised its Democratic counterpart.
"He told the American people something that was patently false and then he's raised a whole lot of money and the implications of that for future presidential elections should be very disturbing to every American. One thing we've shown in history ? you get unlimited amounts of money into political campaigns, you get corruption and you get scandals," McCain said.
At one point in the interview, McCain grew frustrated with a Tampa television reporter during her questions on immigration issues. McCain twice said illegal immigrants who have committed crimes would be rounded up. Katie Coronado of WFLA-TV asked if that meant using raids to round up immigrants.
"What did I just say that had any connotation of raids?" McCain said, raising his voice with impatience. "Let me try one more time."
He again explained the idea of forcing illegal immigrants out of the country by issuing ID cards and fining employers who hire illegals. He then softened his tone.
"I apologize," he said to Coronado. "I understand how important an issue it is. I didn't mean to be flip."
Re: Palin: HRC Never Criticized for her Clothes; McCain Gets Testy re. immigrants. A fascinating article
She called HRC a whiner, so, sorry, no sympathy.
And WTF is with this?
Most of the clothes have never left the campaign plane, she told the newspaper.
So why did they buy them?!
You know Mr. anti-government waste, pro- campaign finance reform is fuming inside. I bet a few staffers saw his legendary temper. Oh to be a fly on that wall.
And the wheels are falling off...
ESF and LMW - I sent you both PMs
I am a runner, knitter, scientist, DE-IVF veteran, and stage III colon cancer survivor.
Okay, can someone please tell me if I am actually reading Palin correctly.
Is she really saying/implying that HRC was not criticized during the primary for her clothes, hair, makeup, style, etc? If so, is Palin on crack or what?
[PM'd you back Elizabeth]
"I think Hillary Clinton was held to a different standard in her primary race," Palin said in an interview with the Chicago Tribune posted on the newspaper's Web site Thursday night. "Do you remember the conversations that took place about her, say superficial things that they don't talk about with men, her wardrobe and her hairstyles, all of that? That's a bit of that double standard."
I think that Palin may have reached HRC-levels of self-interest in her willingness to say or do anything to get elected. I honestly don't know how anyone can respect Palin at this point.
She is not a millionaire like all the other candidates in the race. She does have her own clothes, just not the amount or the quality necessary for a national campaign. Her income is very middle class.
Clothes stored on the plane sounds about right to me. Take the outfit for the day off the plane, send those out that need dry cleaning and the rest remain on the plane.
my read shelf:
I'm curious where you got this info, because I read the exact opposite. Her income is most definitely not middle class. She might not be raking in millions, but last year her combined income was near 250K. That's nowhere near middle class.
Their combined income of nearly a quarter-million dollars last year was five times the median household income for Wasilla's 7,000 residents. They own a single-engine plane, two boats, two personal watercraft and a half-million-dollar, custom-built home on a lake that is worth three times the average of other homes in town.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/sep/30/wealth-makes-palins-no-ordinary-alaskans/ ?
A 250K HHI makes me wonder why she needs so much financial assistance with her attire.?
I have to give her this one. I don't think she's saying HRC wasn't criticized, but that criticizing either of them on this issue is a double standard.
I will take this one right back because it overlooks the fact that yes, we've discussed Edwards' hair and Obama's worn out soles and McCain's Ferragamos. It comes up because this is a celebrity culture, and we want to know where people who aren't schlepping around the outlet mall shop. It's not a gender thing.
I don't think anyone is questioning her need to spruce up her wardrobe. It was the sheer amount of money spent and where it was spent for someone who sells herself as a regular gal.
And regardless of whether or not the clothes will be donate to charity, it is still an obscene amount of money to spend.
my read shelf:
am I reading this right?
is she saying that the money didn't go to clothes???
well, then, what were you all buying at Sacks and Needless Markup?
I am the 99%.
I agree. She's comparing her situation to HRC and claiming that HRC was criticized for these things. My comment about her shamelessness pertained to her hypocrisy.
Actually I don't think so. Other people are interpreting it the way I did...that HRC was held to a different standard than she.