Complaint filed over Palin clothing purchases
By spalladino
@spalladino (17891)
United States
October 23, 2008 10:10pm CST
This was just reported on my local news and is on their website. Looks like the Palin gang is in trouble again.
By The Associated Press
Story Created: Oct 23, 2008 at 5:37 PM EDT
Story Updated: Oct 23, 2008 at 5:37 PM EDT
ORMOND BEACH, Fla. (AP) - A private watchdog group has filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission over Sarah Palin's new wardrobe.
The complaint alleges that the purchase of clothing for Palin and her family violates the Federal Election Campaign Act.
It was filed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, and it names Palin, the Republican National Committee and several political operatives.
The watchdog group notes that the regulations clearly apply to clothing -- but not to items donated by the candidates to charity. The group says that exception might apply to Palin's clothing, but doesn't appear to apply to clothes for her family.
John McCain was asked several times today about the decision by the Republican Party to buy Palin $150,000 in clothes, hair styling and accessories.
Each time, he responded that Palin needed clothes, and that they'll be donated to charity at the end of the campaign.
http://www.winknews.com/news/campaign/33087404.html
1 person likes this
7 responses
@Barbietre (1438)
• United States
24 Oct 08
Yes, I saw a picture of her daughter with a designer bag. She may have needed a makeover, but why top names and why did her children need this stuff also? Yes the others have nice clothes I am sure, but why are the campaign donations paying for it?
1 person likes this
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
24 Oct 08
I refuse to call judgment on it because we don't know all the facts. Like was she instructed where to shop and told what to spend.
I'm not trying to excuse, but get all the facts.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
24 Oct 08
According to McCain, Palin didn't do the actual shopping, campaign staff did. So, was he unaware of what his staff was doing, what they were spending...where...and for whom...or did he fail to instruct his staff on the regulations for campaign spending? Either way, it doesn't look good. Words like elitist...out of control spending...uninformed...not in control...ethics violations...come to mind.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
24 Oct 08
I couldn't believe the high end stores on the list. What, they couldn't find anything at Walmart? 
I saw a picture of Obama today with his feet on a desk and he had holes in his shoes. I don't expect candidates to go to that extreme either but it says something about his personal spending...or maybe his personal shoe guy was out sick that day.
I saw a picture of Obama today with his feet on a desk and he had holes in his shoes. I don't expect candidates to go to that extreme either but it says something about his personal spending...or maybe his personal shoe guy was out sick that day. @irishidid (8687)
• United States
24 Oct 08
Interesting. Who else have they taken to task on such things?
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
24 Oct 08
Here's a link to their website:
http://citizensforethics.org/
They have filed many complaints it seems. If you place your pointer over "Actions" they list FEC, House, Senate, IRS...among others...so it looks like a legitimate watchdog group that monitors government ethics.
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
24 Oct 08
Where's Rangle's tax evasion on the site? Maybe I missed them but where are the naughty democrats? This is suppose to be nonpartisan, right?
@irishidid (8687)
• United States
24 Oct 08
Nevermind, I did find at least one. Still, where is that bad boy Rangle?
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
24 Oct 08
Palin needed clothes? She's a Governor of a State and she needed clothes? ... unbelievable!!!
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
25 Oct 08
Noooo, she didn't need them...didn't ask for them...they just magically appeared. So did the rest of the stuff. It was like Christmas at the RNC!
@bdugas (3577)
• United States
24 Oct 08
It was just stated on TV news that Palins clothes was donated by the republican party, and will be donated to charity after the election. So what is the big deal? Is this all this week that anyone can find to complain about? There are far more important issues than what clothes is bought for who. Obama I hear is already spending 2 million on a victory party. Who is paying for that and dont' you think he is getting the horse before the cart. He is buying votes and that seems to be alright with everyone. It appears to me the women in this world hate Palin so much they will try anything they can to put her down. Seems to me a lot of women are extremely jealous of Palin, why because she has not set back on her couch and just had babies. She has worked hard to get where she is. She didn't even know where the clothes come from, in her running around getting ready to speak they gave her her clothes, so how does that make her doing something wrong.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
24 Oct 08
It's called the Federal Election Campaign Act. It contains rules that the campaigns are obligated to follow. I realize that those who support McCain will turn a deaf ear AGAIN to something unethical involving Palin but the fact remains that the money used to purchase those clothes came from campaign contributions given to the campaign by the public. The funds were intended for the campaign, and I agree that dressing the candidates in a reasonable manner is acceptable, but dressing Todd Palin in deisgner clothes? Dressing all of the Palin kids? Apparently, according to the rules, that's not allowed and I doubt the campaign was unaware of that little fact.
@CherylsPearls (1269)
• United States
24 Oct 08
lol Good. Good enough for McCain. He could have dressed her at Walmart or K-Mart or even Target. Why dress the whole darn family in designer clothes, plus spend over $13,000 on a make-up artist for Palin? Those silly conservatives! What the heck are they conserving anyway?
It will be interesting to see what happens with these clothes after the election.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
24 Oct 08
I would imagine that some of them would make their way to an auction or two but I think the entire premise is a Hail Mary bs attempt at damage control. I guess no one was supposed to find out that their campaign contributions were going towards high end clothes for the entire Palin gang.
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
24 Oct 08
Thank goodness for watchdog groups. I mean come on how many seven year olds do you know that needs a $750 Louis Vuitton bag? Even if it is all going to charity wouldn't a poor needy person be happy with a $10 purse from K-Mart? I think it's so stupid that in this economic meltdown that people would spend that much money on clothes. It makes me angry that many people are losing their homes and our "reformer" is allowing that much money to be spent on needless stuff.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
24 Oct 08
Shows what kind of reformer she is, doesn't it? Once again, the rules don't apply to Sarah Palin; not directly or indirectly. If I had donated money to that campaign and found out that it was used to buy designer clothes...and especially designer clothes for Todd...I wouldn't be too happy about it. Down home my butt.
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
27 Oct 08
I'm just curious. Are they going to file a complaint over Obama's use of a campaign plane, with fuel paid for by his campaign, to visit his grandmother? The trip cost an estimated $400,000 which is more than twice the cost of the clothing given to Palin by the RNC for campaign use.
