Palin
The Republican National Committee spent about $150,000 on clothing, hair styling, makeup and other “campaign accessories” in September for the McCain campaign after Palin, the governor of Alaska, joined the ticket.
The expenses include $75,062 spent at Neiman Marcus in Minneapolis Minn., and $41,850 in St. Louis in early September. The committee also reported spending $4,100 for makeup and hair consulting. In the photo above Palin is wearing a $2,500 Valentino jacket. Spreading the wealth? No, this is an Italian jacket, what about buying American, Sarah?
Apparently, the bulk of her purchases were sponsored by an “unknown donor,” (Cindy McCain?) who expected Palin to purchase only three suits. The “unknown donor” was horrified when notified of the amount, and that Palin was purchasing clothes for her entire family. At this point the “unknown donor” cut off all credit to Palin. At that point, some of the aides accompanying her were pressed by Palin into providing their credit cards for even more purchases.
According to Bill O’Reilly on Fox News, Palen:
- Didn’t understand, McCain aides said, that Africa was a continent and not a country. Thought South Africa was the southern part of that “country.”
- Didn’t know the nations involved in the North American Free Trade Agreement – had never heard of NAFTA.
- Would look at her press clippings and have tantrums.
- During the Republican National Convention, McCain staffers Steve Schmidt and Mark Salter were greeted by a towel-wearing Palin when they arrived at her hotel room for a briefing.
Governor Sarah Palin also charges Alaska for her children to travel with her, including to events where they were not invited, and later amended expense reports to specify that they were on official business.
This includes 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 when the governor attended a five-hour conference and stayed with 17-year-old Bristol for five days/four nights in a luxuy hotel.
Palin 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.
Alaska law has not specifically addressed expenses for a governor’s children. The law allows for payment of expenses for any one conducting official state business.
Palin justified having the state pay for the travel of her daughters – Bristol 17, Willow 14 and Piper 7 – by noting on the travel forms that the girls had been invited to attend or participate in events on the governor’s schedule. BUT SOME ORGANIZERS OF THESE EVENTS SAID THEY WERE SURPRISED WHEN THE PALIN CHILDREN SHOWED UP UNINVITED OR SAID THEY AGREED TO A REQUEST BY THE GOVERNOR TO ALLOW THE CHILDREN TO ATTEND.
Several other organizers said the children merely accompanied their mother and did not participate. The fact was that it enabled Palin, whose main state office is in the capital of Juneau, to spend more time with her children.
After John McCain chose Palin his running mate and reporters asked for the records, PALIN ORDERED CHANGES TO PREVIOUSLY FILED EXPENSE REPORTS FOR HER DAUGHTERS’ TRAVEL.
IN THE AMENDED REPORT, PALIN ADDED PHRASES SUCH AS “FIRST FAMILY ATTENDING” AND “FIRST FAMILY INVITED” TO EXPLAIN THE GIRLS’ ATTENDANCE.
Yes, the taxpayers are paying for all of this. Just imagine what Palin can have done as Vice President!
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