GOP spends $150k on Palin family wardrobe
 

Politico.com reports that the GOP has spent an unheard of $150,000 outfitting the Palin family in designer duds.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14805.html

I can't figure out if I should be outraged or not! :confused: While $150,000 is a lot of money to spend on clothes and hair, I can't help but think of the ribbing the Palin's would get from the national media if they were to make public appearances in their Alaskan attire. She obviously does not have the financial means that the other candidates have, but $150,000?!!!??!! Also, while stylish, the expensive outfits really take away from the whole 'I'm just like you' image that the GOP was really playing up early on. What do you all think?

Perception is reality; image is incredibly important in elections.

We know that attractive people fare better than unattractive people, from decades of decision-making research, and we know that people implicitly judge others based on their clothing choices. Additionally, nonverbal communication is often triggered off image and style - simply put, words carry different meaning depending on the image the speaker projects.

Put it all together, and the GOP would be remiss to fail to properly outfit Palin and her (RIDICULOUSLY LARGE) familial entourage that was on stage with her. If that costs $150,000 (out of the tens of millions McCain has already spent), so be it.

I generally find it difficult to judge the amount of money that an individual spends on clothes, shoes and accessories. If they can afford it, then great for them. In this situation, it's unfortunate that Palin's been focused on being middle class, etc when she and her family are dressed in high end designer clothing. It definitely looks hypocritical. For what it's worth I don't think it takes shopping at Saks and NM to look put together and portray an attractive image. I think Michelle Obama has shown that by wearing clothes from J.Crew, H&M and other similar stores.

^^Agreed ^^^
I was somewhat put off when I found out that the jacket she wore at the Convention was about $1400!! Wasn't she telling us that she was just like me and you while she was wearing that jacket? By the same token I was thrilled when the media made a big deal about her wearing really stylish $89 shoes! I was able to relate to that and it helped me to relate to her on a certain level. Maybe she really is a 'hockey mom' just like us!!! Like KSig said, image is important but I think it needs to be consistent with the message.

On the plus side, maybe they were able to save a little coin on Bristol's wardrobe, I'd expect she can raid Mom's closet for the maternity clothes she just came out of and she's growing in to... :p:D *ducks and runs*

Except these individuals did not pay for it themselves; the contributors to the McCain campaign did.

Did Sarah Palin not have professional clothes that a governor/mayor would typically have? After all, she must've worn *something* to those meetings with the "old boys club" of the oil business.

An unheard of 150k? What are you comparing that to? How much did Obama and Biden spend? If that is really an issue then you should post both amounts for comparison.

And how much did Obama and Biden spend?

Gahh, I can only imagine.

The very fact that the GOP had to "outfit" them with it, says alot about Palin's character, I think.

What exactly does it say? I don't see how anyone can spin the campaign spending $150k on clothing for her and her family (in 2 months!) as a good thing. But good luck with that.

Per the Politico.com article:

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.

I don't know more than that, and I don't have time to go through FEC filings to figure it out. Of course, it's a violation of FEC rules to spend campaign funds on personal items. I guess all of these clothes (apparently the REC filings call them "campaign accessories") belong to the campaign, not to Palin or her family.

We can be results-oriented here, I think, without too much danger - if it worked (i.e. people think she looked better more than they care about the amount going against message) then that's a demonstrably good thing, right?

Right.

I think EW's point (to which OtterXO was responding) was that it was a good thing because the fact that Palin didn't already have all the great clothes shows she's not that different from most people.

I think it says that she's a very plain person and not so ostentatious. She doesn't own these things (and never needed them), so the Republican party had to fix her up. Queer Eye for the Straight Guy style.

So if Obama or Biden spent more than Palin then will you vote for McCain?

Aw, I think it's cute, EW, that you want to think of her as "Sarah Plain and Tall", but really, she's no different from any other politician. I don't fault her any more than anyone else since so many of them do it, but it certainly plays against any kind of label of "maverick", "reformer" and god knows, "fiscal conservative".

Another report of pretty free-flowing spending on the Alaska taxpayers' dime: AP Investigation: Alaska Funded Palin Kids' Travel

A snippet:

FWIW...Oprah drops that on a regular basis when she goes to trunk shows. But, it's her money.

You think it's pathetic and low-class when fraternity guys don't dress "fratty" to go to class. But suddenly you appreciate a vice president of the USA that doesn't have a work wardrobe appropriate for her job?

I guess I don't find anything appealing about a governor that dresses unprofessionally for the job. I expect more from my elected leaders.

What she spent for clothes in Sept was her annual salary PLUS 25K....(and 3x what her husband makes annually PT) think about that.

This is one of those stories to which I say "So?" If that's how the GOP wants to spend their money, then so be it.

Laura Bush
Oscar de la Renta suit: $2,500
Stuart Weitzman heels: $325
Pearl stud earrings: $600–$1,500
Total: Between $3,425 and $4,325

Cindy McCain
Oscar de la Renta dress: $3,000
Chanel J12 White Ceramic Watch: $4,500
Three-carat diamond earrings: $280,000
Four-strand pearl necklace: $11,000–$25,000
Shoes, designer unknown: $600
Total: Between $299,100 and $313,100

http://mtblog.vanityfair.com/online/...b-242x378.jpeg

Obama Winning........................

damn.

...done

Now I understand why the GOP had to dress Sarah in a Valentino Jacket.
http://images.huffingtonpost.com/200...rahstylist.jpg

Where ARE the fashion police when you need them???

*DEAD*

Yeah, I think it's kind of funny how many people, who don't have any interest in seeing the RNC presidential efforts come to fruition, are pretending to be concerned about the RNC and its donors.

It's 3 times what "Joe the Plumber" makes!

QFT

The dress she's wearing is actually a Yup'ik woman's dress, and are quite common in Alaska. When I remember the spelling I'll post it for you.

ETA: Okay, it's a Kuspuk (though spelling can vary that's the most common). There's a picture of her at a blanket toss wearing the same outfit in Barrow, and it is likely it was a gift (just from my village experiences) so not wearing it, even if it is tacky to some, would be highly offensive. Same goes for any food offered, even if you're not a fan of it, which is how I have ended up eating akutaq, and that particular recipe was caribou meat, salmon, seal fat, and berries. People wear those as everyday items, or for dance performances.

Cultural lesson over.

I think that there is a bit of sexism here also. While there are not many first dudes to use as comparison, I think that the media focus much more on a womans wardrobe than on the mans. We heard a lot about how much Sarah's convention suit cost and what designer she wore but nothing about any other candidates wardrobe. Maybe the national parties haven't spent this much money on a candidate before but that is probably because they can a) afford it on their own b) they are a man and the media wouldn't scrutinize their wardrobe as they do a womans.

Vandalsquirrel - I have to agree and disagree with you. While the outfit that Sarah is wearing is a traditional Native style of clothing, I don't think the majority of Alaskans would be caught dead wearing one to the supermarket. In the 20+ yrs I lived there I can't recall actually having ever seen anyone wear one outside of a Native Alaskan cultural event. So yes, I agree that it was probably a gift and there is a good chance she was wearing on her way to/from a special Native Alaskan event of some sort.

BUT...it's not about that....connect the dots if you will:

When we are going thru economic hard times, it's hard to swallow hearing about someone spending 150K+ in a whole month when that is their whole salary plus some. You don't reach out to Joe and Jane Six pack that way. If you said you was a hockey mom and you went to Wal Mart then somehow you got to relect that without going overboard because you just don't graduate from Wal Mart to Neiman Marcus and Sak's over night.

It's also harder to swallow and accept that kind of spending when you hear about companies like AIP taking bailout money and frivolously spending it while tearing down your opponent and his tax plan.

And to think, McCain has a nerve to get mad that Obama is outspending him 3 to 1 but really, how can you get mad when you are using that money to prop up your running mate?

And to think, the excuse the GOP can give is that at the end, she will donate those clothes to 'charity'.

You all know she is keeping those clothes.

RRRRiiiiiiiiiiiiight.

Hope they saved some of those reciepts.

Just more proof to the argument that women spend too much on clothes, particularly designer labels....heh!

Well, the other three candidates could be wearing the same 5 suits all the time and just changing their shirts and ties.

If i had donated to the campaign, I'd ask for my money back.

Munchkin is right, though. Men's clothes simply aren't as expensive (or noticeable) taken as a whole. Yes, a good suit is expensive in and of itself, as are shoes, but a man doesn't need as many suits (or shoes) as a woman in a similar position. Grey and blue suits go with anything; change the tie and you've changed the outfit. Jewelry isn't an issue.
If you want to compare to Michelle Obama, the dress she wore for her speech at the convention was estimated to be valued at $900. The dress she wore for Obama's acceptance was valued at around $1,500. Source.

The dress Michelle Obama wore on The View -- $140 off the rack from White House Black Market.

Maybe this is my bias showing, but I don't see an issue with this, for many of the reasons stated in the thread. I'm a donor (albeit on a low level), and don't have a problem with my money being used in that manner.

Speaking of shoes...Palin and the GOP should've hooked up Obama


It's hard running around putting out these fires that the GOP is spreading without wearing yourself (or your shoes) thin!


http://us.a2.yahoofs.com/groups/g_10...AfNAJBvpCdl0HB

No, how much is spent on a wardrobe would not influence my voting decision. I just find it hypocritical to be saying "aw shucks I'm just middle class" and then sporting high end designer clothing (bought by the RNC) when our country is going through an economic crisis. I don't have a problem with her being "groomed" to be more presentable, particularly if that pink dress (native or not, it's not the most flattering outfit) is the type of clothing she wears in public back home. I just find the amount of money to be a little disturbing. But, one could say that about the millions being spent on TV ads as well.

I guess it's just hard to keep up with Cindy McCain.

Although Cindy McCain, as much as I may or may not agree with her, does have fabulous taste.

My bet is Cindy gets her own show on the Style channel...

If McCain is elected would the title be "first lady of style"?

It'd be great to see her opposite Tim Gunn on Bravo.

Totally. If I could afford $300,000 earrings I'd definitely be sporting them.