FEC tells Sarah Palin she can keep the clothes purchased for her by the RNC. I mean really who else would want those tacky outfits?

The Federal Election Commission has dismissed a complaint that the Republican National Committee and Gov. Sarah Palin broke election law when the RNC bought all those clothes for Palin and her family during last year's presidential campaign.

The FEC found the clothing purchases were "coordinated party expenditures" the RNC is allowed to make to benefit the campaign.

The complaint was filed by the Washington, D.C., group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. CREW argued the clothing expenditures (which it figured at $144,731) violated the ban on personal use of campaign funds, but the FEC disagreed.

Here's the response from CREW:

"In effect, the FEC is claiming its hands were tied and it could not penalize the RNC or Governor Palin.

This means that the FEC will allow political parties to buy candidates whatever they want at whatever cost, and that the candidates and their families may keep these purchases. Despite the fact that Governor Palin and the RNC claimed the clothing would be donated to charity, it is not clear this ever happened, and in any event, according to the FEC, the law does not require it. Notably, this past March the FEC asked Congress to enact legislation to extend the personal use prohibition to all political committees, including party committees and leadership PACs. Unsurprisingly, Congress has yet to act."

I certainly hope that at least ONE of these articles of clothing has emblazoned across the chest the following statement: "The GOP ran me for Vice President and all I got were these stinking designer clothes".

I have to say I am absolutely flabbergasted that somebody can manipulate their way into having entire wardrobes purchased for them and their families costing over 150 thousand dollars, lose the election, and then simply walk away with the clothes as if they were a consolation prize.

I think during the next election cycle I will throw my hat into the ring for mayor, demand that the DNC purchase me one of those cool massaging chairs to help me focus, lose the race , and sit around having my ass vibrated to pay me back for the inconvenience. Sounds like a sweet deal to me.

But wait this story cannot be officially put to bed unto we hear from Meghan Stapletongue, surely she must have something to add.

"We are pleased (surprised) to learn that all the purchases and decisions made by senior campaign staffers, and paid for by the RNC and returned to the RNC, were all done according to the law. The clothes in this campaign were treated just like the many stages upon which the Governor stood and the hundreds of lights used to illuminate them; all were used (to make Sarah Palin look like she had not just fallen off of a turnip truck) during the campaign and returned upon its conclusion. It is difficult to reconcile the obsessive reference to clothing on the campaign trail with any legitimate political issue (Especially since it kept the Palin family form having access to those cool designer duds) and that leaves the unsettling conclusion that Governor Palin is the single national political figure who is critiqued on policy, family and clothing (Try not to choke on the bullshit Meg!). When people start asking details about the personal effects of other candidates, then maybe the double standard will be eliminated."

By the way when this story went national Obama was asked about his suits which apparently he buys himself off of the rack at Sears, and Michele Obama's clothes which are very frugal and often from stores such as Target. You can read more about the fashion choices of ALL of the candidates here.