Tuesday, May 19, 2009

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.

29 comments:

  1. So she has to declare these as gifts?
    These are not freebies, right?
    So she has to ammend her tax returns for 2008 again, right?

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  2. So are they still sitting in those garbage bags in the RNC basement? Now that it's resolved....will we see them finally donated to charity as promised? Or auctioned on eBay and the proceeds donated to charity?

    Or....will Sarah be pulling them out of her closet to wear for her campaign/book tour in 2010?

    What will the fallout be? Here's my prediction. As long as it's a Republican candidate...nothing. But should the DNC suddenly decide to do the same, exact thing there will be hell to pay from the GOP. Whining. Name calling. Personal attacks. etc.

    Because in their world sauce for the goose is NOT sauce for the gander.

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  3. her taxes have to be a complete nightmare! Claim the (ugly) designer clothes as gifts...then claim them as deductions after 'donating' them to charity (??) Too confusing for me!

    Oh yeah...the silk boxers for First Dud. Are we to believe those were worn, and then donated to charity as well? EWWWWW, that's a disgusting thought!

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  4. she still has AK law and fed income tax to deal with.

    wonder when the Thriller jacket will make an appearance

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  5. Anonymous5:47 PM

    I can't believe Meghan's (palins) statement! Barf Barf!!!

    Is everyone sick oh her yet???? Here is what I want to say to Palin. Shut the F up!!! Just shut up and stop playing the victim! We do not care about what you say! America is just not that into you Sarah and the more you yap poor me to the media , the more you alienate people. You are an embarassment to women everywhere ! An embarrassment because you keep using the victim card while whining in some disturbing attempt to gain respect!

    Just shutvup and go away!

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  6. FEDUP!!!6:00 PM

    I sure hope that at least the IRS shows some balls and makes her declare THE FULL VALUE of ALL the clothes/gifts (including make-up and hair stylist, etc!!!

    That MEGASTAPLE about GINO being the only one critiqued about getting all those clothes etc: DUHHH!!! NO OTHER POLITCAL FIGURE EVER GOT AWAY WITH THIS!!!

    A bit O/T, but somewhat related, I guess: I don't know... I am getting a bit frustrated/disappointed with Pres. Obama. Somehow, the longer he is in office, the more he gives in to the lobbyists. The more it changes, the more it stays the same! Who regulates the FEC? Is there any way they could be made to reverse themselves in this? Maybe if enough citizens call their congress people?

    Frustrated beyond belief, and somehow expecting GINO to get away with ALL her shenanigans...

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  7. off-topic: because bristol hasn't done quite enough to glamorize teen-motherhood, mtv creates a new reality series: "16 and pregnant"

    http://www.kiss107.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=104668&article=5481839

    now kids will think a baby not only gives you "someone to love and understand you when no one else does" (a la octomom), is a "perfect blessing everyone helps with" (a la bristol) it can also get you on mtv! yea! babies for all girls under age 18! and baby bumps have been super trendy in hollywood for about 3 years, and all these "reality stars" keep getting new shows and appearance fees as their real jobs, maybe "16 and pregnant" can be my break out role! babies for babies! yea!

    now i'm feeling ill, excuse me...

    at least megan mccain told steven colbert she was "pro-sex. that means i know abstinence isn't realistic for this generation and they need full sex-ed about condoms and birth control. i want to practice what i preach...OMG my dad's going to watch this!" (yes, it appears megan isn't a virgin and she's still a proud republican. she supports gay marriage too. but she can't even comment on her "no comment" palin policy...)

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  8. Anonymous6:13 PM

    Wonder how Republicans ( or Democrats ) are going to feel about contributing next time around when they know their money can be spent so frivilously?

    The rich contributors may not care, but the nickel and dime contributors are going to care a lot, especially if it is Palin ( and it won't be) their party is supporting.

    Is there any way to be sure ( even if checking after the fact ) that Palin declares these clothes, makeup, hair styling etc properly as income?

    No matter how you cut it, it shows her gross lack of character to even want $180,000 spent on her personal needs during a campaign. Anyone who is not a narcissist would understand this makes them look less like a leader and more like a grifter.

    What a stupid ruling and a hell of a precedent to set for either party.

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  9. The clothes themselves are NOT tacky - they are beautiful and expensive. Judging by what her neice fetched for the used naughty monkey shoes, those clothes could fetch a heap of money on e-bay (the sweatier the better for her fans). The money could be used to pay the taxes on the clothes/"gifts" AND donate a tidy sum to help the flood victims in rural AK. c'mon Sarah, just this once - DO THE RIGHT THING!

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  10. crystalwolf aka caligrl6:26 PM

    Gryphen, this is exactly what I was talking about earlier...she almost steps in it then poof, she smells like roses! I'm sick of it! Its ruining my sleep! I see headlines in my sleep, I'm blogging in my sleep, I'm ranting about GINO in my sleep! I want her gone. When is the iceberg? I know you really can't say, but is it really, really coming?
    I want her gone from politics YESTERDAY! I don't care if she ends up a talking head on Faux...I don't watch them, I just want her in jail, muzzled, out of politics FOREVER! Put away where she can't hurt anyone ever!

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  11. Geezzz...can't you people read. The clothes were given back to the RNC and given to charity to be auctioned off. Got to go check Michelle's $550 tennis shoes. And, OBAMA...wore custom made suits.... there was an article in the Chicago Paper last week where his suit maker had gone bankrupt.

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  12. crystawolf ... ditto. Please. Get rid of her. I am usually a more eloquent poster. Can't come up with the words tonite. Please help. Just make it be over. To find that the exorbitant amount spent to dress her and her family is excused? ok? is maybe the last straw for me. I am sick over this.

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  13. Juju, honey ... Evidently you are the one who cannot read. Michelle and Barack buy THEIR OWN CLOTHING. I don't give a flying fuck what they wear if they pay for it. The whole point of the complaint was it was paid for by the RNC for your dear delusional leader, the folksy-plain-hockey-mom-with-neiman-marcus-duds-and-higly-paid-stylists-make-up-artists-and-hair-stylists-to-the-tune-of-180K-kind-of-gal. All you can come up with is that Michelle wore $550.00 shoes and Barack buys (his own) custom suits? Good Grief!!!!!!!!!

    And by the way ... we have no proof they were returned, do we? I'm quite sure we would have heard about the charity auction ------NOTHING. Nothing because she purchased 13 pieces of luggage to drag all those goodies for her and family to Wasilla. Why? Why take them back to Wasilla? I'll tell you why, because they are hanging in her closet.

    I don't know why I'm even answering, actually, since you Palinistas are beyond help, really. The ignorance is staggering!!!!!

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  14. P.S. Sorry about the swear word, Gryphen. I'm normally not so pedestrian but this never-ending charade is beyond surreal. I was away on a quick holiday and really detached from this reality show called Sarah Palin and her Mob only to return and read a favorite blog infiltrated by uninformed trolls. I'll try to behave henceforth....(smile).

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  15. crystalwolf aka caligrl7:26 PM

    JUJU! Phuck off, go back to c4p, She is going down, get used to it.
    She is vile and corrupt. She is no christian
    Proverbs 10:10
    He who winks the eye causes trouble, And a babbling fool will be ruined.

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  16. This is why I've never donated money to any political party. IMO I believe that every candidate should run with set budget provided by the State or the USA, depending on which office one is running for. Elections are bought and sold based on individual's donations and I've never been willing to spend my dollars to help anyone achieve elected office. Democracy is based on the voice of the people and not the wallets of the people and this is just another fine example of how political donations are spent.

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  17. crystalwolf aka caligrl7:32 PM

    OK this is bullshit! (excuse my french!)
    C4p is calling the clothes "another frivolous complaint"!
    I am totally sick of GINO and her GD cult followers!
    Yes, this was a ethics complaint filed by federal watchdogs and more are to come!!!!
    This was also about the RNC/mccain campaign but of course they make it all about the queen.
    BARF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  18. crystalwolf aka caligrl7:39 PM

    Megstapletongue on eddie smurke@the echo chamber, sickening, are these people getting paid to blab on the radio?????
    God!
    Please take her down! I need to start visualizing again, the matching shiny bracelets, I am totally sick of her.
    I hope the ice berg hits soon and that it is Nuclear!!!!!!!
    As BLOW UP!!!!

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  19. I do covet the RNC clothes, only because I'm a landscaper/gardener person and wear grubbies most of my days; unless it's winter then I'm in full on Gore-Tex insulated gear to ski and snowshoe. The thing is, I still have a closet full of absolutely lovely clothes and shoes from when I was a "desk jockey" professional type and I keep them all and wear them only very occasionally; but I still loves me some really nice clothes, especially from Nordies and even better from Neiman's.

    Just had to chime in with that as SP got herself some really nice stuff, stuff I'd love to have hanging in my closet with absolutely NO PLACE TO WEAR IT :-)

    Maybe I should run for office and then I'd have a place to wear all of my "pretties"! NOT!

    (just a funny post, hope I made some of you laugh ;-)

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  20. juju my dear little fruitloop-

    the obamas had their own money from their private sector jobs in law, education, community organizing, and barack's first book dreams from my father. and they then choose to spend some of it on some expensive suits and shoes, therefore supporting our economy.

    this is in NO WAY relevant to the RNC spending money on palin family clothes.

    so, when you have some of your own, privately earned money from your job(s) and choose to buy snazzy shoes -which i've been told is the "american way"- i won't berate you for it.

    also, did you know that it is traditional for the first lady to have the privilege to totally redecorate the white house as her family sees fit -at taxpayer expense? did you also know that the obamas have chosen to redecorate at their own expense and put that taxpayer money to other, better uses? yeah, they seem like scumbags to me too.

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  21. crystalwolf aka caligrl7:54 PM

    I cannot believe how megstapletongue is lying!!!
    She is blaming the DNC about the ethics complaints, she is out right lying on Eddie smurk show.
    What BS, totally effing BS.
    I'm tired of it, you poor Alaskan's...I can't imagine how depressing it is for you..
    Daisydem:
    I hear ya, I am sick too. Lets hope Truth (THE ICEBERG)hits ASAP!!
    Then we can all Breathe!

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  22. Anonymous7:56 PM

    Juju the big difference is that the Obamas pay for their own clothes and shoes, not the DNC or others! It us out of their own pockets and can't be compared to Palin! My God, don't you read????

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  23. crystalwolf I am so with you on this! I am sick to death of her getting away with things. Just try to be patient. She is not popular in America anymore and this is good! She is an immoral, unethical person and I believe in Karma. Her crazy nut fans will stick by her no matter what but they are just a tiny group! Stuff like this or her silly book of lies she's writing won't help. Intelligent people see her for what she is -a lying, phony, manipulative and mean opportunist with narcissistic personality disorder.

    We just have to all be patient and confine to find and let others know the truth.

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  24. crystalwolf aka caligrl8:20 PM

    lizabeth & daisydem: we just have to meditate on this...this proverb describes her perfectly,
    Proverbs 10:10
    He who winks the eye causes trouble, And a babbling fool will be ruined.

    When she is gone, down in flames, we will all join globally in a huge party...Are you there?
    (I know you are ;) ) I just want to be able to breathe and live life without GINO, the Lyin' witch & the wardrobe...I'm waiting for Alaskan's Aslan.

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  25. I meant to write we have to continue to find the truth out shot Palin and to tell others. Most people know Meg Stapleton is a liar and just speaks for Palin. Sarah Palin is for a fact the least trusted politician in our country. All their lying and spin will not change that especially if smart people like some of these bloggers keep exposing her lies.

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  26. The clothes are "tainted", and if Sarah is stupid enough to keep them, AND actually wear them, then she deserves every bit of criticism that she gets, as well as the big huge tax bill that will come along with it. I predict she will be that stupid, because in that arena, Sarah NEVER disappoints.

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  27. Anonymous7:49 AM

    Be patient and expose her with solid evidence gathered and presented correctly. Her "teflon coating" is starting to get ragged and worn. Time is against her, and the truth will be told.

    Something good has resulted in the $170,000+ the RNC ended up spending on this ravenous pack of grifters. That they had to sent a lawyer up to Alaska to try and retrieve these expensive clothes after Falin' said she would return them indicates that she is both greedy and a liar. This is one of many reasons that she is not considered a serious candidate by the GOP. They know they can not trust her to behave responsibly.

    My person opinion is that Falin' stuffed those garbage bags with worn, second-hand clothes and kept as many of her high-end, custom-tailored clothes as she thought she could get away with.

    For example, replacing a black skirt from Wal-Mart with the black, all-wool, silk-lined skirt from Neiman-Marcus. Same item and color, huge difference in quality and purchase price.

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  28. Anonymous11:52 AM

    Gryphen,

    Are you absolutely positive that your source is good. I just read on an invite only blog, that there is a plan to discredit the Alaska bloggers big time. I'm worried a little that this may be a scam on you.
    Please be sure your source is iron clad, and your facts are checked and double checked. I fear if there is anything at all wrong with the iceberg, this effort will be destroyed.

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  29. Anonymous6:15 AM

    I vote for patience and solid evidence. I am not sure about some plot to discredit Alaskan bloggers, but remember this creature will flat-out lie and distort any report that paints her in less than flattering colors.

    Remember her reaction to the Branchflower report and how she responded to the article and soundclip that caught WAR lying? We are dealing with a stone-cold, deny it to her dying day personality.

    The only thing that will keep whatever item you think will put a hole in her ship from being turned into a "he said, she said" contest is documentation, soundclips and photo or video evidence that anyone can see or read for themselves. Written testimony might work, as well.

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