Robocall Master Bought Palin's Fancy Clothes

High-end duds totally at odds with GOP target (or Target) audience

(NEWSER) - That the GOP dressed up “a no-frills hockey mom” for her star turn is fine, but that they dressed her up in Neiman's, Saks, and Barneys is “mind-boggling evidence of a tin ear for the symbolism of popular culture,” style maven Robin Givhan wails in the Washington Post. It doesn’t take much fashion knowledge to know a $10,000 handbag represents “exclusivity, success, and classiness”—not Jane Six-Pack. More»

Governor's image makeover on GOP dime helps her look the part, at least

(NEWSER) - The outrage over Sarah Palin’s pricey wardrobe doesn’t extend to professional fashionistas, Politico reports—putting money into a candidate’s appearance is a perfectly wise use of funds, they argue. “You are talking about branding a person who you are launching into the public eye,” said one San Francisco stylist. “If you are looking the part, you are halfway there.” More»

Bristol's baby-daddy wants a reality show

(NEWSER) - Now that he’s free of the Palins, Levi Johnston is going Hollywood, trying to turn his fame into fortune with acting gigs or a reality show, reports Renata Espinosa of the Daily Beast. She caught up with Johnston and Tank Jones, the giant style-conscious black lawyer who’s acting as his manager, on a shopping trip in LA. “They don’t believe I live in Alaska,” Tank complains. “I’ve been called ‘security’ for years.” More»

(NEWSER) - Todd Palin says the $150,000 spending spree that outfitted his wife during last fall’s campaign was “out of our control,” the AP reports. “You come into a campaign late,” he told Men’s Journal. “You put all your trust into the team.” At least his Secret Service detail had a good time. “They liked cruising around with me,” describing trips to “the Arctic Cat snowmachine factory” and a NASCAR race. “Rough duty, hanging out with me.” More»

(NEWSER) - As promised, Sarah Palin turned her expensive campaign outfits over to the RNC, but the costly threads haven't gone to charity, reports the conservative New Majority website—they're in trash bags at RNC headquarters. A committee spokesman says the $180,000 wardrobe is being "inventoried and will be appropriately dispersed to various charities," but the revelation has some donors hot under the collar: "Has the party not learned their lesson?" asks one. More»