GOP Gulps as $150K Threads Fray Palin Cred

RNC defends $150k clothes, makeup budget for Palins

(NEWSER) - Sarah Palin apparently isn't kidding when she stresses the importance of lipstick to a hockey mom: the RNC spent $5000 on hair and makeup en route to racking up a $150,000 bill for clothing and accessories for Palin and her family since John McCain picked her as his runningmate. The $75,000 dropped at Neiman Marcus, among other spending sprees, have raised legal issues, but the RNC defends its expenditures, Politico reports. 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»

Hair and makeup stylist costs revealed in lastest campaign filings

(NEWSER) - Sarah Palin's hair and makeup stylists cost John McCain's campaign $110,000 for the 10 weeks she was vice-presidential candidate, reports the New York Times. Palin’s makeup artist—an Emmy nominee for her work on So You Think You Can Dance?—pocketed over $68,000 for the campaign work. Her hair stylist made $42,000. More»

Commission nixes complaint that RNC's $150K in clothing purchases broke law

(NEWSER) - The Federal Election Commission dismissed today a complaint that the Republican National Committee broke the law when it bought $150,000 in clothes for then-vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, the Anchorage Daily News reports. The FEC said purchases were “coordinated party expenditures” for campaign purposes, and did not violate a ban on using campaign funds for personal expenses as a watchdog group alleged. 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»