It ain’t cheap making Shady Sexy Sarah look good.
The Republican campaign owned up to some fancy shopping sprees after it was revealed that the Republican National Committee had ponied up $150,000 Palin’s way for some very chic sheep’s clothing.
The news raised the hackles of watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) – especially while the rest of us are cutting back on the frivolities. They filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), pointing out that the expenses defy that FEC Act which states that donations cannot be used personally if the expense “would exist irrespective of the candidate’s election campaign” – clothing included – unless it is of “de minimis value.”
In other words, you can’t use donated money to buy stuff you’d buy whether or not you were running for an office, including cothes, unless it’s clothing you’re going to wear only once or twice.
And Sarah’s always got that dress suit on. They wouldn’t want us to know there’s a wolf under there.
They might shoot her!
From a helicopter!
The law, however, does provide that such expenses are legit as long as they come from a party committee, which the $75,062 at Neiman Marcus, $41,851 at Saks Fifth Avenue, $4,902 at Atelier New York, $4,397 at Macy’s and $5,103 at Bloomingdale’s did. But it was also revealed that the clothing and accessories were not only for Palin, but her family as well.
The Republican National Campaign says it’s cool, cause the money didn’t come from them, and that while they don’t discuss campaign strategy, added, “It was always the intent that the clothing go to a charitable purpose after the campaign.”
But CREW is demanding an immediate FEC investigation.
If they’ve got nothing to hide then there souldn’t be a problem, rrright?
And even if no one broke any rules, it still seems a little outrageous for our “six-pack Joe.”
[Image via AP Images.]