Alaska Gov. and hockey mom Sarah Palin, who’s not only John McCain’s vice presidential pick, but a luxury fashion maverick.
The Republican National Committee has spent more than $150,000 since late August to outfit Palin and her family in the fanciest of duds from department stores like Saks and Neiman Marcus, says politico.com.
The financial disclosure records, included under the line item “itemized coordinated expenditures,” show RNC expenditures at Saks Fifth Avenue in St. Louis and New York of $49,425.74 in September. Based on Saks’ September comparable-store sales of $273.2 million, Palin accounted for .018 percent of sales.
The RNC also spent $75,062.63 during one September trip to Neiman Marcus, says politico.com, which would represent .012 percent of Neiman’s September comparable-store sales of $406 million.
The RNC spent only $789.72 at Neiman-owned Barneys New York but dropped $5,102.71 at Bloomingdale’s, which is operated by Macy’s, said politico.com, a website that tracks political news.
Hefty primping expenditures on the campaign trail are nothing new. U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-NY, received guff for her expensive custom-made pantsuits, which cost upward of $6,350 each.
The RNC also spent $4,716.49 on Palin’s hair and makeup, and made $295 in purchases at high-end children’s stores Pacifier and Steiniauf & Stroller Inc., according to politico.com.
Tracey Schmitt, a spokeswoman for the McCain-Palin campaign, said there are plans to donate the expensive clothing to charity after the campaign.
“With all of the important issues facing the country right now, it’s remarkable that we’re spending time talking about pantsuits and blouses,” Schmitt said in a statement.
Sales at luxury department stores have suffered in recent weeks as the slowing economy and global financial crisis took a toll on even affluent shoppers, and the strengthening of the dollar deterred foreign tourists who had given high-end stores a boost in previous quarters.
Palin’s new wardrobe raised tax questions. If the clothes are donated right after the election, Palin could make the case that she never actually owned them and they were more like costumes or uniforms used for work, a tax expert said. But anything she keeps could be considered a payment and its value could be taxed.
Generally clothing required for work that cannot also be used outside the workplace, a nurse’s uniform for example, is a deductible expense. Any clothing that can be used off the job as well as on the job cannot be deducted.
(Additional reporting by Donna Smith)
Trackback
27 comments so far
Previous | 2 | 1 | Next
[...] which cost upward of $6,350 each The pantsuits that got Hillary Clinton’s vote - Los Angeles Times. Tales from the Trail Blog Archive Who needs foreign tourists? Luxury chains have Palin! | Blogs | Who paid for Pelosi’s pearl necklas that hangs around her neck most of the time? Besides she still [...]
- Posted by SarahIt is a nice gesture to say the clothing items will be donated to charity — which means a big tax write off! — but, in these dire financial times is grotesque for a candidate (and FAMILY) to be furnished clothing from Neiman Marcus and other high end stores. I will feel the same if the dems use political contributions for extravagent clothing. Belt tightening should start AT THE TOP. The GOP could have chosen to be role models, instead of hypocrites. I wish all camps would sober up and start acting more like they really understand the budgets of Joe and Josephine Plumber.
- Posted by BeaPracticalShe’s your everyday hockey mon, right. How many people do you know that spend 150k in 5 weeks on cloths. She campains on no earmarks,overboard speading,ETC and does an end run,not the first time. First,Troopergate,then the airfare fraud (for her family) and now this. Eventhough little,in real dollars, it really gives you insight into the REAL Palin.Fraud with a smile.
- Posted by LesterPretty funny they don’t even trust her to dress herself, yet they are supposed to be Mavericks! I guess small town apparell and style is better left at home than brought out on the campaign trail.
I guess she is supposed to get support for being good looking and well dressed. We are supposed to totally forget what comes out of her mouth. Pandering for the vote and she claims she is not a celebrity . . . Too much fun.
- Posted by Carolyn B.Meanwhile, Barack Obama Walks Holes In His Shoes, Then Re-Soles Them
http://wonkette.com/403705/meanwhile-bar ack-obama-walks-holes-in-his-shoes-then- re-soles-them
- Posted by sharkcellar‘I said thanks but no thanks for that closet to nowhere …’ from a hockey mom to a designer tart - inappropiate and debasing.
- Posted by KaneMccain was a major part of the spending bill for elections. I guess he forgot to tell us about all the loopholes. Like the candidate cant spend campaign money on personal items, but the Pacs, RNC and DNC can. This sounds like this was another BS law to make the politicians look good. Who hired Tracey Schmitt, as a spokes person. They both should be let go. How can she say with a straight face that they will donate the clothes to charity. I guess the people in Alaska who go to the Salvation Army are drooling to get something worn by Palin. Tracy goes on to talk about all the important things going on in the country why talk about clothes. Does she realize that the amount spent on the clothes could feed a family for 6 to 12 months. People are loosing jobs, going hungry and are cold, and this lady does not think spending that amount is important. No wonder McCain is doing so badly. The people working for him are out of touch as he is. What they spent on hair clothes etc. is the pay for 3 middle class workers for a year. Duh!!!!!!!
- Posted by Ogel