One of the first things Sarah Palin did after she was selected as John McCain’s running-mate was to go to a Minneapolis Neiman Marcus and drop $75,062.63 on clothes and accessories. All told, she’s spent over $150,000 on her appearance, using RNC money that was raised from committed Republican activists. I don’t know how the real-Americans in Western Pennsylvania, Southern Virginia, and Western North Carolina are going to be able to relate to that. It’s hard to picture how you could spend $75,000 in a department store. Did they have an 18-wheeler to haul away her loot?
The McCain’s response is defensive, and they’re trying to blame the media. But, unsurprisingly, a lot of Republicans are furious, and not just because of bad optics. It’s a huge waste of their money.
The campaign says that it was always their intention to donate the clothes and diamonds and gold to a worthy charity when the campaign is over. I don’t really believe that, and I’m sure Palin is crushed to hear that she can’t keep her bling. I think it should all be donated to the Smithsonian, where future generations can view it like the Queen of England’s Family Jewels.