But is it legal?
Federal law would bar the McCain-Palin campaign from converting campaign funds to "personal use" - a definition that specifically includes clothing purchases.If it's not legal, there is an uneven burden on men and women. A male candidate can wear whatever business suits and shirts and ties he's had in his wardrobe for years. It's hard to go wrong. But the woman will be scrutinized, and there are so many pitfalls. Especially when she is suddenly elevated to the national stage -- like Sarah Palin -- a woman needs major fashion assistance.
But a Republican strategist said the expenditure by the party committee was legal.
ADDED: Here's the original report in Politico, and here you can see that the blogosphere is going wild over it. Of course, Palin opponents are going to use this material. Nothing wrong with that.
UPDATE: Apparently, it's not illegal:
Had the purchases been made by the McCain campaign, it would be a conversion of campaign money into personal use, which is prohibited. The same rule does not apply to money from party committees.
“The R.N.C. cleverly used the party committee’s money to avoid the liability that would have occurred if campaigns funds were used,” said Kenneth Gross, a lawyer who is an expert in campaign finance.
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239 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 239 of 239Christy, you should know that it is the advertising show Mad Men that is having a big influence on a lot of the stuff that is coming out now. Also Michelle Obama is a big fan of Jackie O and the early sixties classic styles and we will see a lot of them next spring. Just sayn'
Are you suggesting Titus doesn't hit it out of the park in at least 75% of his posts? We may be on different political teams, but he is one funny motherfucker.
I understand that some people think he's funny.
I think he's one of those "comics" who gets their laughs from cruelty. His comments are almost always verbal sexual abuse... not fun... not mutual. In a work-place environment he'd cause the employer to be sued for not stopping it.
And really... an umbilical cord hanging down a pant leg... I'm just not seeing that as funny ha-ha, or funny clever, or visually funny, or conceptually funny, or even naughty funny. It's not even gross funny.
If the law says you can't use the money for anything you would normally already be doing, doesn't that include food and a whole lot of travel?
This just highlights the idiocy of campaign finance laws.
Maybe it's haven't-slept-and-I'm-drunk funny.
Frat funny.
There you go.
While we are discussing Palin and her clothing. She is a "winter" in skin tone and coloring. This is why she looks fabulous in red, black and stark white. I'm a winter as well and look terrible in pastels.
"Winters are intense and rich in their coloring and have the best profile for power dressing because they look great in all the power colors black ,navy, charcoal".
Palin's stylist is very smart in recognizing this and picking not only suits that flatter her figure but also go with her skin tones.
Cindy McCain seems to be a Spring and can wear those yellowish and softer tones that make a Winter look jaundiced.
I think that Michelle Obama is also a Winter and looks good in pure jewel tones and bright colors. Winter people look awful in cream and should stick to pure white or other clear unmuddied colors.
It's Liberal funny.
Try it.
Say "She's a retard and a bitch. I voted for Obama twice so I can say that."
Comedy gold.
And really... an umbilical cord hanging down a pant leg... I'm just not seeing that as funny ha-ha, or funny clever, or visually funny, or conceptually funny, or even naughty funny. It's not even gross funny.
He is online, not speaking to co-workers.
The suggestion that a politician, any politician, will do anything for a vote is funny and true. Taking it to the extreme as he does makes it even funnier.
You know, Al Franken funny.
John Stewart Olbermann Colbert Garafolo funny.
The media's Palin obsession is getting a little kinky.
Palin's shoes.
High healed shoes look like torture devices.
It seems like Althouse traffic, or at least comments are down since she said there was an 89% chance she would vote for Obama.
Professor, it's better to go back to cruel neutrality(or at least pretending) for your site. Your crowd is not pleased right now.
Do it for the money.
Do it for the site.
Do it for yourself.
They are pissed.
High healed shoes look like torture devices.
Cruel Shoes
This is just more tanning bed bullshit.
Palin has to look good. She can't just slap some botox on her forehead and slip into an old suit. Hair plugs aren't going to cut it.
I just made a donation to the RNC, to help defray Gov. Palin's wardrobe expenses.
I just covered the costs of her hair and makeup for a week. She's going to look GOOD beating Barack secret-plan-to-screw-Israel-that's-deeply-unpopular Obama and greasy Joe Biden, that's fer shure.
integrity said...
"It seems like Althouse traffic, or at least comments are down since she said there was an 89% chance she would vote for Obama."
Not really. Unless you treat September as being the baseline instead of the extraordinary month it so obviously was (thanks to the Palin boom, it had almost twice as much traffic as any other month since last October apart from March and August, and not far off twice as much traffic as either of those), traffic is still significantly above nominal. It's already the fourth highest in the last twelve months, and there's still a week left!
Suddenly I cannot get to the second two hundred comments without posting a new comment. What's up?
Thanks for the feedback, Trooper. Everyone raves about Mad Men but I've never watched.
This new comment system sucks!!!!!!
this is a test
I am here to delight and entertain. I mean no harm. You can take it or leave it. I understand for some it is inappropriate but I am glad that I am able to make others laugh.
Laughing is a good thing in life.
Also, my intention is not to be cruel.
As in other posts I have said I actually enjoy Palin on the stage. I agree with her about nothing. But I like her. She is cute as pie, new, interesting, and has a future. I am not sure if that future is as the republican face to lead this country but a future nontheless. My sense is that she will leave the small town life of Wasilla and venture out to the lower 48 in order to make more money, have more visibility, and enjoy the ride she is on currently. My view is that it could be depressing for her if she doesn't win and returns to Wasilla. She is obviously enjoying going out throughout the country and she is a great campaigner and spokesperson for the republican/conservative voice. I believe that may be muzzled if she returns to Alaska.
I see her working at a conservative think tank or perhaps leading a conservative organization. She would be an excellent PR person, the media would want to hear from her and love her views.
Also, I don't think she is a retard and a bitch. I think she is a talented politician who has much potential.
so, does this artificially inflate the number of comments if I have to comment to see comments?
This new blogger thing does, indeed, suck.
(And yes, I posted this to see what comes after 200.)
Recovering Liberal wrote:
I think your attempts to rectify your cognitive dissonance have become increasingly obvious since the (IMO) foolish decision to back The Messiah. I just hope that you do not have to pretzel yourself into very painful positions after a few years of the Obama administration.
Oh Professor Althouse will contort herself into whatever shape it takes for the blog traffic.
I realised that only too late.
Cheers,
Victoria
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Simon said...
integrity said...
"It seems like Althouse traffic, or at least comments are down since she said there was an 89% chance she would vote for Obama."
Not really. Unless you treat September as being the baseline instead of the extraordinary month it so obviously was (thanks to the Palin boom, it had almost twice as much traffic as any other month since last October apart from March and August, and not far off twice as much traffic as either of those), traffic is still significantly above nominal. It's already the fourth highest in the last twelve months, and there's still a week left!
What about since 89%?
I hate this new effin' thing so badly! Sucks doesn't begin to describe it.
Victoria, that isn't fair. And Integrity, there's not really good data to support that yet.
Wow, how does one see the comments past 200 in this whosey-wotsit?
Victoria, that isn't fair.
Isn't it, Simon?
BTW, your blog traffic data is skewed. You note that Althouse had an upsurge during the heady Pro-Palin posts in September.
You forgot that in October there were no less than THREE Presidential debates, and the all-important Vice-Presidential debate, of which I personally must've contributed over 100 posts each to.
This blog is my home, I love the blogger hostess for being there to reunite some of the most wonderful people I have ever met online.
But do not think for a moment what I said isn't true. Even the Instapundit links are down. I can't read his mind, but I fancy that is partly that if he wants to link to a pro-Obama, anti-Palin blog, there are much better ones out there.
It's easy to put one's finger in the air, to see which way the wind is blowing. We'll see what happens in November.
Cheers,
Victoria
Wow, is that The Real Titus? Who loves you baby! If only because of you, I would return.
Victoria, is there not tension between the charge that "Althouse will contort herself into whatever shape it takes for the blog traffic" and the cliam that traffic is down because of a newly-minted pro-Obama tilt? If she weren't throwing straight dice, if she was just in it for the traffic, would that goal not be better served by tilting towards McCain?
I posted, and I'm still stuck on the page with the first 200 comments. Blogger, this counts as a FAIL.
Posting that last one got me to this page. Looks like the earlier attempt at posting got stuck in the tubes.
I need to post this to keep reading. good morning all!
Profesor, are we going to discuss this?
The R.N.C. cleverly used the party committee’s money
Why does the word cleverly make it sound like this was a sneaky thing to do to get around the campaign laws instead of a statement that they followed the rules correctly?
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The mainstream media illuminati do their best to throw us off track. We need to focus on the issues, like winning the war and bring our troops home safely. What does her wardrobe and make-up have to do with the price of gas?
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