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NYT: "... Republicans expressed fear that weeks of tailoring Ms. Palin as an average 'hockey mom' would fray amid revelations that the Republican Party outfitted her with expensive clothing from high-end stores." You think? And that the problem is not only the "high end" stores, but the extraordinary six figures worth of duds that, you know, Palin didn't pay for?
And you have got to appreciate this. Palin advisors blame the diverse national climate for needing the six figures worth of clothes for the 68-day campaign. "Advisers to Ms. Palin said on Wednesday that the purchases — which totaled about $150,000 and were classified as 'campaign accessories' — were made on the fly after Ms. Palin, the governor of Alaska, was chosen as the Republican vice-presidential candidate on Aug. 29 and needed new clothes to match climates across the 50 states." I don't know, do you think that is a wee bit of a stretch? It's 40 degrees in Alaska and 90 degrees in Arizona, that will be another $80,000-$90,000?
As to the claim also by campaign snifflers that the whole story is sexist, since men's Brooks Brothers suits can cost a couple grand: give me a break. $150,000 is not $5,000 on a couple suits, or even $20,000 worth of nice suits. Sexist? Come on. $150,000 on six weeks' worth of outfits is an unheard of amount. Even a $20,000 clothing allowance from the RNC might be -- believed, if embarrassing. But $150,000? Seriously? Ms. Hockey Mom going to Washington to fight against the entrenched special interests? And if she doesn't have a problem with it, let her explain to the hockey moms and Joe six packs how she's a victim of Saks Fifth Avenue and Nieman Marcus and hotel dry cleaners. The Louis Vuitton handbag for her adorable seven year old, compliments as well of the RNC, also quite a touch. Maybe a bit too "Louis" than the RNC might have been advised to go for. What happened to ordinary old Hello Kitty for the second grade set? Do second graders even want three-figure designer handbags?
More from Ruth Marcus: "For all that maverick reformer talk, Palin seems to have a problem with the walk part. The Associated Press reported yesterday on Palin’s habit of inviting her kids along on expensive official trips -- and billing the state." The legal experts argue the RNC funded wardrobe is probably not illegal if Palin pays taxes on it as if were income or as the McCain campaign says it always planned to do, gives it away. But one sees hints that Palin demonstrates a sense of entitlement to things she does not pay for similar to the kind of problems that landed her Alaskan political colleague Ted Stevens, insisting he planned to give lots of gifts back eventually, in court on criminal charges.
So, Dateline or 60 Minutes, who will be the first to get the Nieman's personal shopper who has the inside skinny? Or did the RNC declare it classified? John McCain not looking so excited about his choice of Veeps these days? He may have a lot of time in the future to think about it.
More from the Politico reporter who broke the story. More political fashion analysis.