Palin's $180,000 Wardrobe Stuffed in Trash Bags, Not Donated
Filed under: Celebrity Fashion Mistakes, Celebrity, Hot or Not
Or maybe not. Turns out the high-class, high-dollar gear is sitting around RNC headquarters, stuffed in plastic trash bags.
Sarah Palin Style Evolution
When she was a flat-broke (but "not flat busted") student at the University of Idaho in the 1980s, Sarah Palin dressed in the frumpy-freshman's uniform of tee shirts and shorts. But by the time she took the national stage this summer, she had a chic RNC-financed wardrobe that could have paid for the $125,000 dump truck penciled into the Wasilla City budget -- with enough left over for a family shopping spree at Alaska's first Target. To see how Palin morphed from dorm-dull to camera-worthy, click on.
Heath Family, AP
Sarah Palin -- then Sarah Louise Heath -- walked off with the Miss Wasilla crown in 1984 wearing a red and white strapless confection.
Heath Family / AP
Even by 1984 standards, Palin's swimsuit for the Miss Alaska pageant was a bit modest . Here, she models a red one-piece, which she later swapped for a "Dynasty"-worthy navy sequined gown. Though Palin snagged Miss Congeniality honors in the race, she lost the title to Maryline Blackburn, the first African-American to represent Alaska in the Miss American contest.
Splash News
In 1992 -- the year Donna Karan ran an ad showing a glamorous woman being sworn in as President -- 28-year-old Sarah Palin was all bold shoulders and bright earrings as she ran for the Wasilla City Council.
Bob Hallinen, Anchorage Daily / MCT
Dressed for success: Palin, as a member of the Wasilla City Council, wears the crisp blazer-and-white-shirt uniform favored by of legions of working women. Must have worked. Within 14 years, she was elected mayor of Wasilla and governor of Alaska.
Heath Family / AP
Standing along the Parks Highway in Wasilla, then-Mayor Palin was the embodiment of North Face chic as she shows how to work a basic red-and-back windbreaker.
Lulu Larsen, Alaska Stock Images / ZUMA Press
Forget how cold it gets in Alaska. In 2005, Gov. Palin's look in a pink Lilly Pulitzer sweater can be summed up in two words: Palm Beach.
Lulu Larsen, Alaska Stock Images / ZUMA Press
For her gubernatorial inauguration ball in 2007, Palin traded the librarian's up-do and black skirt and jacket that she wore to the swearing-in ceremonies for loose curls and a raspberry portrait-collar gown.
Christopher S. Miller, Alaska Stock Images / ZUMA Press
When you're heading into the sub-zero temperatures of the Tesoro Iron Dog competition, you don't even think about wearing peep-toe pumps. Here, Palin bundles up in heavy padding, fur and lace-up boots to cheer on her husband, Todd, who has won the snow machine race across Alaska four times.
Splash News
At a "Road to the Convention" rally last August, Palin wore a basic black suit (and her old $89 Naughty Monkey peep-toe shoes) as John McCain officially introduced her as his running mate.
Mary Altaffer, AP
To be fair, that's how our Goodwill donations sit for months, taking up space in our garage until we finally get around to dropping them off -- and the RNC offers a similar excuse, claiming the clothes are "in the process" of being donated. But the "we'll get to it later dude" approach isn't flying with conservatives -- from big donors to bloggers -- who question whether the Republican party has learned any lessons from this unfortunate affair.
One commenter writes: "The only reason this is a story is to showcase one more reason why [RNC Chair Mike Duncan] needs to be replaced at the RNC." While another adds "lets face it, bush [sic] was a disaster for the republicans and sarah palin [sic] is bush [sic] with a very expensive dress..."
Still others defend the Alaskan governor, writing: "Governor Palin is one of the very few in the party who know what the hell they are trying to achieve! Palin never asked for the wardrobe in the first place!"
What do you think? More embarrassing news for the RNC, or much ado about nothing?
rick 1-26-2009 @ 2:15PM
Give Me a break BARAK HUSSEIN SPENDS 170 MILLION PLUS ON A CORONATION PARTY AND $180,000 IS STILL AN ISSUE.
Reply
Grizzley1968 1-26-2009 @ 2:51PM
Hey, Barack Obama didn't spend the money on the ceremonies, AH! Your congress, many Republicans, spent the money. Didn't spend it on President, let me repeat, President Obama. How about that. They spent it on the American people- the 1.8 plus million people, many from around the World, of all nationalities, that came to celebrate history, and the lifting up, the renewal of this country.
Big difference from trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. Yeah Sarah Palin. Not from her looks, but from her lack of message, lack of knowledge, and lack of character. Dressing her up just made it worse. And the already money strapped RNC spends this kind of money on this bumpkin. Then it sits in trash cans. We are not talking about reasonably priced clothes here, Elmer. We talking Louis Vuitton purses and $2500 jackets. For what? Target and Walmart, maybe Pennys, would have been a much sounder investment and more inline with her taste, but still would have not enhenced Gov. Palin's image or increased her intellect or worldliness.
And, don't forget, the RNC had to ask her to return the stuff. Come on!!. A F up is an F up. Dum is dum. Predjudice and classism is just that, dude. Rick, go back to doing whatever it is you do. Lay low! Let it go. See you in four, ummm, probably eight years.
John 1-26-2009 @ 3:05PM
Actually, it's the RNC who's doing the complaining. Did you read the article?
Donna 1-26-2009 @ 3:40PM
Right On!
Felice 1-26-2009 @ 5:16PM
President Obama did not organize the event. Senator Feinstein was in charge.
CherMoe 1-26-2009 @ 7:28PM
Much of that was private donations for the Obama inauguration. In addition, much extra security was required because of the fact he is a black man, and there were so many threats against his life. Like yourself, many Republicans have expressed some serious hatred. By the way, there were TWO coronations for George Bush, and the figures given for his parties DID NOT INCLUDE THE COST OF SECURITY FOR HIM. Why don't you compare apples to apples.
Alex 1-26-2009 @ 8:22PM
Wow!!! young Pamela Anderson's sex tape here:
http://bcelebvideos.com/video.php?link=Pamela_Anderson_sex_tape
Randi Grogan 1-26-2009 @ 9:01PM
Rick you are a complete moron! Let's put this in numbers you might understand, Bush (your guy) has spent 1.5 Trillion in surplus when he took office. Bush (your guy) has spent countless BILLIONS on two wars, I need not say anymore but two more things, 1) Barack Obama, being the first Black American to be elected into office. Being I'm a taxpayer I'm all for it, he should celebrate his achievement. Being I'm a White American, I couldn't be prouder of our new leader. 2) Your guy could have evoked his right for more pardon's, not that I'm a supporter of Libby's but he saved Cheney's butt and he didn't get pardoned. Loyalty to those around you and you get treated with such ilregard. Barack Obama is my true hero, he's Democrat and Liberal and in a mere week has done more than your guy did in 8 years. Shame! So if your going to keep score get the figures right and by the way also look who put out the report. Now Palin, shame shame shame. She needed nice clothes, it certainly didn't make her smarter, I'm sure the RNC can keep the clothes she may need them in 8 years.
Bobby 1-26-2009 @ 9:04PM
ha ha!! so a liberal writes a story on conservatives...certainly not biased. As a conservative member of the party, who just happened to give, I think Sarah looked great in her new clothes and worked very hard for them. I wish we could have done more! I'd rather buy her clothes than pay for abortions in other countries!!! we are so in for trouble...
NYCBruce 1-26-2009 @ 9:26PM
How republican of you! You have no answer regarding your party's candidate's behavior, so rather than admitting Palin lied about donating the clothing, you try to turn the question to some other topic! Stick to the post subject, numb-nuts!
Frank 1-26-2009 @ 11:48PM
And what was the cost of the presidents outfit he wore to his Gay-la ball? Not a racist here,just a realist. how can we trust any politician telling us the country has financial problems when they're wearin a month's worth of wages.
the older i get,the more elections i see, the closere i come to being an anarchist. as for this being a renewal of our country, a professional liar is still a liar no matter what color he is. and if obama and tiger woods are black, i'm native indian so all you thieves get off my ancestor's land
Rosetoes 1-27-2009 @ 1:42AM
The fact that the only thing the democrats could find to whine about throughout this campaign was the cost of Sarah Palin's wardrobe is proof that the Republicans were doing something right. In view of the ridiculous amounts of money that it took to get Obama elected, the last issue they should have mentioned was a measley $150,000! The RNC had as much right to spend their money as they saw fit as the Obama camp. The bottom line is - we have a new president that we all hope will be successful in turning our country around in a positive manner. Personally, I would not want his job.
Ginny 1-27-2009 @ 2:14AM
Rick you are right on to the point! If Obamassiah and his Sheeple does not cause a Civil War in this country I will be amazed. I am member of the US Armed Forces and I am truelly afraid that man will turn the Armed Services on this Amazing Country.
By the way, he is not a "Black Man" He is Half white, but no one makes mention of that. In reality he is more Arabic then African. People need to research before they spout crap they heard on from the likes of Al Frankin!
Virginia 1-27-2009 @ 9:19AM
I don't dispute the amount spent on the inauguration, but a lot of that came from individual donors, not all taxpayers. I donated toward the inauguration.
Grey 1-27-2009 @ 9:20AM
Grizzley and anyone else for that matter; you hit the nail on the head, prejudice and classism, think about it. We should practice what we preach shouldn't we, if not, the next four years will turn around and bite us in the a........... because then what would the point have been of this past election? Are we all just hypocrits? We are sopose to be setting by example now, so let's try to set a good example from the start by not harrassing people. Also, despite the cost of a wardrobe and an inauguration, "you" are sopose to be prepared for bad financial times, tighten up your spending and do volunteer work. So are you ready? Have you signed up yet? And don't forget, although we are sopose to pull together as American's and do the right thing, don't ever expect the same of the media or trust the media, they feed off any conflict in hopes of getting people worked up and making comments so they might actually spark an idea in their feable little brains for the next stupid so called article they write. Just food for thought.
Traci 1-27-2009 @ 9:54AM
EXACTLY! give me a break, i am so sick of hearing about these clothes and have yet to hear anyone talk about the waste of money on these parties he had. had to be 10 times more than any other president.
Rita Rizzo 1-27-2009 @ 9:57AM
Give ME a break. Obama's supporters paid for the inauguration. Not one cent of taxpayer money was used, unlike every previous inauguration. Obama and Michelle bought their own clothes during the campaign and for the inaugural, but then we didn't have to try to put lipstick on a pig!
Pat 1-27-2009 @ 10:05AM
You're absolutely right! Double-standard. Don't bother bantering back and forth with these people....."never argue with an idiot, they drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience!"
American 1-27-2009 @ 10:08AM
You have a valid point Rick. What I can't understand is why the writer of this column and all the rest of the democrats in this country continue to dwell on the subject of Sarah Palin's clothes. I've never heard of anyone in politics harassed so vigilantly over how much their clothes cost. Anyone keeping tabs on what Michelle Obama spent on her campaign attire? Now, now, get ahold of yourselves liberals. Don't get all upset and start screaming about how she paid for them herself. Where did her money come from? Years and years of criminal activity by her and her husband, that's where. Their enormous wealth didn't come from the jobs they held. How much do you think and organizer makes anyway?
But the point is you people go on and on and on about Sarah's wardrobe. Michelle bought nice clothes so that she would like nice and be presentable to the public in regard to the role she hoped to play. The same goes for Gov. Palin. The thing is, you all are scared to death that the governor will come back in a few years and be even more warmly received than she was in the last campaign so you continually trash her, even though you can come up with nothing better than her wardrobe to do it with, hoping this idiotic hype will lessen her future chances.
Instead of staying this course and showing how stupid you all really are how about make a "change" and focus on the real issues at hand? Issues like the fact that your new "hero" (as one of you puts it) started his campaign with lies and continues to lie to us daily, deceived all of you by saying he's going to rid Washington of the "old" and bring in new and then appointed Bill Clinton's old staff (which by the way all of whom are being investigated for criminal activity or are no more qualified for their positions than he is for his), telling the terrorists we want to be their friends (aaawwwww) and setting out to close Gitmo with no plan for what to do with the current terrorists who are being held there.
Get a grip far-left liberals. If Sarah Palin's clothes are the most important thing to you right now then you prove my point...you had no clue what you were doing when you voted for that white, I mean black, I mean muslim (oh, I get confused) smooth-talking egotist who thinks he's the new God and is putting our country at a far greater risk than ever before. God bless America! We certainly need his blessings now more than ever.
Commenter 2-12-2009 @ 1:22AM
Rita Rizzo- Not one cent of taxpayer money was used, eh?
D.C. Will Get Emergency Funding
on washingtonpost.com
By Mary Beth Sheridan and Michael E. Ruane
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, January 14, 2009; Page B01
The White House announced yesterday that it will grant emergency funding to the District to help with soaring costs for the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama, while forecasters said snow could add to the day's complications.
The emergency declaration -- based on crowd projections, not the weather -- came less than a week after D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) asked for the aid, citing estimates of 1.5 million to 2 million people expected to attend, according to a Bush administration spokesman. The city has projected its tab for the inauguration at $47 million, about three times as much as Congress has given the district.
"The [Fenty] administration is pleased that the White House has supported our request," said Mafara Hobson, a spokeswoman for the mayor.
Virginia and Maryland have also asked for federal funding but have not gotten responses, officials in those states said. Virginia has estimated it will spend $16 million and Maryland, $12 million -- major expenses given the economic slowdown.
"With the potential crowds coming here, this is a very prudent measure to take," said Chris Geldart, head of the Homeland Security office for the National Capital Region. It was not clear how much federal money the District would receive.
The District, Maryland and Virginia had previously asked Congress to reimburse them $75 million for their inauguration expenses. But any congressional appropriation probably wouldn't come for weeks or months.