Hillary Designer: Palin Spending Strange

Designers Vie to Dress Political Candidates

(CBS)  CBS News Investigative Producer Laura Strickler wrote this story for CBSNews.com.

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CBS News has confirmed that the Republican National Committee spent up to $150,000 on what appears to be wardrobe and makeup spending at high end department stores for the GOP Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin.

But one of the most famous political fashion designers of the year, Susanna Chung Forest, who designed Hillary Clinton’s pantsuits says it would be unusual for a candidate as famous as Sarah Palin to need to buy clothes.

“Why do you need to pay for it?” Forest told CBS News from her boutique Susanna Beverly Hills saying that most designers would offer to clothe a candidate for free. “It’s an honor, you are going to design for someone who could be the president of the United States,” noting that the exposure any designer would get from dressing someone as famous as Clinton or Palin would be worth much more.

The Los Angeles Times reported earlier this year that Senator Clinton’s custom made pantsuits from Forest were worth about $6,350 a piece retail. Clinton’s spokespeople did not respond to requests for comment.

The McCain campaign responded to the Palin wardrobe spending with the following statement, “With all of the important issues facing the country right now, it’s remarkable that we are spending time talking about pantsuits and blouses. It was always the intent that the clothing go to a charitable purpose after the campaign,” said spokesperson Tracey Schmitt.

Spending over a hundred thousand dollars on a wardrobe is a sharp bump since her days as governor. Matt Simon, reporter from the CBS News Anchorage affiliate says he jokingly asked the governor 'who she was wearing' for the inaugural ball and she responded that she didn’t know. During an interview with KTVA soon after she was elected Palin told the station that her kids were bugging her to get some new clothes.

FEC officials say campaigns are allowed to spend on personal use items but it must be an item that "would exist irrespective if they were not a candidate or office holder", i.e. clothing, mortgage payments, country club fees, etc.

However, the political party (such as the Republican National Committee) can make coordinated expenditures with the candidate’s campaign of up to $19.2 million dollars. The FEC says the possible outstanding question is: Are coordinated expenditures the same as if it were the campaign? The FEC tells CBS News that to determine this someone would have to file a complaint and then the FEC would investigate.

The Obama campaign says it has paid for hair and makeup costs for the Obamas and the Bidens associated with interviews or events but campaign officials say neither the campaign nor the Democratic National Committee(DNC) has paid for clothing.

A CBS News review of DNC and Obama campaign expenditures did not find any similar purchases.

[rickstas]

More lipstick for the pig?

[questionnews]

If Susanna Chung Forest was directing Hillary''s fashion selection, she has little to stand on since she made Hillary a laughing stock & the target fashion jokes worldwide by designing nothing but pantsuits. I thought Hillary would have looked just fine in a dress, but nooooo. Pantsuits, all day, everyday.

[adjunctirsc]

Get over it losers. What they should do is give it to Michelle.. She could use the clothes. Have you seem her lately?? Wide load

[cees14]

Did anyone wonder how Palin is in such good shape just 5 months after giving birth? she looks great. What''s the secret Palin.

Obama talks about dressing on a budget see video on Access Hollywood.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/22/the-obamas-discuss-dressi_n_137009.html

[lakeskier]

150,000 on clothes and makeup is not the real issue. Hypocrisy is! Gov. Palin has made a big deal of portraying herself as being a hockey mom who shops at Walmart. She loves singing the praises of the regular Joe who lives in real America. What a con!

[cees14]

Holes in Obama''s shoes...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/10/22/obamas-shoes-a-historical_n_136924.html

[questionnews]

recession1

You put too much chicken feed on the same keys of your keyboard. The chicken keep hitting the same keys. Spread the feed all over your keyboard so we can get a different post.

[hollybb2]

My guess is Ms Forest wanted to design some of her butt ugly pantsuits for Sarah Palin and she told her to hit the road.

[lakeskier]

Republicans lost a great opportunity at a photo op showing Gov. Palin bargain shopping, walking the walk. So many missteps, so little time.

[renonv5]

recession1 it''s "duping" not dupping, I had to correct you since you have posted it 5 or 6 times already. I also agree with you, Obama/Biden 08!

[marcosis78]

I suppose if you dont have brains, mine as well look....good. Doesnt that make her a floosy?

[pensacola98]

$150,000 is a little expensive for a cheerleader costume!! It seems like John McCain has become quite the Sugar Daddy on this campaign!!! Now, I see why he wants middle class voters to keep paying most of the taxes. All that high-dollar living seems to have clouded his judgement.

[john6pack]

A high maintenance woman, former beauty queen deserves more than $1500,000.
Without her, McCain would have looked like grandpa not like a macho man.
Hiding the lack of knowlege requires a LOT of expensive clothin from the ees of hockey moms and plumbers.

[standlee5]

Please. Please. Don''t put Sarah Palin in those matronly boxy Hillary pantsuits. She looks great in a skirt and heels. Don''t Hillarize Sarah.

[tannerbird]

I think the RNC is trying to cover up some more of there stolen money.

[rjames0423]

Governor to give deposition Friday
TROOPERGATE: She will talk to Personnel Board investigator.

By RACHEL D%u2019ORO
The Associated Press

Published: October 22nd, 2008 04:24 AM
Last Modified: October 22nd, 2008 10:51 AM

Gov. Sarah Palin, already found by one investigation to have abused her power, will take time from her vice presidential campaign Friday to give a deposition in a second inquiry into her firing of the state%u2019s top public safety official. It will be the first deposition in the affair by the Republican vice

[rjames0423]

fervan
350.00 pales in comparison to 150,000 unless you''re the dumbest woman on earth! You must be a fool-that''s right you''re supporting SP so....

[tannerbird]

OLD ONE HUNG LOWE SAID HE WOULD DO IT BUT IT WOULD COST MORE THAN 150.000 HE COULD DO IT A LOT CHEAPER IF THEY WOULD TAPE HER DAM MOUTH SHUT.

[dutchiehaley]

TANNERBIRD, How much did they pay for the sock they had to stuff in MICHELLES mouth to shut her up?

[marymack5]

The newspaper had to retract the report about Ms. Obama ordering lobster and caviar. It was false. She was not even at that hotel.

[dutchiehaley]

rjames, that''s right! Troopergate, where you liberals are cheering on the insane State Trooper who tazers his 14 year old kid as disipline, and gives death threats to senior citizens. Is the ACLU still defending NAMBLA? You guys have your priorities straight!

[misssuzq]

Quite frankly, she and the wanna be first ladies all wear clothes that look restrictive and not in any way comfortable.

Is that what you look like when you pay waaaay too much for clothes?

It is really worth it to look miserable just to wear something expensive?

The clothes they have been wearing do not address the masses of everyday women and they should tone it down a bit, as to some people, it does matter.

The public was not so keen on Nancy Reagan and her wardrobe and held it against her.

[mavisdarling]

Yeah but if Sarah had her OWN designer, she would alienate Joe Six Pack''s wife and girlfriend! People might think that Sarah was elite, or some other cuss word.

This was sloppy record-keeping by the RNC. They were just GAGA over SARAH SARAH SARAH, and didn''t think this would be an issue, so they didn''t even try to hide it.

Are Sarah''s kids even in school? I wonder who does Willow''s nails, and who do you think paid for THAT? Do you think Trig wears make-up too? But more importantly does TODD wear make-up? Does any of this make-up wipe off on the clothes accidentally??

I need to get some more information before I decide who to vote for, *** it.

[jnewark]

Stories like this really bother. Middle class Americans just go crazy learning that some politician has spent $500 on a haircut or thousands of dollars on outfits. What concerns me is when there%u2019s not the same outrage at billions, I said billions, of taxpayer dollars that go toward dubious purposes.
I%u2019m on Main Street and I%u2019ve yet to see how the $750,000,000,000 bailout is reaching anyone other than the financiers on Wall Street. Here in New Jersey our state government %u201Clost%u201D several billion dollars (yes, there%u2019s that b-word again) on a failed school construction program. There was barely a whimper.
Okay, so the Governor Palin gets her outfits at Neiman Marcus and she has a stylist. She%u2019s a woman and she%u2019s running for VP. We expect her to look better than the average hausfrau. I%u2019ll give her a break on the $100,000+ wardrobe budget, if she%u2019ll just get me a piece of the friggin%u2019 billions that went to the Wall Street barons.
People, learn some math.

[dutchiehaley]

rjames, with me being so dumb, Hillarys HUGE PANT SUIT DESIGNER has encouraged me to begin a new career!!! $6300 for an origional HUGE PANT SUIT? I''m in!!!!

[sandspirit]

It''s better for politicians to pay for the things they use than for the politicians to have the items given to them. It might be considered a bribe if the politicians didn''t pay for the items.

It''s better for the economy to pay for what you use instead of expecting that it will be given to you.

[dutchiehaley]

rjames, Has DULLARD Joe Biden figured out how to spell a 3 letter word yet? Sen Biden, if you can spell the word JOB you will win the election. Go! Se. Biden: ME KNOW THAT!!!!!! UH, da, J--O--B--S, JOBS!!! Nooooooooo, sorry Senator thats incorrect.

[contrablue]

"Why do you need to pay for it?%u201D Forest told CBS News from her boutique Susanna Beverly Hills saying that most designers would offer to clothe a candidate for free."

Because Sarah Palin has no intention of giving the clothes back! It''s booty she''s expropriating from McCain campaign contributors.

[rjames0423]

DUTCHIEHALEY IS DUMB HA HA HA HA HA HA
HA HA HA AND WEARS A MOO MOO HA HA HA AND LOVES SP AND TROOPERGATE HA HA HA HA

you need to tell MCFLIP how to pronoune **** ha ha ha ha and what about DUMMY couldn''t pronounce a word today as usual-you''d be the PERFECT person to go on MSNBC to defend the LYING COUPLE. We have two attorneys in the house-and you have THE FLIM FLAM DUO.

[usmctanker13]

My guess is that it being obvious that some one from Bum Fu*k Alaska is not fashion aware enough, so the GOP had to dress the poor dumb creature.

[contrablue]

"Why do you need to pay for it?%u201D Forest told CBS News from her boutique Susanna Beverly Hills saying that most designers would offer to clothe a candidate for free."

Because Sarah Palin has no intention of giving the clothes back! It''s booty she''s expropriating from the McCain campaign contributors.

[am0108]

To be honest, do any of these candidates really know how much things are? People are hired to do shop and style the candidates. I think that blaming any of the candidates is ridiculous.

[bitterhop]

What''s REALLY amazing it that with all the important issues facing our county all the demented maverick and moose barbie are talking about is some guy nobody ever heard of name Bill Ayers. Right, the rethugs are going to give Palin''s duds to the Salvation Army. Yeh, we believe that steamin story.

[dutchiehaley]

How much did they pay to dress MICHELLE up like JUNE CLEAVER? I guess that''s not important. Nice pearls.

[charlesrkiss]

Okay. This is absolute proof Palin and McCain are having an affair.

[heartlandjim]

Palin spending $150,000 on clothes! Her first decision as a VP candidate is to spend all that money on herself!! Digusting and it tells us she only cares about herself. The McSame campaign should change it''s slogan to COUNTRY CLUB FIRST!! Please, folks, vote Obama-Biden!!!

[kmdesmo]

You have to admit she looks marvelous. She should be in the entertainment business, not politics.

[dutchiehaley]

So what. Nancy Pelosi spent $118 million on face lifts while Joe "stand up and wave" Biden spent $630 million on hair plugs.

[lh2187]

Ok, so the RNC spent 150K on clothes for Sarah. How about comparing the totals spent by both parties on this particular campaign. We could use Obama''s total and put a pretty big dent in the National Debt. Oh! sorry, not to worry, we''ll just find "some rich people to tax" and recoup the money so the dem''s can spend more!! By the way, what is Katie Couric''s clothes allowance? The news media is so pathetic, can''t find anything really bad so you air this as news!?! Linda in OHIO

[c-mo6]

How much did they pay to dress MICHELLE up like JUNE CLEAVER? I guess that''''s not important. Nice pearls.


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Posted by dutchiehaley at 07:55 PM : Oct 22, 2008
+ report abuse
Did you read the article or just the title?

[beatupfromfe]

Palin tried to replace Hillary. Palin mimiced Hillary''s press report almost verbatim. Palin''s BIGGEST mistake...she is NO Hillary and educated women know it as well as men! If you could of spent a little more on pantsuits and said your nick name is Hillary from long ago..hey, whats another lie, you may have stood a better chance! Looking like Tina Fey (a Respected Woman at that) has been detrimental, Palin is no Fey and certainly no Hillary. May the Spirit of your choice Bless you and yours. Please VOTE! Mission Accomplished!

[jockh]

Sarah Palin, the average hockey mom and representative of Joe Six Pack, has to dress in elitist clothes because she can see VERSACE and GUCCI from her house !!!

[lh2187]

Ok, so the RNC spent 150K on clothes for Sarah. How about comparing the totals spent by both parties on this particular campaign. We could use Obama''s total and put a pretty big dent in the National Debt. Oh! sorry, not to worry, we''ll just find "some rich people to tax" and recoup the money so the dem''s can spend more!! By the way, what is Katie Couric''s clothes allowance? The news media is so pathetic, can''t find anything really bad so you air this as news!?! Linda in OHIO

[redrockraven]

So where are the spend thrifty Republicans? As always; say one thing about promoting conservative fiscal values and then act just the opposite. Sarah the conservative is a total joke.

[rjames0423]

dutchiehaley
Sarah had her head examined and the doctors were surprised to discover THERE WAS NOTHING THERE-A HEARTBEAT AWAY FROM IMPEACHMENT IS WHERE SHE IS. AND MCFLIP HE IS ONE HEARTBEAT AWAY FROM HAVING ANOTHER BOUT WITH CANCER-HE WON''T MAKE IT IN FOUR YEARS-Can you imagine-SP doesn''t even know what the VP''s duties are....that''s some deep shee ite! SHE''S DUMB AND SO ARE YOU. At least Hillary''s suits are fitted-a grizzly bear has to make adjustments to yours

[rjames0423]

dutchiehaley
I will contact Michelle and let her know that you''d like to borrow her June Cleaver outfit but you''ll need to have it altered-two TENTS would need to be sewn in on each side for you!

[aroeg]

Does anybody really care. I do believe that dressing Governor Palin in anything other than what she has been wearing and standing her next to Cindy McCain would have been a disaster. Meanwhile, CBS, go do some real investigative reporting, like how is the government going to spend the Federal Rescue money to help the Main Street population, or what are the costs of each of the candidates programs to educate the children in this country, etc. Who really cares if the RNC chose to spend $150K to make their candidate look good?

[reto444]

how much Wall-Mart mums or Hockey mums spend on their clothes? ...how close we are to reality... Joe the plumber must be wearing versace if mccain-palin are populists

[irishblue16]

First when one''s wife makes over $400,000 per year, one does not need the Donkey Party to pay for ones clothing much less ones hair cut. I am sure the whinners of this little article have not given a cent to the GOP anyway...Palin, however, is worth every dollar and as a contributor to the Party, they have my blessing.

[rjames0423]

dutchiehaley FYI-Wow
Now I see why you''re complaining about this-you contributed to the failing campaign so you want your money back too

The Republican National Committee%u2019s $150,000 investment in Sarah Palin%u2019s wardrobe has prompted some teeth gnashing among the party%u2019s big donors about its political sensibility and a feisty debate among campaign finance specialists about its legality.

%u201CAs a Republican Eagle and a maxed-out contributor to McCain%u2019s general campaign, I%u2019d like my money back %u2013 he can still have my vote,%u201D complained one irate donor on Tuesday.