Palin Stylist Made $22,800 In Two Weeks

Makeup Artist For GOP Vice Presidential Candidate Collected More Money From McCain Campaign Than Foreign Policy Advisor

(AP)  An acclaimed celebrity makeup artist for Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin collected more money from John McCain's campaign than his foreign policy adviser.

Amy Strozzi, who works on the reality show "So You Think You Can Dance" and has been Palin's traveling stylist, was paid $22,800, according to campaign finance reports for the first two weeks in October. In contrast, McCain's foreign policy adviser, Randy Scheunemann, was paid $12,500, the report showed.

McCain's campaign said the payment covered a portion of her work in September and a portion of October. An earlier campaign finance report showed Strozzi was paid $13,200 for a portion of September.

In recent days, McCain and his running mate have tried to douse a furor over how their side spent their money. The Republican National Committee came under scrutiny after the party committee reported earlier this week that it had spent about $150,000 in September on wardrobe and cosmetics from high-end department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus after Palin joined the Republican ticket.

The purchases offered a stark contrast to Palin's image as a "hockey mom" who calls herself part of an average, middle-class American family.

"Those clothes are not my property. We had three days of using clothes that the RNC purchased," Palin told Fox News in an interview that aired Thursday night.

"If people knew how Todd and I and our kids shop so frugally. My favorite shop is a consignment shop in Anchorage, Alaska, called Out of the Closet. And my shoe store is called Shoe Fly in Juneau, Alaska. ... It's not, you know, Fifth Avenue-type of shopping."

In one shopping spree for Palin, the RNC spent $75,062 at Neiman Marcus in Minneapolis. It also spent $49,425 at Saks Fifth Avenue and $4,902 at Atelier, a stylish men's store, and paid $92 for a romper and matching hat with ears for her infant son, Trig, at Pacifier, a Minneapolis baby store.

There was no evidence of additional clothing purchases in the most recent reports.

The Obama campaign has said it paid for hair and makeup costs associated with interviews or events, but neither the campaign nor the Democratic National Committee has paid for clothing.

[punditjh65]

How much money has Obama and company spent on their stylists and wardrobe??? Why don''t we hear about that??? Sounds one-sided to me!!

[naners0216]

All of you who think this is "shameful" you clearly missed the interview with the owner of a small consignment store in Anchorage, AK called "Out of the Closet." This is where Palin does her shopping and her shoes come from a small store called Shoefly. After she wore these garments they were either returned or given to charity. To you, iam4honesty, you need to change your screen name and do some fact checking before you start posting your comments.

[thepitbull13]

"This is shameful. She should not be aloud to hold public office." Posted by na1013 at 02:42 PM : Oct 25, 2008
________________________________

What is shameful is Obama is about to become our next president and he could not pass an FBI backgroung check if it were required. It should be required if you are going to be the President of the most powerfull country in the world. In all my years I have never seen an elected official so coddled and unquestioned by the MSM. But Oh heck we gotta look into that wardrobe, now that is critical news every American needs to know before election! More like another hit piece.

[cbs_bull]

Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue? Had she shopped at K-mart or Target, I would have believed her as an average middle-class American... LMAO (Don''t know why. The ABC News doesn''t allow me to post this on their sites.)

[holdfam1]

LOL. You all criticize everything about McCain / Palin. We now know everything about Palin from what she wears to who she gave birth too and yet we still no nothing about Obama except "change is coming". Will 1 Obama supporter on this blog please tell me something he has done in his past that would make me vote for him????? We''re going to get change alright. Last time the democrats controlled Presidency and Congress for 4 years together we got the Carter administration with 20% unemployment and inflation through the roof. I don''t hate Obama, but I see no way he''ll be able to stand up to Pelosi / Reed and they really suck. And now Barnie Frank is talking about cutting defense up to 25% and raising taxes. I don''t think Obama will be able to control this Liberal congress (or want too).

[na1013]

This is shameful. She should not be aloud to hold public office.

[myglorydays]

Why is it anyone other than a Republican''s business? Democrats did not in any way donate to the Republican Party, so they did not pay for a single dress, hair or makeup session. Maybe if her family made the 5 million that Obama made she could have paid for clothes she needed for the campaign appearances. If she had not bought them, we would hear about what bad clothes she had. Alaska is not as nit picky as the rest of us. Michele Obama had a makeover but with 500 times the income of Palin, she could pay for it herself. Not that the press would have complained.

[dnsallday]

We clearly can''t afford to have these 2 in the white house. Too high maintenance!

[ohiorichard1]

Hey FromTexwROVE . . .

You should be a McCain strategist. Oh wait, I''m guessing you wouldn''t like the pay cut.

[grumpas]

Your telling me this woman (Palin) is to stupid to put on her own make-up! I did for years and still do! And she is trying to tell the average American she is like they are????????? What a laugh!!!! Anyone who votes for her needs there head examined. Can you imagine what the make-up bill alone is going to be if this loser gets elected???????