McCain: 1/3 Palin Clothes Already Returned

Campaign Says Much Of Wardrobe Bought For Gov. Didn't Fit Or Hasn't Been Worn; Rest Will Be Donated

(CBS/AP)  Republican John McCain said Sunday that one-third of the $150,000 that the GOP spent on clothing and accessories for his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, and her family, "is given back."

McCain strategist Mark Salter said "about a third of it was returned immediately" because they were the wrong size, or for other reasons.

Salter's explanation was the first time the campaign has said any of the items had been returned.

Last week after the purchases at such high-end department stores as Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus appeared in campaign spending reports filed with the government, McCain and his aides repeatedly said the clothes would be donated to charity after the election.

News of such expensive clothes offered a stark contrast to Palin's image as an average "hockey mom."

Tracey Schmitt, Palin's campaign spokeswoman, said some of the clothing was returned after the Republican National Convention in September. The governor generally wears her own outfits on the campaign trail, Schmitt said.

"A third was returned post-convention," she said. "Many of the remaining clothes have never been worn."

Schmitt said Palin intended to donate the items she has worn to charity.

"Regardless, what wasn't returned will go to charity after Election Day," said Schmitt.

Asked about Palin as he was interviewed on NBC's "Meet the Press," McCain rejected the notion that Palin is unqualified to be president and that she is hurting is campaign for the presidency. He also was questioned about the clothing purchases.

"Look, she lives a frugal life. She and her family are not wealthy. She and her family were thrust into this, and there was some - and some third of that money is given back, the rest will be donated to charity," he said.

"Americans right now care about whether they're going to stay in their homes, whether they're going to have a job, whether they're going to be able to keep their health insurance, if we're going to come out of this ditch that we're in," McCain added. "They want change. They want reform. She is a role model to millions and millions and millions of Americans."

Meanwhile, on the trail in Florida on Sunday, Palin had a pointed message for Barack Obama: This thing isn't over yet.

Speaking in Tampa, Fla., Palin sharply criticized Obama for acting as if he's already won the election.

Palin mentioned reports that the Democratic presidential nominee, who is leading in the polls, has already written his inaugural speech. That drew boos from the crowd of more than 5,000 gathered for a rally at the Tampa convention center.

Palin said Obama's campaign "thinks this whole election thing is just a formality."

With just nine days to go before the Nov. 4 election, Palin was making another push in the swing state of Florida, where most polls show Obama leading McCain.

Read more about Palin's event in From the Road

[thickredhair]

ewww so she wore clothes w/ the tags on and returned them, so ghetto

[puppetry17]

One third have already been returned because they are not the right size ? Oh please ! This moronic, power crazy woman - can u imagine her in the VP role , and god forbid, in the White House ? She would run the country like a little fiefdom (Wasilla?)? Apparently she is not happy with Kathy Couric. How ironic, she cant answer simple questions and she is annoyed with Kathy ? I suppose if she becomes the VP, she will call up Kathy and us eher position as VP to intimidate her ? Sheesh ! This woman is beyond words !

[upto1947]

More BS. Not news, Just CBS reporting BS. They think Obama Osama is going to help them. He wont. He is no good.

[cattlekate]

Yeah RNC. You got caught and are tryin'' to clean up the hypocrisy.

[leucippe]

both McCain and Palin know that the story about the presidential inaugural address is NOT true. it was the NY Times'' error, since they didn''t bother to check that this speech wasn''t written for Obama but for some notional candidate and was published a year ago. The insistence of these folks on knowingly disseminating false information has been true of their campaign all along. but CBS in reporting, should have at least set the record straight.

[tigerrram9]

WOW Why didn''t the news about the flawed bidding surprise me? The Alaskan Pipe Line bidding that is suppose to bring gas to the lower 48 favors a company with ties to your Administration. How much money did you make? How much money did Senator Stevens make? Are you guys partners? Sarah what else is lurking in the shadows. I hope the investigative reportes keep digging. Sarah do you believe in God? Well I see all that hatred that you spread is coming back to get you. Remember " What goes around, comes around." You started it, its your turn to finish it. Tell John you want to resign you VP nomination. Tell him he should choose someone with less baggage and more experience..remember if the trash is out there, the reporters will find it...good luck in keeping your life a secret. Everything is starting to come out. Tell John before its too late for our country.
This time put Country First and not politics first.

[pr_boxer]

The Obama campaigns rhetoric doesn''t sound as if they think they have it in the bag: however McCain-Palin do sound like bad losers already.

Can you think of anything McCain-Palin have said recently that faintly resembled their policy plans? Its all negative slander!

[kimb54]

And in the land shall rise the son of Cain
From the north The Deceiver a known Beast of false witness will take the mark of Cain.
Together they seek to spread fear and invoke hate among the refugees of sin.
In their quest for power they will ignore the light of truth shining on the deeds and words they proclaim.
But take heart for throughout the land the seekers of light shall rise up and not be fooled. With their strength the mark will be cleansed from the earth and no longer hold power to sway the blind.

[pr_boxer]

Palin''s real focus isn''t her 2008 VP campaign, she thinks that after McCain loses she''ll inherit the party leader mantle. She thinks she''ll be the 2012 Presidential nominee, this gal is one ambitous b.itch!

[pr_boxer]

If the story hadn''t got in the press, does anyone believe that story about giving the clothes to charity?

[pr_boxer]

One third returned... ok, so it was only $100,000 ward robe. Thats frugal? Sure we all spend $100,000 on clothes, and have 7 houses, and 13 cars and claim to be the friend of Joe Six Pack!

A little tough to swallow huh?

[retrovvvisio]

Anybody making notes how much Barack spends on designer suits, shoes, designer dresses for Michelle and the kids?

What what??? You can see how desperate and nasty the democratic party is.... they even get into criticising what Sarah Palin is kitted out with.
She should be - after all she has to looking great, the whole world is watching. Anyone in the media is kitted out. It would be shameful not to.

Why are the democrats such a nasty party?

[norepubs]

Any republican would simply give a blank stare upon hearing this......

...........................................................................................................



This time put Country First and not politics first.

[norepubs]

I have to laugh at republican fascists. They always accuse ''the other guy'' of being exactly what they themselves are......

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Why are the democrats such a nasty party?

[norepubs]

What''s the point? He pays for his own clothing.....
Elitists like Palin expect the public to pay for everything

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Anybody making notes how much Barack spends on designer suits, shoes, designer dresses for Michelle and the kids?

[mahdeealoo]

Why don''t they auction off the clothes (if anyone would wear them) and give the money back to the RNC? Giving them to charity is tantamount to throwing them away.

[norepubs]

If she wears a thong to future political rallies,she has a shot at it considering that modern day repubs always pick a clueless imbecile to be the figurehead leader of their fascist party...

;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;

Palin''''s real focus isn''''t her 2008 VP campaign, she thinks that after McCain loses she''''ll inherit the party leader mantle.

[mahdeealoo]

They could SAY they were given to charity, but how could you really know that they were, in fact, donated. It could be just more of the same; lies.

[x-republican]

It''''s no wonder....It goes so far in explaining how empty between the ears all Obama supporters are.

Posted by AFactJack at 04:16 PM : Oct 26, 2008

Lack of principles, lack of character and hypocrisy matter. You ought to know this, stupid fool.

[x-republican]

WHO GIVES A SH.IT! You''''re about to elect a terrorist loving socialist that wants to convert our country into a one world power, currency and bank and all your worried about is clothes?????

Good luck you idiots.

Posted by stick1771 at 04:19 PM : Oct 26, 2008

Hmmm, maybe if you hadn''t been so busy kissing the arse of the war criminal King George who thought he was above both the Constitution and the law in every respect, this wouldn''t be happening. Guess you can consider this your wake up call. Next time, don''t support a tyrant like Bush, call him onto the carpet, make him explain himself, impeach him if you have to. But no, idiots like you kept kissing his butt. You are getting exactly what you deserve.

[x-republican]

Out with republican greed and corruption. In with hope for a better day! Obama ''08!

[idahosilk]

Why is Mccain still talking about clothes this close to the election?

[windmaster12]

Any One who can still Vote RepugnantCon
After 8 Years of Bush Ineptitude
Is seriously in need of Therapy.

Bush was left a surplus by Clinton
Proceeded to engage us in an unnecessary war
of Choice For shady corporate enrichment--
Gave tax breaks and incentives
To Big Oil, and The GOP Defense Conglomerates!!

Deregulated Wall Street--
Causing unbridled Corporate Thievery--
Then Pulled a Chavez Move
Socializing, and bailing out the Wall Street Incompetents!!!

Left us with Two ongoing wars
The Greatest deficit in the Nation''s history
The Outsourcing of Millions of US jobs

And these right wing Bozo''s believe
The GOP did a good job--

The definition of insanity is
To do the same thing over and over
Expecting a different result

Thus:
The GOP rule over a bunch of Dumba$$ Moron''s
Who will vote for the same Bozo''s who
Left the Country in tatters!!
Red States Brain dead for sure!!!

[jmcknight63]

Everybody is worrying about palin''s wardrobe. Look at the bill Michelle spent on a snack. 4 grand. who the hell paid for that?

[cdfoxtrot4]

McSame: "She (Palin) is a role model to millions and millions and millions of Americans".

Really?? I''m not sure that ordinary "hockey moms" spend $150,000 on clothing and $23,000 on their hair - IN THEIR ENTIRE LIFE.

[david1737]

The McCain campaign spent $22,000.00 on Palin''s hair in two weeks, almost double the amount that they paid one of their foreign policy advisers.

[gotravel1]

This story has been a blatant attempt to sidetrack Americans from the important stories.How hipocritical that there isn''t a story on Obama''s wardrobe,Bidens,Nancy Pelosi,Katie Couric,Barbara walters,or any of the other people who are so quick to criticize Sarah Palin.If she would have appeared on the campaign trail in her modest consignment shop clothes,they would have looked down their noses at her.Most of the TV personalities and politicians don''t shop for themselves;they have shoppers deliver their clothes,or designers use them to promote their name.Give Sarah Palin a break unless you''re prepared to report on every other politician,TV anchor,etc.There are more important issues to cover like why did Obama have Frank Marshall Davis as a mentor,why was he endorsed by Dr.Khalidi al-Mansour,why isn''t he considered a racists for attending Wright''s church for 20 years,and leading the Million Man March with Farrahkan,who calls whites,evil,and Jews a "Gutter religion".Those are the kind of real stories Americans need to hear!

[x-republican]

Everybody is worrying about palin''''s wardrobe. Look at the bill Michelle spent on a snack. 4 grand. who the hell paid for that?

Posted by jmcknight63 at 04:28 PM : Oct 26, 2008

It sux when republican greed and hypocrisy comes back to bite repubs in the butt! I hate it when that happens!

[xlib]

Wonder where the messiah gets his custom made suits, shirts and shoes. Just asking.
Geez, on a senator''s salary it must be hard to raise two kids, buy a house and wear all those custom clothes. Maybe he gets them from Men''s Wearhouse.
Yea, that''s it.

[x-republican]

If she would have appeared on the campaign trail in her modest consignment shop clothes,they would have looked down their noses at her.
Posted by gotravel1 at 04:33 PM : Oct 26, 2008

wah, wah, wah, poor little Sarah is getting called onto the carpet for her $150K wardrobe after she touted herself as the frugal maverick. This is the tiniest violin in the world: . Know what it''s doing? It''s playing my heart bleeds for Sarah! LOL

[x-republican]

Yes, Sarah, You once . . .

Twice . . .

Three times a hypocrite . . .

And we don''t want any . . .

And we don''t want any . . .

:-)

[hypnotoad72]

Granted, I am not wealthy enough to go on $150k clothing runs, but I have done the same things -- buy a lot and return a bunch the next day/week because of size, wrong color, et cetera. I don''t have time to try on every little thing.

As for hair, wasn''t it John %u201CI think this president has shown a remarkable disrespect for his office, for the moral dimensions of leadership, for his friends, for his wife, for his precious daughter... It is breathtaking to me the level to which that disrespect has risen (but forgive me for when I screw around 9 years later)" Edwards who was reported as having a few trips to places other than Cost Cutters too?

Democrats have more reason to be ashamed right now. Tolerance, my ***.

[windmaster12]

According to this article The GOP
Couldn''t even get the right size clothes

What does that say about their ability to
Waste money --
Or for that matter to do anything right!!!
God forbid they run the country for Four more years!!!
Incompetent''s all---

Dumbed down Red State Syndrome!!!

[hypnotoad72]

Clarification: To try on everything in the store at that time, and some considerations make it necessary to buy and take them home. Color matching wardrobe is essential; wearing any cacophony of colors would have the masses really throwing a tantrum as well...

So, people, especially Democrats, grow up. Thank you.

[jonathanw20]

Good now return her too. I suspect this old guy just got bored of his wife and wanted some young juicy beautiful woman around him in the White House. This is the same guy who dumped his first wife because she got disabled and gained weight for someone 20 years younger than him.

[x-republican]

Granted, I am not wealthy enough to go on $150k clothing runs, but I have done the same things -- buy a lot and return a bunch the next day/week because of size, wrong color, et cetera. I don''''t have time to try on every little thing.

* * *

Democrats have more reason to be ashamed right now. Tolerance, my ***.

Posted by Hypnotoad72 at 04:44 PM : Oct 26, 2008

LMAO -- I LOVE it when conservatives try to defend the indefensible! It is just too precious for words! ROTFLMAO!

[caldwellptr]

I would like to have $150,000 in clothes.

But it would take me 3 years to make that kind of money. And rent, transportation, utilities, and food, in addition to any clothing, must also covered by that. (But not Health Care. I am on a Health Care Holiday because I can no longer afford care after paying for insurance Coverage.)

[srz25]

WHO CARES!!!

QUIT BEING SO STUPID! THERE WILL BE NO HEALTHCARE IN AMERICA FOR THE FORSEEAVBLE FUTURE! I GOT YOUR HEALTHCARE RIGHT FREAKIN'''' HERE!!:

yeah hi, do you believe a judge should go to prison for attempting to rule that attempted murder by forcible suffocation not only isn''''t a crime at all in florida, it isn''''t a tort at all in florida, in fact it''''s a medical procedure, for which priviledge i''''m forced to give the state my whole life savings?

doesn''''t that sound bad?

this is a real lawsuit, orange co. case # 2003 ca 5314. i am totally unrepresented, haven''''t been able to find a lawyer in 7 years. the judge is cynthia mackinnon, and if i could fire her i would have fired her four years ago. after all this time i still have no clue whether she is republican or democrat.

[mavsreader]

More "Sarah says" journalism.

[smurfcrusher]

"Look, she lives a frugal life. She and her family are not wealthy. ..."

Which is why they are so grateful to their "buddies" for making their $500,000 lakefront home. Pity they''re also associated with Senator Ted Steven''s home makeover, and also to financial activity related to the $12 Million sports complex in town... can you say "kickback"? I knew you could...!

[jonsid2]

Something I notice the Repubs do a lot of: They are always telling us what Americans want. They say things like "Americans don''t want to be talking about that", or "Americans want to be talking about this". Of course, that''s probably why they are always telling us what God wants too. How do they know? I suspect it''s just what THEY want, not what God wants or Americans want.

[smurfcrusher]

"Something I notice the Repubs do a lot of: They are always telling us what Americans want. They say things like "Americans don''''t want to be talking about that", or "Americans want to be talking about this". Of course, that''''s probably why they are always telling us what God wants too. How do they know? I suspect it''''s just what THEY want, not what God wants or Americans want."

Posted by jonsid2

Good point. After all, Americans want Obama, and they aren''t exactly campaigning for him! lol

[smurfcrusher]

"Clarification: To try on everything in the store at that time, and some considerations make it necessary to buy and take them home. Color matching wardrobe is essential; wearing any cacophony of colors would have the masses really throwing a tantrum as well...

So, people, especially Democrats, grow up. Thank you."

Posted by Hypnotoad72

The Democrats buy their own clothes. I buy my own clothes.

Is the Governor dress code not good enough for us Americans? I assume she didn''t go to work in her bearskin.

[hunterdon6]

Why is something being said about the one billion dollars O''bama is spending to become President?

[skydotcom]

More double talk... Just days ago, McCain said the clothes would be "donated to charity". Now they''re being returned? And the money is now going WHERE? Not to charity (although ''publicans always think they are a charity organization). The BS *NEVER* ends with these guys.

[smurfcrusher]

"Why is something being said about the one billion dollars O''''bama is spending to become President?"

Posted by hunterdon6

nothing is being said about that, because it isn''t accurate.

[charlie1000-2009]

I think that the liberal media run out of ammunition against Gov.Palin.
So, now the are talking over the clothing of Gov.Palin.
Pitiful.

[smurfcrusher]

"I think that the liberal media run out of ammunition against Gov.Palin.
So, now the are talking over the clothing of Gov.Palin.
Pitiful."
Posted by Charlie1000

That''s weaker than a Republican stump speech.

[skydotcom]

Funniest thing I heard during this whole campaign... McCain, on Meet the Press this a.m. said, in response to Barack Obama leading him in poll numbers; "Those numbers are all over the map."
ROTFLMAOF!!!!

Oh...And McCain''s brother, Joe, is a RINGER for WC Fields!

[smurfcrusher]

"Funniest thing I heard during this whole campaign... McCain, on Meet the Press this a.m. said, in response to Barack Obama leading him in poll numbers; "Those numbers are all over the map."
ROTFLMAOF!!!!

Oh...And McCain''''s brother, Joe, is a RINGER for WC Fields!"

Posted by Skylark2020

McCain''s brother recently dialled 911 to report backed up traffic. Needless to say, Joe won''t be campaigning with McCain anymore...

John is technically correct with, in response to Barack Obama leading him in poll numbers; "Those numbers are all over the map."

Obama''s approval ratings are indeed up, "all over the map".

John McCain LOVES being the underdog. I like him being the underdog too! Let''s keep him there through November 4th. :)