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

[skita45]

Another thing.. I really dont understand what McCain is going to do for the poor. Obama wants to "Share the Wealth". McCain.. Does he want to keep all the money for the rich?
I guess if everyone is rich who would want to do the poormans job....
Why cant we all just live comfortable?
There is enough for everyone if u figure it out right. Thats what we need.... Someone to FIGURE IT OU RIGHT!!!!

[skita45]

Ok 150,000..., how can u spend that kind of money on clothes when we are in a state of crisis. I hate to see what she will spend on clothes if she becomes vice president. There will be no money left for us!!!!

[Cas2dy]

To the person who quoted another poster for asking "isn''t John McCain the descendant of slaveowners?".
That question is not really relevant, BUT the other questions the poster listed are relevant. Since you didn''t include the important parts of that message, I''ll do it now:

Didn''''t John McCain leave his first wife, Carol McCain, when she became disabled? How can disabled women trust John McCain, knowing he left his disabled wife? Didn''''t John McCain cheat on his wife, Carol, with drug addict and thief, Cindy? Didn''''t John McCain take a vow "''''til death do us part?" Didn''''t John McCain break his vow to God and his wife? If McCain can''''t keep a vow to God and his wife, how can he be trusted to keep an oath of office? How can disabled veterans trust John McCain? Who wants a recovering addict and thief as First Lady of the USA? Didn''''t Palin abuse power by allowing husband, Todd, to pressure Trooper to fire her brother-in-law? It''''s not about clothes...
No, it''s not simply about clothing.

[gstoner007]

i Still don''t see a story here compareable to the OBAMA''s FREE FRIGGIN'' HOUSE STORY YOU COULD BE WRITING.

Oh- and by-the-way... most of the anti McCain people are folks who Have nothing and are looking for Hussein to Give them something. They are Children who haven''t learned that Rarely something will come for Nothing and generally it''s just easier to Earn it than wait...

If Obama wanted to emulate McCain''s attack ads, we would hear robocalls in the Heartland informing America''s patriots that McCain:

a) was in the pocket of former Lincoln Savings & Loan president and convicted criminal Charles Keating;

b) was buddies with fellow convicted criminal Republicans Ted Stevens, Tom Delay, Scooter Libby, Bob Allen, Trent Lott, Jack Abramoff, Don Young, Larry Craig, Randy %u201CDuke%u201D Cunningham, Tom Feeney, Alberto Gonzoles, Bob Ney, Rick Renzi, Richard Curtis, Steven Griles, Mark Foley...etc;

c) accepted political donations from the Watergate convicted criminal G. Gordon Liddy;

d) picked a runningmate mired in scandal (Troopergate) and has acted "unethical" according to her own people - - and doctored expense reports to bilk her taxpayers;

e) gave up information to his communist captors in North Vietnam, whereas other American prisoners did NOT;

McCain has a lot to answer for. You can%u2019t call yourself patriot while voting for criminals

[k01151957]

I say Governor Palin, "go for it." We gave money and if she is spending some of our money on clothes -- I approve. She should keep all the clothes. CBS Morning News is so bias. They hate McCain/Palin. Shame on you. Question: Does Barack and Michelle Obama only shop at Wal-Mart for their clothes? You say nothing of the money they are spending on clothes, etc., and I''m sure the democratic party paid his way to Hawaii. Of course the Obama''s hit all the sale racks at department stores and does his close come from the Men''s Warehouse? After reading some of these comments, how people hate the republican party. I applaud Governor Palin for trying to fire her brother-in-law. He is such a creep - tasering his own 10 year old son. Maybe DeranMartez tasered some child -- is that why he does not approve??

One of your readers said "isn''t John McCain decendant of slave-owners." We all are decendants of slave-owners. What gives?? It is called "Fault-Finding" and not looking in your own mirror. ALL of us, ALL - have sinned. Should we just give up because we have screwed up in life. According to some of your readers that is what they want from the republican party to do, but not themselves. Need I say more?

[karela33]

Hmmm, McCain says "one third" of Palin''s clothes have been returned, but Palin says she never even took "most of them" off the plane. Who cares if they returned them AFTER they got caught? It''s the manipulation of pretending the other guy is an elitist and you''re running a plumber hockey mom---while dressing her with added clothes, hair and make up at a rate of about $4,0000 per day. It''s the sneakiness. It''s the lies. It''s the tricks. It''s Cindy McCain offering her own hairdresser--at $10,000. It''s the republican party fighting for the rich every day in every way and convincing working people that they "Really" care about them---as they destroy the middle class and ruin the economy, not only for our own country, but for the whole world. I don''t know how John McCain can look anyone in the eye? It must take an enormous skill at lying.

[noloyalisti]

Doesn''t Quaylin have enough sense to not take handouts. Oh, I forgot, she is governor of AK, the chief welfare handout state. She and McSame are TOTALLY in favor of corporate welfare and more for the right wing rich. Sieg Heil to fascism in America.

[briannorwood]

Oh how wonderful. $150,000 on new clothes (and for the life of me, I can''''t understand how ANYONE can actually spend $150,000 on clothes), and they give $50,000 of them back.

That leaves $100,000.

Drat! If only nobody would read those pesky campaign finance reports, they could have gotten away with it!

[targaray-2009]

Sorry for the multiple post, I had a John "McSenility" McCain Moment.

[targaray-2009]

"Make-Believe" Maverick -versus- "Rogue" Maverick

Sarah "Shop Without Preconditions" Palin is running her own campaign independent of the Bush/McCain/Rove campaign. She is positioning herself to be the Repulbican Right Wingnut spokesperson until the 2012 election.

[targaray-2009]

"Make-Believe" Maverick -versus- "Rogue" Maverick

Sarah "Shop Without Preconditions" Palin is running her own campaign independent of the Bush/McCain/Rove campaign. She is positioning herself to be the Repulbican Right Wingnut spokesperson until the 2012 election.

[targaray-2009]

"Make-Believe" Maverick -versus- "Rogue" Maverick

Sarah "Shop Without Preconditions" Palin is running her own campaign independent of the Bush/McCain/Rove campaign. She is positioning herself to be the Repulbican Right Wingnut spokesperson until the 2012 election.

[deranmartez]

Isn''t John McCain the decendant of slave-owners? Didn''t John McCain leave his first wife, Carol McCain, when she became disabled? How can disabled women trust John McCain, knowing he left his disabled wife? Didn''t John McCain cheat on his wife, Carol, with drug addict and thief, Cindy? Didn''t John McCain take a vow "''til death do us part?" Didn''t John McCain break his vow to God and his wife? If McCain can''t keep a vow to God and his wife, how can he be trusted to keep an oath of office? How can disabled veterans trust John McCain? Who wants a recovering addict and thief as First Lady of the USA? Didn''t Palin abuse power by allowing husband, Todd, to pressure Trooper to fire her brother-in-law? It''s not about clothes.

[dbstevens]

I''m tired of the lame "spin" these people put on their actions. It doesn''t matter if some of the clothes were returned (I feel sorry for the retailers), or if they belong to Palin personally or not. The issue is the outlandish cost to begin with. I can''t trust anyone who''s wearing something that cost more than my yearly salary. With all the people in this country suffering horribly, it''s obscene that the people who are wanting to be our leaders would waste such money for such an ostentatious purpose. They have no perspective.

[twig221]

The issue is not how much all her makeup, hair, and clothes cost for her and her family. The question is why is it being paid for by the RNC. The other candidates are not getting this treatment. If she became the VP would the taxpayers have to pay for the family or would she have to buy clothes and makeup with the money she earns? It comes down to manipulation of the system and asking forgiveness rather than permission. How many trips have the Alaskan people had to pay to have her daughters go to meetings where they were not invited? Abuse of power and fiscal responsibility are the real questions.

[whatithink10]

frank-e1,

I''m a CPA and have looked at both plans thoroughly. More people will benefit the most under Obama''s plan than McCan''s plan. Bush''s plan was heavily weighed to the top 5% and McCain wants to continue it. If Bush''s plan was so successful, why isn''t the country doing better?

I''d like for people to stop picking a candidate and then try to get the facts to work to support that candidate. McCain is not better for most people and Obama''s plan for the top 5% is really no different than Clinton''s plan and aligned with what has been done over the last 70 years.

[grouchyjohn]

Attorneys here in the state of Siberia (I mean Ohio) charge $500 per hour -- hmm...lets see...Obama...attorney....Clinton...atto
rney....Kucinich.....arrogant-------Pelo
si...rich spoiled brat...I think Palin is just plain frickin broke compared to those do-gooders. Want more wealth? Start your own business and get to work...you''''ll enjoy the extra taxes under Obama I''''ll bet. nuf sed.

Posted by frank-e1 at 11:27 AM : Oct 27, 2008





What a childish post.

What dammning evidence that our public school systems are in VERY DEEP TROUBLE!!

[frank-e1]

Attorneys here in the state of Siberia (I mean Ohio) charge $500 per hour -- hmm...lets see...Obama...attorney....Clinton...attorney....Kucinich.....arrogant-------Pelosi...rich spoiled brat...I think Palin is just plain frickin broke compared to those do-gooders. Want more wealth? Start your own business and get to work...you''ll enjoy the extra taxes under Obama I''ll bet. nuf sed.

[newslink]

Furgal Life? This Man Is Out of touch!And a Liar. Most of us do not wear expensive Clothes from these type of stores. I knew that this man has a problem. There are No Excuses. I am Outrage at his logic.