McCain Team Turning on Palin

By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 04:20:05 PM EST
Tags: John McCain, Sarah Palin (all tags)

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Newsweek reports, using McCain campaign sources, that Sarah Palin was, contrary to her denials, not only fully involved in her clothing expenditures, she spent far more than previously announced.

NEWSWEEK has also learned that Palin's shopping spree at high-end department stores was more extensive than previously reported. While publicly supporting Palin, McCain's top advisers privately fumed at what they regarded as her outrageous profligacy. One senior aide said that Nicolle Wallace had told Palin to buy three suits for the convention and hire a stylist. But instead, the vice presidential nominee began buying for herself and her family—clothes and accessories from top stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus. According to two knowledgeable sources, a vast majority of the clothes were bought by a wealthy donor, who was shocked when he got the bill.

More...

Palin also used low-level staffers to buy some of the clothes on their credit cards. The McCain campaign found out last week when the aides sought reimbursement. One aide estimated that she spent "tens of thousands" more than the reported $150,000, and that $20,000 to $40,000 went to buy clothes for her husband. Some articles of clothing have apparently been lost. An angry aide characterized the shopping spree as "Wasilla hillbillies looting Neiman Marcus from coast to coast," and said the truth will eventually come out when the Republican Party audits its books.

Then there's this:

Palin asked to speak along with McCain at his Arizona concession speech Tuesday night, but campaign strategist Steve Schmidt vetoed the request.

Time to move on from Palin, she's Alaska's problem now. I could care less what McCain or his campaign now thinks of her, they are history too. While McCain will forever be remembered for his poor judgment in selecting Palin, I'm moving on to people and topics that matter in the future. Neither one of them are on my list.

< Time: Dem Landslide Good News . . . For Republicans! | Mandate: Dems Need Not Apply >

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McCain Team Turning on Palin | 74 comments (74 topical)

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"spended"? (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 04:25:10 PM EST

Anyway, I wondered why Palin wasn't even given even the opportunity to say "thank you." Now I know.

Actually McCain has a chance to help (5.00 / 1) (#2)
by ThatOneVoter on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 04:25:49 PM EST

make history, by assisting Obama----preventing filibusters, co-sponsoring bills, etc.
No reason for Obama to write off McCain, IMO.

no one suggested Obama write him off (none / 0) (#43)
by Jeralyn on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 06:37:33 PM EST

but his chance to make history is over.


: He can be part of history. (none / 0) (#51)
by ThatOneVoter on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 07:58:42 PM EST

Fight! Fight! Fight! (5.00 / 5) (#3)
by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 04:26:17 PM EST

This I like. Republicans tearing each other to shreds. Now Palin will start firing back.

This is great.

And I am surprised (5.00 / 5) (#15)
by Big Tent Democrat on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 04:41:54 PM EST

you did not use "Wasilla Hillbillies" as your title. What classic.

The GOP are such phonies. Their contempt for non-elites is boundless.


: When John McCain (5.00 / 3) (#18)
by CST on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 04:47:38 PM EST

Said elitists live in NY and D.C. he also said he would know because he lived there.
He would know because they are all his cronies.

: Yeah - we could have had musical (5.00 / 1) (#23)
by scribe on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 05:01:32 PM EST

accompaniment like this or, even funnier, this.
I guess we'll just have to be regaled with stories of the staff coming in to meet with her, and her telling them to talk to Todd the Laconic Husband while she runs around wrapped in a towel and with wet hair. We're sure to hear from Rich Lowry the Starry-eyed Fan over that episode.

Just remember: (5.00 / 1) (#24)
by scribe on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 05:02:58 PM EST

Her wardrobe cost more than my house, and likely yours, too.


: Urg. (5.00 / 1) (#25)
by lilburro on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 05:04:20 PM EST

What house?

: Median home prices in my state, CA, are (5.00 / 1) (#27)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 05:12:32 PM EST

likely double what she spent...not that that makes what she spent any less crazy.

: Not (none / 0) (#37)
by chrisvee on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 06:13:12 PM EST

in my neck of the woods.
Apparently she's a hillbilly whether she wears design duds or clothes from Wallmart. I doubt she could have done anything right in some people's eyes.

She's a real piece of work (5.00 / 0) (#8)
by magster on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 04:31:59 PM EST

Between this, her per diem scandal, and troopergate, she is certainly ethically challenged. Apparently, though, that plays well in Alaska politics.

: Lost my patootie (none / 0) (#67)
by Amiss on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 02:47:05 AM EST

Some articles of clothing have apparently been lost.
Why does this not surprise me one whit? There never was an intention to donate those clothes to charity. It appears she feels charity begins in Wasilla in her closet.

Ha. (5.00 / 4) (#9)
by Fabian on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 04:32:15 PM EST

The GOP gets soaked by one of its own? That's an old story.

Maybe they should have used a little oversight and regulation?

: Or fewer leaking staffers :) (5.00 / 1) (#11)
by Militarytracy on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 04:34:52 PM EST

I hope the GOP continues (5.00 / 3) (#12)
by liminal on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 04:37:48 PM EST

to complain loudly and forcefully about hillbillies. I'd love to show real hillbillies the contempt that the GOP really has for them. Go go go!

A wealthy Republican donor who was shocked (5.00 / 1) (#13)
by Militarytracy on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 04:39:32 PM EST

when he got the bill? Hey man, just because she was an unknown from Alaska doesn't mean she's a cheap buy in.

He thought (5.00 / 2) (#22)
by Fabian on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 04:57:34 PM EST

maybe she'd go shopping at Wal*Mart?

IF I had Palin's figure and IF I had someone else's money, I surely would be tempted to step out in style!

(My favorite clothes horse is Geena Davis. She rocks for a lot of other reasons too.)


: Dawg forbid, she dresses like she should (5.00 / 2) (#26)
by nycstray on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 05:06:20 PM EST

work in the WH . . . lol!~

Wow (5.00 / 8) (#17)
by chrisvee on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 04:42:39 PM EST

If that woman didn't spend so much on clothing, McCain would have won!

It didn't take the McCain team long, did it? Let's just throw in a little regional/class prejudice in the mix, too:

An angry aide characterized the shopping spree as "Wasilla hillbillies looting Neiman Marcus from coast to coast," and said the truth will eventually come out when the Republican Party audits its books.

They trashed the place and it wasn't their place to trash. I bet she took all of the Ms off the keyboards, too.

Sounds like some sour grapes in there. (5.00 / 4) (#19)
by nycstray on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 04:48:49 PM EST

Nobody to blame but themselves if they kept handing her credit cards and telling her to go shopping. Doesn't sound like she ran off and in one day racked up all those charges. Methinks there may be a bit more to the story . . . .

Heh, IAPF! And then again, it is Newsweek ;)

Here is good news for Dems (5.00 / 2) (#20)
by Baal on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 04:50:30 PM EST

I actually think Stevens and Young winning in Alaska is good news in a way. Stevens is a felon and Young is likely to join that club in the future, and it will keep the moral bankruptcy of the GOP in the news for some time to come. It might even stimulate a little more looking into Sarah from Alaska's affairs -- especially if she doesn't list some of these clothes on her tax returns.

On the topic of wardrobe (5.00 / 1) (#30)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 05:32:28 PM EST

what was Michele wearing last night?

On my TV it looked like someone threw a couple buckets of red paint on her black dress.

Then in the close shots I could see it had some sort of black wrap thing that bisected the red front of her dress.

Not at all good for TV and/or viewing at a distance in my (admittedly completely clueless about women's fashion) opinion.

I still haven't figured it out (5.00 / 2) (#31)
by nycstray on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 05:36:05 PM EST

but it sure wasn't working for me. A little Black Widow-ish from a distance. More apron-like closer. I was a bit surprised, she usually gets it pretty right on. This was way off.


Black widow, perfect. (none / 0) (#33)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 05:43:04 PM EST

CA's lousy with them where I live and that's exactly what the dress looked like.


It was a Narciso Rodriguez (none / 0) (#34)
by indy in sc on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 05:44:22 PM EST

dress. Apparently it was modified from the runway version to be more First Lady-like.


Sounds expensive. (2.00 / 0) (#35)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 05:48:24 PM EST

Hope it wasn't purchased with campaign contributions.


You can bet (5.00 / 0) (#40)
by indy in sc on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 06:23:42 PM EST

that if the Obama campaign was using DNC funds (it would have been illegal for them to use campaign funds) to purchase clothes for Barack and Michelle, the McCain campaign would have made that known and pounced on that during Palin's Dress-Gate scandal. I'm pretty sure they pay for their own clothes--both the expensive ones and cheaper ones like the JCrew dress she wore on Leno.


: She may pay for J Crew dressess and some (none / 0) (#41)
by nycstray on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 06:32:43 PM EST

expensive ones, but that could have been a loaner or a gift also.
I checked out the original, and IMO {grin} they should have gone with a solid red body, cap sleeve or 3/4 and just had the black cumber/wrap thing. Would have been more striking and flattering :)

My exact thoughts (none / 0) (#68)
by wasabi on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 07:25:10 AM EST

Looks like a Black Widow.


A wealthy donor is... (5.00 / 1) (#38)
by kdog on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 06:21:06 PM EST

shocked (shocked!)when he gets the credit card bill.

That story is as old as time itself...kidding, kidding:)

Come On (5.00 / 1) (#42)
by mudlark on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 06:37:08 PM EST

Let's beat up on Palin some more. We haven't spended enough time beating up on her. And maybe we can get a few last shots in at Monster Hillary the Crybaby, too.

Just for old time sake.

: Hey... (5.00 / 0) (#47)
by kdog on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 06:45:55 PM EST

a couple twists of fate and Clinton or Palin is beating up on us for 4 years.
I think they can hack it. If not, they're in the wrong business.

His and hers shopping spree (5.00 / 0) (#45)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 06:41:30 PM EST

...$20,000 to $40,000 went to buy clothes for her husband.

Todd's got to be the best dressed snowmachine driver ever.

That would be a life-long shopping spree at Nordstroms for me.

Pretty good, J. Made it to (5.00 / 1) (#48)
by oculus on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 06:48:23 PM EST

1:20 p.m. PST before posting re Palin.

Is that it, then?

Time to move on from Palin, she's Alaska's problem now. I could care less what McCain or his campaign now thinks of her, they are history too.

So why are you still writing about Palin (5.00 / 1) (#49)
by Saul on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 07:06:30 PM EST

It's over.

Why go through all this then say

This post was not even necessary. I hope this is the lost post on Palin.

: When you take a look at the blogosphere. . . (5.00 / 1) (#54)
by LarryInNYC on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 08:44:41 PM EST

how many posts are really necessary? I make that, give or take a few, zero.
It's Jeralyn's site, and her choice of subject.

Anonymous (5.00 / 2) (#50)
by Lis on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 07:49:56 PM EST

Until these McCain staffers go on record with this information, I'll believe it's inflamatory BS written by people outside the campaign. The supposed staffers are chickensh!ts.

This wardrobe "scandal" is lame. I thought us Dems were supposed to be above this kind of petty nonsense.

Which is why it's nice. . . (5.00 / 0) (#55)
by LarryInNYC on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 08:45:35 PM EST

that it seems to be entirely the Republicans (aided by their friends in the media) who are pushing this story.


: I wonder (none / 0) (#71)
by cal1942 on Fri Nov 07, 2008 at 11:41:10 PM EST

if they're setting the stage for keeping her out of the national scene in 2012.

nah, (5.00 / 0) (#52)
by cpinva on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 08:24:09 PM EST

I hope this is the lost post on Palin.

if that were so, you wouldn't be reading it.

but serially folks, what the heck did hubby get for 20-40K?

i wouldn't bet on this being the last we hear of gov. palin. thanks to mccain, she now thinks that someone actually takes her seriously, and she has something (aside from late-night comic fodder) to contribute to the national conversation.

someone needs to tell her that she was just a figurehead, a "trophy vp" as it were, and no one really gives two nanny goat sh*ts what she has to say.

Fox is reporting that Palin thought Africa was... (5.00 / 1) (#53)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 08:41:03 PM EST

...country, not a continent. If it wasn't so scary, it would be funny.

http://tinyurl.com/5q54k7

supposedly, (5.00 / 0) (#56)
by cpinva on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 09:19:25 PM EST

gov. palin was a member of the national honor society in high school. either they really lowered their standards since i was in high school, or she got dumber since then.

many people claim she's very smart, from what i've seen, read and heard during the campaign, i remain unconvinced.


Bush Acted Dumb (none / 0) (#58)
by squeaky on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 09:30:31 PM EST

And it helped him get elected. It just so happens that he is dumb, but played it up with the stupid cowboy act and texas accent.

Palin also put on a fake accent and may have downplayed her intelligence in order to win.

Did not work this time... although she is still mighty popular among regular folks.


Bush's dumbness was no act. (5.00 / 0) (#63)
by thereyougo on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 10:53:12 PM EST

He really is stupid. He did the worse thing in American politics, when he lowered the bar and
tried to sound like a typical 'murrcan.

It sent the message that the nation was stupid and could be fooled by someone who was like them.

Sorry, people are smarter than that, Obama's victory proved that. McCain is so out of touch, he lost all common sense when he agreed on Palin. He had no instincts to tell him what a mistake this woman was for him.

Thats not to excuse his poor performance, he already was damaged goods but even he didn't know it. Obama took that opportunity and ran with it.

At the concession speech, McCain sounded great, very presidential,and I almost regretted my vote for Obama. McCain thought he could pick up where he left off after GWB convinced him to drop out of the primaries in 2000. He should not have, because it was his time, and he could've and probably would have won the presidency.

I'm thinking the presidency is a one time shot, if you miss it, you're done, forget it. No twofer you.

I don't remember anyone getting a 2nd chance.


: Yes they do (5.00 / 1) (#69)
by wasabi on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 07:27:37 AM EST

Republicans get second chances, but Democrats don't. We always eat our own.

Interesting that Fox is reporting this. . . (5.00 / 0) (#57)
by LarryInNYC on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 09:28:49 PM EST

seems to indicate she's unlikely to go forward as a big wig in the party -- if she's lost Fox, she's lost the wingnuts.


: Lots of talk about... (5.00 / 2) (#60)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 09:43:14 PM EST

...Mitt(ens) being behind all of this in an effort to position himself at the top of the heap.
That wouldn't surprise me for some reason.

: What's she headed for? (none / 0) (#59)
by lilburro on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 09:35:45 PM EST

I don't know what her next step is. Running for national office, House or Senate? In any case, if she does it from Alaska/as an Alaskan, she'll probably do it unchallenged. She's gotta be a tough opponent in a Republican primary.

Hmm (none / 0) (#72)
by cal1942 on Fri Nov 07, 2008 at 11:42:51 PM EST

sounds like maybe there will be a concerted GOP effort to keep her away from the 2012 primaries.


Going to be a very interesting article (5.00 / 1) (#65)
by FreakyBeaky on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 11:39:32 PM EST

And clothing is going to be the least of it.

This tidbit gets closer to my paranoid misgivings related to Palin:

The Obama campaign was provided with reports from the Secret Service showing a sharp and disturbing increase in threats to Obama in September and early October, at the same time that many crowds at Palin rallies became more frenzied. Michelle Obama was shaken by the vituperative crowds and the hot rhetoric from the GOP candidates. "Why would they try to make people hate us?" Michelle asked a top campaign aide.

Sarah Palin is the least of it. It is certain that her wildly adoring and vituperative crowds, and the means that rally them, have been noticed by others. If Sarah Palin isn't around to to whip them up, someone else will try. That scares me.

: Because (none / 0) (#73)
by cal1942 on Fri Nov 07, 2008 at 11:54:10 PM EST

Michelle Obama was shaken by the vituperative crowds and the hot rhetoric from the GOP candidates. "Why would they try to make people hate us?" Michelle asked a top campaign aide.
That's what the GOP does. They've been doing it for years. Demonizing wherever and whenever possible and that leads to hatrid.
Surprising how so many Democrats, especially those in the upper tier, are shocked by all of this.

This is a great story. (5.00 / 0) (#66)
by connecticut yankee on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 12:53:30 AM EST

I don't care what anyone says. It's a spectacular trainwreck and I can't look away.

She lied about those clothes and blamed staffers, iirc. Taken in context with the other misstatements it completely blows me away.

I never liked her but I didnt think she was deranged. Now she seems just that. A new level of deliciously scary.

You mean.. (none / 0) (#4)
by TomStewart on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 04:27:37 PM EST

you couldn't care less. Pet peeve of mine, sorry.

Irregardless, we got the meaning. (5.00 / 7) (#6)
by ThatOneVoter on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 04:29:14 PM EST

: I'm not for sure we got the meaning. (5.00 / 3) (#10)
by magster on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 04:34:22 PM EST

I can't help it (none / 0) (#5)
by andgarden on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 04:27:40 PM EST

This is absolutely hilarious.

: After winning (none / 0) (#74)
by cal1942 on Sat Nov 08, 2008 at 12:24:20 AM EST

it's been fun to relax and look at stories like this and LOL. I even watched a video of Bush's little dog Barney biting a reporter.
The world's a lot more fun now. Knowing these people are leaving Washington on the decisive command of the American people is a real tonic.

Has a VP pick (none / 0) (#7)
by lilburro on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 04:29:35 PM EST

ever spoken as part of a ticket's concession speech?

Well (5.00 / 4) (#14)
by Steve M on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 04:41:41 PM EST

I can't remember any time it has happened since John Edwards spoke prior to Kerry's concession, but then again, I suppose that was the most recent election.


Just seems like an odd request (none / 0) (#21)
by lilburro on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 04:51:47 PM EST

but I'm too young to remember too many campaigns. Did Jack Kemp speak along with Dole?


Well (5.00 / 1) (#29)
by Steve M on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 05:25:23 PM EST

to be honest, before we go further down this road, not every VP nominee is Sarah Palin. She was an out-and-out hero to a lot of McCain's supporters, unlike the typical VP nominee who no one really cares about. So I think it would be entirely normal to have her say a few words to her fans.


: Palin was an embarrassment, period (5.00 / 0) (#62)
by thereyougo on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 10:35:56 PM EST

end of story. Glad she'll go into the dustbin of history. She's part of Alaskan culture that spawned the felon Ted Stevens, and Minky hisself Don whatshisname, whose favorite pass time was ammending bills to his liking for his donors who are not even in his state.
Yeah Alaska the wilderness state, where there is more ice than people and couldn't even send as much as it got back in the billions in federal dollars Ted managed to get his state over the years. Yeah thats a red state alright, gimme gimme.
First ones to cry over those tax and spend liberals.
I'm so glad that woman is a goner.

: Fair enough. (none / 0) (#32)
by lilburro on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 05:36:28 PM EST

But wouldn't it be fun to go back to the election annals of the early 19th Century??
Doing a bit of research on this issue, I see that Quayle gave a concession speech in 92.
The McCain concession event seemed extremely brief at the time actually.

Good question. (none / 0) (#16)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 04:42:24 PM EST

I certainly didn't see Biden given any mike time last night, and he was on the winning ticket, of course...


: At least Palin was permitted to (none / 0) (#46)
by oculus on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 06:41:40 PM EST

stand by McCain as he delivered his concession speech. Joe--no.

: Do you truly think The One (none / 0) (#70)
by rennies on Thu Nov 06, 2008 at 01:01:17 PM EST

would have shared that moment?
By the way, I'm waiting for the announcement that the swearing-in will be held on the Mall from the Lincoln monument. Could get several million in there.

I can't remember (none / 0) (#75)
by cal1942 on Sat Nov 08, 2008 at 12:28:34 AM EST

any VP making a concession speech and I go back a few years. That said 'going back a few years' can also mean a slightly dulled memory.

The point here may have been that Palin's request was out of the ordinary and possibly considered self-serving in the wake of defeat.


Wrong Woman (none / 0) (#28)
by Cacy Carrasco on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 05:17:26 PM EST

When Palin was picked I felt it was McCain's undoing. Although I knew it was not his decision: it was Karl Rove's. They kept their "base."

Women were insulted by elevating a woman with no experience to a place where she could be president. Hillary Rodham Clinton worked her entire adult life gaining the experience necessary for such an office.

It's like Hillary was the starter wife! Strikes a very sour note with anyone who has a vagina.

: Anyone? (2.00 / 0) (#36)
by huzzlewhat on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 06:08:52 PM EST

Beware generalizations. I'll speak for myself and my vagina, thank you.

: please don't use explciit (none / 0) (#44)
by Jeralyn on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 06:40:33 PM EST

anatomical terms here. Law firm censoring software can't distinguish.

"Time to move on from Palin, (none / 0) (#61)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 10:26:12 PM EST

she's Alaska's problem now.

So should you cancel your (very cute, btw) blogad of her?

What a Crock (none / 0) (#64)
by No Blood for Hubris on Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 10:56:29 PM EST

It's Karl Rove's people spending money according to Karl Rove's playbook.

It woulda worked great -- but Palin was such as totally deflated balloon.

She's so hopeless she makes Dubya look kinda lie a Prez.

Well, kinda.