RSS Feed MenuDespite the Republican National Committee’s promise to donate Sarah Palin’s $180,000 campaign wardrobe to charity, word has it the Alaska governor’s clothes remain stuffed in trash bags at RNC headquarters, NewMajority has learned.
While Palin followed through on her promise to return her controversial wardrobe after the election, it seems the RNC has not followed through on its promise to give most of the clothes away.
During the 2008 campaign, GOP vice presidential candidate Palin was pummeled with accusations that she had overspent on clothes for herself, and even for her family — down to baby Trig. Palin asserted at the time that the clothes belonged to the RNC. They were not her property and would be returned at the end of the campaign. A campaign spokeswoman backed up those claims, saying, “It was always the intent that the clothing go to a charitable purpose after the campaign.” It was also understood that those that had not been worn would be returned to the appropriate retailer; those that had been worn would be used for some other purpose, perhaps auctioned off for charity or to retire campaign debt.
The expense was shared between the RNC and the McCain-Palin campaign through a joint account, but ultimately are the RNC’s problem to deal with. The final price tag for the expensive duds from the likes of Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue, as well as a number of other retailers, totaled $180,000, according to Federal Election Commission records.
But for reasons that remain mysterious, the clothes remain stashed at the RNC’s Washington, D.C., headquarters. A source close to the issue told NewMajority that the clothes are “in the process” of being donated, and an RNC spokesman corroborated, saying the clothes have indeed been returned from Palin, “inventoried and will be appropriately dispersed to various charities.” Attempts for an explanation of when and where the clothes will be donated went unanswered, and the governor’s Alaska office does not comment on campaign issues.
The fact that the clothes have not been donated or publicly accounted for, however, has angered some big donors – who want to know exactly how their money was spent, and who are already enraged by the extravagant wardrobe figure. They say it’s time for the RNC to air its dirty laundry, if you will.
“Has the party not learned their lesson?” a source who raises significant funds for the party said in response to the news of the undonated clothing. “First they make a colossal mistake of judgment by even agreeing to squander the party’s resources on these clothes and then compound the error by failing to properly dispose of them. If they think donors are going to sit by and simply accept this they are mistaken.”
Supporters of the Alaska governor should worry that the RNC’s stalling lends credence to negative speculation. Did the RNC and campaign spend more than the quoted $180,000 figure? How much was spent on other members of Palin’s family? Perhaps the RNC hopes that stashing the clothes will make the story go away. That is unrealistic; if the governor returns to the national stage, so will any unanswered questions.
Photo courtesy of dotpolka.
RTaliban // Jan 23, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Before the Rooster cries three times you will denigrate the greatness of the chosen one, The Palin. She is the only one that knows what will help Republicans loose more elections in national elections by becoming even more intolerant.
The jihad against non believers in the greatness of “The Palin will begin soon, be warned RINOS.
Pete // Jan 23, 2009 at 8:51 pm
What on Earth does this issue have to do with Conservatism and how on Earth does repeating this Democrat propaganda help us win any kind of anything ever again? Sarah Palin is a breath of fresh air to the Republican Party . . . she scared the dickens out of the Democrats – that is why they had a full court press out to destroy her. Serving up tripe like this only strengthens their hand . . . nice work RINO
Rapunzel46 // Jan 23, 2009 at 8:54 pm
The only reason this is a story is to showcase one more reason why Duncan needs to be replaced at the RNC. These could have, should have, been placed in a special eBay auction in November and the money returned to the RNC or donated to chairity.
Sadly, none of these stories ever point out she didn’t go to the stores and purchase these clothes and, as promised, she returned them immediately after the election was completed — that is the clothing she even unpacked.
How many times did she say there was a lot of clothes in the belly of her plane that she never even tried on!
gary4205 // Jan 23, 2009 at 9:50 pm
It’s amazing you even have to bring Palin into this. I mean damn it!
This is all about the moderate, country club, loser RINO’s, like yourself, Mr Frum, in the party.
Sorry pal, but Sarah Palin is the future of the party. She represents the Ronald Reagan conservatism that wins 49 state landslide victories.
You silly moderates who want to appeal to everyone are the reason we appeal to no one.
Reagan didn’t go around pandering to every little sub group. Nope, Reagan had one conservative message for EVERYONE, and THEN went out and sold it to everyone!
That’s called LEADERSHIP, and that’s how you win elections.
As long as your ilk keeps throwing up moderate democrats like John McCain, we’re all gonna lose big, and so will the country!
RINO need to go home and stay there.
ladybugTS // Jan 24, 2009 at 12:38 am
Using Palin headlines to attract readers has backfired on you. Everyone is sick of the issue of Sarah’s clothes when Obama just blew 180 million bucks on an inauguration that had less than a million people in attendence.
This “garbage bag” story has no place on a conservative site.
mythusmage // Jan 24, 2009 at 7:35 am
Do you remember when comprehension was considered a part of literacy?
empirical // Jan 24, 2009 at 11:16 am
I do not understand how many of you think that Sarah Palin is a bright light in the Republican Party? Has the party slid off a cliff? Palin is obtuse at best, which, on my part, is being generous.
gospelance // Jan 24, 2009 at 1:10 pm
calm down everybody; we’re just getting started. There’s going to be some bugs to work out. the important thing is that we’re here and we’re talking. We’re going to have to figure out if Palin has a role in the future. She did seem to appeal to her demographic. Can we build on that or do we need someone more secular or ecumenical?
gospelance // Jan 24, 2009 at 1:12 pm
perhaps we could have her speak at the next RNC and guage the response—like they did with Obama in 2004.
senorlechero // Jan 24, 2009 at 8:31 pm
empirical….that’s very empirical of you …..or not. I’d say there’s a part of the party that’s slid off a cliff, but it’s not the part that supports Palin.
truth_2_power // Jan 24, 2009 at 9:12 pm
lets face it, bush was a disaster for the republicans and sarah palin is bush with a very expensive dress… yes, she may be more articulate, but an articulate incompetent is even worse… lets get palin out, for as you know, the libs love her and she has done nothing but help the libs and drive everyone but the born agains to the left
gospelance // Jan 24, 2009 at 10:46 pm
it seems to me the media hates her. So she must be doing something right.
senorlechero // Jan 25, 2009 at 6:24 pm
truth2power still has none going for him
brandon63 // Jan 28, 2009 at 8:16 am
“Sarah Palin is a breath of fresh air to the Republican Party . . . she scared the dickens out of the Democrats”
No, she didn’t. She scared most “middle America” voters because she flaunted her ignorance on television, a place where voters are USED to ignorance.
McCainNOTpalin // Jan 28, 2009 at 10:06 am
ladybugTS Get your facts straight sweety… First of all… MORE THAN HALF (IF NOT MORE) of the inauguration was paid for by campaign contributors… Read… Do your research… And… Less than 1 million people in attendance..? Clearly, you’re equipped with the same amount of comprehension and intelligence as your dear friend, Sarah Palin…
TashaTchin // Jan 28, 2009 at 3:25 pm
gary4205, I knew Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan was my hero. Sarah Palin is no Ronald Reagan! Sarah Palin is George W. Bush in a skirt! If the Republican Party plans to return to its Reagan conservative roots, Caribou Barbie won’t be asked to lead the charge. She will be staying back home in Wasilla warming up some of her dad’s leftover moose stew — if the Republican Party knows what’s good for it. If not, the Republican Party will go the way of the Whig Party it replaced and the Dodo bird — it will become extinct!
Ronald Reagan Republican (since 1966)
Fresh trash clothing | Florica // Jan 3, 2011 at 10:20 pm
[...] Palin's “donated” Clothes Stashed In Trash Bags At Rnc | FrumForumA source close to the issue told NewMajority that the clothes are “in the … Sarah Palin is a breath of fresh air to the Republican Party … [...]