Finally... a Conservative Unitarian Universalist Member Blogging As You Asked! After so many years of singing around the campfire, the call has been answered!
Yes, it's true. Women get judged on appearance far more than men.
That said... Gov. Palin's hardly just some Wasilla mom who's been whisked into the limelight. She's been the governor of Alaska for a year and a half. Certainly she's got clothing that's not just sweats and jeans, stuff she could go on the campaign trail in. She did in Alaska.
And... it's not like other women in the public eye all need, much less get, a full makeover and wardrobe from the most outlandishly expensive clothiers one can find. The point's been made that Michelle Obama paid less than $150 for a dress she wore in public that was lovely.
Palin's big selling point was "real, normal, small town mother-mayor--now governor." She could CERTAINLY have purchased her clothing at a vastly less upscale place and looked fine. After all, she's a former beauty pagent participant.... She could have lived up to Wal-Mart and made the point. Or even gone a bit more upscale, and made the "gotta look good as a woman in public" argument.
But there's simply No Way that ANYONE needs to spend $150k to buy a wardrobe for a two month period. None.
If Palin felt the need, she should have spent her money. Or sought some small amount from the campaign to help. But $150k? That's insane. And it's going to be income she'll have to report. No doubt someone will purchase the clothing "at auction" for as much so that she can find the money to pay the taxes.
Personally, I think it's marvelous. The GOP's shown its true colors, spent its money in a way that sneers at normal folks, and blown cash that its donors gave... that could have been used to some plausibly useful political effect--ads in Indiana or something. I'm not complaining. I just want to be sure that Americans don't miss it. let them make of it what they will.
To say nothing else, the fact that the Republicans ask plumbers and secretaries and elementary school teachers to donate, then goes out and spends thousands of dollars on clothes for the Palins and their kids is bad form.
If you sent the Republicans $100, wouldn't you object if you found out they'd spent it buying at outfit for a two-year-old?
(((I'm sure Todd Palin's wardrobe costs a whole lot less than Barak Obama's or Joe Biden's.))
FWIW, $5000 was spent at a Men's clothing store. Michelle Obama's $150 dress she bought herself is still sounding good to me.
I worked from home for many years and spent little on clothes. If I return to an office, in a public job, I'm going to have to shell out some bucks for clothes.
Obama's wearing $1,500 Hart Schaffner Mars suits. He should switch to Oxxford suits at about $3k a shot. Oxxford a Chicago area custom suit maker.
In a media age, with media candidates, clothes matter. Try giving a speech before an audience in a suit vs jeans (unless it's a tech audience when I've been told to weart jeans) and you'll understand.
I have no idea how $150k stands up for budget for a prez campaign. I know a tailor who outfits Biz Execs and they'll typicall spend 10 to 15k for a wardrobe. This is a tool for them... a cost of doing business.
I worked in the needle trades out of high school helping the clothcutter so I've spent time with people who take the biz very seriously.
Some of the older ones good communists e.g. Art L. who met Comrade Trotsky as a young boy in Russia...
I shook Art's hand, he shook Trotsky's, Trotsky shook Lennin's, Lennin shook Engel's, and Engel's shook Marx's hand; so like a Cardinal, I have a physical link to Comrade Marx himself.
It impressed me at the time.
Art L. a communist who aways wore a tie too.
Anyways, Palin's clothes budget pretty much a non issue I suspect especially if she buys American tailored stuff.
4 comments:
Yes, it's true. Women get judged on appearance far more than men.
That said... Gov. Palin's hardly just some Wasilla mom who's been whisked into the limelight. She's been the governor of Alaska for a year and a half. Certainly she's got clothing that's not just sweats and jeans, stuff she could go on the campaign trail in. She did in Alaska.
And... it's not like other women in the public eye all need, much less get, a full makeover and wardrobe from the most outlandishly expensive clothiers one can find. The point's been made that Michelle Obama paid less than $150 for a dress she wore in public that was lovely.
Palin's big selling point was "real, normal, small town mother-mayor--now governor." She could CERTAINLY have purchased her clothing at a vastly less upscale place and looked fine. After all, she's a former beauty pagent participant.... She could have lived up to Wal-Mart and made the point. Or even gone a bit more upscale, and made the "gotta look good as a woman in public" argument.
But there's simply No Way that ANYONE needs to spend $150k to buy a wardrobe for a two month period. None.
If Palin felt the need, she should have spent her money. Or sought some small amount from the campaign to help. But $150k? That's insane. And it's going to be income she'll have to report. No doubt someone will purchase the clothing "at auction" for as much so that she can find the money to pay the taxes.
Personally, I think it's marvelous. The GOP's shown its true colors, spent its money in a way that sneers at normal folks, and blown cash that its donors gave... that could have been used to some plausibly useful political effect--ads in Indiana or something. I'm not complaining. I just want to be sure that Americans don't miss it. let them make of it what they will.
Question, ogre:
How much has Hillary Clinton spent on her wardrobe? Or other female politicians?
And I think the money spent came from the campaign's budget, which means they can spend it how they wish (legally, anyway).
"The point's been made that Michelle Obama paid less than $150 for a dress she wore in public that was lovely."
Michelle Obama isn't running for Vice President. I'm sure Todd Palin's wardrobe costs a whole lot less than Barak Obama's or Joe Biden's.
Hillary buys her own pantsuits, so who cares? If Palin had written a few books and was spending her own money, nobody would give a damn.
(((And I think the money spent came from the campaign's budget, which means they can spend it how they wish (legally, anyway). )))
Actually, no. If it were campaign money, spending it for personal consumption would be illegal. The money came from the Republican National Committee.
Remember when the Republicans made such a fuss over John Edwards getting two $400 haircuts that Edwards had to reimburse the campaign?
To say nothing else, the fact that the Republicans ask plumbers and secretaries and elementary school teachers to donate, then goes out and spends thousands of dollars on clothes for the Palins and their kids is bad form.
If you sent the Republicans $100, wouldn't you object if you found out they'd spent it buying at outfit for a two-year-old?
(((I'm sure Todd Palin's wardrobe costs a whole lot less than Barak Obama's or Joe Biden's.))
FWIW, $5000 was spent at a Men's clothing store. Michelle Obama's $150 dress she bought herself is still sounding good to me.
CC
I worked from home for many years and spent little on clothes. If I return to an office, in a public job, I'm going to have to shell out some bucks for clothes.
Obama's wearing $1,500 Hart Schaffner Mars suits. He should switch to Oxxford suits at about $3k a shot. Oxxford a Chicago area custom suit maker.
In a media age, with media candidates, clothes matter. Try giving a speech before an audience in a suit vs jeans (unless it's a tech audience when I've been told to weart jeans) and you'll understand.
I have no idea how $150k stands up for budget for a prez campaign. I know a tailor who outfits Biz Execs and they'll typicall spend 10 to 15k for a wardrobe. This is a tool for them... a cost of doing business.
I worked in the needle trades out of high school helping the clothcutter so I've spent time with people who take the biz very seriously.
Some of the older ones good communists e.g. Art L. who met Comrade Trotsky as a young boy in Russia...
I shook Art's hand, he shook Trotsky's, Trotsky shook Lennin's, Lennin shook Engel's, and Engel's shook Marx's hand; so like a Cardinal, I have a physical link to Comrade Marx himself.
It impressed me at the time.
Art L. a communist who aways wore a tie too.
Anyways, Palin's clothes budget pretty much a non issue I suspect especially if she buys American tailored stuff.
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