Palin Tanning Bed Installed In Governor's Mansion

Al Giordano of Narco News first reported that Sarah Palin has a tanning bed installed in the Alaska Governor's Mansion:

"The governor did have a tanning bed put in the Governor's Mansion," Roger Wetherell, chief communications officer of Alaska's Department of Transportation and Public Facilities, confirmed to this newspaper. "It was done shortly after she took office [in early 2007] and moved into the mansion."

Ben Smith of the Politico confirmed the report.

"She paid for it with her own money," Wetherell told Smith in an email.

UPDATE: US Weekly has more:

According to Wetherell, the tanning bed was purchased used, from a health club.

Tanning beds can cost up to $35,000 to install in a home - not including the cost of parts, Color Me Tan manager Erin Weise told the Narco News.

"I don't think it's normal for people to have a tanning bed in their house, " Wiese, who is based in Fairbanks said. "It's expensive."

Palin's running mate, presidential candidate John McCain battled skin cancer in 1993, and again in 2000.

"I coat SPF 30 on myself first thing in the morning, and wear long sleeves and a hat whenever I'm in the sun," McCain has told Newsweek.

Palin declared May 2007, "Skin Cancer Awareness Month." In the press materials it was noted, "Skin cancer is caused, overwhelmingly, by over-exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun and from tanning beds."

Comments

[AngrySumbitch]

If I lived in Alaska, I would also tan, even though I don't otherwise; I live in Phoenix, AZ. UV light is the cure for SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder. Lack of sunlight can really affect some people's sense of well-being and happiness. This is not about politics, it is about personal health.

[manndan]

You're spinning like a stock car. Evidently all previous Alaska governors managed without one. But if she paid for it herself no problem.

[DaOne]

Ever heard of vitamin D, it's a bit cheaper than a tanning bed.

[newworldman777]

A host of products are on the market for people who suffer from SAD. These products, which provide "light therapy," generally utililize no more than 100 watts of electricity -- much less than a tanning bed.

Come on. The sole purpose for her tanning bed is vanity. She is evidently one of those women who has the attitude, "I will spend exorbitant amounts of time and money improving my looks; then if anybody has the audacity to compliment me, I will raise "holy" hell with them."

[Obama08Supporter]

Who cares if she has a tanning bed? I am more worried about her know international affairs because she can see Russia! Now, that is something to think about!

[Mat8675]

How 'Small Town' of her....

[kid5rivers2]

Gives a new twist to Nat's O tannenbaum!

[Hirnlego]

Gotta look good when the apocalypse arrives.

[ctmommy]

I would too if I couldn't see the sun for months.

[Deluded]

Using a Tanning Bed is just plain daft. Besides it's bad for the skin. If Palin is using one it is just another reason to cast Ur vote elsewhere.

[norkas]

WHO CARES, I am a big supporter of Obama and this is bs and distracting. The person who wrote this made a mistake in my opinion to bring this us. There is so much about Palin that i and many others differ with that this subject erodes important issues.

[mckinley]

Agreed, norkas.

I've had doctors and therapists RECOMMEND that I join a tanning salon, for my mental health over the fall and winter.

[ShakeYourComplacency]

Why isn't this getting the round the clock media play that John Edward's haircut got? Or part II of John Edwards hair and makeup when that video was passed around with him looking at himself in a mirror. That alone almost sunk his campaign.

WHY THE DOUBLE STANDARD, MEDIA???

This woman gets to have a freaking TANNING BED in her house and no one thinks that's not vain, not expensive, not over the top, not a bad health decision? It's all about the face for her. How she and her family looks, those expensive glasses too, it's about her cutthroat political ambition. I'm sure she thought the tanning bed was necessary, after all, no one would be turned on by a pasty white woman from the north.

So it's all part of a fake appearance. The tanning bed. The secrets like her pregnancy. The secrets of her family. The passing around of the infant like a football in front of the glaring lights. This woman is positively fake, and her obsession with these types of political moves shocks and scares me. I used to actually like her for what she was, even though I didn't like her platform or values. At least I figured she was authentic.

But now? How Un-Authentic can you get with a tanning bed?

Maybe Todd the fisherman should be VP.

[billrott]

This article came up on morning Joe. They thought it was stupid and petty and as expect Scarborouh utilized it to downplay the troopergate issue that arose last night. Exactly how does this article assist the progressive movement....

[SteveFox]

yeah and teachers in zimbabwe earn $4 a month. Wow you guys really focus on the issues here on the Huffington post.

[Marioli]

When I look at the aggressive way people on this site have written about Palin.s look, her hair and her glasses, I think it.s perfectly fine when a candidate buys the machinery necessary to work a little on their looks. Not that they should matter in an election, but apparently they do!

[fedupinpa]

Yes but should the tax payers pay for it?

[billrott]

She did not use taxpayers money for this purchase. Learn the facts...

[ZimboChick]

its ok... she is tryna look like Obama ;)

Barack the Look

[Brute]

I guess all of those facelifts that Hillary and Pelosi had done are examplesof humility?

Joe "Hair Plugs" Biden? No vanity there.

[ByersL]

I haven't read all the posts, but I don't care at all about the vanity of pols, it's fine, they are actors in a way, and they can do anything they want. But it's not the bed itself, it's what it represents for Palin: she's not a reformer. She abuses her position. She spends taxpayer's money to live at home. It's the pattern, not the single issue. Plus it's fun to take a break from exposing Palin or McCain for what they are: liars.

[moseyon]

John McCain has open a can of worms selecting Palin as his running mate.
Iam not American,but I went to Wickapedia to find out about Alaska.l admire
your Sen. Obama. Republicans have been running Alaska since it was declaired a state
in 1959.Has the mainland of America ever questioned what has gone on there?
Rep Gov Wally Hucket was elected for the second term in 1990 after leaving the republicans
and briefly joined The AIP only long enough to be re-elected then officially rejoined the
Republican fold. Tells you the people where discontent at that time. What has the mainland
of America done to help these people.Highest Alcohlic abuse ,highest Fetal alcholic syndrom FAS
Suicides, Domestic abuse ,drug abuse wow that is Alaska.

[OnTheFence08]

$35,000? Oh come on, more like $3,500.

And you think the Republicans are bad.

[ByersL]

Well she purchased it (or it was given to her) from a health club so it' s a commercial model which would put it higher than $3500 but that's not what interests me. What I thought was interesting coming out of this story was that after she bought it, she had the Gov mansion rewired....claiming standard upgrades...mmmmm. If you go on the Alaskan papers, particularly the one in Juneau where she's supposed to live, you will see they are outraged about the fact that she chooses to live 300 days a year in Wasilla and pays herself to do so, pays for her kid's and husband's travel to and from the capitol, and it costs over $300K a year to run the mansion. This would be like W spending 300 days a year in Texas!

[Adjuster]

The republicants are bad. Have you read a newspaper laterly?

[KarlfromMD]

It's all a ruse. That's where they're storing the records they won't turn over to the Troopergate investigation. Where's Richard Nixon when you need him?

[ByersL]

haha. thanks for the laugh.