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

[ivillage]

Democrats Eat into McCain's Lead as Palin's Supports Drops:
http://www.sefermpost.com/sefermpost/2008/09/democrats-eat-i.html

[Whinger]

In time, youthful looks have to be artificially maintained!

All things are vanity!

[normathumb]

Staying out of the kitchen because she can't stand the heat.

[Kerris]

Oh, stop the nonsense. There are real issues to go after the McCain-Palin ticket for. If she paid for it herslef, so what? Are we going to complain about the fact that she owns too many shoes?

Let's focus on her policies and her corruption. A tanning bed is just a bit of silliness that will make its detractors look petty.

[ByersL]

I KNEW it! I knew she owned too many shoes!!! Sarah Imelda Marcos Palin! haha. let us have a laugh once in awhile, attacking them over the truth of how bad they will lead this country doesn't seem to have any effect on the populace!

[DanteLabon]

Amen. That's what I keep saying. Who do these people think has been running the country (and economy) for the past 8 years, and they are trying to play the CHANGE card. And then they start with the "The Democrats have run Congress for the past 2 years" crap ...anybody with half a brain or the ability to read know that the Dems have NOT had the much needed 60 VOTE MAJORITY needed to get anything done. Veto Veto Veto. Someone needs to make a political themed video game, or American Political Idol show or something to get the idiots in this country interested in what's important.

[mtnirp]

Oh my goodness, I believe you are correct. Interesting, huh? Maybe CNN should hire you as a reporter. I am not sure I would have thought of that. Way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[VivaZapata]

there's just no stopping her attempts at global warming.

[avraamjack]

.
Al Giordano and Narco news are greatly underappreciated.
.

[GrkAm]

$35,000 + for the tanning bed!! Well, OK. I guess that sets an example for the women in Alaska. She paid for it herself. After all, (and if it's true) she wants other women to stand up and take financial responsibility--but, to purchase their own RAPE kits?? I'm having a bit of a problem understanding the equity in that entire situation.

[DogTown]

WHO CARES!

[d00derman]

WAIT A MINUTE! According to the article: She got the tanning bed in early 2007!!!! Wasn't she pregnant?

[Mercurial]

hmmm....was she??

[billrott]

and a medical association released a statement saying these beds assist people with vitamin D issues during the dark periods of Alaska

[d00derman]

Must be those small town values, they keep yammering about.

[Paralogos]

Superficially, this is a total non-story. Even if you're not incredibly vain (as Palin appears to be), Alaskan winters are very long and dark, and a small amount of extra UV can be good physically and psychologically. And they say she paid for it herself. BUT...

As the article notes, these things are expensive. Where did the money come from, if it wasn't paid out of public funds? If it was a "gift" from someone who does business with the state of Alaska, it's arguably even worse than if it were paid by the taxpayers.

[progressivelady]

long winter's that would explain all the Meth lab's in her folksy town

[newhouse1]

I know. I can probably go to Wikipedia or a related site and get the answer, but I feel like I'll get some honest homena from this crowd, and the subject is in play. So... exactly what is the deal with this need or desire to "tan" that has Palin buying tanning beds in Alaska, and people in the lower 48 looking like they just returned from the Bahamas?

If you live in LA or Hawaii, or Florida, then it makes sense you go outside a lot, and get tanned. Aalaska, North Dakota, Minnesota, Nova Scotia? Not so much sun in fall/winter, and it makes sense that what you see in the mirror is what you get. Don't get it, just asking.

[jeplanet]

She obviously didn't attend the JohnMcCain "Preventing Skin Cancer" information session.
That's a shame.

[GrkAm]

Hey, they ALREADY said she paid for it with her own money, but I sure she could REALLY stretch the truth to say that it will be used for curing all the pelts the Palins gets for some cottage industry in Alaska!

By the way, has anyone noticed how many blogs are closed for comments?? Hmm.