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

[rovezaleeker]

"I'm a hockey mom! Braawwwk!."

[GolfingDevil05]

McCain-Palin '08: Country Club First!

[Vote For America]

Sept 15 Polling Update
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=55&ArticleName=Daily+Poll+Update

Cindy McCain's Fallacious Rebuttal
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=54&ArticleName=Cindy+McCain%27s+Fallacious+Rebuttal

Obama 264, McCain 274
http://voteforamerica.net/electoral.aspx

The Red November: An analysis on campaign marketing
http://voteforamerica.net/editorials/Comments.aspx?ArticleId=50&ArticleName=The+Red+November

[trollslayer]

Sunset Tan. How quaint to have that in the White House.

[imright606]

What's the problem with a tanning bed???? The LIBERALS are really grasping at straws now...geeza louisa.

[rfshunt]

Nope, not grasping at straws, just taking up the trump cards that you right-wingers left on the table.

Remember all that fuss about the $400 haircut?

Karma, as they say, is a b1tch.

[calif62]

yep, guess those comments about haircuts and Hillary's looks etc are coming back to bite. I think Karma is a lovely thing. Tink the down home regular folk will relate to this? Maybe it won't matter, since she's got the sweet love of Jesus in her eyes and a lyin' tongue to go with it--all for the Lord of course.

[Geranium]

And your point is.....?

[StarkRavingNakedEmperor]

I have to play devil's advocate on this! I live very far north--in the Great Northwest. It is only possible to get enough sunlight here to stay healthy about 4 months out of the year. Most Americans dont yet realize that a proper amount of sun exposure is absolutely critical to be able to absorb dietary minerals and to produce and utilize enough Vitamin D to maintain bone health, immunity, to avoid cancer and MS and so much more. And it only takes a little bit, far below the cancer causing threshold. I am fairly new to the Northwest and wasnt aware of these things. I got deathly ill with Osteomalacia (soft bones) last winter due to lack of sunlight. In Alaska, it is perpetual night for 6 months out of the year. The farther North one goes, the more one finds tanning salons. In Oregon and Washington and Alaska (and I am sure throughout Canada) there is a tanning salon on just about every block! Most sane, bright people with a large family and the wherewithal would purchase a tanning bed if they planned to make Alaska their home. A used one would cost only a couple grand. The bottom line here, is that a person simply cant stay truly healthy in Alaska without a weekly tanning session in the Winter. There are plenty of other legitimate problems with Sarah Palin's candidacy--let's focus on them!

[authoritarianbootlicker]

Then move South. Don't be fake. What's next, breast implants?

[StarkRavingNakedEmperor]

I'm planning on moving South as soon as my business here is complete. I will miss the "Peoples' Republic of Oregon" and all of the marvelous Latte Sipping Liberals here! And no! Breast implants are not next! Mother Nature was quite generous with me on that score--there is nothing fake about me-- so put that in your pipe and smoke it! Sheesh! You are in a SNIT tonight!!?

[loracc]

Sunshine is the best source of vitamin D, but there are foods you can eat that provide vitamin D. Salmon, for instance, is plentiful in Alaska. Fortified milk products and cereals are another source.
No one needs a tanning bed.

[Sammy00400]

Then go to a salon. She really paid that much out of pocket for one (assuming the cost in the article is correct)? Gov of Alaska doesnt pay very well and thats a big expense, especially in bad economy. However I do agree, if medically needed then a couple thousand dollars isnt too bad. Right now I am more interested in how the campaign is going to spin it. If they go the medically needed route, say how much she paid, and the price was reasonable (fiscal responsibility) then its a dead issue for me. However if all they do is attack the media then it will be a negative against them in my book when deciding my vote.

[cruisepuppy7452a]

Folks, do we really need more proof of how unfit she is for office of VP? Do you really see Joe Biden with a tanning bed in his office or home? Don't think so. A few bottles of scotch, burbon perhaps, maybe a bar, but to blow this kind of money, not even hers on something this obviously frivolous, for nobody other than herself and her husband, proves this gal isn't right for office. A frickin tanning bed is about as dumb, lazy as it gets. Is she 15 or 45? Hate to burst her bubble, but you wont see the white house giving her a tanning bed, hot fub or anything else this frivolous. They would take one look at her and just throw her out. People with an IQ of 5 think as she does. We need Biden in office who has his priorities on straight, isn't into some far out religeon, nor allows his beliefs to dictate how he runs offices. This gal has the mentality of a cabbage. And she has the audacity to prech moral values and ethics to us? Who the hell is she kidding?

[laralarouge]

Whadawee know? Artificial intelligence!

[cafemocha]

Someone should tell her there is no "safe" tanning from a tanning bed - any dermatologist will tell you that. If she bought it to treat SAD it is the wrong choice, the 10,000 lux lamps are better and work without the downside to her skin. This product will likely give her skin damage, unfortunately she does not need to look too far to see the ravages to human skin of too much sun exposure. BTW, has anyone told her she will not be able to see Russia from the Whitehouse? No matter, there is plenty of room to install a tanning bed there.

[SeanOcali]

Lame story unless she didn't pay for it. There are dozens of dirt stories on Palin that are better than this (particularly Troopergate).

I hate defending this Eva Braun clone, but if you're photographed a lot (being govorner she would be), care about your looks (it's part of her repertoire - she was a beauty queen) and live in Alaska where the sun goes away sometimes for months, then I don't find it odd at all she would own a tanning bed.

And saying a tanning bed can cost up to $35,000 is sort of like saying a watch can cost up to $35,000. There are much, much cheaper ones available.

[larned]

It's relevant because her big selling point is her supposed relatability - her image as your average working woman with a demanding job and 5 kids and "small town vaues". You can't see the disconnect? Most of the working women I know who have children, especially babies, find it all they can do some days to just comb their hair and slap on some make-up. Not a lot of time for hanging out in the tanning bed. Plus having one in your residence seems awfully self-indulgent for a no-nonsense moose-killing kind of gal. Remember what they did to John Edwards because of his high-priced hair cuts?

[Heavenhelpusall]

She paid for it with her own money or perhaps her per diem fees.

[Femi]

HEY!!! THE ISSUE IS NOT THE TANNING BED!!!! THE ISSUE (AND NOT TO BE PETTY) IS THAT IF THERE WERE AN EMERGENCY, DON'T YOU THINK IT'S A BIT FUNNY THAT HER MAJESTY CANNOT RESPOND QUICKLY TO ANY MATTER ARISING BECAUSE OF THE STATE SHE IS IN, IN THE OFFICE???

IF SHE WERE NOT THE GOVERNOR, IT WOULD BE A NON-ISSUE. BUT AS GOVERNOR, TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN, MUCH IS EXPECTED. IT'S NOT THAT THE BED IS SO CRAZY, BUT IT DOES GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN IN THE TIME OF A CRISIS!!

[Freakpower]

Sure, that's the only place The GOV. and the First Dude can "Hook-up" to not use birth control- so many meth-freaks, and babies screaming, inside the governor's mansion!

[parvo63]

OK, she paid with her own money. What's wrong with this? Where's the news?

[wadda]

yeah, under $2K, new Sam's Club.

We knew she was vain....don't know if she has 'seasonal affect disorder'

[parvo63]

Are u saying that only vain people use tanning beds? Do u really mean it?
Or simply you cannot afford one...