Palin's Makeup Artist Even More Expensive Than McCain's (SLIDESHOW)

Today the Washington Post's Sleuth reports that Sarah Palin is spending more than John McCain on her own celebrity makeup artist.

McCain's September payments of $8,672.55 to "American Idol" make-up artist Tifanie White, who has also worked on the reality dance show "So You Think You Can Dance," are a drop in the bucket on the campaign's beautification front compared to the GOP vice presidential nominee.

The Sleuth has learned that Palin's high-paid traveling make-up artist is Amy Strozzi, who was nominated for an Emmy Award for her work as head of makeup on "So You Think You Can Dance." Strozzi was paid $13,200 by the McCain-Palin campaign last month alone, according to the campaign's latest financial disclosure report filed this week.

Keep reading.

We noticed that Governor Palin's been wearing particularly heavy blush in recent weeks. See a slideshow of Sarah Palin's makeup transformation here.

*OR*

Keep reading about John McCain's "American Idol" makeup artist.

Comments

[steve-in-abq]

You people are sick. Why are you nitpicking about clothes and makeup for the candidates. I wish you would spend a little time thinking about million/billions of tax dollars being spend on government programs that should have never been started. And how said programs will never no away. Here is an exercise for you. Make me a list of all federal government programs that have been ended because it was determined that they were obsolete or no longer needed or were just unconstitutional in the first place.

[2876]

I can think of one....Pal­in's Bridge to Nowhere. Total waste of tax payers money

[zoozey]

If she had spent even 1/4 of that on educating herself the past few weeks instead of on her looks, maybe she would have done herself and the McCain camp some good. She is far more concerned aboutvher looks.

And she is real good at "socialism for Sarah."

[Mysticalsister]

AMEN! I don't think she CAN read. 6 colleges in 6 years? Now we know why she had to keep moving -- as soon as they found out she couldn't read, she ran.

Couldn't she have one of her staff read the constitution to her? at least the part about what the VP does? Maybe she thinks this is a ceremonial title, like miss Alaska.

[butterworth]

I can't stand the way she wears her bronzer/blush. It is WAY overdone..­.too much, too dark for her face, and it goes all the way down to the corners of her mouth. Not too crazy about the visible lipliner, either. It might seem trivial, but it is also very distracting when she talks. (Maybe that's a good thing, lol.)

[marasgram18]

ghetto lipliner style

[patriotic008]

hey marasgram

if you are a lawyer too get off your a$$ and volunteer, otherwise don't run aruond telling people they are liars

http://www.blogfordemocracy.org/2008/10/obama_needs_lawyers_and_law_st.html

[ladydriver]

She's got all this "experience" and time in executive office, yet she doesn't know how to apply her make-up and has nothing appropriate to wear in public, so she needs a professional make-up artist and a whole new wardrobe?

Oh, yeah...she­'s ready to shop...er, I mean, lead.

[zoozey]

Why have we not been hearing about John McCain's make-up artist after all that crap about John Edwards' haircut?

[TAIsabel]

This should not be a surprise, I noticed her highlights getting lighter by the day. I am susprised she has not gone blonde yet. Quite frankly, I find her and Cindy (perhaps Cindy more!) totally uncouth.

[ladydriver]

Oh, please, don't let her go blonde. We've got enough jokes about us already without THAT!

[Hans Meiser]

I love blonde jokes. I will NOT have them tainted by that bimbo eskimo.

[Audrey704]

Well don't forget about her older daughters high lights as well....I wonder if the GOP paid for those too....The Palin's seem to think that she can use her family as pons and then claim their off limits....­Get them off the campaign trail....a­s it is no place for children..­.don't they have school or maybe Dad can take them home and be a home Dad and give Palin time to at least read the US Constitution once or twice....

[suhud]

As my grandfather used to say, "You can dress her up, but you can't take her out."

[Audrey704]

My friend always says that no amount of makeup can get rid of that kind of ugly

[Mysticalsister]

my dad used to say "she's got a mouth like a torn pocket. makes it hard to control what falls out."

[marianadja]

Taxpayer dollars were not meant for this, not when taxpayers checked that little box on their returns, nor when McCain worked on campaign finance reform in the 90's. When they popped SP from Alaska and tried to sell her as an experienced executive, maverick, reformer, savvy, not an elite insider, frugal with the taxpayers’ money, Main Street, hockey mom, pit bull with lipstick, in-touch with average Americans, Joe Six-Pack, Joe Plumber, they kept missing their goal, a bit at a time, day after day. There is nothing to compare this to – Edwards’ $400 haircuts don’t even come close. Obviously she and Hillary would cost more to outfit for the campaign trail than most men, but Hillary didn’t spend any money of mine on her clothes, jewelry or her daughter. SP is either an ambitious woman in the wrong place (certainly at the wrong time) or she is just as clever as they claim and will be laughing her way all the way home. By the way, is her lip liner a tattoo?

[Rictracee]

damn wish i was the make up artist to get that money.. I know there is a make up artist somewhere counting her money saying christmas came early.

[Rule Of Law]

It's still about one tenth what McCain spends to cover up his age and skin problems.

[crutnacker]

Hey. Even Mavericks need makeup. Do you know how much lipstick for a pig costs?

[Mysticalsister]

$13,000 -- give or take.

[Bond007]

She will not release her medical records because they do not show that she received any prenatal care. Which means that she is not the mother of Trig. So basically, the media knows this and will not pursue it further because the anchors are fearful of their networks being sued and job loss.
Bristol is Trigs mother. The medical records will prove that and that is why she will not release them.

[zoozey]

But if the Medical records prove that, how could the media be sued?

I just heard she is releasing them in several days. My bet is that some Dr. in Alaska will have been paid off by the McCain camp.

[marasgram18]

the truth will come out if the doctor is paid off

[LeBeau59741]

Palin's mighty good at spending other people's money for her own benefit, it appears.

There will be many who call this a "non-issue", but I beg to differ-Like the travel & lodging expenses for her children, and her claiming per diem payments for days she spent at her own home, it is part of a pattern of her saying one thing about spending and then doing another... the lady cannot be trusted with a checkbook.

I could've understood a few new and very expensive things for key events, but it is at odds with her "Joe Six-pack/Soccer Mom" theme to appear before an electorate that is hurting financially wearing an outfit that cost more than the average monthly income of the people to whom she is speaking.

I cannot believe that her existing wardrobe was inadequate for the campaign trail to the degree that such a spending spree suggests- She's a Governor, fer cryin' out loud, I imagine she owns a decent selection of suits and dresses that would have filled most needs.

My HOUSE (nice place- 2 bd/2ba, huge yard, no covenants) did not cost 150k when we bought it 4 years ago.... and I don't imagine that the McCain supporters who donated to help the campaign did so with the idea that they'd be financing a champagne wardrobe for their "Six-Pack Sweetheart"

[cyngl]

I'm sure the Obama/Biden crew have also spent a lot of money on make-up and clothing.

To me the point is how out of touch politicians are. $150k for a wardrobe????? In this economy with people losing their homes and having trouble filling their gas tanks so they can get to their $10/hour job and pay taxes!!! So outrageous. The average ANNUAL salary in the US is less than 1/3 of what they spent on her clothing for a 3 or 4 month period. OMG

I do think there is some merit to looking good if you are in the public eye, but seriously they could have bought 7 very conservative looking suits, blouses, shoes etc. at Land's End for probably less than $5k and she could do what most of us do ... rotate. I suppose some people will be tricked into thinking that because she looks professional that she can do executive high level work; the campaign managers must have weighed the risks and benefits of spending that much money so frivolously.

I know the Republican Party paid for the clothing and make-up .... but I gotta tell ya, this month when I write my check out for my student loan, it will be with a very bitter hand.

[LeBeau59741]

Go ahead and be bitter- McCain accepted public campaign funding... We ARE paying for some of this trainwreck.

[StellaRay]

In my job I hire stylists and make up artists all the time. Like in any industry, you have the brand name famous people who cost an arm and a leg for their "label. " And then you have a huge selection of people who are just as good for a lot less. Kind of like buying a real Gucci purse, or a knock off. Truth is, most people can't tell the difference.

The point here is it seems the McCain Campaign has opted for the high priced celebrity label,using campaign funds to do so. And I think that's within their rights---to allot their money in order with their priorities. The problem is their eternal hypocracy. They make a talking point out of their disdain for the celebrity effect, and then whistle for the emmy winning make up artist.

Suffice to say, the McCain Campaign is NOT hiring the joe the plumber of this industry. They are hiring the most elite.

who have made a campaign talking point of turning their noses up at such.

[zanzig]

Yes, and of course you pay a higher price for the "braqnd name". But why is that a grown woman who has worked in the media and has been in the public spotlight (even if only in Alaska) for many years, cannot put on her own make up? How hard is it for lord's sake - it's not rocket science? She could have got some tips once and then done it herself thereafter, or could she not learn even that lesson?

[marasgram18]

yeah a supposed beauty contestant

[etcetc]

I also hire hair and make-up stylists for my job, and I have to disagree about the price.
It is reasonable. Consider that she is making appearances all over the country, and so they also have to pay for travel for the stylist.

If you need a stylist ever other day, you are paying them approx $400 per day they work, $250 per day that they travel, and then their airfare. Where I live, h&m is $700 per day for freelancers, and anyone below

It sounds like a big fee when you add it all up- but it isn't when you break it down.

And Barack has hair and make-up too!
I'm for OBAMA, but this is a silly thing to argue about.

[zoozey]

No it isn't silly. Their whole tirade against John Edwards was constantly haranguing him and mocking him for a 400 haircut. Np way, no how have the Obamas and Bidens spent that sort of money. Trust me, if they had, we would have heard about it ad nauseum. The Obamas, I would BET have not spent Illinois taxpayer money on per diem while they lived at home or on carting their two girls all over the country.

[tristan90us]

Wrong. Just wrong. She is not an actress. there is no reason she needs a stylist or a new outfit for every appearance. She does not need designer outfits, business suits would be fine. She does not need to look hot, sexy, stylish, chic, adorable. She needs to be smart, and savvy and informed and prepared and educated and knowledgeable and have a grasp of history and of where France is. She is not a brand, an image, a symbol. She is trying to put herself into a position where she will protect and defend the constitution of the United States. This is not a PR stunt she is engaged in. This could not be more serious and she does not get it. And she should be sent back to corrupting the political system of Alaska so she can be impeached and we'll never have to see her absurd face ever again.
And you need a values stylist. to make you over. Because you couldn't be wronger. (sic)