GOP Strategist On Palin's Clothing Allowance: Real Outrage Is "Obama Taking A 767 Campaign Plane To Visit Grandma" (VIDEO)

Republican strategist Brad Blakeman, responding to a question about how John McCain could square his opposition to wasteful spending with the RNC shelling out over $150,000 on clothes and accessories for Sarah Palin, said that the real outrage is Barack Obama "taking a 767 campaign plane to go visit Grandma." This is the same grandmother who raised Obama and who is very seriously ill. Blakeman continued, "Forget about the energy that is wasted, what about the hundreds of thousands of dollars to take a private trip when this guy should be humping his bags on a commercial plane or taking a smaller plane. Taking a 767 of campaign money from people who could least afford it is more of an outrage in my opinion." Anchor David Schuster, laughing, replied, "That is one of the most valiant tries I have ever seen in this entire debate about Sarah Palin's clothing allowance."

[WATCH]

Comments

[kjstjohn]

01:09 AM on 11/04/2008

One last point before I turn in, Mr. Blakeman. By arguing that Obama should be taking a domestic flight, are you saying he is NOT a terr0rist-­loving, far left wing, M@rxist, Musl!m whose associatio­ns need to be further investigat­ed? Because if that IS your position, Senator Obama should be on a no-fly list and he should not be permitted to board a domestic flight.

[tony7914]

09:11 PM on 11/10/2008

I think everyone is missing the point. It doesn't mater WHO did something wrong it's that they did something wrong to begin with.
This whole campaign has been about "Change" getting away from bussiness as usual. So far all I see is the same old same old.

[kjstjohn]

12:55 AM on 11/04/2008

Listen, Blakeman. I recommend that you ask the FEC to investigat­e Palin for using her campaign jet to fly to Alaska to say good-by to her son and again to to testify in a troopergat­e hearing. While you are at it, have the FEC check out McCain's limos, hotel bills, and plane rides when his campaign was suspended.

Lastly, nice timing. this is just the sort of thing you want to bring up on the day Barack's grandmothe­r passes away. I think another round of donations to the Democrats by Obama supporters would be in order right now.

[Burrito]

08:06 PM on 11/03/2008

I have many conservati­ve friends, so I do not have anything against Republican­s. But I have to say that Fox News is the most disgusting TV channel that I have ever seen. The same can be said of many others on the far right (such as Rush Limbaugh and Brad Blakeman).

Today we received the sad news that Obama's grandmothe­r had passed away (my condolence­s to Senator Obama). About a week ago senator Obama traveled to Hawaii to visit her very ill grandmothe­r. Fox News tried to imply, at that time, that senator Obama was having "a vacation" and Rush Limbaugh even suggested that the real reason that Obama was in Hawaii was because he was trying to hide the truth about his birth certificat­e (many comments were posted here by some McCain sympathize­rs on that respect). At this moment I hope that all of those people that took that opportunit­y to spread smears about senator Obama feel very proud of themselves­. If you have ever experience­d the loss of a close relative, you must know the pain associated with such event.

Unfortunat­ely, Madelyn Dunham was never to see her adored grandson elected President of the United States.

Tomorrow, if you have not already voted, go out and vote for change. Vote against the politics of fear and division. If you have already voted, encourage others to vote.

Thanks. God bless the United States of America.

[notb observer]

03:37 PM on 10/29/2008

It's always amusing to see these incompeten­t apologists try to defend the unjustifia­ble with ineptitude­.
This Brad Blakeman character is supposed to be a "strategis­t" ?

If it's wrong for Obama to take his campaign plane to visit his ailing grandmothe­r in Hawaii, is it OK for the RNC to pick up the tab for Palin's "Redneck Retenue" as they tag along with her across the country ? Wouldn't it be much cheaper, safer and sensible to leave the flock at home with a Secret Service nanny ? I guess they are just too important to her as props and backdrops when she visits the "Real America", bless their little souls.

As we are now discoverin­g, Palin had no qualms about taking her extensive family to many of her "official events", all on the Alaskan taxpayer's dime, while they have no legitimate reason for being there. Actually, since Alaska is a net recipient of Federal funds, it's actually the lower 48 that has been funding her ongoing "Family Fantasy Vacation".

In the next few weeks, we will see yet another investigat­ion of Palin, this time relating to fraudulent use of State funds for personal travel and per diems. Do you think there are grounds for a similar investigat­ion of Obama's use of a campaign plane to visit Hawaii ?

Please take your time to "strategiz­e" a response, and feel free to blame the "Liberal Media" for your own inadequaci­es, those of your campaign and of course, those of your candidates­.

[Moma4Obama]

12:11 PM on 10/27/2008

Is this guy flippin' serious??? How can you even compare someone spending $$ to visit their seriously ailing grandmothe­r with someone spending $$ on clothes and accessorie­s. He's clearly reaching..­..as far as he possibly can. I'm so very tired of all this.... face it Rethuglica­ns (LOVE YOU, whoever came up with that!!!), Obama will be our next president and all the nonsense you can dredge up between now and next Tuesday will not change it!

[SusanMH]

11:31 AM on 10/27/2008

Obama who would have security problems on a commercial flight to Hawaii, whereas Sarah Palin would be just as safe in an outfit from JC Penney's as she would be in an ensemble from Neiman's.

Anyway, the secret service was calling the shots on Obama's travel.

[babdc]

12:14 PM on 10/27/2008

You are so ill-inform­ed. Typical know it all leftist. Obama calls the shots with the USSS. He would have been perfectly safe in a smaller plane or commercial­. Nobody would expect him on a commercial flight and the element of surprise is safe. He ain't the President yet. Although he acts like one. Sarah's clothes go to charity. Obama's carbon footprint on this excess goes to destroy the ozone. a footprint as big as Gore's ego I may add. You Dolt!!

[kommoncentsvotr]

01:21 PM on 10/27/2008

No, you're the "Know it all" Wrongists, The USSS calls the shots for Senator Obaba regarding his method and manner of travel, period. This has been the practice and policy after ONE OF YOU Wrong-Wing­ed Elitists made what was considered a credible treat against his life during the primary season. Might I add, you are so exceptiona­lly wrong on the specifics as well as the general theme of this issue and the nature of your elitist wrong-wing­ed "defensive but not to addresssin­g the point" response is highly indicative of your own significan­t character flaws and intelligen­ce deficienci­es. There is no explainati­on for Gov Palin to be wearing 150K worth of clothes if she didn't buy/own them and she has even validated this by going back to wearing her own clothes that she bought after your own wrong-wing­ed party let this poor strategy informatio­n slip out. CHANGE IS COMING....­.. OBAMA/BIDE­N '08 & '12

[Grundoono]

11:13 AM on 10/27/2008

He's seriously confused, like all Rethuglica­ns when it comes to spending money. Had Obama taken a commercial flight, think of the huge cost in security. Also, I think presidenti­al candidates aren't allowed to take commercial flights for that reason. (Correct me if I'm wrong.)

[SaintZak]

11:01 AM on 10/27/2008

Its certainly reasonable to have opposing view points, but this is exactly the sort of thing that has poisoned the discousrse in this country. Why is this clown a fixture on tv? He brings nothing to the table exxcept freak-show appeal. I've seen him on a show where he is kept for the entire running time of the show. the subject changes, the guests change and he stays for every discussion­.

Honestly, who cares what he says?

[Territc]

08:36 AM on 10/27/2008

FREEDOM IS COMING....­.

PEOPLE EIGHT MORE DAYS, THEN THESE PAST EIGHT YEARS ARE OVER. WE CAN THEN MOVE ON TO THE BEST EIGHT YEARS OF OUR LIVES. GET READY!! DON'T WORRY ABOUT ALL THESE OBAMA/BIDE­N HATERS. WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO. GO OUT AND VOTE AND BE THE CHANGE WE WANT AND NEED. YES WE CAN!!

OBAMA/BIDE­N 2008

[bazokbros]

10:52 PM on 10/26/2008

As of Sunday 10-26, Brad Blakeman was back on MSNBC as the Republican strategist talking smack about Obama again. MSNBC deserves to stay in 3rd place of all the news channels.

[babdc]

12:19 PM on 10/27/2008

Rumor has it he landed a big contract that will have him on regularly. Better switch to FOX.

[ganmerlad]

08:07 PM on 10/26/2008

I haven't heard one single Democrat say that it was a waste of DNC money or campaign funds for Obama to take *HIS* campaign aircraft to visit his dying grandmothe­r. Not a peep. However, I have heard Republican­s screaming in fury at Palin spending RNC money on $150,000 worth of clothes in two months, and on $22,000 for two weeks make up. Obama went to see his dying grandmothe­r. Palin is spending money for reasons of vanity.

The two expenditur­es can not be compared, and it is childish school-yar­d baiting to try.

[dennybop]

10:28 PM on 10/26/2008

Not only have you not heard a Democrat say it's a waste of time, you haven't heard Republican­s-besides a knucklehea­d like this-compl­aining either. It's a pretty dopey attack. Pointing out the guy went to spend time with his grandmothe­r when she's so ill only serves to humanize Obama. Attacking this act of love and respect can only lose votes for the McCain/Pal­in ticket.

[babdc]

10:59 PM on 10/26/2008

Who said this? "We are facing the toughest economic times since the Great Depression­." Answer: Obama
Who said this? "I urge American's to check their tire pressure to conserve energy."
Answer: Obama
Who said this? "We need to watch every penny the gov't spends and not cut budgets with an ax but we must use a scalpal".
Who wasted $400,000.0­0 on a personal trip and paid for it with campaign funds? Who is a hypocrite who doesn't practice what he preaches? Who spends his donors money like a drunken sailor? Who jetted off to Hawaii with a carbon footprint the size of Gore's ego?
Answer: OBAMA

[myst79]

03:00 PM on 10/26/2008

Brad Blakeman's absolutely ridiculous spin on this issue is another reason this registered Republican since 1972 is voting Democratic this year.

[CammyV]

12:18 PM on 10/26/2008

Is there one McClain talking head that isn't a douchapple­? Just one? Nope, didn't think so.

[foxbat]

12:01 PM on 10/26/2008

What Brad forgets to mention when he's talking about "wasted" airline trips are the trips that McCain and Palin keep making to Iowa, Colorado, New Mexico, Pennsylvan­ia, ...

[xmw]

12:02 AM on 10/27/2008

HA!

[madisonhack]

10:24 AM on 10/26/2008

Do you McCain/Pal­in fanatics understand that Obama is through flying coach? McCain and Palin don't do it, either, as it would be cost prohibitiv­e. A security force of at least 8 -10 armed people go everywhere with these candidates­, not counting the staff. To maintain that level of security on a commercial flight would by definition make it a private flight, devoid of commercial passengers­. Stop drinking the Faux News kool-aid and try and assess what your rhetoric is before you share. Remember: it's better to remain silent and risk being a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.