Palin Defends RNC Clothing, Discusses Accessories (VIDEO)

Sarah Palin addresses the $150,000 in clothing purchased for her by the Republican National Committee at a rally. She compares the outfits to the lighting at an event, saying it doesn't belong to her and that she will go back to shopping at her "favorite consignment store" once the race is over. She went on to highlight some of her inexpensive accessories. Watch:

John McCain also defended the purchases on "Meet The Press" Sunday morning. He said that a third of the clothing has been returned, and that the rest will be donated to charity.

However, Palin's remarks were apparently not approved by the campaign. The incident is another example of tensions in the ticket that were reported over the weekend, as the vice presidential candidate is starting to go "rogue."

Some aides to Sen. John McCain say they weren't happy that running mate Sarah Palin went off script Sunday and turned attention back to the controversy over her wardrobe.

...

A senior McCain adviser told CNN that those comments "were not the remarks we sent to her plane." Palin did not discuss the wardrobe story at her rally in Kissimmee, Florida, later in the day.

A Palin aide, however, told CNN that the governor clearly felt like she had to say something to defend herself, because "that's really not who she is."

Over the weekend, sources told CNN that long-brewing tensions between Palin and key aides to McCain were on the rise.

Several McCain advisers suggested that they have become increasingly frustrated with what one aide described as Palin "going rogue."

Comments

[RJSquirrel]

This woman is unqualified.
This woman is unqualified.
This woman is unqualified.
This woman is unqualified.
This woman is unqualified.
This woman is unqualified.
This woman is unqualified.
This woman is unqualified.
This woman is unqualified.
This woman is unqualified.

I don't care what she wears, she has no business being in public office.

[forthepeople1]

Well stated, she is unqualified, ill-educated. Please be gone!
Well stated, she is unqualified, ill-educated. Please be gone!
Well stated, she is unqualified, ill-educated. Please be gone!
Well stated, she is unqualified, ill-educated. Please be gone!
Well stated, she is unqualified, ill-educated. Please be gone!

You are right, she has no business being near public office, especially the WHITE HOUSE!
Superman, as fast as he is, could not pack her back to Alaska FAST ENOUGH!!!!!

[NotMcCain]

I wish someone would ask if the RNC is also going to take back Piper's expensive clothes--and her Louis Vuitton bag.

You know they would, if it would get them any votes.

It's one thing for Palin to get new clothes for the campaign, but another thing to change the wardrobe of her whole family.

What happened? Did Cindy think the Palins were a fashion embarrassment? It's hard to believe that anyone from the RNC really noticed or cared. Palin looked pretty much like any other woman in politics before--certainly no worse than Hillary, McCaskill, Hutchinson, Collins, etc.

My guess is Cindy thought they looked embarrassingly unfashionable and got John to make the request from the RNC.

Shallow.

[bakingmom]

Puh-lease. I think it is kind to think that cindy decided Pale-in needed a fashion makeover but I am quite tired of people not holding Pale-in accountable for her habit of greed and excess.

Her clothes are just a symbol of her hypocricy and double-speak: either she is indeed a maverick who was manipulated or she is a manipulator who is willing to use RNC funds (and Wasilla tax-dollars and Alaska tax-dollars) as she sees fit.

Basically, I believe Pale-in is the worst possible kind of narcissist and everytime excuses are made for her, the less likely she is to be accountable for her own behavior.

[GrammieJ]

Of Course the GOP should be upset with Palin. The more she and her cronnies talk about the spending spree for her, the more guilty she makes her actions become to me.

I love it, keep on talking about your wardrobe, Palin, and oh, don't forget the make-up and accessories.

You must share with us your choice of Maybelline eyeliner that cost 22,000.

Oh yes, and just as a reminder, your $150,000 that was spent in 2 weeks represents about FIVE years of my teaching salary!! That is SAD of you to be so reckless with money that was not even yours!

[neurologymatters]

Did the RNC expect a Stepford Wife?

[BassMent]

This rally was some kind of shark-jumping moment in the Bible Spice campaign. First, the Hasselbeck introduction was just weird. But then B.S. came out and seemed to make it pretty clear that she was MUCH more interested in Elizabeth's opinion, direction and spin than she was in McCain's. She spent a truly remarkable amount of her free media time talking about clothes, shopping, Elizabeth H and accessories. The whole thing struck me as a complete disconnect­... except, apparently, with the true Palin worshippers, who were eating it up.

You gotta wonder what's going on in this country when a woman who is costing $44k a month to package for the public (clothes+makeup artist+hair stylist) can get a roaring, standing ovation for announcing to a crowd that she's wearing a jacket that she bought herself.

[Cil]

Hi folks, does anyone know when the position for governor comes up
for re-election in Alaska?

IT WOULD BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE WHETHER SARAH PALIN
GETS THE NOD FROM ALASKANS!

[lunchlady]

My mind translated her words into this: "How dare anyone try to mess with my makeover! I'm a star now, everyone get out of my way." This lady isn't going to go down without screeching and scratching, just watch. And she's making a new list of "People to Get When I Get More Power", new names every day.

[mamala4]

Run, run as fast as you can Sarah.....­run back to Alaska...

[indypete]

Silly Sally's a gift to the dems.... every time she opens her mouth she drives more independents to vote democrat, much like the effect I assume rush limpbaugh has.

[Anya7]

Yeah she goes back to her consignment clothes because she will be back in Alaska after this election. Byeeeee!

[suhud]

Everything about this campaign is so staged--rogue, or not. Those high-end $285 jeans that Palin bought and wore in Philly...a­s if she needed more clothes? The same day, McGrinch and Cindylou "dressed down" in jeans in Florida, too. (Cute coincidence?) But then again, they were "slumming" in West Palm...

[pellagirl]

I do feel that the RNC shot themselves in the foot on this one by spending way too much money on Palin's campaign wardrobe. They could have conceivably purchased many of the same garments at a much smaller amount. But having said that, I don't see the point in Palin giving the clothes back. Even though I won't be supporting the McCain/Palin ticket, I think she probably should be able to keep those clothes and I think it's kinda tacky to give someone a gift, money, allowance, clothes, etc, and then ask for it back.

[conservativelady]

Do you really believe that the clothes were bought with the intention to donate them to charity after the election? It sounds like that was the excuse they gave after they got caught. And the way Palin goes on about it, maybe she is upset and wants to keep the clothes. It was probably never her intention to give the clothes away, maybe that is what is driving her to go on and on about it.

[johnnyjust]

She's right, it's such a non-issue that to have to spell it out to the purposely ignorant (read: liberal...­and I mean, "Read, liberal.") is too silly to have to deal with. But you won't get enlightenment from the Obama pillow fluffers in the media.

[anthead]

S T F U

[JiminNC]

Try to keep up Johnny ... Palin brought the issue back ... against her marching orders. Meanwhile, O was talking economy the whole time.

[indypete]

"....Obama pillow fluffers..­.."

Did ya get that from rush or sean?

[Deluded]

Question - is a pillow fluffer the same thing as a pillow muncher?

[Cil]

Just goes to show HOW IN TOUCH YOU ARE,
and how much YOU KNOW ABOUT THE ISSUES!

[Nancy84]

I sincerely hope that the republican civil war that's about to errupt will keep them busy so Obama can have some breathing room to implement some of his ideas. Amazing what Clinton was able to do with the constant attacks he was under.

[sunnyokanagan]

Once this is over... yup,yup. Palin is back to Alaska.

14:59 and counting..­.

[Juneau]

Alaska doesn't WANT Palin back . . .