Candidates Can't Spend Campaign Money On Clothes: FEC

WASHINGTON — Candidates can't use campaign money to improve their wardrobes, the Federal Election Commission said Thursday in a ruling that nonetheless dismissed a complaint against four congressional candidates who did just that.

The FEC said candidates cannot use campaign money for expenses they would have had whether they were running for office or not, such as clothes. The commission said it decided against punishing the four because the amounts spent were modest and the candidates reimbursed their campaigns.

The four included two Democratic House members – Reps. Loretta Sanchez of California and Rob Andrews of New Jersey – and two former House candidates, Republicans Bill Dew of Utah and William Breazeale of North Carolina.

The ruling was released by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which filed the complaint against the four congressional candidates and former Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr. The FEC found that in Barr's case, a $500 expenditure for a staffer was mistakenly called a clothing allowance rather than compensation.

Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin made news last year after the Republican National Committee spent more than $150,000 on designer clothing and accessories for her and her family. The RNC and Palin have said many of the items were returned to stores and the rest would be given to charity.

The commission earlier this year dismissed a CREW complaint over the Palin purchases, saying the ban on use of donations to buy clothing doesn't apply to party money. The commission has asked Congress to add political party funds to the ban.

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On the Net:

FEC: http://www.fec.gov/

CREW: http://www.citizensforethics.org/

Comments

[sjones66]

"NEWSWEEK has also learned that Palin's shopping spree at high-end department stores was more extensive than previously reported. While publicly supporting Palin, McCain's top advisers privately fumed at what they regarded as her outrageous profligacy. One senior aide said that Nicolle Wallace had told Palin to buy three suits for the convention and hire a stylist. But instead, the vice presidential nominee began buying for herself and her family—clothes and accessories from top stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus. According to two knowledgeable sources, a vast majority of the clothes were bought by a wealthy donor, who was shocked when he got the bill. Palin also used low-level staffers to buy some of the clothes on their credit cards. The McCain campaign found out last week when the aides sought reimbursement. One aide estimated that she spent "tens of thousands" more than the reported $150,000, and that $20,000 to $40,000 went to buy clothes for her husband. Some articles of clothing have apparently been lost. An angry aide characterized the shopping spree as "Wasilla hillbillies looting Neiman Marcus from coast to coast," and said the truth will eventually come out when the Republican Party audits its books."

http://www.newsweek.com/id/167581

[mitsie]

How do you distinguish what is a campaign donation if people gave $1000 to the RNC rather then to McCain, wasn't that still campaign money?

[Owlygirl]

Nice to see this coming out now after the fact. Should have been obvious to anyone with an ounce of common sense, yea? The fact is zilch has been done to rectify the McCain campaign's abuse of funds, unless I've missed something....Which I doubt. But if the people who donated don't give a crap about what happens to their money then why should I? Seems like they're perfectly okay with the idea of dressing their heroine and savior in Saks finest. Whateves.

[BLUEBIRD1234]

"Former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin made news last year after the Republican National Committee spent more than $150,000 on designer clothing and accessories for her and her family."

Well, what is wrong done by her, Senator MacCane pick up her to prove that there is no financial and economical problem in USA, and she did her job. Moreover she is the queen title holder; she needed to keep up with the rank and status of a queen. So what she has spent the amount, it was the responsibility of Senator MacCane to tell her what she could do and what she should not. The Republicans could hardly care if the Country was under the pangs of financial and economical oppression or not.

Sarah Palin poor thing don't worry just sit tight on whatever you did with money. If get an oppurtunity what you will do to the finance of the nation, the public has noted with panic. Doesn't matter after all you are a queen and Senator MacCan Pick for the Republican presidential candidate's running mate, is it a matter of joke, Let the PUBLIC suffer, why should you care.

[NevaforLeadership]

Palin says that many of the items were returned to the stores.

What for?

To sell to someone else as new, after Sarah Palin's underarm perspiration has soaked into the jackets?

[LemonMeringue]

Stuff she didn't like, or that didn't fit.

[Bafun]

"Palin says"???? she is always lying....

[Owlygirl]

Always.

[UtahLady]

And don't forget Todd's silk boxer shorts . . .

[Owlygirl]

Who can?

[thrugreeneyez]

And the poor sales people probably lost their hefty commissions when she returned the clothes. Real classy, Sarah!

[t iessa]

Of course, this article isn't even about Palin but I know you all are obsessed with her.

[dsmyre]

And we know you are obsessed with us also, too.

[Owlygirl]

Of course it's about her doo-doo brain.

[ChinaC]

If John Edwards can spend campaign contributions on his mistress the RNC can fork over some cash for Palin's wardrobe, but $150,000 is over the top. Women on this blog can spend less and get more for their money. It was reported that the male candidates, Obama included wore suits costing as much as $3,000, but if they can afford it so be it.

[julia23]

Big difference in that men wear the same suit over and over again.

[KillgoreTrout43]

How do you know Edwards spent campaign money on his mistress?

[hooklefty2]

I don't think she does know anything of the kind.
Just more snarky right wing comment with no
substance-yawn

[Texas4Obama]

The Obamas pay for their own clothes with their OWN MONEY.

[PoliticalAmazon]

What kind of suit a candidate wears is, IMO immaterial UNLESS they charged it to the campaign, or got it gratis and it broke regulations or laws.

The thing about most $3000 men's suits is that, if one buys a classi suit and not the latest fad, it will probably be able to be worn for years and hold up well.

I am still wearing (women's) business suits I bought over 20 years ago.

[sjones66]

Obama paid for his own clothes.

Geeze, are Republicans willfully this obtuse or is it a complete lack of a moral compass that causes the inability to see the issue?

[ReealOne]

Perhaps, the RNC can allow Sarah to wear them f/u/n/c/k/y frocks 'n things that they "claim" her and her grifter family returned in a couple of 60 gallon hefty bags last year, (a.k.a h.i.l.l.b.i.l.l.y luggage) and has been stored somewhere in the vicinity of the RNC office every since. Strange though, because Sarah was seen stumpin' in that same expensive designer wardrobe, that her and her family looted from the RNC donors - well after she said that she had returned everything.

No problem though, I'm sure Sarah "the crafty one" Palin will figure out a way to syphon funds from her "legal defense fund in Alaska" or her SarahPAC to load up on expensive frocks 'n things for her upcoming POTUS run. Since she is going bald from all the stress, I guess now she'll be adding expensive designer hair extensions and wigs 'n things to the loot list.

I can't wait until Sarah syphons the funds out of all of her supporters pockets like an industrial strength swimming pool vacuum, because baby girl knows how to break the banks. LMAO!!

[sjones66]

good point, as her "legal fund" states in its language that the money can be used for "any purpose" ad no "reason" need be given for the withdrawal of the funds. also, since they capped donations at 150 a time, no reporting of the "gifts" need be made, hence she doesn't have to pay taxes on it. Oh, to have 500,000 tax free money to spend on hair and wardrobe!!!! Of course, this fund was found to violate the ethics code...they told her to give the money back and avoid a censure.

But she's still got her hand out. so we'll see what the Queen Grifter is wearing today at her Farewell Picnic.

[jozzie]

I thought that was already a law and that they got around it for Palin by having a rich Republican foot the bill.

What's new here?

[Christopher in NYC]

NOTE: Future US leaders will be wearing the best the Walmart has to offer...

[rebelc]

I think the people running for office with "money", should be assessed a tax that would then be given to people running for office that were not so fortunate. Just think how much Pelosi would have to give. Sounds fair, right?

[SharpDressedMan]

Nancy Pelosi wouldn't have as much to give as Steve Forbes, Mitt Romney or John McCain. You know John McCain, so rich he couldn't remember how many houses he owns.

Still want that rich man tax?

[KillgoreTrout43]

No, it sounds stupid.

[rebelc]

Who really cares about Palin's clothes? Do we not have bigger things to worry about..like jobs..the economy...the fact that China owns us?

[fmd]

We care because this shows what kind of person Palin is and because she is still a possible future presidential candidate. This is not a person I'd want to handle the "bigger things."

[Tom Joad]

...make them all campaign nekkid...ooohh, yeeaahhh.....

[huffingt]

I am sure the clothes were lying some where in Alaska
as no one charity reported receivng them

[tcastillo]

''lying'' The operative word.

[DinSea]

Waiting for a recent photo of some recognizable person in said clothing.

[ywcachieve]

Not only were the campaign contributors paying for Sarah's expensive Neiman Marcus and Saks clothing, but they were paying for her husbands wardrobe, (including silk boxers), they were paying for her children's clothes, her daughters baby daddy's clothes, and they were paying for the travel and hotel expenses for this whole hillbilly brood.

[DingoDave]

- If every politician was compelled to campaign in their underwear, then it would certainly help to level the playing field.

Except for Mit Romney, who possesses magical underwear.
On second thoughts...?