I Doubt Joe the Plumber's Wife Shops So Lavishly

Politico.com has reported that the Republican National Committee has spent more than $150,000 to clothe and accessorize Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and her family since Sen. John McCain chose her as his running mate in late August, including $125,000 spent at Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, as well as $4700 on hair and makeup. So much for the Wasilla Wonder's phony claim to be the "Walmart Mom."

Palin's shopping spree is just another glaring example of the McPalin smoke and mirrors routine, whereby the elite candidates adopt the mantle of the working class, while accusing the populist, working class candidates of being elitist. It's a case of the candidate with nine homes, thirteen cars and a $100-million family net-worth accusing the one-car, one-home-owning candidate with being out of touch with "average Americans." It's the self-proclaimed "Hockey Mom" pulling the fine Italian merino wool over the eyes of every real Walmart Mom who's worried about feeding her kids and paying the rent.

Let me tell you something. I've been a hockey dad for the better part of the last six years, traveling extensively at the crack of dawn to freezing cold smelly rinks all over the East Coast. There's not a lot of clothes from Saks and Neiman in those stands, nor are there a a lot of women who've ever stepped foot in such high-end stores. Many of these folks are living paycheck-to-paycheck.

To be sure, Palin's latest gaffe demonstrates a major disconnect with the candidate's "everywoman" message. She's a walking, grating-accent-talking contradiction, just like McCain and the rest of the GOP lot. It's all about "do as I say, not as I do," and it always will be with this hypocritical bunch.

And by the way, is it even legal to use campaign funds on lavish shopping sprees? Regardless, it certainly isn't ethical.