In response to Wardrobe-gate, Sarah Palin has wailed, "Oh, if people only knew how frugal we are." The truth is, she IS frugal. The evidence is quite clear that she spends as little of her own resources as possible by spending taxpayers' money instead:
o Palin covers a hefty chunk of her domestic expenses by charging Alaska taxpayers $17,000 in the form of per diems for the 312 nights she spent in her own home.
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o Palin family vacations are paid for by Alaska taxpayers. Consider, for example, a five HOUR meeting for which Alaska taxpayers were charged the costs of a five DAY luxury getaway for Palin and her daughter.
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o Alaska taxpayers have also been on the hook for footing the bill for the Palin family's transportation, to the tune of $55,000 for two dozen family flights on a state plane, for starters.
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o Palin's clothing, hair, and makeup are paid for by the Republican National Committee (i.e. by taxpayers who donated to the G.O.P.)
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o When it came time to sell the Palins' previous abode, issues were raised about its zoning violations. But rather than pay for any alterations to bring the property up to code, thrifty Palin had the town forgive her zoning violations. Why spend money when you've got the power to avoid it?
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o As of yet unanswered questions have also been raised about the Palin's new home -- who paid for it? What connections are there between the sudden appearance of her brand new lakeside mansion and the lucrative contract to a construction company for a new sports complex in Wasilla? (You know, the contract that plunged previously debt-free Wasilla in the hole by $20 million.) At first blush, it seems Palin is following the example set by Ted Stevens.
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o Palin spent $50,000 of Wasilla taxpayers' funds to redecorate the mayor's office -- without the city council's authorization.
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o Palin spent $51,000 of Alaska taxplayers' resources to decorate the Governor's mansion...the residence in which she doesn't reside for 312 nights a year.
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o When Palin wanted a spray-on tan for the campaign trail, she got one...for which the RNC paid $900 plus expenses.
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o If that's not frugal enough, consider this caper: According to her tax returns, Palin hasn't reported or paid taxes on the perks she has received, so she's saving herself lots of money there, too.
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By her example, Palin is modeling her morality:
1. Steal. Scam taxpayers for as much money as possible.
2. Lie. Do everything you can to conceal and deny your misdeeds.
3. Cheat. Evade your true tax responsibility.
An interesting choice by someone professing to be a church-going Christian.
In one respect, however, Palin is being truthful: She IS very, very frugal.