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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081021/ap_on_re_us/palin_family_travel

In the future, please do not post links without descriptive commentary.

FYI the news story reports that the state of Palin has billed the state of Alaska for her kids travel as state business and her own travel to watch her husband compete in dog sled races.

I don't really care about this.  I imagine it's pretty common.  We all get work to pay for things when we can.

I think the $150k the RNC spent on clothes for Palin is worse.

Neither is anything that really gets my goat.

Her suits are awesome, though. I would be in it just for the clothes.

It is theft, just on a smaller scale. Remember the outrage at AIG? There is little different with this other than the amount of money spent. It doesn't really get my goat either, I am just making a point.

Maybe these guys were on to something?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmKWp4OPoUM

Its getting work to pay for stuff, except work = goverment and pay = tax dollars.

Not the best use of funds when McCain's entire platform is built upon the need to cut useless government spending

Regarding this non-issue stuff: Palin's family travel, Palin's wardrobe

I don't think it matters much to people's votes, but it probably matters because it eats up a few days of the news cycle, that McCain needs to catch up.

See, but I don't think its a non-issue. 

If she spends $150,000 of campaign money on a new wardrobe, what's she gonna do when she has access to public money?  This is an indication.  Is that where you want YOUR tax dollars spent?

Her wardrobes aren't her choice, I don't think.  It's the decision of the GOP.  That money is to get their team elected, and if dressing her like a rock-star helps them achieve that, then it's money well spent.

It does undercut their message of her being a regular mom.  Again, it's also a distraction.  We're talking about clothes instead of policy.

Personally I think Palin should wear tight jeans and see through white tank tops with no bra.

But that is just me.

The RNC purchased her wardrobe and it's being donated to charity after the election.  THis was predecided.

BTW ... I'm in if she wants to wear Maine's suggested wardrobe as well but I'm really nto that Wonder Woman thing she has going on!!

The $150k the RNC spent violates federal election law.   

source?

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hAMwyFr3hBfY3eg8LqvhhY9X2FTw

That source states nothing about it being against any set of rules, let alone the federal election laws. From the article:

"It is ridiculous that the RNC would spend 150,000 dollars to outfit a vice presidential nominee and her family at any time," said the group's executive director Melanie Sloan on its website (www.citizensforethics.org).

"But it is more outrageous given the dire financial straights of so many Americans and the state of our economy."

Looking up the web site of the complainers turned up this:

FECA specifically prohibits a candidate for federal office from converting campaign funds to personal use. FEC regulations make clear that the prohibition applies to clothing purchases, such as those made for the Palin family.

The RNC sole argument at this point is that because they're giving it to charity afterwards, this regulation doesn't apply.

Whether or not that is the case is up to the FEC, initially anyway. Let them deal with it. While it may show somewhat poor judgement on the part of the RNC, I still think it's a non-issue in terms of Palin. I seriously doubt this is something she initiated.

I am not buying the charity angle.  That is total BS.  And I expect the FEC won't buy it either.  If they did it would open a huge loophole that would complete undercut all campaign finance laws.

I expect the RCN to get hit with a fine over this. 

I'm willing to bet that she doesn't dress like that when she's performing her duties as Governor of Alaska. 

http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=a118eeeb-715a-461e-93b5-a9f12df0e4c2