The group claims the excessive spending is a violation of campaign finance law which specifically prohibits candidates from using campaign funds for personal use.
"It is ridiculous that RNC would spend $150,000 to outfit a vice presidential nominee and her family at any time, but it is more outrageous given the dire financial straights of so many Americans and the state of our economy," CREW director Melanie Sloan said in a statement. "If the RNC had an extra $150,000 to throw around, there were better alternatives than pricey designer clothes."
The RNC now claims all the clothing bought for Palin and her brood will be donated after the campaign. Yeah, right. From the CREW Press Release:
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 implicitly admitted that the clothing was purchased with campaign funds by stating that it will be donated to charity after the campaign. The RNC also relies on this prospective contribution to explain why the personal use prohibition is not applicable as FEC regulations provide that donations by candidates to charitable organizations are not for personal use. It does not appear, however, that this exception would apply to the clothing worn by Palin’s family, even it does apply to her own.
It wouldn't break my heart to see Mrs. Joe Sixpack busted for this infraction..not one teensy bit. ;) Meanwhile, while many presume the complainer to be Karl Rove, an operative within the Republican Party had this to say on the subject of $150K in clothes for Caribou Barbie:
“One of the most senior Republican strategists in the land warns the McCain campaign after reading the WashTimes interview: “Lashing out at past Republican congresses instead of Pelosi and Reid, and echoing your opponent's attacks on you instead of attacking your opponent, and spending 150,000 hard dollars on designer clothes when congressional Republicans are struggling for money, and when your senior campaign staff are blaming each other for the loss in The New York Times [Magazine] 10 days before the election, you’re not doing much to energize your supporters.
Awww..you mean other Rethugs might not get elected because Caribou Barbie needed new duds? Awesome! ;)
