# Is it OK to cheat on your expense account (and I mean big time). Her initials are SP. **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 21, 2008, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949 "2008-10-21T21:35:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/21 "2008-10-22T00:00:41Z")
I agree that the public should not pick up the tab to fly the governor’s children around. And if that governor tries to claim that the children performed some service to the state while on the trip, that is political weaseling of the first order. However… How many times did we see Hillary and Chelsea Clinton tagging along to some summit and sightseeing while Bill was in meetings? I saw a news clip this week (can’t remember where) of George and Laura Bush climbing the stairs of Air Force One, and she stepped into the plane while he turned and waved. How many round-trips to Crawford did she take in eight years, and who’s ponying up the bucks for that? I like the idea of reimbursing the government for costs. But when the travel arrangements call for a private 747, and a spare on standby, one person’s share of the cost must run to some serious coin. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/22 "2008-10-22T00:01:07Z")
> [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > All snarkiness aside, how many of you take your kids on business trips? I see what you are trying to say, but wouldn’t the big boss be allowed to take his kids on company business? Seriously, though, when is this nonsense about Palin going to stop? They have turned over every stone in her life, and all they come up with is this little ticky-tack shit. It’s almost like the press is saying, “Okay, guys, this is all we’ve got right now, but we’re still working on it.” Breaking News: In 1979, Sarah Palin forgot her aunt’s birthday, and the card arrived a day late. Stay tuned for further updates as they become available.. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/23 "2008-10-22T00:04:43Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > I see what you are trying to say, but wouldn’t the big boss be allowed to take his kids on company business? > > Seriously, though, when is this nonsense about Palin going to stop? They have turned over every stone in her life, and all they come up with is this little ticky-tack shit. It’s almost like the press is saying, “Okay, guys, this is all we’ve got right now, but we’re still working on it.” > > Breaking News: In 1979, Sarah Palin forgot her aunt’s birthday, and the card arrived a day late. Stay tuned for further updates as they become available.. lol Are you also crying out for the Republicans to stop with the ticky-tack shit, like trying to make more of Obama’s association with Ayers? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/24 "2008-10-22T00:12:56Z")
> [@5-4-Fighting](#): > > What does this have to do with stealing from and lying to your employer? If she’s stealing, then where are the troopers? You might take issue with the “state business” qualification which I don’t but when this latest uproar dies down, Palin won’t be charged with anything. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/25 "2008-10-22T00:13:06Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > I see what you are trying to say, but wouldn’t the big boss be allowed to take his kids on company business? The owner of the company? Sure. But Palin’s not the big boss in Alaska - the people are. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/26 "2008-10-22T00:13:44Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > Seriously, though, when is this nonsense about Palin going to stop? They have turned over every stone in her life, and all they come up with is this little ticky-tack shit. “Ticky-tack shit”? It’s pretty convenient how you manage to forget that an official investigation by the (Republican-dominated) Legislative Council concluded that Palin abused power and broke the law. It’s not unreasonable or petty to inquire what else Palin’s been doing as governor that indicates a disdain for ethics and a willingness to exploit the privileges of her official position for her personal convenience. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/27 "2008-10-22T00:19:05Z")
> [@The Flying Dutchman](#): > > You might take issue with the “state business” qualification which I don’t but when this latest uproar dies down, Palin won’t be charged with anything. Bill and Hillary Clinton were never charged with anything in the Whitewater scandal. Does that mean that you think Whitewater (or at least the alleged Clinton connections to Whitewater) was all just a big fuss over nothing and people shouldn’t have made an “uproar” about it? ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/28 "2008-10-22T00:22:29Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > If she’s stealing, then where are the troopers? You might take issue with the “state business” qualification which I don’t but when this latest uproar dies down, Palin won’t be charged with anything. It’s stealing to take resources that are not yours and use them in a way that you are not authorized to use them. There is also the matter of filing expense reports worded to hide that fact. If there are no troopers pursuing her, perhaps those are ones she had fired. All aside snarkiness aside, just because a political ally may not decide to charge her with anything does not mean she did not do anything wrong, ethics- or propriety-wise. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/29 "2008-10-22T00:23:13Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Bill and Hillary Clinton were never charged with anything in the Whitewater scandal. Does that mean that you think Whitewater (or at least the alleged Clinton connections to Whitewater) was all just a big fuss over nothing and people shouldn’t have made an “uproar” about it? Absolutely ! That business was a deliberate smear by the right. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/30 "2008-10-22T00:41:11Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > Come on. A mother travels on state business and she’s expected to leave the kids at home ? Fine-but since when is the state expected to pick up the tab? Especially when she’s already on about taxpayer funded healthcare and what not? I started a [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=488952) about this in the Pit. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/31 "2008-10-22T00:47:05Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Fine-but since when is the state expected to pick up the tab? Well its OK for the president to take his wife and child with him on Air Force 1 without forking over cash to cover it himself. I saw Prsident H. Ford do it. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/32 "2008-10-22T00:53:52Z")
The only really interesting way to look at this would be to ask if other Governor’s take their kids on similar trips. Maybe they drive in most states. Should we punish the Governor of Alaska for living in a far flung depopulated state with poor infrastructure? The President certainly takes his family on business trips. Whenever you saw pictures of Jackie O, being entertained by foreign dignitaries in other countries did you ask yourself whether or not the Kennedy’s footed the Bill? There has to a point where things are rational. We expect executives to give over their whole lives and then expect them not to take their kids? You might not take your kids on business trips on the company dime, but does the CEO? And if he does, should he not? Should he just work 80 hours a week, never be home and be expected not to bring his kids along with him ever? ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/33 "2008-10-22T00:55:44Z")
Politics been berry berry good to Sarah: > [@](#): > > [RNC appears to shell out $150K for Palin fashion](http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20081022/pl_politico/14805;_ylt=AhvW1sR7YJsLfm7Wx5NHNbyyFz4D) > > The Republican National Committee appears to have spent more than $150,000 to clothe and accessorize vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and her family since her surprise pick by John McCain in late August. > > According to financial disclosure records, the accessorizing began in early September and included bills from Saks Fifth Avenue in St. Louis and New York for a combined $49,425.74… ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/34 "2008-10-22T00:57:22Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > Well its OK for the president to take his wife and child with him on Air Force 1 without forking over cash to cover it himself. I saw Prsident H. Ford do it. We went and elected Harold Ford president? Omigawd! There’s a black man in the White House!! OK, then why didn’t Governor Palin just write, “Took kids w/me–personal family, of course. Charge to taxpayers. Routine. See Presidents Washington, Adams, etc. through Ford and Reagan and Clinton. Everyone does it, always have always will.”? Why make up official functions (that they didn’t perform) if they’re already covered by dint of being personal family members? ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/35 "2008-10-22T01:01:25Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > Come on. A mother travels on state business and she’s expected to leave the kids at home ? Instead of mother, did you mean parent? As in a father should also take his kids with him when he travels on state business? [soapbox]see a lot of unwarranted criticism going towards Ms. Palin for taking a job while having young children - a criticism that I believe would never be voiced if she were a man. In the same way, I don’t see why it would be expected for a mother to drag the kids along when it would not be expected of the father.[end soapbox] ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/36 "2008-10-22T01:03:47Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > Well its OK for the president to take his wife and child with him on Air Force 1 without forking over cash to cover it himself. I saw Prsident H. Ford do it. I don’t think Henry Ford ever even ran for president, much less served, and treated his family members to travel on Air Force One. Unless… You’re one of those infiltrators from an alternate timeline where Henry Ford was president, aren’t you? I should have known – you went and changed your username because the _real_ **friedo** \* would have, uhhh, something-something, and you couldn’t see any way of getting around that. It all makes sense, now. \*Unless it was **grienspace**. I keep forgetting. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/37 "2008-10-22T01:18:18Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > There has to a point where things are rational. We expect executives to give over their whole lives and then expect them not to take their kids? > > You might not take your kids on business trips on the company dime, but does the CEO? And if he does, should he not? Should he just work 80 hours a week, never be home and be expected not to bring his kids along with him ever? I’ve seen other people that work 80 hours a week when there is a deadline (like some of the people at my company that are expected to go install software at company sites) and I have never seen a case where they were told that it would be OK to bring the kids along. My CEO might work more twice the amount of hours per week than I do, but his compensation is more than ten times greater than mine. I don’t see why it would be OK for him to get special dispensation for bringing children along when I don’t. Except for the fact, of course, that he is in a position of authority and **he** gets to decide what’s fair, not me. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/38 "2008-10-22T01:23:32Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > I’ve seen other people that work 80 hours a week when there is a deadline (like some of the people at my company that are expected to go install software at company sites) and I have never seen a case where they were told that it would be OK to bring the kids along. My CEO might work more twice the amount of hours per week than I do, but his compensation is more than ten times greater than mine. I don’t see why it would be OK for him to get special dispensation for bringing children along when I don’t. Except for the fact, of course, that he is in a position of authority and **he** gets to decide what’s fair, not me. Yes, well of course this nation has the double-standard where such executives are supposed to display their family nature, Governors and CEOs alike. Then of course we tear them down when they spend a little bit of government funds. Like someone else said, it’s too bad she sold that plane, she could’ve brought her kids with her, like probably every Governor does. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/39 "2008-10-22T01:33:49Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > The lesson is clear, Mrs. Palin: Next time, keep the multi-million dollar corporate jet. Then you can haul your family all over the place and there are no pesky expense reports for the anklebiters to chew over. > > You guys do realize she could have done this, right? And you also realize that in selling the jet she cut her office’s travel expenses by 80%? Not really. When I worked for a big corporation and we had a multimillion dollar jet, we still charged the flights back to the department that was doing the travel. Maybe your Canadian accounting rules are different. She could fire a whole division of her government and claim to save “millions”. That wouldn’t mean she can then raid the treasury. ---
**Author:** ![LilShieste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@LilShieste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilShieste)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/40 "2008-10-22T01:38:55Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Saving money on Monday is not an excuse for stealing from your employer on Wednesday. This bears repeating. If I leave a penny in the “Take a penny/Leave a penny” tray at the gas station every day for 5 years, it doesn’t entitle me to walk off one day with a pack of cigarettes without paying for it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949.md?page=3)