# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/41 "2008-10-22T01:53:37Z")
Mom, who’s traveled a lot of the world with her kids, checking in. I always paid for the kiddies airfare. When the room was kids stay free I did not prorate the fee, hey the hotel said they stayed free. When there was an extra charge for kids I paid it. All kid food was on my account. Why is this so hard to understand? ETA: When I say on my account, I mean I paid it personally. It was not on the business account. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/42 "2008-10-22T01:55:57Z")
My personal acid test for these things is would I care if… say… Bill Clinton did it. Not really. ---
**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, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/43 "2008-10-22T01:59:03Z")
Let me understand you: you wouldn’t care if Bill Clinton had listed Chelsea as performing an offiical function that she didn’t actually perform? ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/44 "2008-10-22T02:02:07Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > Let me understand you: you wouldn’t care if Bill Clinton had listed Chelsea as performing an offiical function that she didn’t actually perform? Nope. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/45 "2008-10-22T02:04:32Z")
> [@jtgain](#): > > I see what you are trying to say, but wouldn’t the big boss be allowed to take his kids on company business? Allowed? Sure, anyone’s allowed. Have the company pay for it? If I were a stockholder of that company, I’d be pretty pissed off. ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/46 "2008-10-22T02:12:28Z")
> [@](#): > > 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… To be fair, Caribou Barbie DOES need many accessories. Today’s pre-teen girls just demand it. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/47 "2008-10-22T02:18:44Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > My personal acid test for these things is would I care if… say… Bill Clinton did it. > Not really. If Bill Clinton, while he was governor of Arkansas, billed to the state of Arkansas the cost of airline travel for bringing Chelsea along on his gubernatorial business trips, it wouldn’t bother you? ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/48 "2008-10-22T02:19:16Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > If Bill Clinton, while he was governor of Arkansas, billed to the state of Arkansas the cost of airline travel for bringing Chelsea along on his gubernatorial business trips, it wouldn’t bother you? Do I stutter? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/49 "2008-10-22T02:24:47Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > Politics been berry berry good to Sarah: On the other hand, dressing and accessorizing Palin is a perfectly legitimate expense for the RNC. She’s their candidate for VP; making her look her best is just good politics. ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/50 "2008-10-22T02:27:27Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > 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. Harrison! It was Harrison Ford! And just try getting him OFF Air Force One - sheesh, he hung out the back end clinging to a rope. The man wanted his plane. ---
**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, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/51 "2008-10-22T02:28:05Z")
> [@Arnold\_Winkelried](#): > > 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] Nowhere did I say Palin should take her kids on official functions. Some people have a problem with listing the kids expenses under official function or clarification as such. Its simple. The reason they travelled is because of the official function. That their mother attended. No other reason. The kids are part of the entourage. If the state wants Mom then the kids are part of the package. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/52 "2008-10-22T02:28:16Z")
There is a very easy way for Sarah Palin to take her kids on any business trip she wants- all she has to do is pay their way. It works the same for virtually every business on the planet. If the people want to change things and foot the bill for the first family to tag along to state functions, they are welcome to vote on it. Until that happens, falsifying expense reports is just as bad for Sarah Palin as it would be for any other worker. I know my mom would get fired in a minute if she tried to take me on business trips and claim it as an expense. FWIW, the president and the president’s family is subject to pretty tight financial regulations regarding non-official entertaining, personal travel, personal staff, etc. Being president can end up being quite costly. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/53 "2008-10-22T02:31:33Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > Do I stutter? I wasn’t sure if you were referring to while he was governor or president. Thank you for clearing up the fact that you are OK with politicians charging the taxpayer for their family’s travel expenses while on official business. ---
**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, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/54 "2008-10-22T02:33:00Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > 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. Think Harrison. > [@](#): > > 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. You are not making any sense to me. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/55 "2008-10-22T02:37:57Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > The kids are part of the entourage. If the state wants Mom then the kids are part of the package. Cool! I’m going to let my mom know I can go with her next time she travels as part of her job with the State of California! ---
**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, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/56 "2008-10-22T02:42:10Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > Cool! I’m going to let my mom know I can go with her next time she travels as part of her job with the State of California! The reason she hasn’t taken you before is because she doesn’t want you with her. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/57 "2008-10-22T02:45:26Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I wasn’t sure if you were referring to while he was governor or president. Thank you for clearing up the fact that you are OK with politicians charging the taxpayer for their family’s travel expenses while on official business. What the hell is it with some of the lefties on this board? I meant **exactly** what I said. Don’t make up other shit and pretend that’s what I said. Don’t put words in my mouth or attribute positions to me that I did not explicitly state. Use the quote button to address your integrity issues. It’s real simple. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/58 "2008-10-22T02:48:51Z")
Ok, so Bristol stayed for 5 days and 4 nights at a luxury hotel ($700/night at the Essex House, conveniently located at Central Park) on the taxpayer’s dime. So what. Palin says that her kids were invited to attend or participate in official events: > [@AP story](#): > > But some organizers of these events said they were surprised when the Palin children showed up uninvited, or said they agreed to a request by the governor to allow the children to attend. > > Several other organizers said the children merely accompanied their mother and did not participate. Well, maybe Governor Palin isn’t being truthful. There’s also the matter of her adjusting her official travel records, after they were requested by Alaska reporters. “First Family attending” and “First Family invited” were the dubious clarifications. Then there’s the Ritz-Carlton Hotel of Philadelphia (only $215.46/night) enjoyed by Bristol and Piper for 5 nights. Sounds enjoyable. The official purpose? > [@AP article](#): > > Expense forms describe the girls’ official purpose as “NGA Governor’s Youth Programs and family activities.” But those programs were activities designed to keep children busy, a service provided by the NGA to accommodate governors and their families, NGA spokeswoman Jodi Omear said. [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081021/ap\_on\_el\_pr/palin\_family\_travel](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081021/ap_on_el_pr/palin_family_travel) I agree though that this isn’t the worst that I’ve heard about Palin. Such skimming seems par for the course. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/59 "2008-10-22T02:50:30Z")
> [@Scylla](#): > > What the hell is it with some of the lefties on this board? > > I meant **exactly** what I said. Don’t make up other shit and pretend that’s what I said. Don’t put words in my mouth or attribute positions to me that I did not explicitly state. Use the quote button to address your integrity issues. > > It’s real simple. It doesn’t bother (your word) you, but it’s not OK (my word) with you? This thread is about a politician charging the taxpayer for family travel. It doesn’t bother you if Clinton does it. I get that. Therefore it doesn’t bother you if Palin does it. I get that too. Therefore it is OK with you if a politician charges the taxpayer for family travel. What am I not getting? ---
**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, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-ok-to-cheat-on-your-expense-account-and-i-mean-big-time-her-initials-are-sp/468949/60 "2008-10-22T02:51:54Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > On the other hand, dressing and accessorizing Palin is a perfectly legitimate expense for the RNC. She’s their candidate for VP; making her look her best is just good politics. Trying to pass her off as a “hockey mom” and then having her Imelda-Marcos-esque accessory budget come out is… not so good politics. [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=2) [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=4)