# So when is Palin giving back all the clothes? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 6, 2008, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-is-palin-giving-back-all-the-clothes/471457 "2008-11-06T15:45:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dripping](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d2c977/32.png) [@Dripping](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dripping)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-is-palin-giving-back-all-the-clothes/471457/1 "2008-11-06T15:45:08Z")
OK, so when the Palin clothing flap hit, McCain said this: [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705257653,00.html](http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705257653,00.html) "McCain was asked several times Thursday about the shopping spree — and he answered more or less the same way: Palin needed clothes and they’ll be donated to charity. \*“She needed clothes at the time. … They’ll be donated to charity,” McCain told reporters on his campaign bus between Florida rallies. Asked for details on how they’ll be donated, McCain said, “It works by her getting some clothes when she was made the nominee of the party and it will be donated back to charity.” Asked if he was surprised at the amount spent, McCain said, "It works that the clothes will be donated to charity. "\* So, when will it “work by” her returning them all. When and where will this happen? Also what is the justification for buying a $6,000 dress with other people’s money, then just giving it away? ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-is-palin-giving-back-all-the-clothes/471457/2 "2008-11-06T16:09:39Z")
> [@Dripping](#): > > Also what is the justification for buying a $6,000 dress with other people’s money, then just giving it away? Those other people were her supporters. It’s not like there’s a tax-payers upheval in the works. It was RNC money – she made a good point (not about the amount, but about the concept) that the RNC paid for staging, lights, signs, media, etc … just like they paid for her clothes. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-is-palin-giving-back-all-the-clothes/471457/3 "2008-11-06T16:09:45Z")
I think Governor Palin is an annoying, arrogant nitwit, and I am inifintely happy she is slinking back to Hyperborea. That said, this OP strikes me as gloating and tacky. Really, who cares? ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-is-palin-giving-back-all-the-clothes/471457/4 "2008-11-06T16:13:16Z")
Your side won. Time to end the game and go home… ---
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-is-palin-giving-back-all-the-clothes/471457/5 "2008-11-06T16:21:12Z")
Yeah, I agree that it’s a non-issue. However, I didn’t take McCain’s statement to mean that they would literally give a bunch of designer skirt suits to the Salvation Army. I imagine the items would be auctioned off. ---
**Author:** ![Dripping](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d2c977/32.png) [@Dripping](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dripping)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-is-palin-giving-back-all-the-clothes/471457/6 "2008-11-06T16:25:08Z")
> [@shy\_guy](#): > > However, I didn’t take McCain’s statement to mean that they would literally give a bunch of designer skirt suits to the Salvation Army. I imagine the items would be auctioned off. Ok, any word on when and where? Also, who will be pocketing the proceeds from the auction? ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-is-palin-giving-back-all-the-clothes/471457/7 "2008-11-06T16:27:27Z")
> [@Jack Batty](#): > > Those other people were her supporters. It’s not like there’s a tax-payers upheval in the works. It was RNC money – she made a good point (not about the amount, but about the concept) that the RNC paid for staging, lights, signs, media, etc … just like they paid for her clothes. Actually, it’s not entirely clear that the RNC or Republican donors did mean to buy Palin all the clothes she ended up with, at least if you believe [Newsweek](http://www.newsweek.com/id/167581/page/1): > [@](#): > > NEWSWEEK has also learned that Palin’s shopping spree at high-end department stores was more extensive than previously reported. While publicly supporting Palin, McCain’s top advisers privately fumed at what they regarded as her outrageous profligacy. One senior aide said that Nicolle Wallace had told Palin to buy three suits for the convention and hire a stylist. But instead, the vice presidential nominee began buying for herself and her family—clothes and accessories from top stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus. According to two knowledgeable sources, a vast majority of the clothes were bought by a wealthy donor, who was shocked when he got the bill. Palin also used low-level staffers to buy some of the clothes on their credit cards. The McCain campaign found out last week when the aides sought reimbursement. One aide estimated that she spent “tens of thousands” more than the reported $150,000, and that $20,000 to $40,000 went to buy clothes for her husband. Some articles of clothing have apparently been lost. An angry aide characterized the shopping spree as “Wasilla hillbillies looting Neiman Marcus from coast to coast,” and said the truth will eventually come out when the Republican Party audits its books. > > A Palin aide said: “Governor Palin was not directing staffers to put anything on their personal credit cards, and anything that staffers put on their credit cards has been reimbursed, like an expense. Nasty and false accusations following a defeat say more about the person who made them than they do about Governor Palin.” > > McCain himself rarely spoke to Palin during the campaign, and aides kept him in the dark about the details of her spending on clothes because they were sure he would be offended. > [@jtgain](#): > > Your side won. Time to end the game and go home. Hmm, well, while I agree with **Skald** that the tone of the OP is a bit gratuitously gloaty, I see this topic as a legitimate question about accountability. The McCain campaign used the point about donating the clothes to charity as a central part of its response to the so-called “Shoppergate scandal”. It’s not unfair or unreasonable to ask for a little follow-up on that claim, now that the campaign is over and Palin doesn’t need those clothes anymore. And I would think that the people on **your** “side” would be at least as concerned about accountability on this issue as anyone else. This is Republican, i.e., (partly) your, money that was spent on this, after all. If it was misspent or misappropriated, wouldn’t you want to know that? ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-is-palin-giving-back-all-the-clothes/471457/8 "2008-11-06T16:29:24Z")
Think of it perhaps not as gloating but a softball chance for Palin to shine. She auctions them off at a charity event raising literally hundreds of thousands of dollars for special needs children charities. Clothes she wore campaigning? Designer clothes? You don’t think they’d auction for oodles? This really is a chance for her to get some great PR for a possible 2012 run. Not so perhaps if she pockets it for her future campaign coffers … ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-is-palin-giving-back-all-the-clothes/471457/9 "2008-11-06T16:32:29Z")
> [@](#): > > Some articles of clothing have apparently been lost. wat ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-is-palin-giving-back-all-the-clothes/471457/10 "2008-11-06T16:43:57Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > wat I’d check on eBay in a few days. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-is-palin-giving-back-all-the-clothes/471457/11 "2008-11-06T16:47:59Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Really, who cares? Well, I would like to know whether the Republican party keeps its word or not. If not, I’d like to know whether the Obama justice department will enforce McCain Feingold, or not. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-is-palin-giving-back-all-the-clothes/471457/12 "2008-11-06T16:50:38Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Hmm, well, while I agree with **Skald** that the tone of the OP is a bit gratuitously gloaty, I see this topic as a legitimate question about accountability. The McCain campaign used the point about donating the clothes to charity as a central part of its response to the so-called “Shoppergate scandal”. It’s not unfair or unreasonable to ask for a little follow-up on that claim, now that the campaign is over and Palin doesn’t need those clothes anymore. > > And I would think that the people on **your** “side” would be at least as concerned about accountability on this issue as anyone else. This is Republican, i.e., (partly) your, money that was spent on this, after all. If it was misspent or misappropriated, wouldn’t you want to know that? Accountable to whom, may I ask? I see no reason that Governor Palin and Senator McCain should be accountable for their spending of campaign funds to anyone other than the Republican National Committee and their donors. And, again, losing so badly has probably obliterated any further presidential aspirations on the senator’s part. As for the governor, I suspect the people still willing to support her are true believers who will only be dissuaded by her being caught in public engaging in exotic sexual congress with Canadian geese. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-is-palin-giving-back-all-the-clothes/471457/13 "2008-11-06T16:56:16Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Think of it perhaps not as gloating but a softball chance for Palin to shine. Considering how well she did with softball questions in her various interviews, I’m expecting her response to be “… charity?” ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-is-palin-giving-back-all-the-clothes/471457/14 "2008-11-06T17:04:39Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Considering how well she did with softball questions in her various interviews, I’m expecting her response to be “… charity?” You didn’t know her kids full names? Track Salvation Army Palin, Trig Goodwill Palin, Bristol United Way Palin, Willow Boys and Girls Club Palin and Piper Volunteers of America Palin. ---
**Author:** ![Dripping](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d2c977/32.png) [@Dripping](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dripping)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-is-palin-giving-back-all-the-clothes/471457/15 "2008-11-06T17:05:23Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > wat Double wat 😕 😕 😕 And FYI, I’m a Republican, my side lost. This is about accountability. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-is-palin-giving-back-all-the-clothes/471457/16 "2008-11-06T17:18:12Z")
I’ve never thought this “scandal” really amounted to much (and I say this as someone who would not vote for Palin for County Dogcatcher), for the simple reason that I find it hard to believe that Palin actually did her own shopping. From the day of the nomination, they had two months to get her into shape for debates, rallies and the like. It just doesn’t seem logical that they would take the time to fly Palin to New York, hand her a credit card, and let her waste a few valuable hours shopping to her heart’s content. That would eat up pretty much an entire day. Wouldn’t they just give some lackey her sizes and measurements and tell the peon to buy clothes in certain colors and styles, take them to Palin, then return what didn’t work? That being the case, I doubt she saw price tags, and much though we may want to, I just don’t see how she can be held responsible. ---
**Author:** ![geniios](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9d8465/32.png) [@geniios](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/geniios)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-is-palin-giving-back-all-the-clothes/471457/17 "2008-11-06T17:25:39Z")
Hey she’ll give back thise clothes when President elect Obama gives back the votes he bought. ---
**Author:** ![geniios](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9d8465/32.png) [@geniios](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/geniios)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-is-palin-giving-back-all-the-clothes/471457/18 "2008-11-06T17:28:46Z")
No I think a lot of her supporters would be intrigued by this idea of ..geese. > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Accountable to whom, may I ask? I see no reason that Governor Palin and Senator McCain should be accountable for their spending of campaign funds to anyone other than the Republican National Committee and their donors. And, again, losing so badly has probably obliterated any further presidential aspirations on the senator’s part. As for the governor, I suspect the people still willing to support her are true believers who will only be dissuaded by her being caught in public engaging in exotic sexual congress with Canadian geese. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-is-palin-giving-back-all-the-clothes/471457/19 "2008-11-06T17:30:10Z")
This is just silly. Did she ever actually own the clothes in the first place? I don’t think so. They belong to the RNC, and it’s up to them to decide what to do with the clothes. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2008, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-is-palin-giving-back-all-the-clothes/471457/20 "2008-11-06T17:33:49Z")
John Mace, who do you think is in possession of those clothes right now? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-when-is-palin-giving-back-all-the-clothes/471457.md?page=2)