Caribou Barbie: $150,000 + to clothe and accessorize IWRC* Palin

By GottaLaff

Who's the elitist again?

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.

The records also document a couple of big-time shopping trips to Neiman Marcus in Minneapolis, including one $75,062.63 spree in early September.

The RNC also spent $4,716.49 on hair and makeup through September after reporting no such costs in August. [...]

Spokeswoman Maria Comella declined to answer specific questions about the expenditures, including whether it was necessary to spend that much and whether it amounted to one early investment in Palin or if shopping for the vice presidential nominee was ongoing.

“The campaign does not comment on strategic decisions regarding how financial resources available to the campaign are spent,’ she said.

The business of primping and dressing on the campaign trail has become fraught with political risk in recent years as voters increasingly see an elite Washington out of touch with their values and lifestyles. [...] But all the spending by other candidates pales in comparison to the GOP outlay for the Alaska governor whose expensive, designer outfits have been the topic of fashion pages and magazines.

Let's not forget the young 'un!

The entries also show a few purchases at Pacifier, a top notch baby store, and Steiniauf & Stroller Inc., suggesting $295 dollars was spent to accommodate the littlest Palen to join the campaign trail.

What would Joe the Plumber say?

And while we're on the subject of IWRC*'s wardrobe, I wonder what she'll wear to her latest deposition:

The investigator conducting a second inquiry into whether Gov. Sarah Palin abused the powers of her office by firing the state’s public safety commissioner is scheduled to take depositions from her and her husband, Todd, on Friday, the McCain-Palin campaign said this afternoon.

She really ought to stick to sterling silver accessories. They go much better with handcuffs.

*"In What Respect, Charlie?"