Special Report:
U.S. presidential election
2008
WASHINGTON, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Republican
presidential candidate John McCain's campaign defended vice presidential
candidate Sarah Palin's fashion expenses that has grabbed public and media
attention with only days before the election day.
The wardrobe controversy was
expanded with a report saying Palin's stylist, Amy Strozzi, was paid 22,800 U.S.
dollars for the first two weeks in October, while McCain's foreign policy
adviser, Randy Scheunemann, was paid only 12,500 dollars during the same period.
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U.S. Republican presidential nominee
Senator John McCain (R-AZ) speaks at a campaign rally in Sarasota, Florida
October 23, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Photo Gallery>>> |
An earlier report disclosed that the Republican
National Committee has spent 150,000 dollars of political donation to cover
Palin's expense on clothing, makeup and other fashion needs.
Despite the repeated clarification that the purchased
clothes would go to charity after campaign, the news stories still incited
public furor as the country was caught in a worst economic crisis since 1930s.
The McCain campaign broke its silence on the matter
and provided some details to media on Friday, saying Palin "did not ask for or
want any new clothes."
"About a third of them have been
returned, a third of them sit in the belly of the plane and are available to her
and her family for special campaign events, TV appearances and ad filming," said McCain's
senior adviser Nicolle Wallace. "Another third was made available to her family for the public
events during convention week."
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U.S. Republican vice presidential
nominee Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and her husband Todd attend at a rally
in Virginia Beach, Virginia Oct. 13, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters
Photo)
Photo
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Wallace also criticized the media storm about the
wardrobe controversy as a terrible disservice to her and involved a
"double-standard for women in politics."
"That any aspect of her shoes, clothes or appearance
has become a distraction is a terrible commentary on the state of the media and
politics," she said. "Let's get on with our great debate about the best
direction for the country in these challenging times for our economy and our
nation's security."
Palin, the Alaska governor, also defended herself in
a Thursday night TV interview, saying "those clothes are not my property."
She also noted that her family usually shop frugally,
and "it's kind of painful to be criticized for something when all the facts are
not out there and are not reported."
Report: $150,000 used for Palin's fashion need
WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Republican party has spent about 150,000 U.S. dollars in the space of a month to meet vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's fashion needs, an online report said Wednesday.
According to the political website Politico, the Republican National Committee used campaign donations to pay for the Alaskan governor's clothing, hair styling, makeup and other "campaign accessories" during September, following her nomination as John McCain's running mate. Full story
Palin makes first California appearance after nomination, critizing Obama
LOS ANGELES, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin Saturday made a speech at a jammed tennis stadium near Los Angeles, criticizing Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.
In her first appearance in California after McCain chose her as his running mate more than a month ago, Palin demonstrated a folksy and feisty manner. Full story
