This will be a very short diary, but I can't get over the Politico report that the RNC has spent, in only about 7 weeks, an incredible $150,000 on VP candidate Sarah Palin's wardrobe. Either I'm totally out of touch or
something strange has happened to all those fiscally conservative Republicans. I admit that I'm no clothes horse, no fashion plate, and maybe being a male makes things simpler and cheaper, but 150 grand?!?
I did a quick check on my clothing expenses and came up with an estimate of $400 per year. Even though I'm retired I occasionally work as an extra in movies and TV, so I maintain a variety of suits, formal wear including a tuxedo, sport jackets, varyng degrees of casual and formal wear for both an east coat and west coast look, etc. in my 'wardrobe'. Yes, you could probably buy my entire wardrobe for about a thousand bucks, but I've proudly passed muster with a number of heads of wardrobe for all kinds of movies and TV shows. And I'm nothing special - sometimes my friends and I will be at a shoot and do 2 or 3 changes for different scenes, often with our own clothes and only a quick inspection from the wardrobe department. Again, it may be more difficult or expensive for females, but I've seen struggling women actors produce multiple great outfits from the single bag they brought to the shoot.
So, I hope that explains or at least illustrates my confusion. Maybe the RNC is buying some level of quality that is beyond my comprehension. Or maybe they're getting ripped off; I simply don't know. Perhaps the wiser and/or more sophisticated Daily Kos people can enlighten me, so please take a look at this poll: