Sarah Palin's got problems. The $150,000 spent on her clothes now counts as taxable income, and if she doesn't pay the (large) amount of tax she owes, she could face tax fraud charges.
How do I know? Because the Bush Justice Department says so. In fact, in a great "hoist on their petard" moment, the Bushies have ALREADY indicted another politician (and, no surprise, not a Republican, but a Democrat who endorsed Obama) for EXACTLY the same circumstances that Palin finds herself in. So break out the checkbook, Sarah: you owe $45,000 in taxes for your clothes, and if you don't pay it, you can go to jail. (And P.S.: if your political supporters pick up the tab, that's MORE income. Just delicious.)
Don't believe me? Let's look at the indictment, brought in March of this year against Puerto Rico Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá. The case involves a series of fraud counts, including a tax fraud charge. There were plenty of charges against this Obama-endorsing Democrat by the Bushies, but among them was count 25, saying that Vila had committed conspiracy to defraud the IRS in violation of Title 18, United States Code. Section 371.
What did Vila do? Well, some of the charge relates to money Vila supporters allegedly provided him. BUT more important in this circumstance: Folks associated with his campaign purchased $57,000 worth of clothes for him while running for Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico. Let's go to the indictment:
d. During the years 2003 and 2004, defendant ACEVEDO VILA received
approximately $57,000 worth of clothing purchased by persons associated with his
campaigns at high-end clothing stores in Puerto Rico.
e. Defendant ACEVEDO VILA filed false Puerto Rico and Federal
Income Tax Returns as well as false Ethics in Government Act Reports filed with the
United States Congress to conceal the various cash payments made to him, the payments
to his credit cards and the personal goods and services provided to him.
So, Palin has no choice. She owes taxes. And if she doesn't pay them -- what would Joe the Plumber say?
To see Vila indictment, check:
http://www.usdoj.gov/...