Dressed for Success
The Republican National Committee (RNC) has been criticized since it was discovered that they had provided $150,000 for Governor Palin and her family for new outfits and getting their makeup and hair done on the campaign trail. However, it was an expense that was just a part of the overall campaign image. In order to be a vice presidential candidate, she needs to look like one. As she has previously stated, she is not from Washington DC, rather she is just a normal “Joe six-pack” and hockey mom. So when it was announced that Governor Palin would be the running mate of Senator John McCain, stylist, Jeff Larson, was hired to help her get ready for it. She has received negative press regarding her new style, which includes designer clothes as well as a hair stylist and makeup artist, because it is thought to conflict with her image, but that is not true. Governor Palin was given these tools to simply transform her physical look into one suitable for that of a vice presidential nominee.
As a woman in a presidential election, there is a lot of emphasis is put on style. She needed to appear fashionable, but not over the top. Had she chose to not do this, she would still be criticized by the same people that spent their time criticizing Senator Clinton’s pantsuits when she was running for office. Her family was included in this transformation, because they too needed to meet the standards that Washington DC has for them, but Governor Palin and her family have not at all changed and they are still just your normal “Joe six-pack” Americans. Further ridicule has come from a news report in Alaska, which stated that she used Alaska state funds for her kids travel, but that very well could have been a part of her campaign expenses when she was running for governor, as her children and family go almost everywhere she does. Senator John and Cindy McCain have fallen under scrutiny as well, for allegedly spending a total of about $314,000 on an outfit and a pair of shoes, which was not funded by the RNC, but by their personal finances. Every American has the right to spend their money the way that they want, so if they want to spend theirs in clothes, why should that affect the campaign in the slightest?
The clothes that Governor Palin received during the campaign were intended to go to charitable causes after the election took place. In fact, number of the outfits she wore have already been donated. Due to the demeaning commentary she has received regarding the $150,000 that was used to make the transformation of her and her family, she has made a point to show up at a number of rallies that took place after the incident, in clothes that she owns and therefore were not given to her by the RNC. Governor Palin has also appeared less made up as she has not been sporting her signature hair style lately, but rather it has just been down and simple. These actions seem to have been pleasing to people as it physically reflects her “Joe six-pack” image, which is ironic as Americans want Senator Clinton to do the exact opposite.
A spokeswoman for Governor Palin, Tracey Schmitt, said, "With all of the important issues facing the country right now, it's remarkable that we're spending time talking about pantsuits and blouses…,” which in turn makes a very good point. There is less then a week until the election and Americans need to shift their focus from what Governor Palin is wearing to whether or not she would make a good vice president. If elected, it is not what she or Senator McCain are wearing that will make them great leaders in the White House, but rather how they deal with issues such as the war in Iraq and the economy.
As a woman in a presidential election, there is a lot of emphasis is put on style. She needed to appear fashionable, but not over the top. Had she chose to not do this, she would still be criticized by the same people that spent their time criticizing Senator Clinton’s pantsuits when she was running for office. Her family was included in this transformation, because they too needed to meet the standards that Washington DC has for them, but Governor Palin and her family have not at all changed and they are still just your normal “Joe six-pack” Americans. Further ridicule has come from a news report in Alaska, which stated that she used Alaska state funds for her kids travel, but that very well could have been a part of her campaign expenses when she was running for governor, as her children and family go almost everywhere she does. Senator John and Cindy McCain have fallen under scrutiny as well, for allegedly spending a total of about $314,000 on an outfit and a pair of shoes, which was not funded by the RNC, but by their personal finances. Every American has the right to spend their money the way that they want, so if they want to spend theirs in clothes, why should that affect the campaign in the slightest?
The clothes that Governor Palin received during the campaign were intended to go to charitable causes after the election took place. In fact, number of the outfits she wore have already been donated. Due to the demeaning commentary she has received regarding the $150,000 that was used to make the transformation of her and her family, she has made a point to show up at a number of rallies that took place after the incident, in clothes that she owns and therefore were not given to her by the RNC. Governor Palin has also appeared less made up as she has not been sporting her signature hair style lately, but rather it has just been down and simple. These actions seem to have been pleasing to people as it physically reflects her “Joe six-pack” image, which is ironic as Americans want Senator Clinton to do the exact opposite.
A spokeswoman for Governor Palin, Tracey Schmitt, said, "With all of the important issues facing the country right now, it's remarkable that we're spending time talking about pantsuits and blouses…,” which in turn makes a very good point. There is less then a week until the election and Americans need to shift their focus from what Governor Palin is wearing to whether or not she would make a good vice president. If elected, it is not what she or Senator McCain are wearing that will make them great leaders in the White House, but rather how they deal with issues such as the war in Iraq and the economy.
posted by Anonymous | 7:01 PM
4 Comments:
I agree with you, Kara. I think it's ridiculous that the media is giving Sarah Palin so much slack for her clothes.
Image is important in politics. I believe it has the power to make or break someone. I don't have any information to support my belief, but I personally feel that if Hillary Clinton dressed more like Sarah Palin, trading in her pantsuits for skirts and blazers, she would have had a higher approval rating among the American public.
ALL politicians spend a ridiculous amount of money on clothes. Usually these politicians come from family money and can independently (and quietly) purchase the clothes and accessories needed to running for office-- Sarah can't afford it on her own.
Jackie Kennedy was idolized, not criticized, for her stylish and expensive clothing. JFK's father understood the importance of image and allowed Jackie a clothing allowance so she could afford to dress in custom couture-- givenchy and halston were two of her favorite designers.
The media is hypocritical. No one would dare criticize Jackie for wearing custom couture because she's an icon. Palin is being reamed for wearing clothes off the rack that will soon be returned/auctioned off for charity! Silly.
I agree with you both. However, it is also the fact that men would not be criticized for their clothing and appearance. Yes, it is easier to rotate shirts and ties, but I'm sure they still have to buy many new suits for all the appearances they make. And they also have to buy new shirts and ties for that matter. They cannot be seen wearing the same tie at two different appearances. The difference is that it's harder to notice when a man is wearing a new suit, or shirt or tie, because most of the time it could look like another one he already had. It is not jumping out at the audience in a bright red or blue, saying "I'm new!". This is another instance where women are criticized in politics because the media will find anything to scrutinize about them.
The media took this a little too far....there are more important things to be talking about. Anyways, the reason why Sarah Palin would have been a great VP for the United States is because she exemplifies an ordinary patriotic American girl. She could care less what brand she wears. If she wasn't wearing all these clothes for the election, the media would complain as well. So either way, we would hear it. No one ever complained when Michelle Obama ordered lobster, champagne, and caviar for a four-o'clock snack....
I definitely agree that there are more important things that need to be talked about than what Sarah Palin is wearing, but I also think that she was smart in hiring a stylist. We have learned that since television became such an influential media, appearance and image has become everything in politics. It is the peripheral processing that people who are not as educated on policies will turn to and base their vote on. So as shallow as it may seem, appearance is more important than we would like to admit. Politicians have to be noticed before they can actually make a difference.
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