Man, I'm in the wrong line of business. The McCain campaign paid Sarah Palin's makeup artist $22,800 for the first two weeks of October. According to campaign records, Emmy-winning makeup artist Amy Strozzi was the highest-paid individual in the campaign during that fortnight. (Palin's hairstylist earned $10,000 — no word yet on how much Michelle Obama's hairstylist earns.)
Now, I know makeup artists can demand high salaries — but coupled with Palin's $150,000 wardrobe, that's a lot of cash spent to look so good. (And, no matter what your political stance, you have to admit, Palin does look polished.) Do you think the makeup artist's fees are fair, or is the campaign overpaying her?
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J Brand
Um, she better be using pure gold in everything, LOL.
1She's an idiot.
2That's embarrassing. She'd look exactly the same if she spent a reasonable amount.
3The MUA didn't even do that great a job. Wayyyy too much blush and bronzer!
4Complete unnecessary. If she really thinks it's necessary to spend THAT much on makeup, she must really feel it makes a HUGE difference (one could only hope)... in which case I'd hate to see her without any makeup on. Truth of the matter is, I could probably do her makeup and she'd look exactly the same.
5Completely*
6can she really call herself part of middle-america now?
7I could make her look the way she looks for free with just what i have in my make-up bag...is it really necessary to spend that much $$ (thats not yours) on clothes and makeup?? Michelle wears clothes from H&M NOT Neiman Marcus and although not a fan of Cindy she has her own $$ to spend ridiculous amount of it on her (amazing) clothes!
8From what I read, the $150,000 include wardrobe, hair and makeup. And they have been planning to give the clothes to charity when the campain is over. Still a lot of money though!
9I also think that it is unfair to compare what is spent on Palin with Michelle Obama. Michelle Obama is not running for VP.
10ridiculous!
and she needs to blend her lipliner better, it looks harsh.
11and tomorrow we'll learnn how much she spends on food....seriously, these attacks are getting dumb.
12Makeup artist? Polished? Really? Her makeup doesn't look extraordinary to me ...
13It's relevant because this is campaign money. Also, men's clothing is pretty expensive but Obama and McCain aren't spending huge chunks of campaign money on their wardrobes and makeup artists.
14Is she overpaying? Depends on how in-demand the artist is. But this isn't Vogue. She could find an equally talented artist for a few hundred a day.
15Um. I could do her makeup better and more cheaply than that. Srsly. Although obviously I wouldn't do it at all, because I might catch the crazies from her. But there's really no excuse for that kind of money being spent on, what, three or four televised appearances and a few rallies? It's not like she's out hitting the press circuits all that hard either. I'm not really sure why she needs the makeup artist on a regular basis to begin with... couldn't she at least do some of it herself?
Blegh. This whole mess is just giving makeup a bad name!
16lol bail @ 'catching the crazies'!!!
17I think it's totally worth it! And I'm not even going to vote for her! There is a double standard when it comes to women, Sarah Palin has to look good all the time. She can't go out in jeans and a pony tail and chapstick. It's not fair!!! Her makeup artist does a great job, SP always looks spot on and put together and classy. Plus her makeup artist has to travel with her, so I'm thinking that part of that payment are her hotel costs and food and every other thing. Why are we making this election about how much the candidates spend on clothes or what their college transcripts say, it needs to be on their merits as politicians!!!
18Here's what I think (if you're wondering
I think it's funny that everyone was so up
in arms about Obama being a "celebrity" but I've never heard of a non-celebrity forking over that much cash for makeup and clothing as Palin's camp did. Right?
19She isn't paying for it. The campaign is. Celebrities are paying for Obama to have his own show next week so if Palin has a $150,000 wardrobe and whatever on makeup, then so what? I like her. She didn't demand all this. And as far as Michelle Obama goes, well she may dress from H&M and that is super, I guess. At least Palin has always been proud to be an American which is more than we can say for Mrs. Obama. God bless America!
20I know that is going to piss people off, but I really don't care at this point. No one cares about trashing Palin, but we are all supposed to tiptoe around this other stuff. Tired of the tiptoe.
21Exactly, SharpLily
22Exactly, SharpLily
23She's paying way too much for a makeup artist who has the contour-powder skills of a 1980s Vegas cocktail waitress.
24There is nothing wrong with the amount that has been paid to her makeup artist, since she was nominated for an Emmy for her her makeup applications. Quite frankly I think everyone is being too critical of everything Sarah Palin does. Sure the RNC dropped 150k on clothing and things, but they are donating them to charity once the election is over. And unless you contributed to the campaign, then you shouldn't complain. And to be fair, I don't hear anyone talking about Obama's suits that are $1500 a pop or how much big-mouth Joe spends on his attire. Bottom Line: yes it's a lot of money, but what woman would turn that kind of service down if it were offered?
25LOL @ JudeC!
@coachluvr33: Part of the problem with the fact that the campaign is footing the bill for Palin's wardrobe, though, is that paying for the candidates' clothing with campaign funds is explicitly forbidden by the... *drumroll please* ... McCain-Feingold Act. I'm not sure what the rules are re: makeup artists and such, as they're probably more universally necessary.
And I don't think it makes Palin a better person/candidate that she's "always been proud to be an American." I think it makes her oblivious. But that's a discussion better left to the Citizen page.
26No excuse for that at all; people are out here struggling & this chick is spending a small salary on 2 weeks worth of make-up. Are you kidding me???
OBAMA FOR CHANGE!!!
27I'm totally with you, KTOWNPOLARBEAR, I get the need for a makeup artist, but when it's that expensive and coming out of the campaign budget I think it's the wrong choice and totally separates her from the "Joe Six-Pack" public that she's saying she's just like.
28who cares? they're going to spend money doing what they want anyway- might as well look good!
29what type of makeup did she use? my god...thats ridiculous!!
30I cant wait to NEVER hear form her again...
her make up is so thick and harsh, a fresh natural look would be better.
31I wish she new the difference between drag queen parade and presidential election.
Just another reason that this is the worst run and most poorly managed campaign ever.
32Is that makeup artist also giving her footrubs, mowing the lawn, perhaps offering up sexual favors? If not, then yeah, she's over paying.
33It is ridiculous that donated funds are spent in such excess for hair, make-up and clothing. She earned the nickname Caribou Barbie by making it all about appearances. A lot of those small-town folks she claims to be working for don't spend $100 on a pair of shoes for themselves, so they don't appreciate seeing this excessive waste. Donating it to charity later doesn't make it better. And why were funds spent on dressing her family too?
If she's so pro-American, why were so many of the clothes from non-US designers?
34I agree Ginger!
35WHy are they dressing her family in desinger clothes? In my opinion it's like putting up a fake front, pretending to be someone they probably aren't outside of the limelight.
Is this a case of a wolf in sheeps clothing? You've got to be a little suspicious as to why they are slathering themselves in designer make-up and jewelery. The way they have spent their campaign money in a non productive and unnecessary way makes me wonder how they are going to handle the funding for education, health, crime etc.
Yeah, that makeup artist is really heavy-handed with the blush brush.
36Wonder what she looks like without the mask. I know she has crow's feet, for sure. Seen the up-close pic in the new People? She's terrifying that close.
37
so what if she has crow's feet,I have seen 20 year olds already looking a hot mess.I think
she looks good and I love her clothes.
38Enh, I don't think having crow's feet is a bad thing. We'll all have them someday.
39"Celebrities are paying for Obama to have his own show next week "
Ha! so true!
40Baila, I have actually read the McCain-Feingold act cover-to-cover, and it does not explicitly prohibit campaign funds from being spent on clothes. It prohibits them from being spent on clothing that would not have been needed irrespective of the campaign.
And Sarah, Michelle Obama also wears Thakoon and several other designers. She certainly doesn't purchase all of her clothing at H&M!
41And, while I don't agree with all of Palin's policies and I understand the fact that she's being criticized for spending money on clothes when she acts "average," discussion of her crows feet disgusts me. Who cares what the woman looks like? There are so many other things to discuss about her!
42Ok I am not a big Palin fan...I do feel this criticism over her hair and makeup and clothes a little silly. I mean if Biden did the same thing but spent it on suits..would it get the same press? Men's suites are also a little cheaper I think. Get a two or three good black ones and you can just change the shirt and tied underneath. Women's fashion..not so much. Did anyone look at what Hillary spent?
And I agree with kimbo...crowsfeet...seriously?! How about intelligence, poise, and knowledge?
43When you're in the limelight, you kind of have to do that sort of stuff--even if she's spending that kind of money, maybe she doesn't want to look like a model.
44Appearance is everything. ESPECIALLY women in politics, more with her running for Vice President. I'm laughing at the heavy handed blush application comments
I agree.
45I think it is too much money for a populist to spend and too much money for the quality of work.
I think she is a good looking lady and I think she is probably a cool mom, but while looks are important they should not overshadow your message. I refuse to believe style is more important than substance.
46The only fair criticism in this issue is over the hypocrisy of calling yourself a middle-american hockey mom and living the high life - that is it. Even donaters to RNC can't complain because they donated to the org and gave them the right to do what they see fit - they can be mad, but not complain, if that makes sense - other then that I dont see an issue (although being a hypocrite and trying to pull on on the people is a biggie).
47If it was always planned to give the clothes to charity, what is she (and her family) going to wear if she wins? The VP only makes $208,000 a year, so she can't spend this kind of money on clothes.
48I agree with Ginger.
49I can't believe everyone is jumping on Sarah Palin about her clothing budget.Why isn't anyone asking about the huge undisclosed campaign donations that Obama is receiving? I think that's a much more important and relevant question to be asking about a Presidential candidate…
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