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Palin Aide Offers Strong Rebuke to Criticisms

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November 06, 2008 9:42 PM

ABC’s Kate Snow reports: A longtime aide to Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin is lashing back at anonymous critics within the McCain-Palin presidential campaign, telling ABC News they are attacking the former vice presidential candidate with distortions.

Meg Stapleton offers an explanation of some of the more stinging criticisms that have come out in recent days since the McCain-Palin defeat.

Regarding the $150,000 worth of clothing the campaign bought Palin, Stapleton says a New York stylist was given a blank check and told to go and make Palin look presidential.

According to Stapleton, Palin saw a price tag of $3,500 on one outfit and said she didn't want to wear it. Stapleton says Palin was simply presented with her wardrobe and staff.  Palin was told "here's your people, here are your clothes.”

Stapleton adds that the McCain staffers tried to hide the cost of the wardrobe. “They said, 'bill the convention under wardrobe so that the cost could be hidden.' And then they realized and they were told that’s illegal. So then they said, 'OK, how do we make this legal and appropriate?' So they had somebody pay for it and then the RNC (Republican National Committee) would reimburse them.”

According to Stapleton, the campaign said, "'this is what you need as a VP candidate.' It was the campaign and/or the RNC ... But it wasn't the governor saying this is what she needs."

Stapleton says $150,000 was the original bill for the clothing, but after some merchandise was returned, the cost went down to $107,000.

There was also a directive to buy any and all clothes before Sept. 4, the day the Republican convention in St. Paul ended, so that it could be buried as part of other convention costs. The campaign also bought clothing for the children, so they, too, would look nice, Stapleton added.

Regarding another stinging criticism, Stapleton claims that the Fox News report Thursday -- that quoted unnamed sources inside the now defunct McCain campaign, saying Palin didn't know Africa is a continent -- was taken out of context.

Stapleton says that during a briefing session, someone asked Palin to explain the McCain-Palin stance on an issue, and as she was responding, "in the middle, she said, ‘country of Africa’ and somebody instantly wrote it down, and said, 'Oh, my God, she thinks it's a country.'"

But Stapleton insists, "She knows it's a continent. It was just a human mistake, just like Obama saying 57 states. I don't think anyone ever doubted that Obama knows there are 50 states."

Stapleton adds that a McCain-Palin campaign speechwriter was flown in to write a speech for Governor Palin to deliver Tuesday night after the election results were in. But after a discussion, aides decided Palin would not give a speech that evening -- only McCain would speak.

Stapleton says Palin didn't understand why they would bring in a speechwriter and then not use the speech they wrote for her which was complimentary of McCain.

November 6, 2008 in Palin, Sarah | Permalink | User Comments (314)

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Sarah may be gone but now we have the Black Widow or as their own may call her First H o.

Posted by: Yahtzee | Nov 6, 2008 10:04:16 PM

Posted by: KC | Nov 6, 2008 9:56:50 PM ************************Here's your sign, Stupid. Next time read the article.

Posted by: Maxify55 | Nov 6, 2008 10:06:27 PM

Nice KC, I assume you voted for Obama. I hope you realize that "Change" and "Economic Justice" mean communism. Good Luck.

Posted by: AJ | Nov 6, 2008 10:07:36 PM

No one is more "retarded" than KC judging by that comment.

Posted by: s2 | Nov 6, 2008 10:07:52 PM

yaaawwwwwwn....isn't the election over?

Posted by: obama fatigued | Nov 6, 2008 10:08:04 PM

Sarah Palin didn't even know that Africa was a continent. She's twice as retarded as Trig.

________

Typical Obama voter.

Posted by: Mot | Nov 6, 2008 10:09:03 PM

Can't distort the fact that the lady thought more of beauty contests than she did of getting an education. TYhe lady just doesn't have any smarts about anytning. But then neither did Bush

Posted by: Rose Szymanski | Nov 6, 2008 10:09:18 PM

I rewally don't like Sarah and her stupidity. However, that doesn't make it right to say that she is twice as retarted as her son. He has Down Syndrome and I don't think that is something to be made fun of. On another note the woman is a complete idiot and I was very afraid if she made it into the white house. SHe was very dividing in calling some Americans REAL Americans as if everyone else doesn't love her country. SHe tried to simplify everyone into drunk dummies by calling them Joe 6-packs we are all different and it is something this woman did not realize, as if she didn't have enough other stupid mistakes. I'm very glad Obama won and has inspired us to believe that America can again be the UNITED States of America and gain respect around the world again.

OBAMA 08!!!

Posted by: Beverly | Nov 6, 2008 10:09:36 PM

KC, I hope you realize after you clicked "Post" that that comment was uncalled for.

Posted by: Duane | Nov 6, 2008 10:11:36 PM

KC: If Gov. Palin misspoke about Africa, saying "country" instead of "continent" and you choose not to accept that explanation, then do you EVER accept that people make verbal mistakes? Using her precious son to insult her intelligence is just one indication that you have no heart.

Posted by: bn | Nov 6, 2008 10:11:43 PM

K.C., I think that your comment is completely inappropriate. I am no Palin Supporter, but referring to her child with down syndrome as retarded is mean spirited and shows your ignorance.

Posted by: Yvette | Nov 6, 2008 10:11:49 PM

Witless from Wasilla never admits making a mistake. She always counter-attacks and blames others. Classic Gingrich-GOPAC strategy. Interesting to note there was no rebuattal on her lack of knowledge as to the signators to NAFTA.

Posted by: B. Bear | Nov 6, 2008 10:13:35 PM

KC must be an Obama fan. Only those left wing nuts would use a defenseless innocent baby as a stab to Palin's acumen.

Posted by: jm77 | Nov 6, 2008 10:15:00 PM

Why wont they release the names of people smearing her? Why wont you put them on TV?

Posted by: LineMountain | Nov 6, 2008 10:15:12 PM

This lady is pure class.

Good Luck sarah.... You rock...


Posted by: Common Sense | Nov 6, 2008 10:18:15 PM

I love Sarah Palin, that woman will be back and there is nothing anyone on the left can do about it. Did you see the throngs of people at her stops. John McCain would not have come close the number of votes he got if he had not picked Gov. Palin.

She will be back and one of the left greatest fears will finally be realized.
The paranoid little nitwits know their
power will be short lived back the
majority of Americans have Sarah Palin's
values, not those of the moraless left
wing of the Democrat Party.

FEAR, Name calling, bashing, that's all
these low IQ zealots have going for them. I found out a long time ago that
narrow minded left winger bash anything
fear. That's the highest form of praise
they know!

Posted by: smuthrob | Nov 6, 2008 10:19:16 PM

Vice presidential candidates do not speak at an acceptance or concession speech. But the the airhead would not know that. Does not know what countries are in NAFTA? Does not know Africa is a continent not a country? Gets caught by two DJ's! Spends more than the $150,000 on clothes then was originally reported. Did not have enough brains to take advantage of prep time before the Couric interview. And the beat goes on...and this was the person the Republican Party portrayed as being ready to step into the presidency?

Posted by: sandy | Nov 6, 2008 10:20:13 PM

KC & Yahtzee - you suit each other, you're both morons.

Posted by: Harry | Nov 6, 2008 10:20:45 PM

KC, you are pathetic.

Posted by: gfy765 | Nov 6, 2008 10:20:57 PM

She was McCain's puppet!!!!

She was USED by McCain!!!!!

I never like that old racist DOG!!!!!

Posted by: sisterdearest09 | Nov 6, 2008 10:21:07 PM

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