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Palin Aide Offers Strong Rebuke to Criticisms
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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Really proud my President thinks there are 57 states and the Vice President thinks Roosevelt went on tv in 1929 to soothe the people during the great depression.
Posted by: Timetest | Nov 6, 2008 10:21:28 PM
hey libs,the only reason this bunch of lies appears is because a woman like this eventually will spell doom for you queer lovers,repubs lost tuesday,not conservatives and thats why all the racket....mccain will go back to being a pathetic moderate........Palin is on to bigger and better things,she understands like Mr. Reagan to give America a clear choice.....even in Cal.they rejected the pathetic misfits trying to become normal.....the moral is that most of our great society does not prescribe to the malignant beliefs that try to be shoved down our throats!!!! if and when she is at the top of the ticket well see what mr. kenya has for her.........
Posted by: chad | Nov 6, 2008 10:21:38 PM
Sarah has nothing to hide. She's a very open person & easy to approach. Alaska may be a big state, but we're a small community. Everyone knows everyone somehow because we all grew up together in some way. We've played against each other in sports or our parents know each other or our kids go to school together. Sarah ventured into a large arena & there were other powers in control, guiding and directing her on what to do & what to say. She only wanted to help promote, strengthen, and improve this great country as well as support the experienced hero and survivalist, John McCain. He is indeed a great man with all that he has learned and experienced. His knowledge and understanding could have been put to great use serving this country he loves so much. Sarah would not have intentionally done anything to harm him or this country. Megan Stapleton's accounts sound exactly like what Sarah would have encountered in that larger arena -- being thrust into unfamiliar territory, given illegal and inaccurate direction, then being blamed for it. That is pathetic on the part of those who were in charge of helping her "suit up for the game". Regardless of their positions versus hers, they should have been strong enough and truthful enough to take the blame when it was theirs to begin with. The fact that they couldn't shows me right there that is the TRUE REASON why McCain was not elected as president: The people serving on his campaign were a bunch of swindlers, blaming everyone and everything else. No backbones. No strength. No courage. No ability to command decision and stick to the consequences. No intelligence.
Don't blame Sarah. She's above all that. She is the definite OPPOSITE of all that.
Posted by: Wasillan | Nov 6, 2008 10:23:33 PM
"sandy": do you work for a campaign or are you just regurgitating what someone else wrote? Wait a minute ... sandy, are you really Joe Biden? You just cannot stop plagiarizing, can you?!
Posted by: lizzard | Nov 6, 2008 10:23:43 PM
this site has really nasty comments...have fun insulting each other! oh and I forgot....grow up!
Posted by: mary | Nov 6, 2008 10:23:57 PM
"sandy": do you work for a campaign or are you just regurgitating what someone else wrote? Wait a minute ... sandy, are you really Joe Biden? You just cannot stop plagiarizing, can you?!
Posted by: lizzard | Nov 6, 2008 10:24:40 PM
KC, that comment was out of line. I may not think much of Sarah Palin, but to insult her disabled child is rude and unnecessary.
Posted by: Animus | Nov 6, 2008 10:25:48 PM
I can only hope that Sarah will rise as the new GOP party leader.
It would be the premature end of a corrupt party that has brought America to the brink of its decline.
Posted by: greta | Nov 6, 2008 10:26:32 PM
I hope she runs again for office, then Obama would win again for sure, go Palin!!!
Posted by: dude | Nov 6, 2008 10:26:47 PM
the second post was no better or worse than "Kc's"
McCain/Palin lost. Deal with it. I had to deal with your policies for the last 40 years. It's our turn now.
Posted by: Steve | Nov 6, 2008 10:26:51 PM
Ya know. Let's all give it a break on the ridicule. The real danger here was that Palin was pushed in, to the surprise of almost everyone. She was quickly dolled up to be more presidential and serious, had to learn a lot quickly. She could have easily charged up the crowds as a "surrogate," and made things fun and more exciting for the Republicans at the rallies. I too was shocked at Palin's choice and the incessant line they fed us that she was fine presidential material. What an insult to our intelligence! And McCain had to play along as well. He let others sway his soul. And if that happened in the campaign phase, think of what would happen if that pair had been elected. Who else would run over him? Oh, we did have that already, 8 years of a puppet presidency.
Posted by: Carol Wright | Nov 6, 2008 10:27:13 PM
Now you got your choice he has "57" states to govern haha... but as a good person we we hope he will do right thing for America.
Posted by: Dan | Nov 6, 2008 10:28:33 PM
Shocking... I just think that so many of you (posting this site) are wicked horrible people. The use of the term "retard" is beyond my understanding. The Palin's did allow you into their private family life. I saw pictures of that cute underful baby. How you could call that little innocent a "retard" just explodes my temper. What the Palin's might find is that that child (cognitive challenged) will add richness and understanding to life that they had never known before. God's blessings are not like "people blessing". People blessing might be lots of money and power over others. God blessing increases your understanding of yourself and your place in the world. Remember what they say "it is easier for a camel to pass the eye of a needle then for a rich man to see heaven". Maybe this blessing of this child is god's attempt to wake up some people that have lost their way. Anyway... the ease and the way you say "retard" is just sick and so hateful. May god have mercy on you...
Posted by: Robert Habsberg-Guise | Nov 6, 2008 10:28:45 PM
It's so disheartening to hear these comments. In reading these stories about Sarah Palin, it only makes her look worst when her aide gives yet another version of what actually went on. What the heck does it take get the truth?! More importantly, who cares anymore?!
Posted by: Olivia Justice | Nov 6, 2008 10:29:21 PM
lizzard - must be tough on you being in the minority in this country now. Not so much fun is it!! :)
Posted by: sandy | Nov 6, 2008 10:29:37 PM
Hauted by her words!!
She was used as a tool to win the election. God forbid...that's not putting country first, it is putting carreer first.
She spoke so many ,lies she did not believe in..now she will be hauted by her words.
Posted by: matt | Nov 6, 2008 10:30:42 PM
Palin will only be remembered as a difficult Trivia question. Good riddance.
Posted by: me | Nov 6, 2008 10:32:07 PM
Funny how now the media is trying to blame the McCain campaign for throwing Sarah Palin under the bus, when THE PEOPLE IN THE MEDIA ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR DESTROYING SARAH PALIN! There is a lot of blame to go around, but the media is hugely responsible too. They were unbelievably hateful and vitriolic to her.
Posted by: jasoninpa10 | Nov 6, 2008 10:32:10 PM
I did not proof read and I am tired..Underful... wonderful
Posted by: Robet Habsberg Guise | Nov 6, 2008 10:32:20 PM
Did anyone notice that Obama didn't know where he was at the end of the campaign? If that was jumped on like the misinformation on the Africa thing.... Did anyone notice that Michell is a fashion item? If that were jumped on like the misinformation and diva comments.....Did anyone notice the redistribution of wealth? Yes but not the media....Did anyone notice black bigots in a negative way or without excuse or did they find codes words and seek out white bigots?
Posted by: Hank Irelan | Nov 6, 2008 10:32:39 PM
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