NEWSWEEK has learned that Palin’s shopping spree at high-end department stores was more extensive than previously reported. While publicly supporting Palin, McCain’s top advisers privately fumed at what they regarded as her outrageous profligacy. One senior aide said that Nicolle Wallace had told Palin to buy three suits for the convention and hire a stylist. But instead, the vice presidential nominee began buying for herself and her family—clothes and accessories from top stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus. According to two knowledgeable sources, a vast majority of the clothes were bought by a wealthy donor, who was shocked when he got the bill. Palin also used low-level staffers to buy some of the clothes on their credit cards. The McCain campaign found out last week when the aides sought reimbursement. One aide estimated that she spent “tens of thousands” more than the reported $150,000, and that $20,000 to $40,000 went to buy clothes for her husband. Some articles of clothing have apparently been lost. An angry aide characterized the shopping spree as “Wasilla hillbillies looting Neiman Marcus from coast to coast,” and said the truth will eventually come out when the Republican Party audits its books.
A Palin aide said: “Governor Palin was not directing staffers to put anything on their personal credit cards, and anything that staffers put on their credit cards has been reimbursed, like an expense. Nasty and false accusations following a defeat say more about the person who made them than they do about Governor Palin.”
Other shocking campaign disclosures, below the fold:
In a heavy drizzle shortly after midnight on November 5, 2008, several thousand people filled the barricaded segment of Pennsylvania Avenue between 15th and 17th streets in front of the White House dancing and chanting “O-ba-ma!” and “Whose house? Obama’s house!” Some sang “America the Beautiful” and “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
At 14th and U streets NW, hundreds of Sen. Barack Obama’s supporters chanted, “Yes, we can!” People danced on bus shelters. Strangers hugged.
Here is some video of the event recorded on Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House:
Election night ended an extraordinary day in the Washington region, one charged with deep emotion and a vivid sense of history. Older African Americans wiped away tears as they cast their ballots, overwhelmed by the reality that in their lifetime a man of color was at the threshold of the presidency. Some went to the polls with icons linking them to loved ones: a poll-tax receipt, photos of long-dead relatives. Many brought their children to bear witness.
On Friday (11/7/08), following his stunning Electoral College victory in the 2008 Presidential Election on Nov. 4, 2008, President-Elect Barack Obama is expected to hold a press conference near the Obama campaign headquarters in Chicago, Illinois.
The Obama campaign is expected to provide more details on the morning of Fri., Nov. 7, 2008.
To reach the Obama campaign headquarters by telephone, please call: (866) 675-2008.
You can contact the campaign by mail at:
Obama for America
P.O. Box 8102
Chicago, IL 60680
Barack Obama will protect the openness of the internet:
Obama and Biden strongly support the principle of network neutrality to preserve the benefits of open competition on the Internet.
Deploy a modern communications infrastructure:
Obama and Biden believe we can get true broadband to every community in America.
Improve America’s competitiveness:
Obama and Biden will ensure our goods and services are treated fairly in foreign markets, invest in the sciences, and will provide new research grants to the most outstanding early-career researchers in the country.
Barack Obama will provide a tax cut for working families:
Obama and Biden will restore fairness to the tax code and provide 95 percent of working Americans the tax relief they need. They will create a new “Making Work Pay” tax credit of up to $500 per person, or $1,000 per working family.
Provide tax relief for small businesses and startups:
Obama and Biden will eliminate all capital gains taxes on startup and small businesses to encourage innovation and job creation.
Fight for fair trade:
Obama and Biden will fight for a trade policy that opens up foreign markets to support good American jobs. They will use trade agreements to spread good labor and environmental standards around the world.