If anything, Sarah’s Shopping Spree is more a dark comedy than a romantic one: It’s a story about a makeover, sure, but a makeover imposed rather than chosen. One not about the empowerment of the individual, but about the tyranny of the image. Just as it’s absurd to say that the occasional $400 haircut disqualifies a politician from advocating for the poor (“Edwards, John”), it’s also absurd to suggest that to be fit for Gio Armani is therefore to be unfit for Joe the Plumber. But that’s what the media are suggesting when they treat Palin’s wardrobe “malfunction” as a malfunction in the first place. There are plenty of criticisms to be made of Palin—her cheerful culture warriorhood, her willful incuriosity about the world, her general unpreparedness to assume the office of the vice president—but let’s keep the censure focused on substance. Let’s not tear Palin apart simply for dressing a part.
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Well, perhaps we'd have been more sympathetic if Palin hadn't worn those $150,000 worth of clothes while she accused all of the people who live in big cities of being anti-American and elite.
Posted by Lynn on Thu 23 Oct 2008 at 04:29 PM
Palin's wardrobe is an inspiration. I only wish they would have invested something more in her hair-do. I hate Sarah Palin as much as the next person, but her wardrobe is the least of her flaws. Nancy Pelosi has probably spent as much, it's just that she spent her own money, so we don't get to know about it.
I appreciate the comparison with Fraulein Maria and the other make-over tales. It's an angle I hadn't thought of. America loves makeovers. It's too bad we can't makeover her values.
Thank you, Megan Garber.
Posted by Alta on Fri 24 Oct 2008 at 01:01 PM
Thank you, Ms. Garber, for adding an interesting and valuable perspective to an otherwise uninteresting story about Palin's wardrobe.
Posted by Christine on Fri 24 Oct 2008 at 03:20 PM
I honestly don’t think it is necessary to worry about what Sarah Palin is wearing, or how much money she is spending shopping. There are more things in this country that are more important to write about and focus on then someone’s clothes. Even though this is a article about reflecting back on 2008, there are far more interesting important things that happened and that will be remembered. Not many, if anyone will remember what Sarah Palin was wearing during a certain public event. However it is a well written story and may give people perspective on her that they didn’t have before. In my opinion it is just not a necessary story to publish I mean do we sit here and write about Paris Hilton’s money spending habits? They are probably far worse then this.
Posted by kelly on Mon 5 Jan 2009 at 01:33 PM