And Michelle Obama was able to create a sensation by wearing a $180 dress on The View

But when you are a professional sucker at the public teat and grubber of free stuff like Sarah Palin, as well as being a lunatic, it costs more to make you look like something resembling a sane human being:

The Republican National Committee appears to have spent more than $150,000 to clothe and accessorize vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and her family since her surprise pick by John McCain in late August.

According to financial disclosure records, the accessorizing began in early September and included bills from Saks Fifth Avenue in St. Louis and New York for a combined $49,425.74.

The records also document a couple of big-time shopping trips to Neiman Marcus in Minneapolis, including one $75,062.63 spree in early September.

The RNC also spent $4,716.49 on hair and makeup through September after reporting no such costs in August.

Politico asked the McCain campaign for comment, explicitly noting the $150,000 in expenses for department store shopping and makeup consultation that were incurred immediately after Palin’s announcement. Pre-September reports do not include similar costs.

Gee. I attended a company training session today and the only free swag I got was a refrigerator magnet with a clip on it and a pen.

I'm sure all those Mrs. Joe Sixpacks that Palin claims to speak for can relate to her spending sprees at luxury department stores, all paid for by the Republican Party. Because in Sarah Palin's America, letting the state pay for your kids' vacations in luxury hotels and taking free designer clothing makes you a regular person, but buying a dress off the rack at White House Black Market makes you an elitist.