CNN

shouldn't all politicians reimburse the people for their misdeeds!

No. Alaska voted her Governor. Alaska knew she was a mommy.

Andy of Sierra Vista, Arizona

Yes. The kids aren't on official business.

Nope, if she does it makes her look good. We need her to remain a maverick.

Most certainly. I think she should be charged with grand larceny or embezzlement as any other citizen would be. She appears to think she is above all laws!

Palin should reimburse Alaska taxpayers. People are hurting right now. Many can't afford travel or entertainment outside the home. Palin was found guilty of breaking state ethics statutes. Why should a person, even the governor of the state, be given extravagent sums of money for travel and entertainment if they broken the law?

Hi Jack.

You betcha! lol..

And maybe get out of the race completely. I can't stand her voice. Everytime she speaks it irritates my ear drums.

Obama/Biden all the way!

You Bech'a!

Absolutely. Where I come from a gift of public funds is not only unethical, but illegal. Then the IRS should audit her tax returns for unreported income. Public servant? Not

Yes. By returning this money to the government, she will reinforce her emphasis on anti-socialism. The government should not get into her personal trips.

Pullman, Washington State

I think yes – travel and entertainment for her children is not part of the governors job description.

Erin of Healdsburg,CA

Dear Jack, The larger question is: why are Gov Palin's kids traveling with her? Don't they have school? Is the campaign trail the best environment for them. Or is this a new example of American Family Values?

Dan NY

She should either reimburse the state or pay taxes. It would be up to the Alaska legislature on the details of reimbursing the state (it really is their decision).

Jack,

I would say 'Yes'. I have been travelling for work now for the last 7 years or so and when I need to take the family it comes out of my pocket. There should be no provision for dependants – this is not fair on the tax payers. Also, dependants normally treat these trips as 'holidays' whereas Palin should be ALL business.

If she doesn't reimburse the state for the families travel the Alaskans will be able to let her know what they think in 2 years.

Does anyone remember John Edwards' $400.00 haircut?

That's easy,YES.The people elected her not her children or her husband.She knew it was wrong that's why she tied to change the record.

She had better do so,because after her loss in November she has to come home and answer to US.
She has already made a laughing-stock of her state and a shamblesof her campaign promises here.
The least she and Todd can do is pay for their own childrens' expenses and apologize for their actions.
They are their responsibilty,not ours!

Most certainly she should reimburse the state, but "betcha" she'll have a good reason why she shouldn't. Her voice just grates on me and I turn the T.V. to mute everytime she is on.

How about those clothes that the RNC paid for – supposedly going to charity when she has done with them!! That would be the Palin Charity.

I was just wondering if Sarah Palin "home schools" her children? If not, why aren't they in school?
YES, I believe that she should reimburse the Alaska taxpayers, but I think that I read somewhere that if the children were invited to an event, she wouldn't be required to.
Also, how much did her "flag" pin cost? Just asking...

Great to have you back Jack!

debi from CA

That shouldn't even be a question. Of course she should.

Why bother? If she should win, she owes the country a debt that is unpayable and "we the people" will get the what we deserve...

Palin, should not only reimburse Alaska for all her ill begotten trysts, she should reimburse all the Republicans that gave donations after she was made the VP choice. The Republicans should also sue John McCain for gross negligence with this insane VP choice

No Jack, what do you think anybody gets into politics for, it's for all the Cool Free Stuff.

Jack,

She should. She she also donate monies to the Humane Society for all of those poor moose she killed from planes. She should have used some of that money to buy her some intelligence. The woman is DUMB~!!!!

Sarah Palin should definetly repay those funds.she is abusing the system while trying to compare herself with prior-.So if the prior did something very wrong then she could do something wrong and call it right? She referred to the prior Govenor allowing family member to use the Govenor's office and she did the same thing in allowing Todd to use her office. This is like the blind leading the blind.To date I haven't seen one good thing she did while being Govenor in Alaska. joke. Could she be coming off the bad drugs like the race horse BIG BROWN that caused the horse the tripple crown and making all these mistakes or is this a PATTERN?

YES, 'Country First' shouldn't just be a slogan! I bet her mentors Joe-six-pack and Joe-de-plumber can live off these amounts being brandished around for 4 full years.

The Governor better get out her checkbook. Not only should she reimburse taxpayers for the travel, she should send them back the money they gave her for sleeping in her own house. After that, she might reconsider her wardrobe options. It doesn't seem right people donating to a political party are actually footing the bill for shopping sprees at Saks Fifth Avenue. Her nomination is starting to sound like a lottery win.

Not only should she pay the expenses back to the State of Alaska – she should be paying whomever (RNC) for these kids to be trotting around the campaign trail with her now. Whey aren't they in school? I don't take my kids to work with me and I am darn sure that my boss is not going to pay for their meals, housing, babysitters, etc. – he would be telling me to find another job.

Isn't she quaint......

Absolutely. She should also be prosecuted for fraud for changing the records and lying about the children being invited to events when they were not. McCain's "clean up government corruption" expert has turned into a dust bunny.

Where is the precedence for such luxury? Alaskan tax payers should not have to pay for Palin to be a mother to her children while also paying her for governor's salary.

Jack
This is getting way out of hand, between Palins wardrobe and her kids traveling on the arm, I will be glad when this election is over and Palin can go back to Alaska. We are all getting tired Jack.

No Jack there is no way Palin should have to reimburse Alaska. Alaska voted for her and they deserve everything they get.

Her record clearly showed she took the village of Wasilla from zero debt to 22 million in debt and if people aren't smart enough to figure out there is a vacancy upstairs then it's their problem.

Welcome back.
Either Sarah should pay or ask one of them to fill in for Sarah because they probably have more smarts than her. Funny that McCain has no problem with Sarah dragging her pregnant daughter around with her but called Sen. Obama's two adorable daughters "brats". I guess if you're anything but republican you are fair game for name calling, even if you're a child. I don't find Sen. McCain honorable at all. Maybe Cindy would like to pay for the travel since she has so much $$.

Hi Jack:

The State of Alaska should not have paid any travel or entertainment expense for her children. She makes claims that she cut spending in Alaska while she was governor.

Yes, in the interest of fairness to the people of Alaska, she should re-pay the state of Alaska for any and all entertainment and travel expense incured by her children.

Ron San Diego

Absolutely. The kids are supposed to be in school, not traveling with her on the State's tab. And now she's spending money on clothes that were donated by her so-called supporters. Surely I'm not the only one who sees this whole mess as so wrong.

Jack,

As Sarah would say with a wink ...................... You bettcha. She should also reimberse the people who donated their hard earned money to the McCain/Palin campaign for the clothes and make up that was spent on her and her family while she is at it. Whats the matter didn't she have any Governer/vice presidential clothes to wear ? Is this the "breath of fresh air" that is going to "shake up Washington"?

Judie
St. Augustine, Fl

She not only should reimburse Alaska for her kid's. She should also return the per-diem she collected while sleeping at home. Not to mention I should get something for listening to her nonsense since the convention.Then she might be a little poorer, and know how we feel.

Jack...she should definitely reimburse them and she should give back the money she took when she spent the night in her own house. Joe Six Pack...give me a break...does Joe have a 150,000.00 clothing budget.

Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Absolutely! This is yet another example of her abuse of power & lack of ethics. God help us if this woman gets in the White House. Maybe after this is all over and they impeach her in Alaska, she can get a job at AIG...I'm sure they'll send her on some junkets with her kids.

PS: Love you, Jack...glad to see you back!

Well now gosh darn it Jack,

Haven't we already figured out that the Maverick and Reformer from the great state of Alaska is not only an outsider, but power abuser and mega shopper. If she had contractors build her house for free, and got her $150,000 wardrobe for free, why not get travel for her kids and Dude for free as well.

I don't see what difference that will make...she'll just lie and say that she was completely cleared of any wrong doing. In Palin's mind, Troopergate never happened.

No. The expense should be considered a fine for
stupid voting.

If the kids are not on official business, then it should be paid back. I think thats the standard? I can't imagine what type of official business a Governors children would have on a business trip. I heard one of them was to watch Daddy in a race ! Pretty unofficial to me. So, I guess I'd have to say another You Betcha !

It would make her look better in the public eye if she did. But I have a hunch she won't bother. She probably doesn't have the money any more (since her 15 minutes are up) and the McCain campaign is low on dough as well.

She's an idiot! (That's about the 5th time I've typed that today).

Jack,

Absolutely she should pay! I don't understand how she can run around saying she's going to change Washington when she's doing the same criminal things in Alaska. It's a joke. People living on mainstreet can't fly their kids around the country and charge it to their employer.

David-MO

Yes, after she goes back to Alaska when the election is over.

Bit/Prattville Alabama

Why not? Is she any different than the rest of the candidates? McCain should pay if he feels that she did not have the proper clothing. To make it worse, look at the stores she purchased her close from, how many Joe six packs and Joe the Plummers shop there?? She's one of the guys??? Every day it becomes much clearer who is really for the average Joe, and it is not the McCain-Palin ticket! I have always been a Republican and I've had enough, I will be voting for Obama this time!!

Chris from TN

Since when do tax payers pay for government official's kids.
Palin abused her power in many ways.Can you imagine if she was
our VP. Who does she think she is that laws to not pertain to her
and she is above them. I bet there is alot we still don't know about that woman and her husband. Talk about skelton's in the closet, I sure bet she's got some.

If not on official business then yes she needs to pay it back.
What I also find interesting is how much the republicians have
coughed up for clothes for her and the family for this election run,
I GUESS SHE CAN SEE SAX and Neiman Marcus from her window in Alaska also.

Welcome back Jack - we missed you!

One way or the other I feel her kids (and husband) should not be traveling for free. And, while we are on the subject of her kids, I am so sick of seeing her parading her new born around. She is using him for a prop and I find it very distasteful. He was even there after the VP debate and he should have been in bed and asleep by then.

I'm sure that she was trying to keep her other kids from getting knocked up. Those travel expenses are sure to be cheaper than the welfare that Bristol and her high school dropout baby's daddy are going to need.

It doesn't seem to me that Palin is an agent of 'change'....more like an agent for government dollars! Having her family go on trips on tax payers dollars, and now the talk about her 150K of GOP money for clothes and a new hairdo?!

Heather
Elko Nevada

Jack.....this is more about Palin's hypocrisy, than money-it does not appear that she acted contrary to Alaskan law--but it is like her hyperbole about "Bridge to Nowhere"--rather than being a "maverick" it exposes her as being just another Bush Republican......

No, but she should quit tagging them along with her on campaign trail. Don't they have school! And her husband should get a job like all good, hard working, christian, small town, real Americans!!

Subod from Monroe, MI

She should reimburse them for the family travel as well as all those nights she billed the state for staying in her own home. Anyone in the private sector would get fired for that type of fraud. And the IRS should investigate her too.

Jack, Wouldn't it be the "right" thing to do? However! deeper then that I think if I were a Republican who gave to the party and found out that my donated funds paid for fancy clothes and hair -dos since She was picked I'd turn left!

I believe, since Gov. Palin is from a state with Icebergs, we are just seeing the "Tip" of one ! How many other little problems with her are just waiting to surface? The "Ice Queen " is melting, lets just blame this on the Democrats "Global Warming " nonsense! Yes Jack, she should pay the money back, she says she's a fiscal Conservative !

Absolutely, if I did that in my job I'd be in jail right now. What's with this double standard. Bush, Cheney, Palin would all be in jail if their government actions were as civilians. I'm not saying Palin should be jailed, I'm just saying she needs to cut the nonsense. Don't tell us she's a budget hawk, when she's anything but. Don't tell us she's a reformer when she's just more of the same.

Seems to me Sarah Palin hardly does official government business herself when she travels (see Saturday Night Live), so I don't see how her children could do anything of value. She should payback taxpayers what she took and then some for swindling government funds so her kids could go on vacation. And she calls herself a maverick and a reformer...

Nick, New York City

Mickie–when where did mccain call the Obama children 'brats' Need to cite this to the MSM! ASAP

Yes! of course she should repay her kids travel costs, if there is empiracle evidence of this and only for the instances where they were not invited to attend for official state business. The most damning thing in this situation is that she later amended these expense reports,which basically confirms she considered them inappropriate
She has recently had her fingers slapped for ethics violation in the troopergate scandal, and shows absolutely no remorse in both instances. How much longer, is the American public going to put up with her circus act??? This women certainly does not possess the intellectual gravitas to be anything higher than a PTA mom. The world looks on in disbelief

hello Jack
Mavericks dont refund.They dont see anything wrong with ethical issues. The truth is America deserves whatever they get from this clowns.

You betcha! Reform starts at home. Just because Palin is not quite as corrupt as the last Alaskan governor doesn't mean she should get away with bilking the taxpayers even if it's just a mere $21 grand. And while she's at it, Palin should return the per diems she was getting while staying at home! If she's short on cash, she can always return some of the $75 thousand worth of clothes to Nieman Marcus that the RNC purchased for her. Man, what an absolute embarrassment she has become. But then again, at least Palin understands the job she's running for... Oh yeah, that's right, I guess with watching the kids and all, and spending all that time visiting the "real" America she hasn't had the time to read the constitution.

It would be interesting to put that question to Joe the Plumber

Anna from Vancouver

The people of Alaska should not have to pay the travel expenses of their governor's tribe of children and if she truly cared about the working class Joes of her state she wouldn't expect them to. What a hypocrit.

You betcha, Jack. The children are not campaign props, but are being treated that way. Sad.

You know, for a while now I have been aware of something that no one has talked about. Which is, IF Palin were a Democrat, running for VP, who had just given birth, and is a mother of 5 kids.

Then the Republican-family-values crowd would be demonizing her for abandoning her children!

Its very hypocritical, that the same Republican-family-values crowd is .....silent. As they watch a mother of an infant ambitiously work night and day. Interesting.

Whether she returns the money or not, all her prideful talk about being a Washington outsider and bringing a new kind of government is totally betrayed by by her abuse of power, her denial of her abuse of power, her private spending of public funds, her divisive campaign speeches, etc., etc., etc. She is very simply, a fraud.
Elizabeth

I don't care what Gov. Palin does or does not do, I just want her and her family to go back to Alaska and leave the rest of the country alone. What a poor choice of candidate she is, and what a clear example of John McCain's bad judgement.

How can this even be legal? And, her charging Alaska to stay
in her own home? Is this part of being a "maverick"?
I have a feeling that when and if she is up for election
again in Alaska, she will have a hard time getting
elected even for dog catcher.
And some people think she is qualified and capable
of being our VP?
You betcha!

Jack,
I'm glad you are back.
Yes Jack I think she should reimburse Alaska for her kids expenses.
I can see tax payers paying if the family is required to attend as part of her position but some of what I read did not give me the impression they were required to attend and they stayed longer than they needed to stay almost like a free vacation being paid by Alaska tax payers.
Plus if she did nothing wrong why change the expense report?

Yes she should. She is running as a reformer and against wasteful spending she should walk the walk, not just talk the talk.

Yes she should but I doubt she will. She is a gifted politician in that she knows how to tweak the system. Per diem pay, kids travel paid, saying the Constitution left room for interpretation so she can decide what the VP does later if the McCain Palin ticket win. She's the gift that keeps on taking.

Jack
This is just another Prime example of Sarah Palins abuse of her office. First we had Trooper Gate, Now this. Maybe Palin should clean out her own closets first. Before she talks about Barack Obama.
Of course the McCain camp will say she did nothing wrong. People need to wake up, before its too late.

Jack, YES, she should give every cent back, why did she adjust the expences? this woman is so guilty a cheat, and very good with her lies,she brain wash a few Americans, but the majority of Americans can see that this woman is not to be trusted.

Yes, she should pay it back is that not what a MAVERICK would do? And by the way why was that pathetic interview allowed to be aired yesterday, there is still no substance there, CNN gave in just so that you can get an exclusive. I love your segments Jack, but I think I will switch over to MSNBC, they are not afraid to go after the truth and real answers.

I'm no fan of Sarah Palin. However, when will we stop punishing women for being working mothers? If having her children along makes for a more effective governor, so be it. The money spent on clothes is the real story. Joe the Plumber doesn't spend TENS of THOUSANDS of dollars on clothes and neither do I. This certainly undermines her argument that she's just one of us. And what are the charitable organizations supposed to do with that stuff anyway? Outfit a couple of dislocated Katrina families?

Hi Jack;
Yes she should, she is the Mistress of reform. She is should stop all this retoric about Sen. Obama and miss quoting him on that Joe the Plumber and spreading the wealth, it looks like she is doing just that for herself

Thanks,

Voting for Sen. Barack Obama

The taxpayers of Alaska should not have to pay for her children's trips. This is probably the most ridiculous thing I've seen about Mrs. Palin to date. Furthermore, why aren't these children in school? Are they being homeschooled or privately tutored? If so, who is paying for that?

There have been to date a number of issues regarding Gov. Palin that seem questionable, but this particular situation really has me questioning just what kind of government official she really is. It seems like she is rallying against earmarks and handouts and overspending.........for anyone except her and her own.

I don't know, perhaps that is typical republican behavior.

Yes, she should pay for her childrens travel and stay with her on the campaign trail.

With the extensive executive experience she claims to hold, she should know without a doubt that only HER campaign expenses are aloud under corporate regulations. Anyone travelling with her is an ADD ON and the cost must be covered by personal means.

If she inputs that they were invited (When Not), she then is repeating her Ethical Violations.

Most Ethical policies state that if you know that something is wrong, it is the responsibility of that person to fall in line with financial policies and not subvert them for personal gain.

$21,000 approx. is not a cheap trip. Where I work the people who have executive experience would fire me for the amount over and above her own expenses.

Come on Jack you know all Sara has to do is pray that the debt will go away and God will cancel it out. Don't you pay any attention to her history?

Anyway if God can't do it for her then maybe the witch doctor, she uses, from her church can fix it with the tax payers. If this doesn't work maybe the people who are paying off Joe the Plumbers back taxes can do the same for Sara, you betcha..

Yes!!! What about adding the $150,000 for clothes the RNC bought her and her family. That should taxed as income.

Whyt not a question about why Biden predicted a crisis after they are elected? Why not a question about ACORN? Why not a question about spreading the wealth around?? No, instead we have yet another invitiation to bash and trash Gov Palin, who dares oppose Obama! This is a relatively trivial matter, but so what, I guess.

I suppose she should reimburse the state for the expenses IF all other governors agree to do the same for money they have used privately. Otherwise, leave her alone. You are supposed to be liberals after all, and that used to mean being open minded, compassionate and free of stereotypes.

Not only should she reimburse Alaskans for her children's travel, she should also return the bogus perdiem money for staying in her own home, eating her own food. If the Palin family needs more income to live, let them do what McCain advised the rest of us to do – get a second job and cut back on expenses.

Perks of her office?

Jack;
Does it really matter. So long as she fades into oblivion on the morning of November 5th, the amount will seem trivial compared to the cost of having her as VP, or heaven forbid President!

Hi Jack;
Yes she should, she is the Mistress of reform. She should stop all this retoric about Sen. Obama and miss quoting him on that Joe the Plumber and spreading the wealth, it looks like she is doing just that for herself

Thanks,

Voting for Sen. Barack Obama

You betcha! If the McCain campaign lets her keep those expensive clothes they bought her with donated money, maybe she can put them on EBay and use the money to say "Thanks, but No Thanks" to taxpayer subsidies because she can't get a babysitter. cy gardner arlington,va

Well, IF Sarah Palin were an ethical person – oh wait, we already know she's N-O-T ethical, she would.

Let's keep it the way it is – and the Barack can use it against her in 2012 when she runs for the big chair.

Why bother??? We'd end up paying for it in next year's "stimulus package" in some round about way anyhow. Maybe now that she is a recent supporter of Special Needs children, she will be open to adopting a 36 year old son and taking me on a moose hunting expedition in the frozen tundra and bill it as a new program. Kick off to to National Mother Son Day.. I will fire the first ceremonial bullet to justify it as a government outing.....Please follow me to the Vomitorium.

Not yes, but HELL YES! Talk about an ethics violation.

No reimbursement needed. Dragging her kids around the state and now the nation at someone else's expense gives us a great glimpse into how she and Todd plan to reform government and display family values. After all, her governor's office needs a troop of hooky-playing sycophants and an un-official henchman/enforcer to restore government to the good old days when Alaska was independent but pro-American.

Clearwater, FL
Children and spouses are not elected officials so they should not be entitled to have their expenses covered by any government, not state or federal. This includes the money spent by the RNC to feed and clothe her family during the campaign.. Does anyone wonder if the other nominees or their families are being supplied wardrobe, hair and make up? I would hate to see what Mrs. McCain would charge considering her outfit for the first day of the convention alone cost over $3,000. If I were a Republican and donated to the RNC, I would be enraged. I wonder if the donors at all of her fund raisers knew they were paying for her clothes, hair and make up to appear not only before them but on SNL.

Yes....this is blatant lying thievery...some find example of a vp candidate.

She can go hunting and sell what she kills to pay for this or her hubby can enter some more snowmobiling contests.

Sara Palin needs pay back the Alaskan people, why are her children working with her, is this what is going to be happening in the white house? Is going to be a daycare, this is the problem not only does she not know anything but she is going to make the White House a daycare.

Yes I think she should, after all she was the one who went on the campaign trail telling everyone how she sold a jet on Ebay and canceled the bridge to nowhere but still receive the money for it. These expenses are not supposed to be paid for by the Alaskan gov't. She claims to be a hard line conservative she should have known this. She is also supposed to be a very religious person, she should remember not to throw stones when you live in a glass house.

Accepting the reality that many of us have dependants who rely on us–but do not prevent us from exceptional job performance with a little help from our employers–is a concept that should be on center stage.

Why not let the children accompany a mother of father on a business trip? Would you perform better at work knowing you're also doing all you can for your family? How loyal would you be to that employer?

Heck no.
Let's make the Alaskan model a prototype for a new and better way to manage our work force in this new century!! There's more to life than the bottom line–and for far too long pursuit of riches over quality of life–has been the focus for American business–and American employees.

We can do better.

Well Jack,
I think it's really up to the people of Alaska! I'm sure after the election, when the Palin family goes back to their small town, to plan for her run in 2012, the good people of Alaska will get their money back one way or another.

ABSOLUTELY. And an investigation of abuse of power and taxpayers should be launched. That moron showed what a reformer she would be. Republicans always have this line we reform just like Bush said 8 years ago that he will restore law and order in Washington. I voted on Monday. OBAMA/BIDEN

Yes of course.

But she would argue : "Now, come-on , let's not live in the past. Let's call this for what it is, wink, wink ; we need some straight talk here we all know this is just a small abuse of power,no different than what I would be doing as VP or if I became president with Todd, and so then well darn it, we should really just admit that is what rebels and mavericks do and we really need to shake things up and I love my children and I've been on the PTA so I am more qualified than Obama and I really dont mind being called Sarah the Abuser by those on the other side there , hiding behind their paid for comerricals, where they collect taxes and spread infrastructure and are not as pro-america as some of us decent soccer moms or joe six packs.Hey, can I call ya Jack?"

Jack, let her keep the money, clothes etc. However no news station should allow her to get free air time telling her lies. When she lies and talks about how she is a reformer, and all this maverick nonsense, the news should show the receipts of all her transactions, exspecially the ones at Neiman Marcus and she should be the NEW socialist model.

God help us all.

You Betcha! Children should not be on business trips at all, let alone on the state's money. Wait, isn't that socialism? And, why weren't they in school?

Jack,
Of course she should pay it back. I was a government employee for 30 years and if I tried to take my wife with me on trips and have the government pay for it, I would have been fired and prosecuted. This goes back to the ethics question. She was proven to have broken ethics statutes in Alaska and still does with the RNC giving her family clothes. The RNC say's the wardrobe will go to charity? Is that her cousin's name? It will be charity if she is unemployed soon.
Don MOline, Ill

even IF she does, she needs to be investigated by the State of Alaska. between this bunk, her sideways support of the Alaskan separatist movement and now her shopping spree on the RNC's dime of which some is taxpater money, I hope that Toto has finally pulled back the curtain on yet another Republican wizard.

You betcha, Jack.... But there's a whole bunch of Senators and Representatives that should paying us back for their slight-of-hand windfalls over the years..

This could be the very first 'perky' VP we've ever had..

YES! just what we need in the White House another liar just like Bush and the rest.

If Sarah Palin is a true Reformer, she should reform herself and pay back to the tax payers her travel expenses!

Without any doubt, this woman should return every cent to the taxpayers who put her in office. If there is one thing I am fed up with, it's the hypocritical agendas that the Republican Party has done over and over again this year. They accuse Obama of being Socialist and dishonest, yet her people pay for her kids traveling and entertainment when they can barely afford to feed their own children.This is the World Stage you're on Palin, not a pageant stage.

First of all- Welcome back Jack! Secondly, absolutely she should have to re-pay every penny.

No, consider it on the job training for the vice presidency position. She's already got abuse of power and ethics violation on her resume, so now, she's pretty much qualified.

She's just Bush with lipstick.

I can just hear her now...

"You mean I gotta pay all of it back?? GOSHDARNIT!!"

Who Cares. This is just a distraction from the real issues the country faces.

Well, certainly she should but having lived for a time in Alaska, I must tell you that any time anyone can get a free trip they take it. It's part of what people up there do over and over just to get away. In the job I had there was a family travel account, and it was considered normal to take your kids and fly home to places in the lower 48. In Alaska there were many people who served on boards and flew free every time they went somewhere, and that was considered normal. So maybe there is a different kind of mindset up there.

Hell yes Jack...how can these theiving republicans claim to not be in favor of WELFARE when they are all trying to get as many freebees as possible.

Why does she think anyone else should foot the bill for her hillbilly clan? Along with $$ the money spent to clothe she and her family, she is nothing more than a welfare queen...with her hands still open for whatever she can get.

Any self-respecting parents would never use their children on a stage as much as they do, AND, use the kids to cheat the state out of more money than they're already paid.

She'll just lie again and simply say, "I didn't break any laws".

Of course she should reimburse the state. She should then apologize for defrauding them. Neither will ever happen.

Rich Green
San Clemente, Cal.

Damn straight, she should! Imagine taking your kids on a business trip and trying to get the company pay for it! Saying that they are there in an official capacity is really ridiculous! But this just plays right into the rest of her ethical issues. For all she talks about being a reformer, her type of cronyism, incompetence, unethical behavior, and power grabbing is just what this country needs to be reformed FROM.

No ... She is obviously entitled to whatever she wants ... wait until she takes over the Senate !!!

No, Republicans take from the government to give to the rich, unlike Obama wants to take from the rich and give to the people who need it. Sounds like Obama took a great lesson from Robin Hood to me. It's too bad the other party doesn't see that trickle down economics hasn't worked and never will. As a matter of fact ever since Ronald Reagan started this type of tax policy, we've had a deficit.

Jack,Absolutely !! She also should be blocked from doing it again,unless she pays out of pocket to drag them all over the country.

Jack

No Jack, it is part of getting their "education". If they travel around so much with her, when are they in school? It does not seem to be a big part of Palin's philosophy and values. She already has a pregnant daughter who is a high school drop out, who will be marrying her boyfriend..another high school drop out. We all remember how she got her "expertise" in foreign policy issues. Thanks goodness for Obama's plans on education.

The government entity I work for would never pay for kids to join an employee on a business trip. And while I have no kids, I sure would appreciate it if they would pay for me to bring my dog with me on business trips. She behaves better than most kids and she doesn't have to miss school.

Palin should not reimburse the state of AK for anything. We owe her a great deal of thanks and support. She is a wonderful American and one of the best governors of all time! Also, bringing her kids with her shows that she is a caring mother that wants to expose her children to other cultures and walks-of-life across this great land. People that don't vote for McCain/Palin are not "Pro-American"

Of course Jack. But you know she will not reimburse the taxpayers directly, she will add another tax to the oil companies up there and then give another rebate to the alaskan taxpayers. Oh but wait, then that would be socialism wouldn't Jack?

If I brought my kids on a work trip I'd be expected to pay their way. But then the company I work for also makes me buy my own clothes. Sarah's pork barrel tendancies seem to shine through. She has a very hard time saying, "Thanks but no thanks" in real life. Instead she expects and usually gets a free ride. Not too many of us real moms can say that.

She should send a check to all of us because we paid for most of Alaskans expenses!!!!

Stop charging us miss BARRACUDA!!

This just proves that Palin is a typical politician,a liar and a crook. She was voted into office and saw all that money and power and became like her predecessors. She should not only pay back the money,she should be impeached and prosecuted for violating Alaska's ethics laws.P.S.,I am a registered republican!

Of course she should.

Yes, because if she doesn't, then she gets the hypocrite of the year award. She's always preaching about unnecessary government spending, blah blah blah, but of course, like most Republicans, they don't practice what they preach.

Welcome back Jack, I hope you are well. The question of Gov. Palins children's travel expenses would depend upon the Alasken State government's laws and customs. This may not be an issue if past Alasken governors have done the same thing. We taxpayers funded an eight year worldwide tour for Hillary and Chelsea Clinton during Bill's years in the whitehouse and I recall something about an ungodly bunch of money for a larger plane to haul Ms. Polosi's entourage and grandchildren around. Ms. Palin provides us with enough gaffes and bloopers with her own ineptitude we needn't pile on her with any that may not be valid.

Yes, and maybe she should send Joe the Plumber a refund on the campaign contribution he made to McCain while she is at it. I suspect he didn't know it was going toward buying shoes. Poor guy, he could be unemployed for 4 years for the cost of her clothing alone!

Kate
Charlottesville, VA

If she doesn't want to pay for them, maybe she should drop them off in Nebraska.

Maybe we just don't know how things work up there next to Russia. It could be vital to the economic health of Alaska for Palin's kids to go to a snowmachine race as finish-line ambassadors – especially since the shadow governor is their dad. The girls are also seasoned raffle ticket pullers - which will serve them well on show-and-tell day. And then there's the per diem for Sarah staying in her own house 300 days in one year instead of going to her office (which is only 40 miles away), and a multi-night luxury hotel stay in New York for a 5-hour conference, and Todd's questionable snowmachine "business" and Troopergate behavior... Man oh man, the hits just keep on coming, don't they? Good thing McCain vetted her properly!

Jack - she should make restitution (and thats what it IS, restitution, not reimbursement). Regardless of whether it is, or is not, clearly defined by state policy, this is, in effect, a form of pork-spending: completely unneeded and unnecessary. From day-one, the RNC touted Sarah Palin as a principled, common sense, straight forward candidate; someone who (they claim) is against wasteful spending. This type of behavior does not set well with those who have lost homes, jobs, savings, pensions. I won't hold my breath that Palin will make any "refunds." Republicans will state the "she didn't break any laws, or do anything illegal." While this may be true, she only distances herself from Joe-the-Worker, and makes her look one of the elite flaunting their "privileges."

Yes! + the $150k she's spent so far on her personal "Palin clothing line"

This woman continues to expose herself as not only being unfit to Govern but she's anything but a refomer.

Please send her on a one way ticket back to Alask Nov 5th

Palin says she wants to clean up Washington but with both hands and feet in the cookie jar, that's going to be pretty hard!

She talks about transparency and accountability, yet, she ordered her staff to amend previously filed expense account reports once she became the nominee to make it look as if her kids were on official Alaska business.

Today we find out the RNC dished out 150K for designer outfits and makeup for her Palin and her family. I wonder how those ordinary folks who contribute to the Republican Party feel about their hard earned money being used to dress up Palin and company!

I think that Sarah Palin should have to reimburse Alaska for her kids travel expenses. What kind of official business are her kids on? Or her for that matter? Everything that they are doing now is for the campaign. So, McCain should be paying all of her and her children's ways. Before this, Alaska should only pay for her on official business. No government official should have a free family vacation.

Berta in Golden Valley, MN

Nowhere in Sarah Palin's job description as Governor of Alaska does it state that the state will be paying for her children to travel with her.
This goes directly to her ability to parent and govern at the same time and the fact that she made a choice she apparently can't live with within the defined job description. If Sarah gets this perk then so should the rest of us!

It's a choice we all struggle with- career vs. family. No matter what anyone says, it's a very fine and very difficult line to walk. Should Mrs. Palin get special treatment? No!!

She should reimburse Alaska and reimburse the American People for wasting our time considering her. Isn't what she did something similar to fraud?

Maybe the question that we should be more concerned about is why Palin went back to try and cover tracks of the expenses by "lying" about why the children were attending these events.

I thought that Palin was a dubious choice due to her limited experience in high level government. She’s been a mayor and a governor, and now it seems that she can do even those jobs neither competently nor ethically.

Why would Sarah be any different than any other politician, they all use and abuse. It sure is a turn around from what her and McCain are trying to sell the public on reform and abuse that they are going to stop. ??? She is just as full of ____ as the rest of them.

Surely nobody is surprised that Palin is using her position to take advantage of taxpayer money. Remember, she and McCain are using Joe the plumber as their standard bearer – a guy who doesn't have a plumber license and owes the government taxes. So he doesn't like paying taxes. Who does? But we pay ours, while the McCain 'advisor' lies to the press and owes taxes. Marvelous!

Yes.

Plus she positively should reimburse the Republician National Party for the clothing spree.

If I had donated to the RNC and realized that my donation may have gone to put clothes on her family, I'd ask for my donation back.

Pat
Barnwell,SC

Sarah Palin seems to be a family type person who wants her family nearby in this fast moving time. If Alaska permits her to paid travel for her family and she is open about the expenses, then it should be up to her.

Absolutely! That's quite an abuse of power. While she's at it, how about the expensive trips to Saks and Niemann Marcus. Since she's a governor, she should already have business clothes that would be good enough for the campaign trail.

What happens if you steal from your employer and get caught? Right, you get fired. Reimbursement? Well, of course you have to reimburse them and then you pay a fine or go to prison.

I don't understand why politicians seem to stand above the law over and over again. While those same politicians get elected by making moral issues the centerpiece of their campaigns. If they had only the tiniest bit of moral fibre they would at least step down voluntarily after being caught with their hand in the tax payers cookie jar.

She should repay the taxpayers of Alaska. This kind of "entitled" behavior is what I expect from entrenched politicians, not a maverick reformer. Many of us moms have to travel for our jobs, but no one I know gets reimbursed for family members who tag along.

Even if she did not violate Alaska tax laws, her behavior was highly unethical. I also think she exhibited very bad manners in those cases where her uninvited family members forced last-minute changes by their unexpected presence at official functions.

Jack: Welcome back. I missed you. You are the only reason I watch CNN. Yes Sarah Palin should reimburse the Alaska tax payers for her family's travel expenses. She wants everyone to think that she is just like every day people yet the McCain campaign spends $150,000,00 on clothes for her and her family. How many everyday people shop at Nieman Marcus and Saks? Then they stage a political stunt by just dropping in to walmart to pick up pampers for her baby. I don't know of any common everyday people who can jet around from state to state with their family in tow and spend the night at fancy hotels and charge it to their employers. I also want to know how many everyday people spend over $13,000.00 on makeup in a month. I would also like to know why her kids are not in school ? She is just using them as political props.

Jack, Ms. Palin, in just what we know to this point, has accepted and taken over a Hundred and Fifty Thousand dollars in expensive wardrobe fron the RNC, Billed the taxpayers of Alaska often for being "at home" as a Business expense, Lobbied for, then kept the bridge to nowhere money, taken untold thousands in earmarks during her term as Governor, her abuse of power in trooperegate, & now this ...
It wouldn't be so bad if her ticket and cronies didn't rail against this very sort of thing ....

Wow, being governor gets you free daycare service, free food, free transportation, and free movie trips? I can only hope taxpayers will help me out when I become a parent! Alaskan's sure are generous...that or they're being taken advantage of...I know I wouldn't let my governor do that.

Who cares? There are many more important issues this year.

Bless her heart, you bet'cha but you know if she repays that money then that mean head of socialism that use to be in that other country across the sea, which you can see from Alaska, which is Russia could come back and, and, and what was the question?

Now that would make her a true Maverick Jack.

Seriously, isn't this something that should be investigated by the local authorities. In Canada if you claim a per diem or travel expenses when it's not covered by policy then it's fraud and would be dealt with accordingly.

Yes she should. If someone else were to take a business trip – they would have to pay for their family members to go. So, why should it be any different for her.

Another thing Jack. I don't care about the RNC paying for it because I did not donate to it or the McCain camp. If they DNC or the Obama campaign had paid $150,000 for clothing for the Bidden family I would be terribly upset and would have sent them a note telling them to send me back every dime that I sacrificed to send to them.

Missed ya Jack,
I think we should reimburse Palins travel expenses and send her back to Alaska where she belongs.

The couple that we know who has 7 houses probably have a plane
or two that the kids could use.

Let me get this straight, she is using taxpayer dollars to schlep her family around the United States to create an image of herself as the perfect parent. I wonder what the McCain camp would say if the Bidens or Obamas did this.
What gets me about the clothes is WHERE she bought them. Doesn't sound much like "small town America" to me. We live in central California, and there isn't a Neimans or a Saks within 400 miles of us. Kinda hard to relate to that. Doesn't matter anyway, my vote has already been cast for Obama.

Not really, children are a part of our lives. The little money to support the travel of one family in office is not very much in the grand scheme of things. Unless the kids are over 21 of course.

Wanting average joe's and hockey moms to relate to her and going on a big spending spree of approximately 3000$ per day ???.She might be against Obama's plan to spread the wealth but she sure acts like it suits her fine when it comes to her family's care and appetite for luxury....

She's Neiman Mavericky! So what if she's just a common grifter...

Yes she should, but look at this another way. By ripping off the Alaskan public like she has been doing, she is proving that she is, indeed, ready for big the time politics of Washington DC.

So let me get this straight....rather than use her own money to pay for family expenses, she's taking taxpayers' money out of the state treasury. It's almost as if she's redistributing, or spreading the wealth around, if you will. Oh well – I guess when you spread taxpayer dollars out to the taxpayers, that's socialism. When you give it to yourself, that must be...patriotism?

Who am I to question? Joe the Travel Agent doesn't care...he got paid!

Jack

Could you please help me secure the rights to "THE RAISE AND FALL OF SARAH PALIN and what's his name" the movie. I believe in universal karma.

Peace

ASBINGDON, MD.

YES: I SENT THE WRONG ANSWER THE FIRST TIME. SHE NOT VICE-PRESIDENT, BUT THEN THEY ALL DO AS THEY PLEASE???
CHEAT, LIE, AND MAKE AN ASS OUT OF YOU AND ME?

You Betcha !!!

Welcome back, Jack!!! Missed you!
It is the decision of the State of Alaska. The citizens of Alaska need to communicate their concerns with their elected politicians. If Governor Palin violated any laws, she will be held accountable. If she did not, what's the issue here? The other 49 states have no business in Alaskan policy.

YOU BETCHA, SHE SHOULD AND IAM WONDERING IT HER KIDS GO TO SCHOOL.

Yes the Palins should pay that money back. Does Todd Palin have a job because it seems to me he out on the campaign trail everyday. Michelle Obama gave up her job and Barack don't track their kids out on the campaign trail everyday. While Obama / Biden are out trying to make this country better we have the Barbie doll is out spending our tax paying money on a $150K shopping spree and expensing her kids travel expenses. What the hell is going on in this country.. HELL the country is in a crisis and they are spending money like it's falling off the tree. I'm sick of the loose Republicans in Congress, fired all of the AZZ.

maybe my boss pay for my children to fly to a conference with me.

I can see him laughing me out of his office and right out of mine too.

Well I think that asking for reimbursments is like asking for George Bush to say nuclear correctly. It's not gonna happen. The thing that irritates me about this story is that you have these "fiscal conservatives" saying that they won't spend your tax dollars on wasteful pork and yet they can spend them on travel expenses? On top of that we are learning about how much it costs to dress our average hockey mom. Appearently, it's ok to spend tax payer's money on the wealthy(remember that $700 billion bail out?). Let's just ignore community projects tax payer money can fund or the debt our country is in from the war, or should I say wars.

That should be left to Alaska taxpayers, but amending the expense report is a plain fruad. By the way, I am also embaressed the fact that she doesn't know the exact duty of vice president. Am I dreaming?

YES! The argument that the voters knew she was a mommy is just lame. It's her responsibility to take care of her kids, not the taxpayers. Hire a nanny or have Todd take care of the kids when she's away. The fact that she used taxpayer money to pay for her kids airfare and hotel makes her a hypocrite. Typical.

Yes, when you get caught having your hands in the cookie jar, it is best to at least offer to pay for the cookies. Either that, or pay the consequences.

Well now since Sara took the town of Wasilla from zero debt to 22 million in debt and built an arena on land the town didn't own why would the voters expect her to function any different as their governor?

If you look at what is going on with Senator Stevens and Palin's abuse of power and the polls are still showing the Republicans with a huge margin Alaskans don't deserve to get their money back.

Let's all just hope Sara goes back to Alaska as their governor and bleeds them dry as they really don't deserve any better.

I say let Alaska decide! I think she is as corrupt as Chaney! But Alaska is going to have to decide if she has there best interest at heart. As far as her being a Mommy... there are plenty of Dads out there who don't grab there kids up and take them with them everywhere they go, to busness meetings. Kind of a double standard if you look at it that way. I don't take my kids with me!

Yes, Palin should be paying for her husband and children. As a taxpayer I am truly angry how much expense has been placed upon each of us.

I gotta tell you Jack, this reform she's claiming got me all confused and worked up.

This lady is running around in a frenzy criticizing Obama for tax cuts to the middle class when she's the first one to spend taxpayers money on her family. How hypocritical is that?

By the way, why are her children not in school? I keep seeing them at her Rallys. Could it be the reform she's talking about?

Not only should she payback it back but include interest as well. Although we don't know if she can afford it because she hasn't relased her tax returns like all the other candidates. But if she did that people might see that she is not so middle class any more, I mean how many middle class families have a wardrobe of $1000 plus outfits?

Oh, Helene, Cindy McCain's outfit didn't cost $3,000 - it cost $300,000! A friend in the fashion world said that the designer was selling one just like it in a different color for close to $250,000, and that doesn't include the shoes or jewelry (the pearls alone were probably $30,000 or more)!

Fie on the Republican Party for perpetuating this fraud on us! Hope you spend the next eight years trying to figure out how to "re-engage" the American people. At least reengaging those of us not living in the "pro-America" part, since we still have the vote!

Hello Jack,

The more I here of the things she is allowed to get away with saying and doing it just sickens me...and to see that the polls are so close based on people's beliefs rather than what they truly feel disheartens me even more. What more can Sarah Palin do to truly turn Republicans off of her and Senator McCain. Marvericks..ha..classless acts is more like it.

Say it again Jack I couldn't hear ya my "EARMARKS" were covered. For a person that throws so many rocks at others about reforming, earmarks, and spending she sure does a lot of it. They say she cleaned up Alaska!!! I hate to see what it looked like before she was Governer. it would have been cheeper to have kept the darn plane she sold for a loss!!! Of course she should have to pay it back and, McSame should take that legendary pen of his out and make her famous like he said he would, and try not to get any on his self in the processes with his $2,500 shoes!!!! $150,000 in clothing for her and her family purchased by the RNC!!!!!!! I thought she was a Wal-mart Mom. I thought she was like us. Go figure!!!!!!

Hey, I just had a thought Jack,

If Sarah had to pay back the people of Alaska that she 'ripped off' would that translate to W. having to pay back the people he 'ripped off' during his time in office? I could certainly go along with that. LOL

Yes, she should give it back then resign.

Palin should just resign and save everyone a ton of money and grief.

Heck, if she needs to bring her family everywhere she goes, she should be gov.

Hey Jack! Great to have you back.
Do you think the republicans will be selling Sarah's expensive clothing on Ebay? Seriously, don't you see that as the next story line out of McCain's camp? We're selling it on Ebay. Just remember, you may have heard it here in the midwest from me, first!!!

Neiman Marcus and Nordstroms have an open return policy. Garments can be returned even if worn. Obviously, something I don't believe is ethical. Nonetheless, when Palin loses and goes "North" to Alaska, she'll be able to pocket the six figure clothing return to add to the other misdeeds re per diem and doctored expense reports. Her definintion of reform is as whacky as she is.

Change is coming and the right ethical people are going to lead the way for those that believe. Obama/Biden

Why don't we let the good people of Alaska address that when she returns to that beautiful state in fourteen days?

Jack,

Coming from Wasilla, I think Sarah Palin should pay back Alaska for her kids expenses. Not it money, but in bricks, metal and labor to help finish our pointless bridge to nowhere.

Absolutely. Sarah Palin acts like she is above the law. Embezzlement and Larceny are criminal offenses that are prosecuted against criminal defendants everyday in our courts. Why should Sarah Palin be exempt? Sounds like she has the Bush Cheney sense of entitlement.

I gotta tell you Jack, this reform she’s claiming got me all confused and worked up.

This lady is running around in a frenzy criticizing Obama for tax cuts to the middle class when she’s the first one to spend taxpayers money on her family. How hypocritical is that?

By the way, why are her children not in school? I keep seeing them at her Rallys. Could it be the reform she’s talking about?

Jack, Sarah Palin has a lot of "should" do's on her lists. She should withdraw the lies and mistruths she has spread on this campaign. She should own the fact she committed ethics violations in the state of Alaska. She should pay the money back to Alaska. But what she should do and what she is doing are two different things in this campaign.

I find it pretty interesting that there is so much outrage about this (kids travel at tax-payer's expense and $150,000.00 clothing allowance on what I assume is donor expense) and such muted disdain for the " guilty of abuse of power" verdict in the Troopergate Investigation. That ruling along with Palin's repeated job description for the office of Vice President is what scares the dickens out of me! I mean, she's broadcasting that she plans to abuse the power of Vice President and nobody seems to connect the dots. Writing off the kid's expenses is just one more example of a woman that abuses her power. The 1 and a half thousand of the RNC's war-chest doesn't bother me at all. That's just $150,000. less that they can use to smear Obama.

why should taxpayers pay for her children?Because she thinks so,I believe not.I would be mighty mad knowing My hard earned money thats in taxes paid for her kids to fly,have a hotel and entertainment,yes I would want to be paid back.She should be accountable for that.

Good to see that Jack is back !!

I do not know what the laws of Alaska are. But then again this adds to the perception that she treads the fine line on ethics. I would have given her the benefit of doubt but then there appears to be a series of ethical issues were she has straddled the line. And that troubles me deeply.

I do not like Sarah Palin, but if it does not go against policy then I would say no. However, this is the kind of spending that all of our politicians need to stop and put a policy into place to prevent it, or punish it in the future. Most people would be fired from their jobs for doing what she did, but then again, the political arena is the only one I know of in this country that would consider hiring a 72 year-old for a job with such an enormous amount of responsibility. Go figure.

Yes, I believe Gov. Palin should reimburse the Alaskan taxpayers, otherwise her integrity will be permanently damaged.

Since Palin changed the books to allow her kids a free ride, she should at least pay back the 5 days her daughter spent in a hotel when her business there was for 3 hours, and the ski boarding event watching her husband.
Why aren't the children in school????
Doris
Ojai, California

If she has any ethics at all, which I doubt, she should certainly return the money to the State of Alaska. After this election is over, she may not get such a warm reception back in Alaska. Also, this idea of her becoming the Republican STANDARD BEARER in 2012 is the most ridiculous I've heard. I think the thing for her to do is to go back to being a small town mayor; that way she can't do too much harm!

OBAMA/BIDEN 08

The decision on Sarah Palin's travel expense reimbursement should be left up to the Alaskans. My greatest fear is that they won't want her back after the election. If she thaws out too much in the lower forty-eight, they may not be able to re-freeze her in the governor's mansion. A chilling thought.

Palin is not a poor choice made by McCain. The whole RNC stage is a conspiracy theory. Senior Bush understands that his son W Bush screwed up over the eight years and is now desperately needing a cover up. This is a conspiracy hatched by using the less smart McCain & Palin to loose the election so that DNC is in WH to clean up the dirty laundries. When the mess got cleaned up they will come back to win the election and hoping the next RNC president will do a better job.

I believe she acted according to Alaska law... Did you get paid for the last two weeks Jack ??

Definitely, she needs to reimburse it with all her "Maverickyness". Oh, and welcome back buddy. We missed you.

no! they voted for her. they can pay for her! they can keep her in alaska,too! everyone's complaining about her expensive clothes. she should have worn her baby polar bear mittens! they only cost her one broken baseball bat!

Here's a novel idea:

1) Gather up the 150K of clothes the RNC bought.
2) Gather up the receipts.
3) Take the clothes and receipts back to Sak's, Neiman Marcus, etc.
4) Return the clothes, get the money
5) Send a money order or cashiers check to the State of Alaska for $21K
6) Then see how the RNC likes to have their money spent for airfare, etc.
7) Let Palin and the RNC fight and spin amongst themselves.

i think the media has made up there minds on who they wont they has allways vafored obama and i think this is said because you guys never say anything bad about obama but are quick to take dowm mccain so i do think race has a issue and people are afraid to say what they really think of obama be cause the race card would be pulled witch is said if you tell me it allso tells you what kind of nation we are and we cant move onto the future and obam is not it tell me why he is more qualified them mccain he is not but you all make it sound as if he was and it happens to be because of race

No. I don't think Gov. Sarah Palin should pay for her children's travel with her. I think The Alaskan Independence Party that she's associated with should pay for it. This group wants nothing to do with the United States of America and after watching the video with Gov. Sarah Palin giving a very, very supportive speech to this group, and this speech was given in this year, 2008, I'm sure they have a special funding for her and her family. Then, add to this, she went back and changed the charges and put them under another heading. I don't know how shady a character such as Palin has to be before people see her for who she really is, but if this doesn't do it along with the association with the AIP, then, there's no hope, people have fallen for a lie. I'm afraid to see what she'll do if given such a huge responsibility as the White House. Sigh...

Jack,

The hypocracy of it all is amazing. Here is a woman that runs around the country telling supporters we need to know the truth about various facets of Obama's life and associations, yet she has done all she can to quash Troopergate after she was name to the GOP ticket. She and her husband were members of a group in Alaska dedicated to Alaska's seceeding from the US, while she has the unmitigated nerve to call certain parts of the US Anti-American. Finally she runs around telling how she has and will cut waste in government while she has charged the taxpayers of Alaska for her children to accompany her on business trips...

Yes Yes Yes...
She should also give back the house she had built for free...

Jack,

she should also reimburse Alaska of all the "per-diem" she charged while staying home in Wasilla, and explain why she didn't report any of that money in her tax-return.

No Jack, she can keep all those parting gifts with her when she checks out on Nov. 4th. She'll then have plenty of free time to clean out her closet!

Apperently not Jack. You see Sarah Palin's nomination as VP has obviously been seen as the second coming of the Messiah, for all the rope she's been given ( I won't make the obvious analogy). Whenever she is critized, it is deemed sexist. Yet, this HARPY, can say the most ignorant/divisive/hateful/idiotic things known to man, and the Republicans have the sheer audacity to claim media bias. No, the woman is She-Bush, and it needs to be stopped. I don't want to have a beer with the "Leaders", of the free world, I want them to read. I don't care if you can relate to "Joe Sixpack", that guy is drunk. And why does this random, unidentifiable person represent normal/real Americans. Because he drinks Corona's? Come on, for Christ's sake... (*and i don't even believe in God)

Does it really matter at this point, Jack? All these politicians screw up and steal from the people. We and the media get wild up after the fact. We've learned time and time again, nothing happens. They are all professional crooks, only reason that they don't get in trouble is because all of the others are doing the same thing.
Maverick Reformer, my #%$

why would she? she's already demonstrated she'd abuse the office... why would she stop now?

just what the US needs... another cheney.

Not only should Sarah reimburse her kids' expenses but the $150 K wardrobe as well.

Perhaps an alternate deal could be arranged: Forgive the expenses and the wardrobe if she'll agree to drop out of the race and go back to Alaska!

She is going to return it when she cleans up wasteful government spending!

Hey Jack,
I'm not worried about Pallin's expense account on us the taxpayers,
since she will continue to do so after she goes back to being the govenor of Alaska!!!!
Just to let you know I MISSED YOU!, pls continue to do the Cafferty File w/its great questions & informative news!!!!!

Thks,

Margie H.
Queen Creek, Az.

Hi Jack,

I think the bigger question should be why hasn't the state of Alaska started impeachment proceedings against Sarah Palin. Since she has been introduced on the national stage, we have learned that Palin abused her power as governor to settle a personal score. She does not know what the role of a VP is after being asked several times, and we find out that she is not the Wal-Mart clothes buying hockey mom she claims to be. The $150,000 that the RNC has spent to clothe her and her family is outrageous! What the American people are getting a first hand look at is that with McCain/Palin in office we will be faced with scandal after scandal.

Governor Palin needs to return the expense money AND the perdiem money she charged Alaska for staying in her own house and eating her own food. And Alaska can kiss all future earmarks goodbye now that we in the lower 48 understand their socialist redistribution of money while having no state income or sales tax.

Maybe Sarah should have blinked.

Jack,

maybe you haven't heard the latest breaking news from the McCain campaign: Sarah Palin is a not-so-distant relative of Mary Poppins!

Yes Jack; the kids should only attend when the requesting organization requests them. No private corporation will spring for an executive to fly their family around on a business trip. Your family goes then you pay. If they request your family then they pay. It is that simple.

I am so shocked that this "reformer" and sidekick of a "maverick" would do such a thing! Just another example of how much the "reformer" and maverick" label they put on themselves is a joke. She should pay it all back!

Is Palin really a hockey mom or Wal-Mart mom?
What does it mean for 'Joe the plumber' to spend $150,000 on clothes and accessories for Palin and her family?
Assuming Joe donates all his money to McCains' cause, after paying local and state taxes, under Obama’s plan it would take him 5 years just to cloth the Palins and more than 6 years under McCain’s plan.
Or better yet, Joe can just pay the whole principal on his home mortgage.
With such elitist and expensive habits, it's not hard to see why the former beauty queen helped herself from Alaskan's dow to travel with her extended family and get paid per diem while at home in Alaska.
P.S. Is the lipstick included in that tab?

Jim says he hasn't seen you on the Situation Room recently, where have you been?

Jack,

Are you kidding me do you think she is the only one to ever do something like this? NO I'm sure if the media looked hard enough into the Democrats you would find the same kind of things happening; let’s bust both sides of the fence because both parties are doing this I'm sure. I'm sure Chelsea went along with the Clinton’s many times when not invited to a function! Have the Clinton’s reimbursed the American people for when Chelsea went uninvited?

Jack,

the appropriate question is: "why are her children always traveling with her rather than attending school?"

Welcome back, Jack! No offense to the CNN gang, but it isn't the same without you in the Situation Room.

On to Sarah Soundbite: Yes, absolutely, without a doubt – she needs to reimburse Alaska for her family "governor-related" activities. If my family accompanies me on a business trip there is no way my employer will pay their way, nor do I expect the employer to pay.

so much for ethics – it only applies to everyone else, not to Sarah. (Whatever happened to Troopergate and the ethical violations?)

Definitely. She is Governor Palin, not Princess Sarah.

Maybe we should ask Joe-not-Joe-the-Plumber what he thinks about his 'wealth' being spent on airfare and hotel rooms for the Gov's kids? Is that socialism?
Joe

The money spent on make-up and clothes for S. Palin is a waste of tax payers money. Barbara Walters quoted the amounts and stores on her morning show and I was appalled in light of all the lost jobs, homes economy etc. If the taxpayers are also paying for the outfits and entertainment and travel of her whole family ... I'd like for the government to pay for just a few of my bills, gas, electricity or a free tank of gas for my vehicle would be nice.
What a waste of money.
rhonda
rockford Il
jobs in this city or scarce and moved out of the country

jack
She should just go away.

Of course she should. But she won't. Palin has already shown to consider herself above the law, above the taxpayers, and, dare I say it, above the Presidency. I heard she even had official documents edited so that it said her kids were on official business, which I believe include watching Dad race on a snowmobile. Reformer my you-know-what! She's just as crooked, if not more so, than all the clowns in Washington right now.

Absolutely, and with her own personal cash, not general election funds. Then she should march right back to Neiman Marcus and return her $150,000 wardrobe, then apologize and come clean for her role in Troopergate, then hold a press conference and step down from her position as VP candidate.

It's hard to believe we've only known her a few weeks!

Boise, ID

The key question to ask is......

Why did she have to amend the expense reports?

The second question to ask Ms Palin is......

Is this an example of how she is looking to clean up Washington?

Palin finally gives an interview and today no one - not even CNN - is bothering to talk about it. Pathetic.

A New York hotel for $700 a night? Clothing for $150K? Free travel for the kids and the "first dude"? Per diem for staying in your own home? Wake up, Alaska! You voted for this, and if you don't like it, impeach her!

Yes, if they have not been on official business. The indication that Gov. Palin has used that argument says much about her attitude to her State rules and, ultimately, to her fellow Alaskans who are paying for it. Twisting the truth for personal gain seems to be Gov. Palin's greatest credential.

Yes, she should if the children were not required to attend. She should have paid for them at her own expense. I am a mother of three and I have a young one that I want with me at all times. So I do understand! But if I choose to be a governor I would make the means and arrangements for my children and not expect the taxpayer's to pay my family's way. Because I knew I had children and a family before I ran for office and there are sacrifices and situations required of me as a public servant.

Why don't you let Alaska worry about Governor Palin's expenses?
You people at CNN could look at Obama's association with William Ayers and whether or not he wrote Obama's book. You could also look into Obama's association with ACORN and all the election fraud going on around the country.

YES! Can't people see that she is a fraud? There's the abuse of power, the abuse of taxpayer money, and the story that the same company that built the Wassila sports center also built her house and the Palins didn't pay for it. She's a typical Reublican. In a constant state of denial, and someone who is very familiar with the psychological term "projection".

The woman needs to be stopped.

a friend of mine from Fairbanks, AK called this morning, there pissed and embarrassed that these thing's are coming to light. there not a bit happy with her, oh she will pay, she might want to change her flight plan's for somewhere else Nov 5th and just mail in the reimbursements... she is burning bridges, not building them.....he added she never talked with this country slang until 6 week's ago!

Family Values! Tax evasion is patriotic, Jack. Support our troops with bumper stickers and care packages, but keep your hard earned dollars out of the socialist pool of Democratic pork. Government small enough to fit into my bedroom and eavesdrop on my phonecalls and just big enough to keep Sarah Palin and her family flyin' high in expensive Star Trek costumes. We can afford her double dipping. Maybe they'll hang her costly portrait next to Rumsfeld in the hall of Pro-American Americans for America. Heck, she's creating jobs already. There's a whole third world economy of child sweatshop labor hanging in her closet. She's an expert on energy because she uses so much of it flying around. You may think it's disrespectful for me to speak this way. I think it is disrespectful the way that she speaks to me and my family. We do not share her values.

A more important question to ask would be; Are the American taxpayers going to have to foot the bill for specialized child care expenses for her special needs child and her minor daughter's offspring while she resides at the White House as she serves as V.P.? And by the way, why aren't her children in school where they belong? Are "we the people" going to have to incur the cost of tutors for her and her daughter's children?
Jeff,
Massachusetts

She should reimburse the state for the money or pay taxes on it. Who is she kidding? She is treating the Alaska budget like the "kitty" in a card game. While she's at it, have her reimburse the RNC for the make-up, hairdo's and clothes.

She should give everything back to the people of Alaska, all those Joe six packs and Joe the plumbers that paid their state income and sales taxes. Those taxes where for those brides and roads to nowheere not for the travel of the Palin family. When a democrat gets a $400 haricut EVERY station has a field day, when a Republican uses 21 thousand for family travel, 13 thousand for make up and 150 thousand for wardrobe, she is no reformer but a REPLICA of a washington insider she wants to replace. What HYPOCRISY!

No she should not, she should take up a collection from joe the plumber so we wont need to raise taxes to cover the travel expenses.

they caint ride in they moose-hide sled till it snows.

Caribou Barbie should return to Alaska and field dress some more moose. She may be qualified to have children, but not be the President of the USA. Alaska needs a lot of perks like reimbursing the Governor for child care to attract any resemblance of talent.

Maurice
Two Rivers, Wi

She should return the money but she will not. I think it is terrible for the family to carry that sedated baby around as a political prop!

Yes,but she won't.Also,her $150,000 wardrobe will not cover up( get it?) the fact that Ms. Palin is not very bright.

Yes. If she were traveling around on behalf of the state-Alaska- it would be a different story. But she's running around the entire country to campaign for a VP> ticket . She's using her children as stage props. I don't recall ever seeing a woman (mother) running for a gov't office of any type bringing her children on the campaign trail.If she were really a mom trying to get ahead she would be making damn sure the kids were in school getting an education. Is she really going to make those 2 teens get married based on a sexual encounter? what a great marraige that will be. Where are the boy's parents?

The RNC certainly doesn't mind "Sharing the Wealth" with the Palin Family! Her "shopping sprees" remind me of the old show "Queen for a Day!" Let's hope it only lasts until November 4th. I guess she has to look good next to Cindy McCain.

It seems odd to me that the Republicans are talking about "Joe The Plumber" when Cindy McCain is worth millions, can dress in glamorous cloths all the time, the McCains are poster children for fuel guzzling NASCAR (missing an opportunity to encourage NASCA to lead the alternative fuel revolution....They try to align themselves with "The Little Guy" and then criticize the Democrats and Obama for wanting to share wealth with Americans that are already working hard for very little or almost nothing..... and once again are being asked to bail out the fat cats.....

Yes, not only for the kids' expenses, but for the First Dope's too. And while we're at it, how about reimbursing the state for those per diem expenses for living in her own house!!
This is just another holier-than-thou politician who thinks she's entitled to steal taxpayer dollars as long as she can dream up some excuse to do so. Pfffooooey.

You're darn right she should unless the little sweeties were in the back washing dishes at some event that the governor's office was hosting or what have you. No office, government or private sector, should pay for their children to go watch daddy play. This is a fine example of Republican hypocrisy.

Jack,

Yes, she should.

Palin should also reimburse the taxpayers of Alaska the $17,000.00 for the 300 days she charged them while she was at home hanging out with her family NOT doing the state's business.

Palin should also reimbure McCain's donors for that $150K shopping spree she took .... do you think the donors KNEW where their hard earned money would go?

Um ... isn't she supposed to be a "reformer" –

No, let the Alaskan people pay for it. If they were stupid enough to elect her, then they should pay for their mistake.

And while she reimburses Alaska, she should also explain why Todd Palin was an active and enthusiastic member of an organization whose single goal was to have Alaska secede from the Union. Like it really makes a lot of sense.

I'll start by saying that I'm an Obama supporter and I don't think it's really a big deal, and not being from Alaska not really my business. However, I believe there's a good argument to be made by the people of Alaska against such practices by any 'public servant', not just Governor Palin.

The argument I have against such payments for her children's travel expenses is that she should take everything into account when applying for a job. If she can't stand to be apart from her children while performing her job duties then she should pay for them to come with her or don't apply (run, in this case). Do all those oil workers get to charge the companies they work for in order for their children to visit them during the months they are away? No, they don't. Obviously it's not easy for them to be away from their families but they've determined the positives of the job outweigh the negatives. I can sympathize with Governor Palin in wanting her family to be with her, but it's not the state's problem that she has young children and took a job that forces her to be away from home.

I think that should be left up to the people of Alaska who elected her. They are the ones who are ultimately responsible and it is their laws that should prosecute her if she did something illegal. Since Governor Palin is now a candidate for national office, all Americans should ask themselves if this is the kind of vice president they want. I will not vote for McCain/Palin for a number of reasons but one is Palin's desire to amend the Constitution to discriminate against gay and bisexual Americans.
Brownwood, Texas

Well of course she should, since once again this is just another example of Palin abusing her power again. There's absolutely no reason to think this kind of behavior will end if the American people are unfortunate enough to have this woman elected as V.P. As usual the McCain campaign will just try to blow this off and act like it's no big deal which is typical protocol whenever this woman's character or actions are called into question. Anyway, welcome back Jack!!!!!!!!

It is interesting that former Alaskan governor Tony Knowles also had school aged children and he NEVER charged the state of Alaska a dime for any of their travel. (Sure wish he could have won this last gubernatorial election, but, alas, the state has become power-hungry Republicans.)

If she is willing to do that to peolple in her own state, what do you think she will do to the rest of the country? Full disclosure, with a full re-payment enclosed, would obviously be beyond her ethical grasp. 14 days and counting, then there will be no more Sarah Barracuda to put up with.

Sarah Palin gets travel expense from alaska ok she is the governor big deal.
I am offended that the republican party had to outfit her and her children with wardrobe like they needed that to impress us. clothes don’t make the man or woman or child its what is in the heart which matters. just shows us how shallow the republicans are.

YES! YES! YES!
The average parent does not bring the family along on a business trip and charge their employer for the cost of dragging their family along.

No Jack, those expenses wouldn't have been incurred if she hadn't been nominated. Besides, they won't have to travel again after November 4th.

Absolutely, my company won't provide travel for my family. She has a stay at home husband to look after the kids but it seems he's in meetings doing her job so maybe she's stuck without a sitter and has to bring 'em along.

yes she should. and she say obama is spreading the wealth yeah right . she is for her family not the voters it is time she is put in her place

She should pay it back – or pay the tax on it if she hasn't. What bugs me more is I've read about altered reports. Is this how you clean up government????

I also wonder if she will declare the new Wardrobe she has on her 2008 return.

You've got to stop thinking af Alaska like it was a regular state. It's different. The citizens don't pay taxes, they get rebate checks. Plus they have a long and storied history of corruption and public sector malfeasance.Local tradition is important. So if they're ok, I'm ok.

Yes Jack she should, and she should also pay them the money scammed from the sporting arena deal that got her and the first dude their cool house.

Sarah Palin reimbursing Alaska for her kids’ travel expenses doesn’t affect me at all as my 401k continues to dwindle. Yes, she probably should reimburse Alaska if it was illegal.

GOP admit it; McCain’s selection of Palin demonstrated a profound lack of judgment and is an insult to the American people.

Experience doesn't matter if the vision and judgment are as wrong-headed as President Bush's.

Whatever today’s G.O.P. is, it isn’t the party of working Americans or sound level-headed thinking..

Obama/Biden 2008 E pluribus unum

Yes, but after they throw her in jail for a few months. If pollsters were to take polls on hypocrisy, her approval rating would be 95%.

That is a question to be answered by the voters of Alaska. It is their money she spent. Since I am not a resident of that state I could care less.

Gov Palin's habit of spending taxpayer money, as evidenced with revelations that she charged the taxpayers of Alaska the daily per dium for NOT TRAVELING from Wasilla, the kids air travel, the week in New York in a $700/night hotel after a 5 hr conference, and now the $150,000 in clothing for the family is shocking. Isn't this mentality exactly what we're trying to move away from? Real hockey Mom's and Joe 6-packs would ask how much she was spending, even if it wasn't her money.

Wolf with sheep's skin. That is what this woman is. Can anyone stop interviewing her?

'Al-Qaeda-linked websites back McCain'
http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=3.0.2619509860
Palin is Clueless about how this country should be run and Al-Qaeda is looting for McCain God help us all...
We need OBAMA as our president and we need him right now!!

Jack so nice to have you back.

As for your question, is it against the law in Alaska for her to do so? If it is then she has broken the law and needs to be delt with in the procribed manner. If it is not aganist the law, or in that grey area inbetween open to interpetation then another slap on the hands and lets get past it. Personally it's not the thing that makes me lose sleep over Sarah Palin possibly being the VP.

Tony in Brooklyn, NY

Yes, I think that is the proper thing to do. She also charged the state for the times she had to "govern from home" instead of the state capitol. She is either a very smart cookie or shamefully misinformed (probably the latter). I am wondering if she and her husband make enough money to support that large family and their expensive hobbies. For instance, the RNC buying her and her family $150,000
of clothing. RNC did not want that "back woodsy" type of dress on the campaign trail.

Palin has a huge 'Ethics' problem. McCain has got a good chance to revive his campaign by sacking her immediately, and demonstrate the American public that he is really a man of principles.

What's a governor, mother with young kids supposed to do, leave them at home with their father? Hmmm...

Glad you're back Jack! Yes. I'm rather surprised that such a fiscally conscious, tax-objectionist maverick would have claimed such expenses in the first place.

Jack the good people of Alaska should make that decision but on this end, I will pay the UPS shipping fee to ship her back to Alaska. They need her more than we do. She is a negative to our system of education. Especially the Civics or U. S. Government Class.

As a working Mom, I know the difficulties with finding a way to balance work and Motherhood....I was not allowed to bring my children along to work with me. Sen. Biden was able to be a full time Sen. and also care for his family. I believe that Sarah feels she should be treated differently than the rest of us who pay our own way, and are able to do our jobs and also raise a family. It also seems that the GOP donations are being misused, I wouldn't want to donate my hard earned dollars to a campaign that uses the funds to dress and groom the candidates entire family. My husband and I payed our way, so should she. If they were to get elected I know this country we couldn't afford the Palin family expences.

If I lived and paid taxes in Alaska, I would say yes. If I were a member or contributor of the RNC I would want the 150,000 wardrobe money back.
However, I do not live in Alaska, and I do not contribute to the RNC, and I will not vote for her. So, I don't care.

Jack, there's about as much of a chance of that happening as her admitting that she was for the bridge to nowhere. She probably feels like she's running for a beauty queen title again with the new clothes and $13,000 I heard was spent in September alone for her makeup artist.

Mary Blum
LaCrosse, WI

Yes, the children's expenses should not be funded by taxpayers. When I travel for my job, if I choose to bring my husband, it is totally on us. Why should our political figures be any different?

Palin should repay every cent, then resign. This is the second time she abused her powers. Even though Alaska has no law covering this.
It's still abuse of power and she should have know better.

My spouse is a Senior executive for a major US Corp – he travels extensively across the Country and around the World. We, his family, have travelled occasionally with him. Never, and I mean never, has he ever expensed our travel costs. Gov Palin should never have expensed these items – she should pay every dime back. It is all about integrity.

God Bless you Jack! Welcome Back!

This misuse of funds for personal gain does little to set an example of her claim to make things better for us little people in "real" America. To answer the question, any ethical person would pay it back with an apology, but I think we're dealing with an "above the law" person and limited ethics.

Why not? She comes from the most socialistic state in the union where the government owns all the minerals, collects the windfall profits tax and makes a distribution to every man, woman and child in the state each year–I think it averages about $1700.00 per person per year. A family of four could live comfortably in the bush on that amount. So who's calling whom a socialist?!
Vicki in Texas

If I were to charge my company for taking my grandson with me on a business trip, or my husband, I would be charged with embezzelment and fired!

So what is the difference? Are government employees different?
The people I know keep government expenses separate from personal.

Absolutely! It's just a matter of time until she charges for rent on the baby she uses as an accessory, when she bothers with him at all.

She should reimburse the state for her kids' travel expenses, for the perdiems she collected while at home, and for the tanning bed. Then, she can focus on repaying the RNC for the recent $100,000+ worth of clothing and accessories they bought her and her family. Honestly, if I mis-used company resources the way Gov. Palin has, I wouldn't only be fired, but would probably be blogging from prison.

The people of Alsska were dumb enough to elect her they should pay the price for their stupidity.
However,The RNC should definitely demands a refund for the Voice coach....she still sound awful and still says "nucular'....
What a disgrace!!!!!
Marjorie
NY

That's up to ALASKA! As far as we're concerned down Here in the "Lower 48," we're willing to FORGO all those expenses & are willing to Give Sarah Palin + Hers "Air Fare" if She Just Goes Home + Leaves John McCain ALONE, That's My Poem!

Yes, and then she should go back there and never come back.

Well of course she should. However, I've been viewing her as a cheap source of entertainment. I haven't laughed so hard in years watching her speak. So actually perhaps it is us who should be paying her for the entertainment!

Sarah seems to have a face for all occasions. She is for reform unless it benefits her needs. She talks out of both sides of her mouth when it is for her family, they are both "Todd" and the rest are taking Alaska for a money ride. She is so anxious to reform Washington while she is wearing all those give me clothes. John McCain made his worst misstake. Yes, she should pay back the money!!!!! Sarah go home you are not "VP" material.

She should definitely reimburse the State. Why are her kids with her? Who is educating these children? They are with her on the campaign trail now. Who has paid for her clothes, her jewelery, her hairdos?

Yes Alaskans citizens and gov't officials should make Palin pay restitution and send her & Todd Palin to jail! This is stealing and by the way, lying and cheating. You call her a reformer! She has really milk the system.

Good Golly! Yes! The "Maverick" /"Government Reformer"/ "Neiman Marcus clothed Hockey Mom" should have to pay back the kids' travel expenses along with the at home per diem days too! (Palin's creed apparently is "do as I say, not as I do". ) Once she has paid back the money to Alaska, I hope the great people of Alaska impeach her and exile her to that island that has the view of Russia where she can spend the rest of her days keeping an eye on Putin.

YES!!!

Here's a novel idea:

1) Gather up the 150K of clothes the RNC bought.
2) Gather up the receipts.
3) Take the clothes and receipts back to Sak's, Neiman Marcus, etc.
4) Return the clothes, get the money
5) Send a money order or cashiers check to the State of Alaska for $21K
6) Then see how the RNC likes to have their money spent for airfare, etc.
7) Let Palin and the RNC fight and spin amongst themselves.

Jack,

This entire campaign, Mcain and Palin have been slamming Chicago politicians as corrupt, well I believe that Gov. Palin needs to do some soul searching and take a good look at Alaska. For a state that only has 600,000 people, they are spitting out dirty politicians left and right, the Gov. herself included. And by the way Sarah, just because it was only 21K for your kids doesnt make it right. If my husband expensed all of our airfaires and hotels everytime he goes on a business trip, thats not quite fair to the shareholders so why should you get away with it. I get that she wants to see her kids while on the job but so does everyone else but thats the price you pay for working. You cant have the best of both worlds just because you are in a position of power, unless you are corrupt. Point made.The first family of Alaska is not more or less important the first family of my house.

"Saturday Night Sarah" exhibits the typical abuse of money and self-appointed" power and privelege popular with most G.O.P. (Greedy Old People) members. Her lack of ethics goes way beyond travel, clothing, and appearance of proud parenthood. She is a FAKE!

If the expenses are lawful, no, but principle should be considered. If they are in a grey area, yes. Public servants should be humble and pay for their family's travel and entertainment themselves, not the taxpayer.

Re: the $150,000 from the GOP for clothing and hair in September: Palin is a tasteful dresser, but that amount is a bit over the top, especially since there are legality questions about personal use items.

I have a better question...all those that are Democrates in alaska, why did she take their tax money to fly her children with her? Did she get their tax money without their permission if they didn't vote for her? She can do what she wants with those republicans tax money, but what about the democrates who had no say so. they should be reimburst. She wasted their tax money. Talk about wastful spending of other peoples taxs dollars.

Of course she should. What is wrong with this woman. The more I hear about her the more I believe the state of Alaska has big problems with their elected officials.

The way things look right now, she'll be back in the frozen north sooner than later. The state should impeach her, pronto. (But not until she gives them back their tax dollars).

Hmmmmmm– It seems to me that she definitely IS a proponent of spreading the wealth after all.

She seems to think Alaska already is a separate country. The laws and customs there are unique and she finds no reason to become acquainted with those of the United States. The thought of paying her own way would never occur to her.

Jack glad to see you back!
I am not so concerned with Palin's expenses as I am with her extremist views especially of the role of the VP. Her interpretation of the Constitution giving the VP authority over the Senate. The many lies she has told, bridge to nowhere, selling plane on eBay . The fact that she is facing ethics violations. Her divisive rhetoric, some areas are Pro America. The cronyism in her Alaska Administration. These are great concerns for me and the main one is that there is a possiblility that this woman could end up running this country.

I believe Sarah Palin should pay back every expense she took for her children. How could she waste Alaska tax money like that. In her case it's alright if she does it, but not right for others in her eyesight. The people didn't elect her children and these were suppose to be business trips not family vacations.

If she don't know the job of Vice President and what it entails. This clearly shows you, she not bright enough to know her children were not allowed on any of those trips.

I thought she was the REFORMER. What is so reforming about this? This type of "pass the cost to the tax paying public" is business as usual.

Welcome Back Jack!!

Yes....

And while she's at it she can pay us all back for her recent make over, clothes, and store bought image that all American tax payers paid for. The check is in the mail I'm sure.

From maverick to manipulator.

She should give it back. This woman has a bad habit of spending other people's money. She just spent another $150,000 from the RNC on clothing between September and December..............She must be some kind of hybrid 'Joe six pack'.

Hello Jack glad to see you back.

Wink, Wink. Yes she should.

Hi Jack
Palin and the rest of the Republicans have double standards. Anyone else would have to pay the state back. And what about her new wardrobe? I know some hockey Moms and they don't spend $150,000 for clothes and makeup. The clothes will be donated to charity? Come on...What woman, who is actually having to get clothing from a charity would need an outfit from Nieman Marcus to go to the local food bank?

13 more days and lets hope she goes back to Alaska and get her kids back in school where they belong!

Hey, Jack people can't afford to buy milk for their baby & she's spending this amount of money on clothes! I'm an Obama supporter that love to hear a good debate ever now & again & what McCain & what's her name have been giving is unacceptable! I'm bored with them! People want to hear CHANGE! But change isn't through them! They stole the CHANGE message & DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT!

Unless the Palin kids are Alaska state employees, the taxpayers of Alaska should be reimbursed.

Sue
Forks, Pennyslvania

CORRECTION:

Yes, because the RNC has made a feeble attempt to justify this extravagance by stating that the purchases would be given to charity after the election. That's a laugh. Palin will fight tooth and nail all the way back to the bridge to nowhere when they try to take these clothes from her. Didn't she say she's also a Wal-Mart Mom? That's where they should have shopped for her because she's not used to top tier items.

.

Yes, Governor Palin needs to not only reimburse Alaska but she needs to drop her claim of being a "maverick." Combining this revelation with her ethics abuse citation, Palin shows that she is a phony and her family comes first, not her country. This is not maverick behavior but the same old Republican belief that politicians are above the law.

Ballwin, Missouri

No, she shouldn't be reimbursed. She has been yapping (literally) ever since McCaine picked her, that she was going to change Washington and get rid of the greed. Evidently she doesn't believe that it applies to her and hers.

Absolutely not!

If she want's reimbursement for her kids, doesn't that make them fair game for the media? Aren't people that use public funds supposed to be open to the media? Oh but WAIT! She's the right wing savior and has an 80% popularity rating (in a state with 640,000 people)! Give me a break!

Jack, So happy you are back. Please do not be hard on Plain, she does not know what a VP does, how could she know about tax laws. She is just a Joe six pack , You betcha, wink-wink.

Welcome back, Jack!
Can you believe this? Now it's "clothinggate"! Another charmin' story from the "Straight Talk Express".........
Speaking of excesses....this Tues am, I caught a glance on cable of the Gov traveling along to her next political show...lo' and behold there were the greater numbers of motorcade vehicles for her than the ACTUAL PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.....For real, but I guess it takes that many to guard those "Josephine 6 pak "clothes......

When you have the time, take a look at the public records, State and National for her High School & SAT Scores.....How about grades that are, (according to regional teachers here... less than football players ? REAL comforting!......her High School Social Studies "D", and her SAT Score a little over 800.........Since media and public have been mostly kept at a distance and without access.....this and much more critical information has not been properly provided to the American Voters....
Amazing, but not surprised.........the limited exposure sure matches the scores.............Astounding to think she's offered as a candidate for the 2nd higest Office in this Nation....and only a "heartbeat away from 1st Place"...............Equals her running mate, who graduated 5th from the bottom of his USNA Class. Hard to find a "Matched set these days", how lucky can we get?....And to think I thought "GW Duba" was dumb.........

Well I guess Palin is giving her kids the opportunity she never had – to travel. But the question is "Why should Americans have to pay for Palins children vaccation?" She needs to reimburse the money. She is the one who always boats about keeping spending to a minimum. Do the right thing Palin, GIVE IT BACk

Yes, with taxes.

Jack,

I do not have problems with the fact that she spent the money but I am concerned that a Christian will go as far as altering the books in order to cover her misdeeds – Christ never taught us that way.

Why would anyone be surprised Palin did this. It just proves she does not walk the talk. When Sarah fails to become the VP she could always get hired by AIG. Sounds like she would fit right in blowing tax payers money. She won't pay it back. It will be just "Opps, josh darn, didn't mean to do it, but don't ya think I look pretty in my Republican funded wardrobe. No wonder America is broke!!

Every dime Jack should be payed back to the Alaskan taxpayer, and she should be kicked out of office, and out of the country, send her to Russia, to get some experience on foreign policy.

Regards

Earl Chicoine

Rimouski, Quebec

Jack,
Let the Alaska taxpayers settle this one. They are the ones who can hold her accountable for her actions. According to the media governors across The United States have all at one time charged their state's taxpayers for their children's/spouse's travel expenses. And on November 5th, on her plane trip home, she will have some time to come up with an explananation as to why she not only lost the election but why she billed her taxpayers.....

The hipocrisy in the Republican Party is ridiculous! If Obama had spent $150,000 on clothes, McCain and his millionaire Barbie wife would be all over his "elitism". As for Palin's children, she should certainly be responsible for their travel expenses. And I certainly hope there is time in between her bashing Obama, to home school her 7 year old that has been on the campaign trail since day one!!

The kids should be in school in Alaska, there is no reason for them to be dragged around for the show. Sarah Palin should worry about her kids future and be less selfish.

She should- but NOBODY should be spending that much money anyway! We learned about how much her wardrobe cost- but the fact that either candidate is spending that much money (regardless of what it's for) is ridiculous! Especially with our economy in a near collapse! Have these people LOST THEIR MINDS????

I have absolutely no qualms with her taking her family with her on a business trip, as long as she can still do the job she's there for (I know with just three kids I'd get nothing done on a business trip if they were with me...). BUT she should pay for the air fares, hotel rooms, meals, etc. of the rest of the family out of her own pocket.

The part about the RNC buying her clothing, makeup, shoes, and so on really irritates me. The rest of us are scraping back to the bare necessities in this wonderful economy, but she gets a $150K wardrobe!??? I wonder how those who donated to the McCain/Palin campaign feel about how their money is being spent...

Amy from Illinois

Gov. Palin should probably reimburse the Alaskan government if was against their policies. Personally, I have no problem with it. However, using campaign donations for anything other than campaign expenses is illegal...that would be a larger question for me. People donated money to pay for campaigning, not buying the necessities of life such as clothes. That is a larger ethics violation....money used was from the taxpayers: public financing forbids using the money for purchasing clothing, etc, etc. You can google it and see for yourself.

Maybe not but she should help Joe the unlicensed plumber to pay his taxes like many other hard working Americans

C'mon Jack, she's a maverick! She violates an Alaskan ethics law, she gets a pass. She doesn't know what the U.S Constitution says what the job of a V.P. is, she gets a pass. $150,000.00 in cloths to show Joe six-pack how much she can relate to him, she probably gets a pass. So why should she pay back that money. As long as she's anti-choice, and anti gay marriage, she gets a pass.

No she doesnt Jack,,,, shes a "maverick"

You Betcha she should! This is ridiculous! They are trying to pass her off as Mrs. Sixpack but everyone I know has to purchase their own clothes for their job. If my husband travels for business and wanted his family to join him we would have to pay the costs involved. And what's up with the hair and makeup costs? Are you telling me she didn't already have makeup and know how to do her hair? Her hair doesn't look any different then the pictures I've seen of her before she became a candidate. And Republicans wonder why we don't believe them when they try to tell us they want to be there for the Joe Plumbers out there! If I found out that the money I contributed to a campaign was being used so frivoulously I would be furious!

Yes. But I think the issue should be the fact that she covered it up.

Absolutely she should! But, I'm sure that she will find a way to get out of it, and probably find a way to blame the democrats for it!

By definition, in order to be on "official business", doesn't one have to be employed? How is a grade-schooler on official business?

Jack
Let me get this straight, taking a closer look at the tax structure in this country socialism. But making taxpayers pay for family expenses is not socialism. Maybe Sarah Palin should go to grad school and she'll probably learn that the Republicans in this country are just as socialist as the Democrats. Maybe then she learned that she's maverick either.

Welcome back Jack.............I sure didi miss your unpolished reviews.
Keep them coming my friend.

Who really cares?

DJ – Detroit

Yes Jack. She should reimburse the State of Alaska. Furthrmore, she shuld be charged with misappropriation of funds. She falsified documents in order to be paid those travel funds. That was willful–there is no excuse for it. Anyone who has dealt with public funds (and I have dealt with them for 35 years) is aware that it is illegal to falsify documents in order to receive travel funds.

Yes of course she should reimburse the tax-payers! For someone who ran on a platform of reform she certainly loves spending other people's money.

Neither her kids or her husband are State employees. Any travel that family does should be on Palin's personal funds, not the People.

This question wouldn't be asked if it was one of us regular tax-paying Americans. While a company pay travel expenses for their employees to get somewhere, it's on the employee if they want to bring family along. Otherwise it's considered stealing.

Why didn't Cindy just take her shopping and buy her her new, fresh-from-the-hillbilly look?

That's a real fiscal conservative, huh?

DJ – Detroit

Absolutely, but she shouldn't have charged the state to begin with...some maverick. Her credibility (what there ever was of it) is gone. She is just another sleazy politician, out for her own gain at the taxpayers expense.

Sarah Palin claims to be proud of her 'small town' upbringing and values. $150,000 for clothes sure seems like big city to me.

The answer is simple, yes she should, but she won't. She really tries to change the color of her stripes, but Americans aren't stupid and she will find that out before to long.

GLAD you are back Jack!!! And No...Ms. Palin's children's travel should not be reinbursed. And maybe the whole family should stay in Alaska since Ms. Palin supports the Alaska Independence Party and they want nothing to do with us down here in the lower 48!

Absolutely she should reimburse the Alaskan government and the same for the campaign. Certainly people don’t donate money for her to buy clothes, get her hair and face done. I listened to her yesterday on her interview and she talks a mile and says nothing…….I guess you could say typical politician. By the way what is PNAC?

Yes, she should! They are not required to be there. It's bad enough that she spent $150,000 in two months on clothes alone! I don't think I've spent that much on clothing in my entire lifetime. I have a question though...Don't her children have school?

Jack: Gov. Palin is no different than Ted Stevens when it comes to being honest about tax-payer money. I have no problem with the Republican party spending money to dress her. But, she needs to pay back the money to Alaska taxpayers for all of her childrens expenses. If she does'nt, it will make her look even more dishonest like the so-called Washington insiders she claims she'll reform.

Yes Jack, she absolutely should be required to reimburse the State of Alaska. After all, isn't her stump speech filled with anti-socialism rhetoric against Senator Obama? If so, isn't charging her children's non-official travel related expenses on the State just an indirect way of Socialism (government paying for you?)-Thanks.

Well. It all depends. If she is going to be condescending and give "Cash" back to the tax payers, I say no. But if she promises to use that money to help the Political Science Departments of Alaska's colleges, so that we would not have to deal with incompetent people like her, then my answer is a big "YES".

YES ! Families travel with all the time, but in typical HYPOCRITICAL Republican fashion, Pitbull Palin preaches anti-corruption and is the worst offender herself. Life is a reflection of our ACTIONS, do the right thing Palin... give it back !

A hisory of wrong doing by politicians doesn't make it okay for Sarah Palin to charge the alaskan government. How many of you charge your employer for your children's travel and entertainment expenses? I especially like the comments of Kirk from Apple Valley, MN.

Pay for your own kids, Mom.

Jack:
Sarah Palin should ABSOLUTELY not be reimbursed for her children's travel. Why would the Alaska's citizenship be asked to pay for that?
She brings her children everywhere on the campaign trail – I have not seen that before. What is she trying to prove. Her children should be in school but I doubt she is interested in anyone's education. Her stupidity about the consistution proves that
I am happy to see that I am vindicated by the recent polls showing that Palin is degrading McCain's campaign. I cannot believe McCain was so irresponsible in choosing her.

I think she should reimburse the state. She wants to act like and relate to the average citizens. I don't know anyone who spends that kind of money on hair, wardrobe, and travel, etc. for personal reasons. My husband and I are struggling to pay off the last $5000 of our mortgage before foreclosure and having a lot of trouble making ends meet and we've always worked and done everything right. Quit wasting taxpayer money. I could have used that money for important and necessary things like mortgage payments, utilities, food and insurance.

Yes she should reimburse it all, even the clothes. Sarah Palin walks around preaching all these lies and turns out she's just as bad as all these other big wigs lining their pockets. I'm sick of the lies and bashing going on by John McCain and Palin. If Obama loses it's because the votes have been fixed by the Republicans just like it was with Bush.

she should pay all the money back and she need to drop out of the race for v.p

Absolutely! Didn't we just hear John McCain tell Wolf that he and the American people are feed up with the spending of politicians?

Absolutely, these expenses should have been paid by Palin personally. As a former business executive, any business trips that included family members, their expenses were NOT to be reimbursed by the company. If this is the standard in business, surely it's applicable to government.

Yes, right before she rescinds her V.P nomination. enough said.

Of course not. Gov. Palin is a mother obviously dedicated to her state and to her family. In fact, it's sexist to suggest that she should reimburse this money. I'm sure if you dig through Obama or Biden's spending on the government's dime, or any other politician's spending you'll find some whoppers more offensive than a mom travelling on government business with her children. Big deal.

Yes, Palin should reimburse the State of Alaska.

What would make people think she would not operate as a sleazy politician when she started her campaign and convention out lying about Obama.

Absolutely she should repay, the alaskan taxpayers for uninvited trips taken by her children. Honestly though the its not her using the taxpayers money to haul her children around thats disgracing, it's the message that she so calls represents "country first" is disgracing. Country First, where I come from is self explanatory, you put your country first. It's a way of life not just a banner. Looks like the only thing Gov. Palin is putting first is the first class plane tickets. That's why this country is putting it's country first by leaning towards Sen. Obama.

Anthony
Nashville, TN

Hi Jack, stoked to have you back!

I can live with Mr Obama's way of redistributing wealth.
But my tax dollars are too precious to go towards her kids travel expenses – let alone a $ 150.000 shopping spree that did little more than put lipstick on a pig.

Jack, Welcome back. I really missed you while you were away. Yes, Sarah Palin should reimburst the state of Alaska for the travel of her children. For the life of me I cannot understand why she has allowed the right wing of the republican party present her as a reformer when she knew all these dirk secrets would eventually come to light. What a mess!!!

Of course she should be required to pay them back !!! This woman is now famous for doing the opposite of what she preaches everyone else should do.

Further more, I'm convinced she has used every person and organization that has ever expressed an interest in her. Usually they're using each other, but same result. She's nothing but a good actor and parrot.

I'm convinced she's just using this VP selection as free funding for her 2012 run for POTUS. Looking at the body language when they're together, it's clear she thinks he's creepy, and he feels like he was forced into choosing her. What a combination.... WOW

No, at the least some of the expenses in question are not legit enough for the state to pay for. It is immediately obvious that a portion of these expenses that she so gracefully put on the AK taxpayers dime are very suspicious; suspicious enough that even the slow witted, runner-up of a beauty queen had the foresight to "amend" the reports. It's too late for her to right this wrong...add it to the pile.

Yes, I think she should, but I'm not sure she can since she ONLY made $125,000 last year. By the way that is almost four times what my husband and I made, and we still found a way to buy our own clothes.

Yes, she should reimburse the citizens of Alaska immediately. Now is this the person we want reforming government. Please give me a break.

Sarah Palin has, in short order, shown herself to be the kind of person who pads her expense accounts, throws her weight around to get her sister's ex fired from his state job, and refuses to disclose her income while she rallies on behalf of Joe-Sixpack. The reimbursements she owes citizens in Alaska and the rest of the Americas (Real and Unreal) would force her to admit bankruptcy, both financial and moral.

Dan Kennedy
New York, NY

Absolutely she should reimburse the taxpayers of Alaska. This situation is just a glimpse at what the American People have to look forward to if McCain is elected. Not only do we have to support and pay for our own children's expenses but we will paying for the Palin's children also. Wow! she sure is going to fit into Washington exacttly opposite of what she claims. This is just Wrong!!!

Absolutely! Imagine if my husband or I were to charge our respective employers for taking our children along on business trips. The expense report would never be approved. Governor Palin has chosen to occupy a very demanding position which requires significant travel. If she wants time with her family, despite travel demands, that should come at her expense not at the expense of tax-payers. Most of us in the real world understand that these are the "rules."

Easy...return the money and tell the campaign "thanks but no thanks!!"

Yes, Yes, Yes,
We are not responsible for her children. That is her expense. Times are tough for everyone, and we should know our tax money is going to honest, needed sources.

Welcome back Jack

I think she should reimburse the money. She wouldn't use her own money for those expense so why use the taxpayers money for those expense. Now if she would have used the taxpayers money for a babysitter, then I would say that was okay.

Jack,

Her abuse of funds shouldn't just be read as an example of the same old political sleaze. It can also be read as further evidence of how she doesn't fully understand the rights and responsibilities associated with the office that she's running for. It's both corruption and naivety – a very scary combination!

Yes, she should reimburse the state, because she is mis-using the public trust that the citizens of Alaska put in her. She is doing the same thing that all the ole boy club of politicians do. I'm not saying she started out to be dishonest but it seems like she is not having any trouble falling into the trap of becoming one of those politicians that she took an oath to protect the citizens of Alaska against.

Carl
Copley, Ohio

Yes, Palin should definitely reimburse Alaska for the travel expenses of her children. How dare she. What a double talker she is. This is just one more reason not to like her.

Cafferty,

Isn't it ironic that Palin wants the public to trust her with reforming wasteful spending in Washington, lol.

Absolutely she should reimburse the state, many state officials have families and their expenses are not paid by the taxpayers. She can pay for her family's expenses from her salary just like the rest of us do! Including her wardrobe, makeup and hair expenses! What does this say about her morality and judgement. How can she be trusted with federal monies? If any other employee did this, at the very least wouldn't they be fired? She talks a lot about the "real" Americans, it's time she become one.

Of course she should. Her abuse of power is popping up all over,ie, clothing, trips with all her kids, the firing, and all the other things. My goodness doesn't seem like Palin has her own set of standards when it comes to her family. She is a dangerous threat to our security.

Delia Rios
Kerman, CA.

Yes, she should reimburse AK taxpayers if the children were not invited.

The question for Sarah Palin is would she allow government workers in her state to travel with their families at the expense of the Alaskian people. The answer is no, so why does she believe that she and her family are an exception. She's no maverick, just another opportunist in lipstick.

Absolutely. American workers cannot charge their company's for family expenses. Sarah Palin had a salary as Governer; she should have used it.

Since Sarah is actually helping Obama win more votes, I think that the Obama campaign should thank her by paying of those amounts.

Every day it's something new and negative with you all against Sarah Palin. But FYI --- many people across this great country like and respect her. She seems to be a real person, down to earth, smart and with a sense of humor. Maybe someone should take a poll of Alaskan voters and ask if they want her to pay her children's traveling expenses that are in question. If they say yes – then she should repay them.

Yes, Palin should definitely reimburse Alaska for the travel expenses of her children. How dare she. What a double talker she is. This is just one more reason not to like her.

Jack
You bet she should pay back the money! Plus, lets look a little closer at how campaign money is spent. Did Hillary spend that kind of money on her pants suits? I rather doubt it. I believe Palin should be held accountable for the lavish spending of other peoples hard earned money. I mean come on, everyone made a big deal out of Edwards 4000.00 hair cut. Now, this is way above and beyond that.

Cathy Moreland
Turtletown, Tn

I have no problem with her taking her children with on a trip with her but , please, dont do it under the guise of their being involved in state business... Buck up and pay for their expenses....... so much for cutting spending.....

I just believe along with the travel expenses and the excessive spending on clothes, when others can look just as good in less than that. I have a red leather jacket like the one she has and paid less than hundred dollars. Hockey mom she is not, the ice skates are the most important cost...

Yes she should...
At any other job if you lied on an expense report you would be fired plus the company may press criminal charges depending on the amount. Therefore, I think legal action should also be taken.

PERHAPS WE SHOULD APPOINT SOMEONE TO SEE WHO IS PAYING FOR MS PALIN'S GLASS HOUSE

Jack of course she will gve back the money. As soon as she meets with her economic advisor "Joe the plumber" and they discuss if this is something a true "maverick" would do. (wink, wink, thumbs up). What a joke.

I missed you Jack!!!!! Glad you are back!!!!!!!

Always the ones who preach about the government shouldn't be welfare for its people, use the government as welfare to pad their pocketbooks. Down with food and a helping hand for the masses. But having the best designer clothes and luxurious trips is all good. Hypocrite is the nicest word you could call Sarah

No, Palin should not have to reimburse anyone. The party wanted her, and they wanted her to look her best.......part of the game for both sides. Obama shops at Barneys........very expensive men's store! Where do you think he gets the money do that? From his 9-5 jobs like she has had??? Get real!

Another put-down for an American willing to take on the crap that the media has become so free to administer to the candidates they are not in favor of.

Absolutely Yes ,she should not only reimburse the tax payers of Alaska for her ABUSE of taxpayers money, she should have legal action taken against her to prevent her from continuing her UNETHICAL and SELFISH behavior. If I was a taxpayer from Alaska I would insist on reimbersment.

Absolutely she should pay back her kids travel expenses...and as a mother of two children myself, I wonder why those kids aren't in school, and instead being paraded around on stage with her?? And in regard to her extravagant clothing budget...I saw a photo on the web of her youngest daughter toting a Louis Vuitton handbag!! Who cares when someone else is paying for it??

I would think with the salary that she makes as Governor, she can afford to pay her families way. If i had done something like that at Companies expense, i would get fired and maybe go to jail for it.

Yes she should pay the money back and be charge with fraud. it is obvious that she would lie to swindle money from taxpayers for her family the same way she lies about the bridge to no-where and everything else that she lied about on the trail. We are really seeing her real colors

i could care less but i believe the "transparency" campaign needs a better looking at!

CNN publish es and puts on air only those messages that are in favor of Obama and so it is uselee to send you the true messages of those conservative people because you are very liberal. I hate that station LARRY KING LIVE(he is looking ugly, is so anneurecsic looking maybe he has no food to eat) Your station is very partisan, very pro Obama because maybe you have been paid a very high price by Obama. Well his got lots of money. Your station ought to be boycott by the conservative people.

The next time you apout unsubstantiated accusations re Palin's personal living costs, kindly review the expense account of Biden who travels with many members of his family on campaign outings. It would be a service to hear non-partisan reporting for the benefit of the listener instead of obvious personal bias which is becoming repulsive, especially from all those TV bobbleheads you present as "analysts". Let's stick to the issues . Faced with the acknowledged pain we are all in for economically , you may be one of the first to be found expendable.

Yes, she should. If not she has two faces!.Also, has anyone investigated who paid for her home, the one she is living now. I understand it was built by the same contractors she gave the contract for the sport center in Wasilla, and as a favor they built this home for her before she left as a mayor. Didn't she has to report this home as income when she filed her taxes?

Absolutely not Jack. Governor Palin is a mother and it is necessary that she have her family including her children when traveling as much as she is doing. It not only bad for her as a mother in this political bashing she is giving by CNN but also for the well being of her children. Why not bash the Democrats…….why are you one sided? I’ve been watching your coverage since Palin was announced and you have done nothing for the Republican Party but trash and bash them. Get with the program and give us the REAL news. It would be more beneficial for CNN to give each equal justice on the news. Have you check out what the Democrats have spent? Of course NOT! Are you CNN part of a Socialist news team? On average Democrats have spent far more than Palin on expenses!!! Give us some real new…..PLEASE

Biggest joke in political history. Why is this woman being allowed to get away with all of this. She is as crooked as they come. What a Joe the plumber, joe six pack moment. People all over the USA pay thousands for clothes and have their children travel at some one else's expense. Stop the madness, I just don't think I can hear anymore. Every nasty thing she has said about Obama is a joke compared to the things this woman and this campaign has done.

Yes Jack, she should but we all know she won't. You are so on point when it comes to this fake VP candidate. Time and time again, she gets caught in deceipt. She still never talks about the 1st Dude's Alaska Independence Party because how can you say that Obama pall's around with terrorists when she sleeps with a man who palls around with terrorists.

By the way, WELCOME BACK JACK!!!!!! It's great to see you.

Yes, Palin should reimburse Alaska. She should also be charged with changing the forms.
How many more faulty finds will come from the Palin-Alaska office?
Sounds like she's more the crook instead of the "reformer."
Again – welcome back Jack Cafferty! I missed you!

Yes, Jack. Gov. Palin should reimburse the State of Alaska for the travel expenses for her children. And by the way, who served as babysitters for the youngest ones on those trips while the Gov. performed "State business"?

Additionally, Gov. Palin should reimburse the RNC for the clothing and personal services incurred by her family to the tune of $150,000 in September, plus the charges for October.

Sarah Palin should never has tried to charge Alaska for expenses incurred by her children or Todd Palin. Palin's doing this shows her true lack of ethics and propriety. If a government contractor were to do this for a military contract, they would face fines and debarment.

Darn tootin' she should! This says so much about Palin's ethics. Between this and the fact that she seems to believe the VP is in charge of the Senate (and the fact that the ability to see Russia from Alaska constitutes foreign policy experience), Governor Palin is a scary, scary woman.

I just want to stop hearing about Palin already. Duh she should pay back the money – But so should all the other corrupt politicians who take advantage of their office. I just want Palin to stop running running this hypocritical campaign and be real with the Public- She Puts her FAMILY first. That might actually fly well with american voters

Let all of those gullible Alaskans pay for her family expenses since they think she is so great. And don't forget to pay for their expenses back to oblivion.

Jack:

Why should we believe her, even if she told us she'd pay the Alaska taxpayers back? She is a phony opportunist who will LIE to the American public's face. The fact that even a small percentage of voters are for her is stunning to me!

She absolutely needs to reimburse Alaska! This is just one more example of her ignorance and misplaced sense of self importance! A dangerous combination I might add!! How can such an uninformed person have gotten this far? Oh yes, John McCain and his advisors chose her. How could you put your country in harms way like this, Mr McCain? You have shown your true self with your lies and dirty tactics! Shame on you and your cronies! Obama will truly be the breath of fresh air that we need in Washington in November!!

Absolutely not. If she would be getting reimbursed then I really don't think that she should be our vice president dealing with our economic problems.To me that sound now different then the C.E.O of these big companies. Walking all over the American people.

Palin's kids traveling at state expense is a matter for the 450,000 residents of Alaska. By the way that's not even the population of a major city in the lower 48. What we should be worrying about is the possibility of this self-absorbed, know-nothing cheerleader getting anywhere near the presidency. For the sake of the nation and the world, the closest Palin should ever get to the oval office is a supervised group tour of the White House.

At this point, she has ruined her reputation not only as a Vice President, but as a Governor as well. She probably should just resign and ask herself why she allowed Mcain to set her up for failure. He knew she wasn't ready and so did she. Your family needs you Sara. Return to Alaska and take care of them.

one more thing, why will John McCain not answer your guestion about S.S., or any of your other guestion.

just like Palin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If she (sarah palin) should reimburse anyone for taking her kids on a trip (any trip) then every other politician should do the same. Maybe no parents should take their kids to any work function. If the law specifically precludes her from taking her kids with or without the State paying the bill, then the law must be followed or changed.

Hey Jack,

What about $17,000 in per diem payments to Palin for more than 300 nights she slept at her own home, 40 miles from her satellite office in Anchorage?

Yes!

She and her Husband are thieves!

Isn't their a Republican Representative from Alaska in court right now for kind of the same wrong doing!

If any of us working folks lied to pay for our family and friends on a business trip, we'd lose our job, guaranteed. Why does this woman get to do it time and time again? She should be disqualified from running for office ever again. Nobody in my family has health insurance except me, and I'm sure there are a lot more people in way worse conditions than that. And she takes her kids to stay in the Ritz Carlton, while Alaskans pay for it? Yea right. This woman is a joke.

Yes, yes, Yes, she's the great reformer but she's performing in the same old politico's manner

Adding city and state to my previous post:
Neenah, Wisconsin

The people talk about welfare problems in the united states will this a perfect examples of welfare in the government house in alaska ,so you are teling me that sarah says it ok to use tax payers money to look fabulous in the white house and take trip when needed .
thats a joke to elect THAT ONE in the white house.

Jack, are you a maverick? Methinks otherwise because if you were a maverick, you will not be asking such a question. If you need an answer from me, I'd say yes, they should. It's a family of mavericks and it's just the type of reform we need.

Absolutely! Sarah Palin should have to reimburse the state of Alaska for travel and entertainment that was charged for her children. The expenses for her hair and makeup etc. to taxpayers is outrageous. No wonder citizens in the U.S. have so little faith and trust in candidates. And she is supposed to be a woman of deep religious convictions?? For Shame!!

I couldn't care less if Alaskans get their money back. They voted for the crook and still approve of her, let them pay for it, But she lied! She lies everyday. I'm still stuck on how you can violate ethic LAWS but not violate LAWS? Impeach I say! And while your at it impeach Bush for lying about the war! I don't see how you can impeach Clinton for lying about something that really should have been between him, Hillary, and that other girl, when Palin is unethically firing people and Bush is getting our soldiers killed on the basis of a lie, and you do nothing about! I guess when your pockets are full and there is food on the table you have time to worry about frivolous things, but when times are horrible it's OK to let actual impeachable offenses slide. Hmm, I guess Democrats are too good for their own good.

I believe her children are not intitled to any extras at the expense of tax payers. I do believe that, if she felt her children needed new chothes, and she felt the tax payers should pay then she should have asked the tax payers if they wouldn't mind footing the bill!! I am sure Target and Walmart would have had something in their size!! I do believe that she should pay back the money for any expenses that were paid by the tax payers for her own children. That what us mothers do, we buy are kids clothes and we don't get to send the goverment are reciepts and get a refund do we?

Jack, YES
I just saw Wolfe talking to McCain, it sounded like Wolfe could not get a straight answer out of McCain on Social Security, taxes or anything. Is he running for Dictator or President?
Sound to me that the Maverick is peddling BS as Sunshine and that fits with Snake Oil Sarah and her venom speak.

Yes. Her children were not voted in as governer. not only that, why are we fitting the bill for her beauty treatments. I do not know any "hockey moms" who have 150k to spend on beauty in 2 months. wow. that is half the worth of my house. how can you stop spending in Washington DC when you spend money on beauty like that. no "average Joe" has money like that.

In my opinion Governor Palin and her family are treating this whole affair like a free trip to Disney Land and more than likely the same attitude was taken when she was elected governor. It's like privledge comes with the job. The tax payers need to send her a bill or dock her salary.

The more I see Gov. Palin, the more I regret being republican. Why did McCain pick her as his VP, what was he thinking?

This is another incident of reverse sexism. I am a woman that writes about women's issues BUT to say that we should expect a mother to tote around her kids is ridiculous. So, should we now expect every man in congress to bring their children along? It's only fair. Or is it just a mother that is allowed to bring her children everywhere and charge the government? That's what Tod is there for, right?
Republicans want it both ways. Sorry – NO MORE!

Candace – Raleigh, NC

I don't want to paint with a broad brush, but let me ask this question: there is a significant contingency that is drawn to Sarah Palin; I wonder how big her appeal would be if she was not, by conventional standards, physically attractive?

Some write off Barack Obama simply on the basis of his skin color. There are also some fascinated with solely with Mrs. Palin based on her physical appearance. If Mr. Obama was white and Mrs. Palin was not appealing to look at what would you think, how would you feel and how would you vote?

What!? I am working two jobs in order to go on vacation with my kids and she is spending our tax dollars on her kid's travels?! Doesn't she make six figures alone as governor? Very disappointed.

I would think with the salary that she makes as Governor of a state, she can afford to pay her families way. If i had done something like that using Companies expense, i would get fired and maybe go to jail for it.

She abuses power now she steal money form the people of Alaska, and the RNC helped her do it!

Hell yeah! Why in the hell should her kids travel on Alaska's dime. Inless it was bring your kid to work day, they shouldn't be going at all!

It sure makes John Edward's $200.00 haircut look pretty small.
Ask former Massachusetts Gov. Smart. She took the heat for flying kids, sitters etc on the Stae helo like it was the family Volvo. I also notice sha he is a commentator now a Gov.

Paying for kids to travel to see their father race? Please, it doesn't matter whether or not she returns the money, the damage has been done. She lives in a glass house and she should not throw stones. Her credibility is gone as far as I'm concerned. Imagine, a public figure who avoids the press! She is turning the country into a laughing stock as far as the rest of the world is concerned.

Absolutely, she should reimburse Alaska for her kids' travel expenses. If you bring your family on official business with any job, you are expected to pay for their expenses out of your own pocket. I am sure Sarah Palin's salary can cover it easily. She should have gotten a babysitter. Heaven forbid McCain wins. I can see it now...Sarah bringing her kids (and the grandchild), Todd and the dog out to Russia for diplomatic talks with Vladimir Putin.

Tangie,
Maryland

That's ashame just the sheer greed of it! With all that's going on, it's like a slap in the face. Especially when the money she's using, could be put too more benefical use else where. But what the heck! So you expect for her to give the money back! She'll sell them on ebay first! I vote Obama, Sarah nor Cindy carries themselves like as classy as Michelle. The Rep. ticket, lacks the true fundimentals of Repulicians in my opinion, as if their terms are....."Anger, Mine, We gon Fight and when I say so, Middle Class shut wait! The wealth will trickle down, Come on Elites let's get em....I got 'em just were I want em'!"

Are you serious Jack? Are you really serious with this question? You are all up in arms about $21,000? Do you know how much money gets wasted everyday by Washington? Way more than $21,000. Do you know how much money we've wasted on social programs (welfare, medicare, food stamps, WIC programs etc.) and groups like ACORN for the past 30-40 years? Way more than $21,000. When am I going to see any of that money back Jack? Also, when are you going to retire?

If Palin is abusing the system now what makes you think won't do it

as a VP. She should pay the money back and be charged with theft!

How can she stand in front of her supporters and say how she is

going to put more money in their pockets when she has already taken

some away from the people in her state.

Mark from Asheville said something interesting – he said being liberal usually means being open minded, compassionate etc. Is that an admission that the far right is the exact opposite then?! Its about time one of you admitted that you are a bunch of closed minded, prejudiced, self righteous zealots! And as for ACORN, ask your Sen. McCain why he was doing speeches at at least one of their functions! Have photos that have been published! And right after that ask him how he thinks it looks that during this time of economic troubles for the average American that Republicans say they are representing, that your V.P. candidate is spending more than $21000 on clothes while your constituants are struggling according to you all to pay everday bills! The new label for the GOP should be HYPOCRACY!

Yes! Yes! Yes! As a former TX state employee, I have to watch every dime I spend whenever I have to travel on state business – even returning money back to the state because I did not use all of my daily per diem for attending a number of state/national conferences. Her use of state funds at will to spend on her children and husband's travel expenses, as well as, her daily per diem allowance while at her Wasilla home, speak of her true character or lack there of. Honor, integrity, reform – these are what the McCain-Palin team are tauting to the nation, and clearly, they do not adhere to these principles. The hypocrisy of the McCain-Palin team is simply astounding.

Can we get this two bit politician to go regulate her gas somewhere else?

Sara Palin reminds me of a brook in the forest, she is always babbling

Jack,
Sarah Palin's calling has been discovered!! She has tremendous potential as a dairy farmer. Unfortunately, she has milked hardworking Alaskan families. Greed....? We need to send her home and let her do what she does best, wallow in the mud and milk others for her own self-centered interest.
Shame on John McCain! We should have been spared her introduction.

Yes.

absolutely...and asked to resign. most who lied on an expense report and sign it would be fired.

Jack,
Yea she should pay it back and with interest. She is just another republican bully .

Not only should Sarah Palin reimburse Alaskan taxpayers for her exploits, but she should reimburse women for setting them back 50 years with her beauty pageant of a campaign. She is not a good representation of American women, or intelligence for that matter. I'm tired of seeing people on capitol hill that I'm much smarter than. Her ignorance and lack of experience as a VP candidate is appalling to me. If she keeps talking, she might even lose the support of Joe Plumber and Joe 6-pack (aka the pride of 'real' America.)

I hope that some of the outfits she bought at Neiman Marcus are hunting clothes that she can wear in Alaska, she is gonna need them.

I originally thought the movie character Sarah Palin most resembled was Chance The Gardener.
Now i believe it's Elmer gantry or Fagan from Oliver

So much for her being different from the "good Ole Boys" she condems!! Sounds as if she has lots of practice abusing power!!! Enid, Oklahoma

The people of Alaska should be outraged at the unecessary funding of her children's travel expenses.

Sarah Palin is the governor of Alaska, NOT HER CHILDREN. For her to use public money to cart her kids around is disgusting. However, I don't believe that she actually intended to do anything wrong. She is just stupid.

I was wondering what it took to get a so-called "moral" person, as Sarah Palin claims to be, to knowingly attempt to incite racial hatred and to attempt to drag people back to the fearful, dark days of McCarthyism.

I guess a great big shopping spree at Neiman Marcus goes a a long way to soothing any feelings of guilt about what you're doing, hey Sarah?

Jack, what positive contribution do you add to the audience of CNN ?
Your rotten attitude, and negative comments are sickening!
Jack, it was so low class and demeaning of you to speak publicly about Sarah Palin as a "sleaze bag"! You sounded like an angry bully!
You have spent weeks downing her!
She has contributed more to government and has had much more experience than Obama. You are blatantly Democratic and it is disappointing you can not be more objective.

Jack, the whole tome of your questions today makes you sound like Kieth Oberman.

Jack, are you a maverick? Methinks otherwise because if you were a maverick, you will not be asking such a question. If you need an answer from me, I’d say yes, they should. It’s a family of mavericks and it’s just the type of reform we need.

She should reimburse Alaska for her family travel expenses. When I accompany my husband on a business trip we pay for my ticket. It's an ethics decision.
Those kids should be in school, not being used as campaign props.

I am so angry. I have two BA Degree and an MA Degree and I am struggling to find a job. Everything in my area has been outsourced and I am insulted with VP that barely graduated in basket weaving. I have come to the conclusion education does not better people. Greed, stupidity and ignorance wins. I have to pay for my tickets when I apply for jobs out of state while she takes her entire clan, husband, daughters and a high school drop out around the country on our money. I hate her and the Republican scumbags. Vote Obama/Biden maybe things get better.

Gov. Palin thinks like a CEO. Take away as much of the benefits from the workers as you can while hoarding all the perks and money for yourself. Just like the AIG executives – when it comes to spending on themselves, there are no limits.

I think Gov Palin owes the people of Alaska an explaination.

As far as the clothing and make-up, who does she think she is....Cindy McCain.

She ammended expense reports, because she knew it was WRONG!

why is it we never hear anything about what democrats have done the last eight years? I've done very well until democrats messed everything up when they took over congress. You smear Palin on any little thing but Obama gets donations in odd change with no paper trails why is this not a big deal. Oh I know liberal media wants Obama to WIN now I get it. McCain has paper trail on all donations. I see why Glenn Beck has left CNN.

Yes the Palin's should, as a mother I have been wondering why they have not been in school.

Gov. Palin should, on the one hand, reimburse the state for her children's travel and entertainment expenses while on the other hand demand for obvious reasons an immediate refund from her hair and beauty service providers (and then take that $4k/month and invest herself in Joe the Plumber's start-up venture).

This is just another example of Republican arrogance. How many incidents like these do we have to witness before that lightbulb goes off in our heads and we realize that this 'ticket" is not what American needs right now. This Republican campaign has come to exemplify the differences in "Them" and "U.s.", the has and has not's. From what I've seen in this election, Palin and McCain have campaigned on hatred and division and this just goes to show you what the entire Republican party has evolved into. YES, she should repay the money, withdraw from this pathetic ticket and go back to school and learn more about how the U.S. government really works – i.e. the VP does not run the Senate. Any 10 year old knows that.

Not only should she reimburse that taxpayers she should be disqualified as a VP choice. She is involved in more then this one scandal in Alaska. She is a rabble rouser that uses words to incite hate and prejudices in crowds. She also pals around with an Anti-American group the Alaska Independence Party that hates the USA. We need answers McCain we need to know why you picked this corrupt woman.Birds of a feather i guess.

NO, ITS TOO LATE, SHE SHOULD BE INDICTED FOR THEFT, ANY ORDINARY SIX PACK JOE WOULD BE SERVING JAIL TIME. HER SO CALLED RENTAL CLOTHES (UNIFORM) IS COUNT NUMBER 2. TROOPER GAE, YOU GOT IT COUNT NUMBER 3. HOW MANY YEARS, AT LEAST AS MANY AS SHE IS SEEKING AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

Goes to show the gullibility of the left wing, who are so anxious to find something on Palin.
She hasn't even answered the charges yet, and just because you guys report it a certain way, everybody licks their chops..
Sad

Shouldn't her kids be in school? I see her youngest daugter (during School Hours) with her more then McCain! I think its good to keep her family close but not at the expense of the tax payers and the education of her children! Part of me says that Alaska must be ok with footing the bill because the majority seem to support her. Jack, how often did her kids travel? Does she home school her kids? And if so is Alaska .....America footing the bill there as well? Is that apart of the $150,000.00 price tag? Does she not make enough money in her position to pay the bill from her own pocket? Did she not see this as wrong? We cant afford the cost of living let alone another bill......150,000.00 could have put food on Americans table, payed medical bills, help stop several forclosures... come on Jack somebodys got to save us from this! We are hurting! ...This is killing us this is GREED.......

If this was a man going on business trips, I doubt if the kids would go. They would probally stay home with mom while dad went to his "meeting". Since it is a woman going on the trips, the dad (Todd) should have stayed home with the kids. So, yes I think she should pay back the state.

No no no no no. They're little butts should be in school where they belong.

Jack,
Do you know that Sarah Looise Heath Plain earns $125,000 for being the governor of Alaska? It is therefore obvious that she would not have spent the money on her shopping spree and paying for her family's travel expenses for her own bank account- not enough to cover it all. John McCain gave her the opportunity to demonstrate her leadership skills. Unfortunately, she has not lived up to any expectations. I pray that she will be able to return to her job and care for her children. Being in charge of the senate is not the constitution as a role of a VP.

I agree stop trashing Palin!! (unless you look at the same records for Obama or Biden OK?? – is it too much to ask to be fair in this election?
Palin is new to this blood sport called running for national office – Obama & Biden have done nothing but run for office for YEARS!! (Eva is right)
Biden goofs more than Palin but at least Obama has stop studdering when he doesn't use a teleprompter. Can we all be a little more kind.

Jack,
Are you kidding me?, you should be focused on Obama spending 200 plus days campagning when he should have been representing his state on key issues. While this Palin MAY not be right neither is his campaiging for his next job before he made a contribution on his current job. It's time you put all this in perspective.

JACK,

Sarah Palin is a fraud and she owes the Alaskan people a check and an apology.

Ted Stevens took the money and now Palin takes the money I see no difference! They are both wrong!

Palin's Pork Hurting the GOP – She should pay it back.

Palin’s wardrobe a disgusting display of wealth – I find this grossly excessive when so many suffer under the economy and struggle to donate a mere 5$ at a time to a campaign they believe in. It is a slap in the face to those donors who go without just to contribute.

While Michelle Obama was able too look elegant in 150$ cotton dress she wore on The View. That dress sold out @ stores across the US her thrifty style resonated with grassroots supporters and it was admirable.

Palin’s pork wardrobe, and children’s travel expenses illuminate a greedy opportunistic pig. The GOP is sick my friends put it to rest.

Absolutely Not. If her personal expenses were to result in reimbursement, or
merely an expectation from her that they should be, then I would not want her to be
the VP of this nation, already in a vulnerable economic situation. Her control
of the economy, and issues relating to governing this country, and the ability
to handle those as she is comfortable with would not only be scary, due to past
performances, and deceitful practices, but she would be just as bad as the top
executives of the financial giants that have gone bankrupt.

Absolutely she should! This simply does not pass the "Light of day" standard for ethics – the same way that "Trooper Gate" doesn't. It may not be illegal but, it sure as hell isn't right. Integrity is sorely lacking. They certainly lack any moral reflection.

Yes, Gov Palin should paid the money back to the Alaska Taxpayers.
WOW, she talks about others miss using the Money.... I guess Sarah
is distributing the Wealth to her Family.

Yes! If she would have kept the plane she sold at a loss, then there would not have been an incremental cost for the kids traveling with her. Instead she sold the plane at a loss and then further charged the state for her kids' travel. Some say that since Alaska knew she was a mom, they should pay. However, my job doesn't pay for childcare or family travel and I'm not paid by taxpayers. So why should taxpayers pay for her kids?

Also, apparently the city where she was mayor did not pay for rape kits for rape victims in a state that has the highest rapes per capita in the U.S. The answer to this was that they didn't think the taxpapers should have to pay for the rape kits. If polled, I betcha that more people would rather pay for the rape kits than her kids' travel costs.

Who cares about the kids. I'm more concerned about the P.O.W. Levi Johnston. Free Levi John McCain.

Glad you're back , didn't know if you had gotten canned for telling the truth in the way you do so well. Welcome back!

GOVERNOR PALIN MUST PROVE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THAT SHE WILL NOT SQUANDER TAX PAYERS' MONEY AT THE WHITE HOUSE ON FAMILY MEMBERS ESPECIALLY HER CHILDREN OR VIOLATE ETHICAL RULES TO THE ADVANTAGE OF HER HUSBAND.

Dont forget the Nanny, Tutors, hair stylists, makeup artist and ammo for Todd.

Alaskan taxpayers should not bear the expense for her husband and children traveling with her on business/governement trips. Yes, she should reimburse the State of Alaska for these expenses.

Jack, I know that this is one of your joke question. Does CNN pay for your kids to go to CNN events? NOW you have your answer and that was easy. The taxpayers would not know about this situation until the media tells us because the Alaska government and workers are not going to tell the public. WE the people need a media unit with the resources to report government expenses, on laws that our elected officials are voting on,etc,etc. this would give us the knowledge we need to ask questions. If I lived in Alaska I would be asking for a audit of all expenses by elected and government officials doing state business. when we elected people to office, we do not put their family on the state expense account unless you are king and queen Palin of Alaska.

I'm pretty sure I'd get fired if I tried that.

Jack, are you a maverick? Methinks otherwise because if you were a maverick, you will not be asking such a question. If you need an answer from me, I’d say NO. It’s a family of mavericks and mavericks do not reimburse...just the type of reform the great USA needs.

She should absolutely pay the money back!!! A further investigation is needed to find out (once again) if this constitutes a legal or ethics violation and disciplinary needs to be taken. Someone needs to stop this woman, who seems to think that she's untouchable and does not ever have to take accountability for her actions.

I am from Chevak, alaska and i cannot afford lipstick, because i pay $5.95 a gallon for heating fuel and $ 6.00 for red gas, not to mention the high cost of paying for electriciy. Once in a while I have a few dollars left to buy a carton of 18 family pack of eggs for $6.19. By the way the price of gas does not fluctuate up and down like it does in Anchorage or the lower 48. it is a flat rate that we pay all year long until the next barge comes in to our village in the spring. We have the highest rate of unemployment in the State for our rural areas. yes, we are proud to be called Americans too, we are hurting with the rest of America with no jobs. Go ahead and take a look at the State of Alaska, it is huge. I am not a Sarah Palin supporter. She has to pay back the money to our people. Thank you and i hope Obama wins.

No, they should not be unless the kids were requested or she made that a condition of her appearance. But what this shows, as well as, her being found to have abused her power ...is that she is a regular ol politician...no maverick or reformer for sure.

Jack,

Palin wants to control the Federal government spending, how about she start by controlling hers. Oh, I guess the base darling gets whatever she wants.

Yes, Sarah Palin should reimburse the government of Alaska. I can't understand why Mc Cain chose her as his running mate. The more she opens her mouth and the more we find about her, the more damage she does to the Republican ticket.

Mc Cain is very proud to anounce her as a pitbull. Well she is not a barracuda, nor a pitbull. Sarah Palin is a flesh eating piranna.

Miriam
P.S. I am from Washingtonville, New York

I find it hard to believe that McCain would allow children to be considered part of a paid political expense. What ever happened to his "no pork" platform. Palin should be required to repay all expenses charged to her party for children travels. Furthermore $150,000 dollars from republican coffers to pay for Palins wardrobe and hairdo's. I sure am glad I did not contribute to the McCain campaign when I received a request for donations. My wife would have had kittens if she knew I was buying Palins clothing.. What a stupid decision for the Republican Party. I guess gold diggers are still active in Alaska Stan North Webster, Indiana.

Yes I think Gov Palin should reimburse the state of Alaska for the travel expenses for her kids. On top of that she should reimburse the Republican party the cost of an entire new wardrobe for her family to go on the campaign trail. That is of course unless the $150 K was donated by Cindy McCain, then it was OK to waste that money in this manner. Everytime I see Cindy McCain I think of a Barbie Doll all dressed up to go somewhere.About the only thing I can tell Palin is qualified to do is to spend some "hardtime wearing an orange colored pair of coveralls while she does some hard time for cheating Americans out of their hard earned money. I'm dying to see the maternity outfits the money helped buy for Bristol to waer as she gets bigger and bigger over the coming months. Does the VP actually receive a family clothing allowance each month in addition to the basic salary? This is sleaze at its best and McCain thinks wallstreet exec's are lowlifes – look at his running mate Lowlife II.

You betch! Sarah can "put' the infamous wardrobe on Ebay and reimburse Alaska from the proceeds.

Yeah, She should re-eimburse the fund. She got to raise fund on her own for these expenses.
Anther thing about "socializm", she ain't know nothing yet!!, she should do more "home works" on this issue. As a victim of Socializm, I had to escape from my country by boat 28 yrs. ago. She has to be careful about what she said.

She should pay back every thin dime and the IRS should audit her for every year in office. Why should she be allowed to STEAL from the taxpayers so her children can go watch their dad in a snowmobile race? Why should the taxpayers pay for her prenant daughter to stay 5 days and 4 nights in New York when PALIN alone was attending a 5 hour conference. Those of you who believe this loser is a maverick or reformer need your heads examined!

Should the tax payers be reimbursed – absolutely. When I was a county employee some years ago, I once was given a couple of bottles of shampoo by a vendor and was later told that as a public employee, I couldn't keep them! The value was about $35 - far less than what we are talking about here.

Yes, she should reimburse for those lies and any others yet uncovered!!! I questioned McCain's judgement in chosing her but now I just question HER judgement....period. Maybe this is just her being "mavericky"

Why? With an 80% approval rating, I'm pretty sure the Alaska people are more than too happy to pay up.

Do you think the first lady should pay her way ?
At least keep it honest !

Jack,
Senator Palin has no clue , no class, don,t expect her to have any plans to return any money.

McCain/Palin all the way!

Yes she should reimburse the state. She should also apologize to McCain for providing the single biggest reason as to why he will lose his final bid for the white house.
Saturday Night live could give her a kick-back from all the money they must have garnered with the Palin spoofs. Help pay down the clothing bill.

Hi Jack
Yes, she should pay back all the money.
And an other thing. She is desperately trying to sell herself us an ordinary "hockey mom". How many hockey moms you know, who are taking their kids to work. Normal people have to hire babysitters to watch their kids.
Judith

Yes, she should reimburse taxpayers before resigning.

In 1973-74, I was denied a promotion because I had a young child and the position was given to a childless person I was told would not be taking off work because of a sick child.

There will come a time when a qualified woman will not be elected because of children if taxpayers are expected to pay for their expenses while on dummy "official business." Thus, It would be cheaper to elect a man, if for no other reason.

I live in a rural part of western PA and I think it is a shame that more people out here are not voting for Barak Obama. Just like any other good american preparing to vote, I have studied the canidates very closely. I can not believe that Sen. John McCain choose Sarah Pailin for his running mate. The woman does NOT have the experience needed to step in as president if needed. You would think being the gov. of one of the nations biggest states, she would be a little more up to date on the issues facing the american people. I would also like to know what "soccer mom" spends 4k on make-up in one month. It just baffles me that she was tapped for vice president.

Reformer please, they tried to transform her! lol Of course Sarah needs to pay back that money. Todd and Sarah have been taking advantage of Sarah being Governor, and this is just one more thing that makes people really irritated she is even on the ticket. We don't need her on anymore power trips.

Tanya Lenox
Seatte, Washington

How about I answer your question with another question.. HOW can somebody who claims to be an honest god fearing christian with stunts like this? Maverick? Hell no!

YES, Gov. Palin should reimburse the state of Alaska. As a woman I find her actions horrible, she is no "Hockey Mom" nor "Corporate Mom". We have a female Gov. who would never think of doing this type of thing. Palin is just another Bush extension. Her actions not only seem to disceive the public, but they also make it difficult for women who really are trying to make it in the Corporate or Goverment World in an honest fashion (no pun intended..). If a man were to have done these things he would have had to be held accountable. What happened to Todd Palin being the stay at home dad? It's bad enough Palin pays herself a per diem to sleep in her own home (as others loose theirs) and not the Gov. Mansion.... now she pays her kids to jet around with her when the First Dude is able to take care of the kids at home (woman have done this for centuries) .... not to mention a $150,000.00 for 3 months of designer clothing? I have an impeccable wardrobe, that makes Palin's designer's look like dud's. I maintain my clothing without even spending a 10th of a percent of what was spent on Palin's, (as so many other woman across this country have and do). Everyday "REAL" American's in every part of this country are loosing more and more everyday, but I guess in a McCain/Palin Admin. the cost of European Designer clothing are more important. Just goes to show that taste, common sense, a conscience, or even real morals cannot be bought. Hope the voters cannot be decieved by what is apparently a 'Former Beauty Queen" not a "Reformer Beauty Queen". Oh, and I am also a "Former Beauty Queen"... but this one can tell you what duties the Vice President hold... and what is written in the Constitution. Guess the money I used on my education were well invested, may be that is where the money should have gone, and not a wardrobe or all the other spending Gov. Palin has done and tried to 'readjust'.

Mary Kellerman
Milford, Ks

Palin's actions just go to show you that she does not live up to the same standards which she claims Obama does not live up to.

She should pay every dime back. She should also be charged with fraud. She went back to change her records to make it appear that these expenses were appropriate.

She does not have the backbone needed to be a VP, let alone the President of our country, and a leader of one of the most powerful nations in the world.

Whatever happened to the men of the country. Why are they sitting back, instead of doing the jobs of significance such as this? Why are there so many women entering the pulpit, when it clearly states in the Bible that women should not preach nor teach.

Men start standing up to your responsibilities which are before you. Clearly, there had to be many men which were much more qualified than some fickle-minded woman!

Wake up men. Take your responsibilities, and stop letting the "weaker sex" run things, then sit and complain.

Embezzlement! Embezzlement!

Jack!
We are so happy to see you back on CNN with The Cafferty File. You look great! We missed you. We need you. What ever you are doing to look so good, please keep doing it.
Okay, as for Sarah Palin, I know it's too late to get on TV but yes, I do think she should repay the Alaskan taxpayers for her children's trips. In fact, they may want her to repay her own expenses as she runs for VP and neglects her duties as governor.
Sharon & Pete, Hartwell, GA

Yes, she should give back the money to the state of Alaska. That, plus the state's Attorney General needs to investigate if any laws were broken by her altering the expense reports.

As for the $150,000 dollars given to her to shop for a new wardrobe, makeup and hair. That money also should be returned. Must be nice to be given $150,000 dollars for a new wardrobe in these bad economic times. Does anyone want to do that for me? I think not.

The rich just keep getting richer and the poor just keep getting poorer and people like her just don't care. Neither does the whole repulican party....they don't have a heart and according to former PA Senator Rick Santorum "You can't keep running to the federal government for help". That quote made while KDKA news crew was filming him and a Crafton resident asking for help during a flood we had. That remark by him was one reason he lost reelection. The people here didn't forget that remark.

Very definnatly !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Certainly she should pay reimbursment, or may the RNC will just pay.

She needs to reimburse the taxpayers. If the governor was a man and took his children along, they wouldn't expect a free ride. She shouldn't either.

If power abuse and lavish spending is what make mavericks, I would warn my fellow Americans to stay away from proclaimed mavericks let alone elect one, and yes Jack she should reimbursed the Alaskan people...

Palin should not only pay back every cent of "travel expenses" for her tribe of kids, but can anyone tell me why over $100,000 was spent on her clothes, hair and makeup?? Talk about pork barrel.
You can betcha that I'll not be votin' "red" this year!

I am a working mother of two and the primary breadwinner in my family. I am in sales and travel a lot. During the summer and when my kids were younger, I brought them with me quite frequently. However, if we flew, I either used my frequent flier points or paid for the tickets for my husband and kids myself. These are the sacrifices that we make to balance. I don't see why Governor Palin thinks the taxpayers need to pick up the tab. First of all, she spent quite a lot of time in Wasila anyway. So, if she had to travel once in a while, so be it. She accepted that responsibility when she accepted the job of governor. She should pay it back.

Jack, I asked Governor Palin her thoughts and she had this to say..."Of course I shouldn't ( wink wink). These expenses will help sure up the economy. You know...it's all about job creation for Americans. You know Katie the sales clerk at Nieman Marcus...she got a fat commission check...you betcha! Not to mention I look like an even hotter Maverick to the Russians that can see me from the maritime border. That will strengthen my foreign policy experience."

Most definitely, she should reimburse the taxpayers of Alaska for this blatant abuse.

Beyond shameful.

In light of all the greed and scandal that has been exposed in the last year, this shows extreme bad judgement and lack of a moral conscious.

Whats the Deal America yea so she took her kids along with her under the governments payroll, as a government official she has that right and you all are focusing are the wrong issues this is not what should sway your vote.

Isn't cheating on your expenses a "firable" offense for most "executives"?

Palin should not only repay the money, she should issue an apology to the hardworking citizens of Alaska!

She should of course, we can see the real Sarah Palin and how big of a hypocrite she is, criticizing Obama's plan. Where is "Country First"?

I guess the early argument about a mother who seeks a profession can't raise a family and do a good job at the office, but I see it's true' she can just take the kids with her and put the bill on the job expenses!

Talk about hypocrisy!!!!! I guess if we spread the wealth around, let it be for the personal benefit of her family. Yes, she should ABSOLUTELY reimburse the taxpayers of Alaska, but also apologize to them. And this is what Senator McCain calls reform???? Please.

The RNC broke campaign finance laws!

She has stated that she is a reform , but she fail to mention that she surly likes to spend the tax payer money wrongly, as well as the GOP party funds to dress up this pitbull

I doubt you will publicize this but she turned down the private jet the Governor gets. If she had kept the jet there wouldn't be any travel fees.

Yes Jack, she should but will not. If she did, it will be acknowledgement of wrong doing.

Kail Rajah
Toronto, Ontario.

How much was spent on Obama's family that the Democratic Party spent ???

Why does't he share the wealth, he collected $150,000,000.00 last month. Instead of spending it bad mouthing McCain give some to the poor.

Yes. My gosh, Sarah Palin is only in the race to the White House and she's already been embroiled in two corruption issues. It really is unbelievable (and I thought her answer to a third grader's question of the Vice President's job was amazing). Her fourteen year old and seven year old daughters are really involved in official business? (I am accepting her seventeen year old could be involved.)

Sorry I forgot to add I am from London ontario Canada, and would someone kindly send me an Obama bumper sticker. Most of us "socialist s"are pulling for him up here in canada. That is to say if free health care is socialism i'm all for it. Perhaps if the republicans did not spend countless trillions on a war that was not directed at the true enemy they would have been better off spending it on health care.

well jack i say hell yeah,but here's my theory let her keep the clothes but on one condition she has to sell them on e-bay and distribute the money equally back to the alaska taxpayers i'm sure there's enough "palin struck" republicans out there that would pay a pretty penny for them. Ken from Ohio

you are all left wing socialists jeez

Jack...when was the last time you used Obama/Biden as a subject in your little blog??? This is getting ridiculous already. Why is there so much anger toward McCain/Palin online...I know why...because older wiser Americans don't use the internet! Enough already.

While my entire clothing budget for the year is $475, I must say that Sarah Palin’s $150,000 should not be considered out of line when compared to Cindy McCain and her $300,000 ‘golden fairy’ convention costume. The campaign is probably just giving her a “stimulus check” so she can keep up the GOP standards!

I think that is a situation that should be left to Alaska. If true it shows more about morals. On the subject of older voters leaning toward Obama. Obama has surrounded himself with Bill Clinton's advivors. We remember the Clinton econemy. Nuff said.

I like your candidness. I'm that way myself. I don't like your continued attacks on Governor Palin however. You wouldn't be Democrat would you? It seems that CNN is constantly siding with Obama and Biden and attacking McCain especially Palin. Too bad. Too bias.

maybe it is about time for all Americans to go back to their history, and see how their Proud forefathers delt with these kind of situations.
actions needed not just words.
if we are truly living in a Democratic society that we brag so much about it. then lets show the world how it works, otherwise our government and it's politicians are no different with Mughabe and its Government.

When Mrs. Palin goes home to Alaska, I call her that because she may not be welcomed when she does, she will have a lot to answer to. Who in this country think that our kids are so cute and special, besides us that we want to help pay for their trips when we can't fund trips for our own families. I hate when politicians abuse taxpayers money. She has to many children to have to pay for all of them, that is her choice but, she and "Dude" should pay her way, not taxpayers.

The real question is why are the kids with her on official business. As a mom that is the juggle between family and career, right?

So my question is, can she juggle VP and mom? Has to be tough...but yes pay the taxpayers back the money....$21K can do alot of good in Alaska.

Jack, good to have you back!
How much more can we take from Governor Palin? It's one thing after the other and luckily enough the American people is now starting to see through the pretty face and the well shaped body! Sarah Palin is a true barracuda, there is a reason she got that name in Alaska.....
Of course she should pay back every cent she charged for her children! Also if she so easily can spend our money for her hair (!), beauty saloons, clothes etc BEFORE she is even elected, imagine what it would be like IF she was elected. AND this is NOTHING compared to the disaster if she would have to step up as CHIEF IN COMMANDER. Can you even imagine......? God bless us!

Barbro Ask-Upmark/Salinas, CA

Unfortunately, I think it is due to the fear of choosing policies very similar to the past eight years, versus the fear of choosing the unknown. I however, am not undecided. I am enthusiastically voting for Barack Obama!

You betcha!! Taking these kids here and there can't be healthy for these children. I saw the second youngest yawning and half asleep the other day on television. What kind of mother is that. We get it, she's a mother, she doesn't need to be flying these children here or there. And at the taxpayer's expense!!!!!! By the way, the American people who donated to McCain's campaign, did they know their hard working dollars were going to go to a $150,000 wardrobe. Why not, come on guys, SPREAD THE WEALTH.

Redistribute the wealth. sounds like socialism to me. stop cheating the taxpayers.

This is a DARN SHAME !!!!! The Moooooose – Hunter has a lot of caaaaaaaaaaaaaaasssssssssh... She rips people off just as anyone would if given the chance. She does it legally (campaign expenses). Her husband makes good money and they are not spending it on others. This is not shocking. Politicians are corrupt in Alaska, tooooooooooooo ... Mr. STEVENS, etc..................

The main GOAL for POLITICIANS is to get to WASHINGTON, DC. Being an outsider is no fun and outside looking out is better.

She will do it again. As VP PALIN or GOV. PALIN

VOTE OBAMA

YES..she should pay

I can't believe that the American people can't see through Mrs Palin. She is such a phony, if she really cared about the little people, she should have declined when Mc Cain approached her for the presidency. I bet he was shocked when she said yes.
Don't blame her for this opportunity, I would have said yes, she will go down in the history books win lose or draw. She is willing to pay the price for the fame.
She is also a racist look how she treats those poor Alaskan indians!!!

McCain is always saying that he has been tested. When has he been tested to make the final call or to pull the trigger as he stated with the Cuban Missle Crisis. He was not the President. Senators/House Members don't make call like that without the majority vote. Also, he always talks about victory in Iraq. Will he give 100,000 lives like me a 10 Air Froce Vet for his VICTORY???

and the poor victims of rape in Alaska had to pay for their own rape kits!!!

talk about ethics.

If she don't want her family included in the politics she should not drag them around, This is just more abuse of power by her, and aren't her children suppose to be in school? Now she's trying to change the duties of the vice president Her attitude is I m pretty every body has to do things my way.

dear jack Yes it should be the last check written by the first family before she is hauled off to maverick prison.

Palin needs to pay back every dime with inerest. I don't know why her kids needed to travel when all she had to do was put them on a pair of her famous Sara Palin glasses and then there would be no need to travel. They could see the places without leaving home. What a disgusting fraud!

Shades of "let-them-eat-cake" Marie Antoinette. GOP spends 150k on Sarah Palin's clothes and accessories. But it's all ok - when she's through with them, they'll be donated to charity.

Don't you get it?!!!!! This woman is a Bimbo and that's why McCain picked her. She will be the new Monica Lewinsky of the GOP!

If she don't want her family included in the politics she should not drag them around, This is just more abuse of power by her, and aren't her children suppose to be in school? Now she's trying to change the duties of the vice president Her attitude is I m pretty every body has to do things my way.

Jack,

My answer is NO. Sarah Pailin has spared Alaska the cost of
operating and maintaining a private jet. The cost of any travel
her and family are pitance by comparison. How much has any
other canidate saved thier state on such expenses. I think this is a
good trade off !

Oh!, that One

As,
not to be confused with,

That One

Not only should she repay the taxpayers of Alaska, but the Republican Party would have been wise to spend money on getting her a degree in political science instead of shopping sprees and hair-dos. This way she would have a better understanding of the United States Constitution, especially the part that gives the vie-president NO legislative power what-so-ever...none..nadda...zilch no authority... no power

Yes. Sarah Palin needs to reimburse Alaska taxpayers for her childrens' travel expenses.

Sarah’s sense of entitlement, abuse of power, from Trooper-Gate-Travel-Gate-Shopper-Gate is just the tip of the melting Alaskan Iceberg; The Ice Princess needs be honest for a change and give back the money; this is more than the change we need. Sarah has dishonestly spent hundreds of thousands of the tax-payer’s money for her own interests. This is not what Americans had in mind when it comes to entitlement programs. Sarah who she is screams so loudly she can’t be heard to the contrary; another self-serving sense of entitlement politician. Set a good example for your children and get your hand out of the tax-payers cookie jar-hockey mom.

Sarah please go home.

You chose to have the kids, you pay for them. My husband and I will take our daughter on business trips, we pay. Palin, this is tax payers money! You should be embarressed. I don't think you will be voted back in to your role up there in Alaska.

Some Maverick. Free plane rides for the kids at taxpayer expense and a $150K makeover out of campaign donations.
Business as usual.

No, you misunderstood her. She said she's going to reign in GOVERNMENTAL spending, not PERSONAL spending of governmental money.

Wow.... 150 grand for clothes and makeup?! maybe her government salary isn't enough to buy her own clothes....gotta wonder what she was wearing as Governor of Alaska... poor Sarah....the RNC must have thought she was outfitted in thrift shop attire