McCain aide cites 'failure of management'
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/11/14/art.davis.gi.jpg caption="Davis managed McCain's campaign."](CNN) - Rick Davis, the campaign manager for former John McCain's White House bid, came to Sarah Palin's defense in an upcoming interview with the National Review, saying the now-infamous $150,000 clothing tab for the Alaska governor was caused by a "failure of management."
In the interview, set for publication next week, Davis notes Palin's appearance at the Republican convention came only days after she was named to the GOP ticket, and the Alaska governor had few clothes on hand that were appropriate for the event.
“We flew her out from Alaska to Arizona to Ohio to introduce her to the world and take control of her life. She didn’t think ‘dress for the convention’, because it might have just been a nice day trip to Arizona if she didn’t click with John. Very little prep had been done and if it had, we might have gotten picked off by the press. We were under incredible scrutiny."
"We were under incredible scrutiny," he added. "We got her a gal from New York and we thought, ‘Let’s get some clothes for her and the family.’ It was a failure of management not to get better control and track of that. "The right hand didn’t know what the left hand was doing, what it was worth or where it was going. No one knew how much that stuff was worth. It was more our responsibility than hers.”
News of the pricey tab caused a media firestorm days before the presidential election, and McCain aides appeared to blame Palin for the mishap, while the Alaska governor said she was forced to buy the clothes.
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Any woman knows that the clothes were expertly selected and fitted..
That is what insures the look of quality. Unfortunately the Republicans
didn't spend as much time selecting and fitting the person chosen
for the role...Poor "Homespun" Sarah was just a mannequin
for the Repugnicans ... set women back a lot as I see it !
This really shows that McBush and McFalin' Palin were not ready to lead this country. The Dems made a right choice and put the best men in office. I don't know about you, but I'm tired of being lied to by the Republicans. While the Repubs are licking their wounds, how about getting rid of real terrorists, Rush Dimbaugh and Lame Hannity.
Go Franken!!!!
JUST GO AWAY – WE'RE FINISHED WITH PALIN AND THE CONSERVATIVES!
Let's focus on CHANGING THE FUTURE. The 2008 presidential election is over.
Fall on your sword Rick. We know you're lying about Sarah's lack of involvement in the shopping spree. But maybe the GOP will hire you to fail on another campaign in the future.
Reality check: Palin loved the spotlight, loved the new clothes, took every advantage to embellish the family wardrobe, ah heck – took every advantage. This women is not fully cooked and needs to understand as much. The fact that she became governor of Alaska does not impress me at all. She needs to do what she says she does best – take care of her family. Go home. Get fully cooked. Find an English grammar book and use it. Get some experience and then perhaps return when she actually can string two sentences together with proper syntax. Until then, she is a joke who came precariously close to fooling the American public. The more she talks, the more she tries to garner a leadership role in the GOP, the more of a trainwreck she becomes. She has become addicted to her own ego and the limelight. Go home, Sarah. You have overstayed your welcome in the political spotlight.
THANK GOD THESE PEOPLE DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE WHITE HOUSE!
Take the Gov. of Alaska, Quick- – -I've got the convention comin' up.
Ah, to hell with the vetting – -who needs that stuff. Bring the whole family.
What? she's got 5 kids- -Oh well the taxpayers will fork over for it.and Go buy them some clothes they'll pay for that too, also.
Must have been how it come down folks
Hey all of this is so stupid.
Are we going to be talking about her next week too?
Poor management is one thing you expect when at first you have extremely poor judgment.
Like last sunday when they went for two to win the game instead of kicking a sure thing to tie the game and go into overtime.
They took a blindsided risk and lost.
They went negative and lost.
With bad ideas they lost. Unqualified lost.
C-Ya bye bye
Sarah just go AWAY !
Is the same cry baby who complained about Campbell Browns' tough itnerview. What point is he making now. Did not make any sense to me.
@Donna:
Yes, let's talk about Obama's 600mil. Obama did exactly what I asked him to do with the money i sent him. He bought advertisements, organized an awesome ground game and then finished it with a top notch infomercial. I am sure the donors to the McCain campaign did not sign up to purchase little Trig and silver pacifier. Did you send your money to purchase their new wardrobe? You should ask for your money back.
Mr. Davis says, ""We got her a gal from New York..." A gal from New York? I wonder how he refers to Ms. Palin in private?
I wouldn't put Mr. Davis in charge of walking my dog!
The real 'failure in management' took place over the past 8 years. McCain had the misfortune of being the Republican candidate trying to follow in W's wake, which was made worse by the fact that he had figuratively and literally embraced the man who did him dirty in the 2000 Republican primaries. So much for 'judgement'. As for the disasterous campaign waged by the McCain – Palin team, it was good of them to help nail the lid on the coffin, but they can stop talking about it now. Or can they? I guess if Palin is going to try for 2012, they'll need to somehow clean her up after this debacle. That will mean other people, like Davis, being good soldiers and falling on their swords. All this is entertaining, but maybe we can redirect the energy toward helping the new president deal with the problem of getting our country out of the ditch.
Weasel!
So much for careful vetting and preparation then–was that a big lie?
HEY OBAMA SUPPORTERS,
DID YOU REALIZE THAT OBAMA STILL HAS TO SHOW PROOF BY DECEMBER 1ST THAT HE IS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IF I SAID HE WAS BORN IN KENYA LIKE THE REST OF HIS FAMILY????
GET READY!!!!!!!!!
YOU SURE WASTED ALOT OF MONEY ON HIM!!
News of the pricey tab caused a stir in the LIBERAL media days before the election and still is causing a stir.
Yet Obama spent millions on a faux Greek Column setting for his speech, that I'm sure went to a gargabe dump, and not a single word from the media on the extravagence. In fact, they celebrated it.
PS: I hear the Obama questionnaire he is handing out to everyone who is looking for a postion on his team asks them if they have any questionable relationships. We need to contact webster so that can add the scenario to their definition of both Ironic and Hypocrite.
Another joke by the MSM. Ethics, who needs them.
Show me anyone in her position that wouldn't have done the same thing for their 15 min. of fame.
I just can't stop myself from clicking on this link. Please somebody help me. Stop yesterday's train wreck from still smouldering. Thank you.
So, why now? What took Davis so long to come up with this?
This is like campaign staffers sabotaged Palin from the very beginning, and thus McCain's campaign.
Thanks CNN, I knew you will listen to the voices of the people.
Drip! Drip!! Drip!!!
Just keep the tap on the Palin Show going, how else could I spend my day.
I'm sure a Governor doesn't have any clothes to be seen in public in.
Very poor excuse,.............
Major lack of PR experiance. Trying to push the maverick stance while carrying on under the normal Washington premise of do as I say not as I do.
Before next time see if the GOP can educate her a bit, teach her to talk, and give her something to speak about other than the Rove tactics she made her mantra during the election.
I think this particular candidate is soiled goods never to be seen again.
Palin is no wilting violet. No victim. She is a self-described "pit bull". Rick Davis mismanaged the McCain campaign. But...... I believe in Karma. What goes around comes around.
The vile attacks, the lies-hate-fear-and-division that was spewed by the McCain/Palin campaign was and IS their downfall. And will continue to be the downfall of the GOP, they just don't get that we, Americans, are sick and tired of their vile lies and hate-mongering!
The $150,000 spent on clothes, hair and makeup is a big joke!