Palin PAC Spent More On Books Than Candidates February 1, 2010 12:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (41) | Share This By Reid Wilson Ex-AK Gov. Sarah Palin's (R) PAC spent more money buying copies of Palin's best-selling book than it gave in contributions to political candidates, according to new FEC reports. The papers filed over the weekend show SarahPAC spent $47,777 on copies of "Going Rogue" during the last 6 months of the year. Meanwhile, she handed out just $43K in donations to candidates seeking federal office. The PAC bought the books from HarperCollins, Palin's publisher. The FEC reports show Palin has been purchasing the book to send to donors, some of whom got a copy after contributing a certain amount to the PAC. Palin has a significant staff around her, though she has largely communicated with the public through her Facebook page and through occasional appearances on Fox News. Palin pays 6 people for fundraising or communications consulting, 2 administrative workers -- one in Arlington, VA, where the PAC is based, and one in her home town of Wasilla, AK. She has also spent hundreds on a photographer, the reports show. But her 2 best-paid employees have been with her the longest. Spokesperson Meghan Stapleton made $54K in the last 6 months of the year through an AK-based firm known as IzzyLene Consulting. And Jason Recher, a veteran of the Bush admin who clashed with staffers at campaign headquarters during Palin's '08 VP bid, has made $70K in the last 6 months through his Arlington-based company, NorthStar Strategies. Palin has also paid $65K to Clapp Peterson Van Flein Tiemessen Thorsness, an Anchorage-based law firm that represented her during the Troopergate scandal. Meanwhile, Palin has cut checks to more than a dozen candidates, including Reps. Tom Rooney (R-FL), Jean Schmidt (R-OH), Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN). Palin also gave money to Sens. Tom Coburn (R-OK), John Thune (R-SD), Richard Burr (R-NC), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Jim DeMint (R-SC). Palin's PAC contributed the maximum allowable to accountant Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate who ran against more liberal GOPer Dede Scozzafava in NY-23. After Palin's donation, Hoffman received a flood of national money and conservative attention. On Monday, ophthalmologist/Rep. Ron Paul son Rand Paul (R), a candidate for Sen. Jim Bunning's (R) open seat, said Palin had contributed to his campaign.
Buying her own books (from which she profits) with "political donations" sounds illegal to me. I don't know enough to state flatly that it is.