Cindy McCain's $300,000 convention outfit insults the rest of us
Filed under: Bargains, Budgets, Saving Money, Wealth, Relationships
Vanity Fair reports that Cindy McCain's outfit for the Republican Convention cost around $300,000. Here is the breakdown of what she wore:
- Oscar de la Renta dress: $3,000
- Chanel J12 White Ceramic Watch: $4,500
- Three-carat diamond earrings: $280,000
- Four-strand pearl necklace: $11,000-$25,000
- Shoes, designer unknown: $600
- Total: between $299,100 and $313,100
Now I don't know about you, but that is about three times what my house cost. I understand that Ms. McCain has a lot of money but does she have to parade it all over her body? It becomes very difficult to believe that the McCains' know what is happening to the average American, when she is dripping money and he can't remember how many houses they own.
The truth is, John and Cindy, that a lot of us are cutting coupons, cutting back and working harder. We aren't buying designer shoes, we are purchasing food and clothing for our families. We have to budget our money carefully to just get by.
While I certainly did not expect Ms. McCain to show up at the convention in a dress from Target, it would have been nice to see a little more respect for the average Joe. Maybe a $50,000 outfit and give the rest of the money to charity.
Barbara Bartlein is The People Pro. She is a relationship expert and author of Why Did I Marry You Anyway? Overcoming the Myths that Hinder a Happy Marriage. For her free E-mail newsletter, please visit: The People Pro.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-09-2008 @ 3:32PM
FRAN B said...
I think anyone who has a problem with her outfit & cost
should get a life and grow up. So she has money!
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9-09-2008 @ 3:22PM
kb said...
I dont really care HOW MUCH her dress cost!It wasnt bought with tax payers dollars OR your money! She has sllot of it (money) and as everyone else in America over spends.....to HER it isnt frivolous!Does anyone really care or get on MS. Obamas case about her clothing costs??? I think not,as she is portrayed as "practical" , cut the bias and report things we REALLY care about like who would be the BEST for our country!A little side note...wasnt Jackie o a Democrat and a woman who liked her clothing EXPENSIVE???
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9-12-2008 @ 11:31PM
Sowhat? said...
That Mrs. McCain buys and wear expensive clothing should not make anybody mad, the woman HAS the money. Plain stupidity would be if she "purchase" expensive clothing without having the money to pay for it. And by the way, how she got her money is not a crime, the woman inherited her money and may God bless her, her husband and her money. May they both enjoy very long lifes in great health so they can enjoy her money.
About the Obamas, why so bitter about her clothing? You didn't care when her parents had a hard time feeding her. And you didn't care when Obama and his mother lived on food stamps because they were poorer than dirt. They have money now, let them go ahead and enjoy it in whichever way they want.
And about Jackie Kennedy Onnasis KB, yes she loooved her clothing expensive, veeery expensive. But then she, and her husband, never pretended to be Joe Street. And with the military file President Kennedy had, he never used it as the only thing he had to offer the country.
9-09-2008 @ 3:37PM
cindy said...
I don't care how much she spends, I do care when they talk about Obama and his Celebrity and they talk about his suits. It works on both sides, if they can't take the heat get out of the kichen.
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9-09-2008 @ 4:00PM
francesca said...
Dear Reader: What woman would wish to be on TV, viewed by millions, without looking like a million? Disparaging remarks show inadequacy and jealousy. Whether Democrat or Republican -
1. It was not a dress, it was 2 piece superbly cut suit.
2. The jewelry was probably in her possession, not new, but tasteful, shoes, etc are worn more than once.
3. Sarah Palin's clothes are what she can afford but in the best of taste.
4. There is something for everyone.
I was voted best dressed in high school with clothes that I knitted - and when a change of style was wished for: I ripped out and used the yarn again.
5. The entitlement should be changed to inner strength and achieving not asking.
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9-13-2008 @ 2:17PM
Ken said...
I'm quite sure the diamond necklace was rented / loaned from the jeweler, and not owned. Take Hollywood starlets for example, it's very common on Oscar night, etc, for them to rent ludicrously expensive jewelery.
That makes her dress ensemble $8100, plus the cost of renting the jewels. A much more sane figure.
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9-09-2008 @ 6:51PM
Mike said...
Funny how somebody says they don't care but yet they read the article. And they call Obama the celebrity. Was it Oscar night??? I agree Cindy should be toning it down a bit if she is to be an asset with John connecting with THE PEOPLE. Jackie O was a representative of the United States AFTER her husband became President and dressed accordingly. Cindy might do her husband good if she left the costly jewelry at home. Leave it to a Republican to turn it into a Republican/Democrat issue.
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9-09-2008 @ 4:38PM
Lin said...
What Cindy McCain wears is her personal business. John
McCain is not my favorite person but the press should be
ashamed of itself. But it's going to keep airing these lightweigh stories and not stressing the issues in earnest. Why? Because there are millions of gullible people who just love mess.
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9-09-2008 @ 5:03PM
Kim Connor said...
What a sad, sad hatchet job by an envious person. All the facts are even wrong. If this person can't even get this story right, then how can her advice as a "relationship expert" be any good. Just repeating a lie you read on the Internet doesn't make it true. If you don't like McCain or his policies then just say that..don't attack his family with some made up nonsense.
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9-09-2008 @ 5:25PM
Kim said...
She should wear what she wants! But I won't believe for a minute that she understands what middle America is all about!
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9-09-2008 @ 6:59PM
Catherine said...
How much Cindy McCain chooses to spend on her wardrobe is of little national importance. Long before the race for the White House began, she was using her money to help less fortunate people from all around the world. Where would her adopted daughter Bridget be if she had not brought her to the US and changed her life. How petty and thoughtless are you to place more emphasis on the value of her clothes than on the value of what she has accomplished in the past or would be able to accomplish in the future if she were to become the First Lady.
Shame on you for denying her the respect she deserves.
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9-09-2008 @ 11:02PM
Steven said...
It's obvious that you didn't watch the convention, so I'm not sure why you're insulted by her "parading" money "all over her body." Anyone who watched the convention (and actually cared/paid attention) would not be talking about what Cindy McCain wore and how "insulting" it was.
So Vanity Fair cares about what people wear - I'm shocked! If you care enough about that and nothing else, then please vote, just make sure it's in VF's online poll instead of an actual voting booth.
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9-10-2008 @ 10:52AM
Ron said...
She didn't spend $300,000, She already had the jewelry. If your worth a $100,000,000 what would you wear?
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9-10-2008 @ 9:13AM
amycakes said...
And your point is?...
What is the real intention of your reporting on this Vanity Fair article, Ms. Bartlein?
Is it issues with your family's alcoholism and Cindy's father founding a beer distribution company (which by the way he started with his life savings of $10,000 and lots of sweat equity to build it to where it is today) after returning from proudly serving America in WW II?
Or are you just a bitter and jealous Democrat?
I think she looked great and looks like a First Lady I would like representing this great country!
Cindy McCain donates megabucks to charities every year but what's even more impressive about Cindy is that she donates her TIME as well!
With charities such as Operation Smile for children with cleft palates and cleft lips, and Freedom Fields, USA for landmine removal globally, Cindy has gone on humanitarian and medical working missions to Morocco, India, Kosovo, Thailand and Vietnam just to name a few. She works hard and pulls her share of the weight without complaint. Her commitment to humanitarian work is one of her most defining characteristics.
Yet, she doesn't boast about it. She just keeps on doing it because it matters and she has a big heart!
Your background in psychology and as a nurse should enlighten you as to what this type of work entails in developing countries, Ms. Bartlein! How dare you try to mischaracterize this truly decent and kind woman all in the name of sensational journalism? Get a life. Counsel yourself! How can you counsel others when you apparently have some deep seated resentment issues that you need to address!
Cindy and John McCain walk the walk and as an American citizen, I'm truly thankful that people of this caliber have volunteered to campaign for the office of the President. They have my full support. This is another shameless attempt to rip the GOP and America sees right through it. We don't appreciate it and will let it be known come November.
By the way, how much of your speaking fees and writing income have YOU donated to charity, Barb Bartlein?
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9-29-2008 @ 2:20AM
Joe said...
Amycakes, very well said your comments were spot on. I totally agrre with every single word.
Joe
9-11-2008 @ 12:23PM
Wallis Conn said...
I don't care what she spent on her wardrobe! So she's wealthy...most of the recent presidential families have had great personal wealth...who else can really afford to run? You better believe that I wish I Could leave a fortune to my kids..and I would expect them to enjoy it! I am more impressed by the work she has done with children's charities..and the goodness of a heart which rescued 2 children from MotherTheresa's orphanage, bringing them both to the USA and raised one as her own! To me, she seems shy and does nothing to take the limelight away from her husband!! THere are more important issues in this campaign than what any candidate or candidate's family member is wearing! Get a life and quit trying to stir up trouble!!
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9-16-2008 @ 4:42PM
cranston said...
I really don't give a hoot how much she pays for her clothes, and I seriously doubt most others don't either. Ones choices of clothes shows their taste, and if theiv'e got the money you don't expect them to look trashy. More power to the McCains and I for one think he is the only possible choice in this race.
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9-18-2008 @ 3:24PM
Missy said...
People, some of your comments are crazy. This just shows how out of touch the McCains are when it comes to us common folks. That was a ridiculous amount that could have been given to charity or some hungry person on the streets here in the U.S. If I were Cindy, I would hate to think I spent all of that money and still couldn't look good--on the outside and obviously on the inside. Ewww...
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9-20-2008 @ 12:41PM
jansy said...
Cindy McCain had some nerve not to have picked her dress off the rack at Walmart. I'm just scandalized at this! If she doesn't start wearing second hand duds from the Salvation Army I'm voting for Obama- Hey--- I just read quite a bit of criticism about Sarah Palin's cheap clothing--- she should have been the nominee!!!
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9-21-2008 @ 10:42AM
Chris said...
you people are jumping the gun and believing some wacked out lady (Barbara Bartlein). did any of you see a receipt that proves what the jewelry is worth? do you actually know how much she spent on her clothes? NOOOOOO so you need to quit judging Cindy McCain if you don't have the proof in front of you.. it's these Obamalama wanna be jerks trying to start something
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