Campaign 2012: Fashion in the News

By Cornelius Chapman

An email arrived in my in-box from a friend who's an out-and-proud liberal.  "Can you believe," he wrote, goading me, "that Ann Romney spent a thousand dollars on a blouse?"   At last I thought, I've got the home court advantage in a public policy arguement with someone who keeps up on every aspect of the 2012 presidential race, trivial or profound.

As the son of a man who started out making women's shoes, then moved on to ladies' ready to wear, I'm uniquely qualified to appraise collisions that occur at the intersection of politics and fashion.   In case you missed the story, Mrs.Romney appeared on a morning TV show in a Reed Krakoff blouse that retails for $990.   Ir was a short sleeve silk number with a large yellow bird on it, a bit gaudy perhaps, but the objection was to its price, not to its design.

An article of clothing that cost four figures - rounding up - exposed the Romney's as grossly insensitive to the plight of ordinary people in difficult economic times, according to their detractors.   Proving the truth of the political axiom that trappings of wealth are only obnoxious when displayed by Republicans.

First Lady Michele Obama wore a cobolt blue cocktail dress by designer Barbara Tfank to the 2012 State of the Union address that cost $2,500.   For two low-key public events on Christmas Day in 2012 she wore first a Comme des Garcons skirt that retails for $950, then a Sophie Theallet sundress that will set you back - way back - $2000.   Oh to have been a mouse in the White House when that credit card bill was opened!

Hillary Clinton wears Forest pantsuits that cost $6,350 apiece.   As Bob Dole would say, where's the outrage?  And the grandmommy of them all, Jacqueline Kennedy, the wife of a man born with a silver spoon in his mouth like Ann Romney?   Current retail prices of those Channel suits she looked so stylish in are around $8000.

In his 'Checkers' speech Richard Nixon referred to his wife Pat's "good Republican cloth coat" as evidence that he hadn't received improper reinbursements for campaign expenses, but there is nothing in the Constitution that makes off-price clothing a requirement for the office of the first lady.

So to answer my friend, did Ann Romney pay too much for that blouse with the bird on it?   Perhaps,   She probably could of gotten it half off if whe'd waited for it to go on sale.   But there's an old joke in the rag trade that goes "Why did God create WASP'S?"

The answer: "Somebody has to pay retail."

WRTC

It is now time to seek out Precinct Captains for the Brown campaign. We are reaching out to all members of Winchester Republican Town Committee and ask you to please consider stepping up and  volunteering for this role. As we see it, the Precinct Captains will  work with Alex Ingram and Franca Richard to coordinate volunteer efforts  between now and election day. This will become particularly important (and busy) in September and October, so please consider your personal Fall schedule and commitments when you think about this. We would also ask you to inform your family and friends in Winchester who are not WRTC members, but who are Brown fans. 
This is a very important election for Massachusetts, and we cannot  underestimate the organization and commitment of the other party. Even  though we may not be able to match their numbers, we know we can match  and surpass their efforts with our spirit and drive. So please consider being an integral part of delivering Winchester to Senator Scott Brown!
> Please e-mail Franca Richard at francabrichard@gmail.com
Thanks,
Carmen Kenrich
Chair of WRTC

Winchester Republican Town Committee

We are having our next meeting on Tuesday, May 22 at the Winchester Town Hall in the Winchester Room from 7-8pm.  We will have Former Congressman Peter Blute as a guest speaker.  Please RSVP to Dan Nakamoto at :DanNakamoto@nafi.com

Winchester Star Stifles Free Speech

Lynn Engle a conservative journalist from Winchester who has contributed articles regularly to the Winchester Star has been informed by the Editor that "she may not submit political pieces during election season because it is unfair to those who disagree with [her]."

This action by the Winchester Star appears to be yet another effort to stifle views that the mainstream media would prefer not to be discussed or revealed in public by persons they do not agree with.  'Letters to the Editor' have historically been the public soapbox available to all.

The question that remains is who will be allowed to express an opinion on issues or reveal facts about candidates for public office?

State Committee Organizes, Holds Elections

With 79 elected and re-elected State Committee members in attendance, and one vacancy, barely a handful of votes decided two highly contested elections during the organizational meeting of the Massachusetts Republican State Committee which took place on Thursday April 5th.

The election process began with a highly emotional race for Republican National Committeewoman in which former Lt. Governor Kerry Healy was elected over activist Channel Prunier. The election became very fluid after the incumbent Jody Dow withdrew from the race the previous week and Healy entered the contest.

Healy's election was quickly followed by the unanimous re-election of Ron Kaufman for Republican National Committeeman.

The other highly watched election, the election of Vice-Chair of the State Committee followed. Jean Kangas was re-elected by a slim-but-firm margin over new State Committeeman Steve Alyward.

In other officer elections, Brent Anderson was re-elected as Treasurer of the State Committee, Angela Davis was elected as Secretary, Elizabeth Mahoney was elected as Assistant Treasurer and Bonnie Johnson was elected as Assistant Secretary. Each of the four were elected without opposition.

Winchester Republican Town Committee will meet January 26th

The next meeting of the Winchester Republican Town Committee will take place in the Waterfield Room at Winchester Town Hall, 71 Mount Vernon Street, Winchester, Massachusetts on Thursday January 26, 2012. The meeting will convene at 7:00PM and is expected to be adjourned by 8:30PM.

The upcoming Presidential Primary on March 6th and the election of Republican Town Committee members for the new term which will begin in April is expected to be included in the meetings agenda.

Congressmen Told Not to Say "Merry Christmas"

Rules gag free speech between voters and elected officials.


According to a December 12th memo by the House Franking Commission, congressmen in the House of Representatives are not allowed to wish voters a "Merry Christmas" or "Happy New Year" in mail or e-mail.


Congressmen use their franking privileges (using taxpayer dollars to pay for postage) to send mail or e-mail to voters throughout the year. However, the Franking Commission, the six-member bipartisan group officially known as the Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards, told legislators that "Merry Christmas" is strickly prohibited.


In addition, the memo also noted that congressmen can't use their official social media pages to wish constituents "Merry Christmas" or "Happy New Year." It cited the Rules of Practice which also states congressmen cannot use "colors that give the impression of a holiday greeting."


A Franking Commission spokesman confirmed to The Washington Examiner that members of Congress indeed cannot wish constituents "Merry Christmas" in any official mailing. "Currently, incidental use of the phrase Happy Holidays is permisible but Merry Christmas is not," said Salley Wood. Curiously, these rules do not apply to Senators.


In a communication to the Winchester GOP, Republican State Committeeman Bernie Green of Medford urged all members of the Winchester Republican Town Committee to call or e-mail Congressman Ed Markey and Speaker John Boehner urging them to reverse the franking rules to allow Christmas and other holiday greetings in mailings to voters.