Is it ethical for a candidate to use someone else's personal credit card to buy clothes?

[Eric J in MN]

Katie Connolly of Newsweek says that a guy's personal credit card was used to buy Sarah Palin's clothing.

"The idea was that they might spend around 20 or 30 thousand dollars...A wealthy donor had allowed Sarah Palin and her staff to use his credit card to buy clothes, and was shocked-was absolutely shocked-when he got the bill, that was hundreds-of-thousands of dollars."

Even though the RNC seems to have reimbursed the "wealthy donor," doesn't the fact that Sarah Palin used his credit card to buy clothes give her a conflict-of-interest if he wants an official act from her?


Video on the bottom-right:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/167581

[Historic NY]

1. NO

[WorseBeforeBetter]

2. I'll second that NO. (n/t)

[Ecumenist]

3. HELL NAW!! nt

[sce56]

4. There was a thread here that it was a violation of the McCain Fiengold Act!

[grasswire]

5. the rules for the RNC are the same as the rules for the campaign

Clothing may generally not be purchased for the candidate. It's part of the McCain Feingold Act, and the specific rule was posted here on DU.

[Left Is Write]

7. That explains why the staffers wanted to keep McCain in the dark about it.

[napi21]

6. Yes you can authorize someone to use your credit card. In this case

you may not agree with it, but as long as the owner of the card authorized the purchases, it's perfectly legal. I suspect he wasn't aware of what the purchases were for.

[Eric J in MN]

8. It's a candidate who used the credit card, not an ordinary person.

There are more laws concerning a candidate.

[Heather MC]

9. You guys are missing the point, Rich People believe in welfare

for powerful people!

Who is this "Anonymous Donor, and what did he hope to gain by allowing the RNC to use his credit for anything??

What if Obama had the Credit Card of a Nameless wealthy Donor.
This is fishy!

[PBS Poll-435]

10. My understanding of the matter was that the clothes were bought for her

Even extra sizes just to make sure that they fit.

I don't imagine Sarah was at the Neiman's checkout with someone else's credit card.

[Eric J in MN]

11. In the video, Katie Connolly says 'Sarah Palin and her staff...'

...used the credit card:

http://video.newsweek.com/#?t=1906937043&l=1904732925

[PBS Poll-435]

12. If that is true,

Fraud.