Michelle donated her famous inaugural dress to the first ladies collection at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History.
Sarah stuffed her shopping cart with soaps, personalized stationery, leopard-print sandals and a slinky robe, among other artifacts of free swag at a West Hollywood store promoting the Academy Awards.
Ah, the nouveau riche. There are two broadly accepted definitions of the French term meaning newly rich.
A person who has suddenly risen to a higher economic status but has not gained social acceptance of others in that class.
One who has recently become rich, especially one who flaunts newly acquired wealth.
Michelle is following a custom by some but not all first ladies. The one-shoulder, white chiffon beaded gown was a fashion sensation designed by Jason Wu of New York. Whether she paid for it or was given to her for publicity value makes little difference.
Sarah is keeping her loot. In her defense, she did contribute an undisclosed amount to a Haitian earthquake relief charity sponsored by the Silver Spoon gift suite staging the event.
Palin has a penchant for taking goods and services she believes she is entitled. She did it during the presidential campaign to the horror of staffers from the John McCain campaign which paid the tab. She charged a six-digit fee to the common folks Tea Party Convention who could least afford it.
I don't begrudge her charging fees for speaking engagements in which she capitalizes on her fame and glory brought not by her own doings but a stroke of fate of being selected as a Hail Mary pass by John McCain. She has proven her mettle in her own fashion and deserves the just desserts.
The swag surrounding the Academy Awards is nothing more than blackmail for people who can most afford to purchase the goodies out of their own pockets.
Sarah Palin is the personification of what's wrong of being nouveau riche.
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