The latest subject of much blog-talk this week was the recent revelation of how much the McCain/ Palin campaign is paying to keep Sarah Palin camera-ready. According to campaign finance records, her makeup artist is the highest paid person on the campaign staff – she was paid $22,800 for the first two weeks in October alone. The campaign has also been criticized for how much Palin and her family have spent on clothes since she was nominated.

But wait. Isn’t it interesting that Palin’s beauty routine has become a news item? One hates to admit that the “liberal media” is really that liberal, but why wasn’t a flap made over Hillary Clinton’s pricey wardrobe? Why hasn’t a reporter unearthed the amount of money that Barack Obama and his family spend on clothes? Surely it is no small figure, given that they have to appear at public events so often.

It is also sad, but true that women simply have to try harder. If Palin were to appear as less than perfect at an event, surely the blogosphere would have a field day with that as well. It’s not fair, but it seems that McCain can look like death warmed over (which he often does) and no one bats an eye – this isn’t a beauty contest, after all. But when it comes to Palin, her appearance is often praised.