This morning on TV Ann Romney Wore a Reed Krakoff Bird T-Shirt That Costs $990

[salin]

31. Guessing she isn't so stupid to have done this knowingly.

Someone asked if a gift (ick - whole other story if that is the case), I have to ask if she has a personal shopper (as many very wealthy do.) Surely she didn't know how much it cost - and how easily identifiable it was (per to determine cost) and the message it sends.

My entire career has been in academics or in nonprofits. While no longer the case, there have been times when this cost would have been more than my after tax income for a month. I have lived on that amount (all costs) for more than a month. And while I have lived on the financial edge, I know that others live on a riskier financial edge.

Or perhaps she thinks that middle income and lower income folks really should face further financial insecurity so that she can buy more 1K dollar shirts (per Mitt's support of the Ryan plan that on the one hand slashes safety net programs for those most in need, while at the same time giving even more tax breaks to wealthy individuals and corporations.

I start this post, because I have no sense of this woman, per who she is, so it doesn't feel fair to cast aspersions to intent. My generous view, is that she had no idea, and wasn't sending a big middle finger salute to much of America. That is due to my personal aversion to attacking the family members of politicians. That said - once a story is covered, the excuse works one time. After that, such exhibits show contempt.