While I wouldn't say that the story of Michelle Obama's expensive alligator purse rises to the level of a scandal (much less a crisis), I have to say I'm glad to see it being reported:

Earlier this week (while strolling the wooded landscape outside of Moscow), she carried a sexy black clutch, which Italian luxury house VBH boasts is their shiny black alligator manila bag - with a retail sticker price of $5,950.

Has PETA weighed in? Not on this specific incident so far as I can tell, but they are very much opposed to the slaughtering and skinning of alligators, and they have run this ad:

On the First Lady's side of the balance sheet, the American Alligator is no longer endangered, and many people consider them scary as well as icky animals. (As I've admitted, I heart the beasties, but I realize most people do not consider them cute.) Furthermore, while it was never proven that they killed anyone, alligators were nonetheless popularly indicted as culprits during the Hurricane Katrina disaster, so the purchase of an alligator bag might be seen (at least in some circles) as a possible retaliatory fashion statement.

However, it also should be pointed out that there is a double standard involved here, as Sarah Palin got into huge trouble over the alleged cost of her clothes, and Condoleezza Rice was excoriated for buying shoes (which might as well have been alligator shoes) in New York when people were dying in New Orleans.

I don't mean to lose track of the subject here, but can anyone tell me whether there's been a time when people weren't dying? Yesterday I noticed that the flag was flying at half staff at the post office, and when I asked a postal official, he told me that it was because a soldier had died in Iraq. (I checked, and found he was right.)

Well, hasn't Obama lied recently? So how come no one says "Obama lied while American soldiers died?"

Anyway, in this instance I don't know who to call a liar, but there does seem to be a credibility gap between the White House and the purse manufacturer:

The White House flatly denies that Obama bought such a high-priced accessory, and says that she was carrying a patent clutch that retails for $875.

The First Lady, who has impressed with her chic, affordable style sense, embracing Everywoman brands like Gap and J.Crew, flashed the shiny handheld while walking with her husband, President Barack Obama, during their Monday meeting with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his wife Svetlana.

Told that Obama's office denied the bag was the high-end VBH clutch, Kelly Vitko, a rep for the company replied, "It's definitely ours."

I'd say VBH and Kelly Vitko better be careful. Or else (if I may quote the president) they "will soon learn all about being audited by the IRS."

(By people who don't file returns and don't get audited, of course. Nothing like rule of, um, law.)