Sarah Palin says wearing $150,000 in designer clothes “is not who we are,” and says much of the media attention she has received this week, especially on her wardrobe, is evidence of a bias against women candidates.

"I think Hillary Clinton was held to a different standard in her primary race," Palin told the Chicago Tribune in one of her first newspaper interviews since being named John McCain’s running mate in his White House race against Barack Obama.

"Do you remember the conversations that took place about her, say superficial things that they don’t talk about with men, her wardrobe and her hairstyles, all of that? That’s a bit of that double standard."

Palin said clothes she purchased since John McCain picked her as his running mate – many of which were paid for by the Republican National Committee – will be given back, auctioned off or sent to charity. She said most of them haven’t even left her campaign plane.

She also said the clothes are not worth $150,000 and were bought for the Republican National Convention.

"That whole thing is just, bad!" the Alaska governor said. "Oh, if people only knew how frugal we are … It’s kind of painful to be criticized for something when all the facts are not out there and are not reported.”

McCain was asked several questions on Thursday about the shopping spree — and he kept repeating that she needed clothes for the occasion and that they would be given to charity.

"She needed clothes at the time. They’ll be donated at end of this campaign. They’ll be donated to charity," McCain told reporters on his campaign bus between Florida rallies.

Palin told the Tribune she would rather talk about real issues, like the Republican campaign’s mission to reform government, get the economy back on track and bring opportunities to families.

"I’m not going to complain about it, I’m not going to whine about it, I’m going to plow through that, because we are embarking on something greater than that, than allowing that double standard to adversely affect us," she said.

The Tribune also called thrift stores across Palin’s home state of Alaska and found that The Salvation Army would gladly take her clothes and shoes.

"We would be delighted to be the beneficiary of the clothes from Gov. Palin," said Jenni Ragland, public relations director for the Salvation Army’s office in Anchorage. "We would most likely use it in one of our fundraisers here in Alaska to help support the work we’re doing in the state."

Palin on Friday will deliver her first major policy speech, calling for full funding of special education. Her six-month-old son, Trig, has Down syndrome, and her nephew has autism. Families with children who have disabilities have been arriving in droves to her campaign stops. In that speech Friday, she will unveil a new commitment to a McCain-Palin administration’s advocacy for children with special needs.

Palin called the disabilities issues "a joyful challenge." One advocacy group sent her a bumper sticker that said, "My kid has more chromosomes than your kid."

"These children are not a problem, they are a priority," Palin said.

Palin also refuted the idea that she’s hurting McCain’s chances at winning the White House.

"I think that those reporters asking those questions should come to some of our rallies and ask some of those in the crowd why it is they are enthused," she said.

You can read the entire transcript of the Tribune’s interview with Palin by clicking here.

In other Palin news:

-The New York Times interviewed two people who used to know Palin – her hairdresser as a young beauty queen, college friends and even her mom – all who say they never would have thought the then-soft-spoken girl would have wanted to lead anything. “She didn’t talk about politics or getting into politics,” said her mother, Sally Heath, adding that her daughter back then was “never one to be in the limelight.”

-Palin will drop the ceremonial first puck Friday night before the St. Louis Blues’ hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings. The Alaska governor also dropped the first puck October 11 before Philadelphia’s home opener against the New York Rangers, where she was booed.