From The Washington Post:
RACINE, Wis., July 31 — In a celebrity-driven culture that has left little space for John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate has decided to go tabloid.
By featuring Paris Hilton and Britney Spears in an attack ad against Barack Obama, the senator from Arizona has risked charges of silliness to draw attention to his frequently overshadowed campaign.
The commercial, which calls Obama “the biggest celebrity in the world,” reflects frustration with the sizable imbalance in media coverage, with the senator from Illinois featured in recent weeks in People, Us Weekly and Rolling Stone and on “Access Hollywood.” Unable to compete on that playing field, McCain operatives have taken to mocking Obama’s global fame.
McCain said at a town hall meeting here that he is “proud” of the ad as stressing “substance and not style,” and his spokeswoman, Nicolle Wallace, defended it.
…snip…
Obama aides dismiss the latest ad as pointless. “To inject Britney Spears and Paris Hilton into the debate is beneath what America deserves,” spokesman Bill Burton said. “It was a way for them to get attention for yet another inaccurate, misleading negative attack. People are caught up with the gimmick.”
Responding to earlier negative spots by McCain, the Obama camp rolled out a counterattack ad with the line: “John McCain. Same old politics; same failed policies.” That ad drew on widespread media criticism of the recent McCain commercials, which a New York Times editorial called “low road,” a USA Today editorial dubbed “baloney” and Time described as “baseless.”
…snip…
Even some McCain allies have winced at the Paris/Britney spot. Republican strategist Dan Schnur, a former McCain adviser, said that “most voters won’t see the parallels between a presidential candidate and two party girls. So a legitimate point about inexperience gets lost in the appearance of name-calling.”
28 Comments
August 2, 2008 at 3:18 am
I’m voting for McCain cuz Brittney and Paris told me too. If you can’t trust their judgement, what can you trust?
August 2, 2008 at 3:24 am
oh yeah, jeb? well, i’m voting for mccain because w and britney told me to! so there!
August 2, 2008 at 3:42 am
well, i’m voting for britney and paris, because capt underpants thinks so much of them, he even spent the wife’s money paying for a campaign ad for them!
August 2, 2008 at 3:59 am
well, I’m voting for britney and paris because I’ve recently been informed that they found their underpants! The surge is working!
August 2, 2008 at 4:06 am
Is that so?
Well, I’m voting for the Fruit of the Loom fruity guys, because if anyone knows undies, it’s them! Besides, they’re sooooo cute!
nonnie, where DO you find these off-the-wall videos and movies?
August 2, 2008 at 4:29 am
please read my observant post
August 2, 2008 at 4:30 am
i’m voting for hanes. just ’cause i can.
August 2, 2008 at 5:33 am
now i am befuddled. fruit of the loom guys–fruit has lots of fiber and is very good for you. however, hanes just makes me feel good all under. which is the one that makes the new kind that doesn’t ride up? my mind needs to be clear, and i think much better when i don’t have underwear creeping up my ass.
August 2, 2008 at 6:40 am
Someone better alert Obama! It looks like McBriefs is riding up on the all important undergarment vote.
August 2, 2008 at 7:14 am
Well, Hanes has a new T-shirt that the collar is guaranteed not to roll…
Maybe we should elect our next prez according to how they look in their gutchies. It’s not any more superficial than what’s in the media now!
Brrr… NEVER MIND! I just had a vision of Captain Underpants in his “Kiss me. I’m Republican” boxer shorts and matching garters.
August 2, 2008 at 8:14 am
all i know is that i will not vote for anyone who will have someone named victoria as his press secretary. i’ve had enough of secrets!
August 2, 2008 at 11:34 am
Hey Nightowl, since our media managed elections are just beauty contest, it’s only a matter of time before we have the swimsuit contest.
August 2, 2008 at 3:41 pm
OMG, Jeb, I hope not! Although, the media did love Clinton in a Speedo and the entire Kennedy family at the beach. Of course, Ronnie showed up in pool attire in a few of his movies and the distaff side of the Republican constituency collectively swooned! And, Mittsie got an even better reaction – sexy posters! There’s an example at one of my old diaries:
How Nuts Was Mutt Romney in the Wagon?
http://tinyurl.com/29r9zk
I’m sure Rudy would have thoroughly enjoyed a swimsuit competition; he thinks he looks good in spike heels! But, can you imagine Thompson in a thong? Or Chimpy? (Sorry for that…) And, if Hillary showed up on deck with anything other than a pantsuit and turtleneck, there’d be no end to the discussion of her cleavage!
Actually, I wrote quite a bit about politicians frolicking at the beach in a series I posted last year. Here are two samples:
Gnarly Snarly Meany Weenie Yellow-Bellied VP Cheney
http://tinyurl.com/57zeyd
Rudy + Bikinis = Poll!
http://tinyurl.com/6zfsrs
nonnie, thanks for letting me pimp on your corner! One good thing (I guess) about Victoria and her secrets is that if you look at her catalog, she doesn’t have any! (Wonder bras – see page 7.)
August 2, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Well, if this election is going to hinge on the underwear vote, then Captain Underpants will be forced to choose Romney as his running mate. He, of the magic underwear…..
August 2, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Doh! I forgot the three-link rule!
August 2, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Capt. Underpants using women who don’t wear underpants–the irony is delicious.
BTW, if all of you are going to tout underwear brands, I have to give a shout out to Jockey.
August 2, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Vincent, you mean Britney and Paris don’t wear underpants? He**, I thought they wore chastity belts!
August 2, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Vincent, I recently read somewhere that both Britney and Paris have not only found their underwear but they’ve both been spotted wearing it.
Don’t you see?
They’ve flip-flopped on the who underwear issue! Of course they’re perfect for the MaCain ads!
August 2, 2008 at 7:31 pm
i’ve made my decision. i am voting for joe boxer.
August 2, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Good choice, nonnie! He’s as cute as could be and so enthusiastic!
Vincent, Jockeys are fine, too, depending on who’s wearing them. So are BVDs. What does “BVD” stand for anyway?
gotta, I didn’t know that B & P flip-flopped re the all-important panty politics. Let’s go viral with that right away!
August 2, 2008 at 10:42 pm
nightowl, I’m afraid B & P went viral many moons ago, as well as bacterial. There are research facilities working overtime right now trying to come up with various cures for what ails those two….
August 2, 2008 at 11:00 pm
But, gotta, I’m sure millions of prepubescent, pubescent, and postpubescent boys don’t realize that B & P actually wear bloomers nowadays! It could tip the election!
August 2, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Well, if that’s the tip that this election is hanging on, I think we’re all screwed anyway. What a bunch of little pr1cks…..
August 3, 2008 at 12:27 am
bvd stands for:
bradley, voorhees and day–the names of the 3 guys who started the brand
or
bovine virus diarrhea–which also somehow fits the subject matter.
August 3, 2008 at 12:38 am
Well, gotta, that’s not the only issue. Last week, the WSJ ran an article claiming BO is too THIN to be president!
Thanks for the info, nonnie. You’re right. Definition #2 is more appropriate…
August 3, 2008 at 3:07 am
But won’t anyone stand up for the poor little underoos?
August 3, 2008 at 3:14 am
jeb,
i was going to mention underoos, but i didn’t want to give capt underpants any more ammunition. you know that they will say that obama wears underoos, because he is way too young to be president. i will bring up underalls, though, in case capt u picks rudy as his running mate.
August 3, 2008 at 4:48 am
Underoos! Underalls! Hahahahahaha!