McCain Says Obama Is Just The Latest Britney Spears Or Paris Hilton - With Video
AURORA, Colo. (AP) - John McCain’s presidential campaign on Wednesday released a withering television ad comparing Barack Obama to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, suggesting the Democratic contender is little more than a vapid but widely recognized media concoction.
Obama’s campaign quickly responded with a commercial of its own, dismissing McCain’s complaints as “baloney” and “baseless.”
McCain’s ad, titled “Celeb” and set to air in 11 battleground states, intercuts images of Obama on his trip to Europe last week with video of twenty-something pop stars Spears and Hilton—both better known for their childish off-screen antics.
“He’s the biggest celebrity in the world, but is he ready to lead?” the voiceover asks, noting the Illinois senator’s opposition to offshore oil drilling and suggesting he would raise taxes if elected.
It was the latest effort by the GOP hopeful to cast Obama as a lightweight with little experience in leadership or governing. It also was risky for McCain’s campaign to both acknowledge Obama’s worldwide fame and depict it as a weakness rather than a strength.
Campaigning in Missouri, Obama said the ad was the latest example of McCain’s negativity—a theme his campaign has tried to stress lately.
“He doesn’t seem to have anything positive to say about me, does he?” Obama said. “You need to ask John McCain what he’s for, not just what he’s against.”
Obama also said the link to Hilton shows Republicans are leaving no stone unturned in their attempts to tarnish him.
“I’ve never even met the woman,” he said.
The Obama campaign ad, released hours after McCain’s, shows images of the Arizona senator with President Bush and accuses McCain of practicing “the politics of the past.” The campaign said it could air as soon as Thursday.
It was the second Obama ad in as many days responding to negative spots by McCain. But it was unclear how broadly the campaign intended to run it. The campaign typically identifies states where its ads air, but on Wednesday only said this ad would appear “in some markets.”
Kathleen Hall Jamieson, a communications professor at the University of Pennsylvania, said McCain’s comparison of Obama to Spears and Hilton likely would not persuade many voters.
“The typical viewer will fail to see the analogy,” she said. “Voters believe Sen. Obama is a celebrity, but not in the same sense as Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. So when you are asking, ‘What are they doing in the ad?,’ it distracts attention from the message of the ad.”
McCain did not mention the ad at a town-hall meeting in Colorado, but reiterated many of his complaints about Obama.
“The beauty of his words have attracted many people, especially among the young to his campaign,” McCain told workers at Wagner Equipment, which rents and sells heavy farm machinery. “My concern with Sen. Obama is with issues big and small. What he says and what he does are often two different things.”
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Great ad. I hope it gets alot of airtime.
July 30th, 2008 at 11:17 ami like it alot. and hopefully his ads start showing up in more than just a few counties within battle ground states. its too hard to determine battle ground states in this election
July 30th, 2008 at 12:35 pmThere is no comparison between BHO and Britney…..Britney has way better tits.
July 30th, 2008 at 12:50 pmI would tweak the ad a little. I would say supposedly the big crowds.
July 30th, 2008 at 2:50 pmAlso instead of more foreign oil, I would say no drilling in the USA.
It is not a good ad. It seems unnecessarily petulant and small minded. There is no question that this trip helped Obama look more Presidential. To try and use it against him may seem clever but just reminds people how uncharismatic McCain is. Better to remind people how far left he is, how he and Pelosi are thwarting our ability to get oil, how failed he was as a state leader and how the left wing media has anointed him President.
July 30th, 2008 at 9:07 pm“There is no question that this trip helped Obama look more Presidential.”
“..how failed he was as a state leader..”
You don’t see any contradiction in those two statements?
The guy looked like the ass that he is.
July 30th, 2008 at 9:13 pmObama doesn’t like the ad only because he knows it’s true. Shhh, how can I cover McCain’s attack against me? I’ve got it! Lets call him a meany and a negative Nancy.
July 30th, 2008 at 11:19 pmI am worried that comparing Obama to Britney is highly insulting —
July 30th, 2008 at 11:53 pmto Britney.
I really DO NOT want to see a picture of Obama getting out of a car with his panties showing. No!
July 31st, 2008 at 6:05 amNaw…Barack Hussein Ojackson - barf bags required.
July 31st, 2008 at 7:11 amDoes that mean he will be releasing his porn tape soon?
July 31st, 2008 at 8:26 amWell, I have just viewed it after reading about it for the last 24 hours. I fully expected Britney and Paris to be in the entire ad. People need to get a grip. This was nothing compared to what it had been touted as by the media and the left. A cameo by Paris and Brit. Geeze.
July 31st, 2008 at 11:46 am