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Britney and Paris for McCain?
Update: I stilll say that the new John McCain ad suggests that Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, who represent two-thirds of the dumbest, emptiest and most repulsive celebrity trifecta in the history of western civilization, are endorsing the trashing of Barack Obama. Others are saying the ad equates their shallow celebrity status with Obama's, but that is not what this ad implies. At the very least the ad is ambiguous enough to suggest that Spears and Hilton (both of whom are known or believed to be conservative-minded) are in cahoots with the McCain campaign. Here's the link to the official website.
I don't know if Spears is narrating or not (doesn't sound like her) but it's definitely not Hilton. Anyway, the visuals are all of Obama and the narration goes like this: "He's the biggest celebrity in the world, but is he ready to lead? With gas prices soaring, Barack Obama says no offshore drilling? And says he'll raise taxes on [something]-tricity? Higher taxes, more foreign oil -- that's the real Obama."
A friend just called to suggest that the ad equates Obama's celebrity with the legendary shallowness of Hilton and Spears. In other words, it's trashing these two along with Obama. That wasn't my impression at all, but to each his own. Throwing in clips of Spears and Hilton and then having a young-sounding female read the narration clearly implies they're endorsing the ad's negative Obama assessment
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on July 30, 2008 at 8:59 AM
comment #1
T. S. Idiot says ...
Isn't the ad equating BO with the emptiness that is Britney and Paris?
Posted by T. S. Idiot at July 30, 2008 9:21 AM
comment #2
lazespud says ...
What makes you assume that Britney and Paris approved of this? They're idiots to be sure, but their appearance in this ad is clearly of the insultive, mostly negative variety. I highly doubt that they had anything to do with this.
Like pretty much every other McCain misstep these last two weeks, this ad is going to be counterproductive.
Posted by lazespud at July 30, 2008 9:24 AM
comment #3
Walter Sobchak says ...
I'll never forgive McCain for not just rolling over and clearing the way for an Obama presidency.
Posted by Walter Sobchak at July 30, 2008 9:32 AM
comment #4
Rich S. says ...
"Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, the dumbest, emptiest and most repulsive celebrity sluts in the history of western civilization. . ."
Now, let's not be too hasty here. I'm sure Jessica Simpson, Lindsay Lohan, Denise Richards, Tara Reid, et. al. would like to have a say in this.
Posted by Rich S. at July 30, 2008 9:33 AM
comment #5
tophertilson says ...
I really think they're trying to equate Obama with Spears and Hilton here. Their appearance here isn't meant to endorse McCain at all.
Posted by tophertilson at July 30, 2008 9:50 AM
comment #6
ZayTonday says ...
So McCain was against negative campaigning before he was for it I see. Also, comparing Obama to an airheaded heiress isn't exactly some territory he should want to get into, since he is married to one.
Posted by ZayTonday at July 30, 2008 9:51 AM
comment #7
Sean says ...
Yeah, the function of Britney and Paris is to slander Obama by calling them all vacuous celebrities. Obviously it's not about those two ladies supporting the McCain candidacy (though I think Brit may have publicly supported Bush in the last election; guess they decided it was a bridge they could afford to burn).
Posted by Sean at July 30, 2008 9:51 AM
comment #8
jghoward says ...
T.S. is right ... this ad doesn't imply that britney and paris are supporting McCain -- it equates Barack with Paris and Britney. As in, Barack is the third person in your unholy triumverate of shallow celebrities.
Posted by jghoward at July 30, 2008 9:53 AM
comment #9
Midwest Doug says ...
How in the world does an ad that shows thousands of people cheering for Obama, and a voice over calling him incredibly popular, help McCain?
Posted by Midwest Doug at July 30, 2008 10:00 AM
comment #10
thevisceral says ...
Who's the other 1/3 of the trifecta? Shia?
Posted by thevisceral at July 30, 2008 10:00 AM
comment #11
Richardson says ...
"Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, who represent two-thirds of the dumbest, emptiest and most repulsive celebrity trifecta in the history of western civilization"
Is the third Ritchie or Lohan?
Posted by Richardson at July 30, 2008 10:01 AM
comment #12
deadre says ...
This ad just seems so insignificant, so unimpressive, so not about being president. Yawn.........
Posted by deadre at July 30, 2008 10:02 AM
comment #13
quitstaringatme says ...
It's not a terrible ad, it's an, admittedly clumsy, attempt to cut through the mindless Obamania! that's swept up so many of our favorite movie bloggers.
And wow did Wells misread it. Half a second shots of notoriously apolitical celebrities while a narrator essentially asks, "is he a celebrity or a presidential nominee?" Jeff, I know how upset McCain makes you, but next time you see something in support of him, take a deep breath, think it through, and don't go off half-cocked.
Posted by quitstaringatme at July 30, 2008 10:10 AM
comment #14
nola says ...
All this talk that Barack is a shallow light weight is pissing me off. He and Hillary Clinton's platform had more similarities than differences.
Let's see Bush barely graduated and has no vision, had terrible grades. McCain graduated near the bottom of his class and yet the guy who graduated from the top of his class, was a law professor, a community organizer, a state senator and headed up Harvard Law review and wrote two books (no ghost writer) is not smart enough/fit to be president?
I'm not someone who scream racism all the time but hello contrary to what Geraldine Ferraro says if Barack were white his "inexperience" and age would be a non-issue. He is older than clinton was when he ran. JKF and Edwards both served only term before they ran.
I think some people can't believe that this "uppity negro" beat the clinton machine "how dare he!" and might actually become president.
Posted by nola at July 30, 2008 10:33 AM
comment #15
Mjs says ...
Wow, that's a very clumsy ad. The fact that McCain approved it tells me the old man may not have all his marbles. One more reason not to vote for him, as if we needed one.
Posted by Mjs at July 30, 2008 10:48 AM
comment #16
Mark says ...
McCain's Obama obsession has to be disconcerting even to the right. Obama's been his only topic of conversation for the last 3 weeks. I sort of love that Obama has just been ignoring him. It must drive McCain crazy.
Posted by Mark at July 30, 2008 10:54 AM
comment #17
dixiedugan says ...
Are either Brit or Paris are even registered to vote? I'd bet that these mental morons are barely aware of it being an election year, much less any particular issues.
Posted by dixiedugan at July 30, 2008 10:55 AM
comment #18
SaveFarris says ...
How in the world does an ad that shows thousands of people cheering for Obama... help McCain
Because those cheering thousands are Germans?
Posted by SaveFarris at July 30, 2008 11:00 AM
comment #19
Richardson says ...
"Others are saying the ad equates their shallow celebrity status with Obama's, but that is not what this ad implies."
The fact that you don't know the missing syllables are "elec" (as in "electricity") tells me you weren't watching very closely (or possibly at all). The fact that you insist on an implication that is almost bafflingly non-present just confirms it.
Posted by Richardson at July 30, 2008 11:04 AM
comment #20
squealy says ...
"thers are saying the ad equates their shallow celebrity status with Obama's, but that is not what this ad implies."
Er, no, that is exactly what it implies.
Don't you think if Britney and Paris were endorsing McCain they would have actually been filmed for the commercial, not just seen fleetingly in newsclips?
Posted by squealy at July 30, 2008 11:05 AM
comment #21
LexG says ...
PARIS HILTON OWNS YOUR ASS.
Most stunning woman ON THE PLANET. You will BOW. BOW.
Class envy has never been as ugly as the rampant groupthink bashing of a woman WHO SHOULD SERVE AS AN INSPIRATION.
Posted by LexG at July 30, 2008 11:07 AM
comment #22
Jimmycrackcorn says ...
You really think John McCain would be trumpeting a Paris Hilton endorsement, if he had one? I don't know how it's possible to misread the ad that way.
Posted by Jimmycrackcorn at July 30, 2008 11:09 AM
comment #23
T. S. Idiot says ...
From WENN:
U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama has hit back at a new political advertisement approved by rival John McCain, comparing him to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton.
In the TV advert, Republican presidential candidate McCain depicts his Democratic opponent alongside pictures of the two troubled stars.
A narrator charges: "He's the biggest celebrity in the world, but is he ready to lead?"
But the political advert has infuriated Obama's team, who has responded to the promo in a newly released statement.
His campaign spokesman Tommy Vietor says: "On a day when major news organisations across the country are taking Senator McCain to task for a steady stream of false, negative attacks, his campaign has launched yet another. Or, as some might say, 'Oops! He did it again.'"
McCain's campaign manager Rick David explains: "What we decided to do is find the top three international celebrities in the world, and I would say from our indications, Britney and Paris came in second and third.
"It is not our campaign that is trying to make him into an international celebrity. It's his campaign... I don't know Paris Hilton and Britney Spears but they are international celebrities, so, you know, apples to apples."
Posted by T. S. Idiot at July 30, 2008 11:28 AM
comment #24
LexG says ...
I'd like PARIS HILTON to endorse my trumpet, if you know what I'm saying.
ZING.
Posted by LexG at July 30, 2008 11:34 AM
comment #25
gruver1 says ...
Wells to jimmycrackcorn: Did you get any sort of idea of where Britney Spears stands politically from her appearance in Farenheit 911? She spoke out for Bush-Cheney. It's been my understanding for a while that Paris Hilton is not a left-of-center type of gal. And the narration implies that they're behind what it's saying. At the very least it's ambigiuous.
Posted by gruver1 at July 30, 2008 12:06 PM
comment #26
dinther says ...
I'm not sure who this ad is intended to appeal to - not even the most rabid of his detractors would think that Obama is an airhead/empty-suit celebrity.
Sure, there what's left of the Republican base - the open-mouth breathing, poor and angry, blame-the-immigrants crowd. But they weren't voting for Obama anyway. Does McCain's staff really believe that independent voters - those on the fence - will look at this and think less of Obama because he's popular? The pictures of Obama are attractive - and then to put him before throngs of people, shouting his name. And then to follow it with an profile of McCain, looking petulant, like the guy sitting at home on prom night?
To me, it seems the independent minded voter who doesn't know enough about Obama to form an opinion yet will look at this ad and say, "Gee, what's all the fuss about Obama? I better check him out."
Posted by dinther at July 30, 2008 12:17 PM
comment #27
Terry McCarty says ...
Walter Sobchak wrote:
I'll never forgive McCain for not just rolling over and clearing the way for an Obama presidency.
He seems to be doing that now--running a "I'm OWED this" campaign a la Dole in 96.
Posted by Terry McCarty at July 30, 2008 12:25 PM
comment #28
Pete Zha says ...
Wells must not have gotten much sleep last night. Missing the point of this ad is like attempting to open a door and missing the knob.
Posted by Pete Zha at July 30, 2008 12:50 PM
comment #29
quitstaringatme says ...
IIRC, Britney's statement in Fahrenheit 911 was something along the lines of "I think we should support the president." This wasn't so much a pro-Bush statement as a "Don't be askin' me no political questions, I ain't smart enough to answer any of them without damaging my career."
And I'd like to see evidence on how Paris Hilton is a republican, when her opinions seem pretty grounded on whether or not her Chihuahua is "hot". These girls don't vote, man. No way they got a horse in this race.
There is nothing ambiguous about this ad at all. When you show me an interview where either of these troubled, spoiled whores even mention they know who's even running for president, let alone support a side, maybe I'll believe you, but just man up and admit you got confused.
Also, fuck you McCain ad for being so glib about the offshore drilling issue.
Posted by quitstaringatme at July 30, 2008 12:59 PM
comment #30
Jimmycrackcorn says ...
Nope, there's nothing remotely ambiguous about it. The whole point of the ad is to say "Obama is a mindless celebrity, not a real leader." And then they'd bring out Britney and Paris as endorsers of the idea that Obama is a mindless celebrity? The McCain campaign has also been defending the ad today using language that indicates it means exactly what the rest of us think it means. Even if Britney did say something stupid once upon a time, I don't think you'll find more than one in a hundred people reading this your way.
Fuck McCain, by the way. Between this and the "Obama is responsible for your gas being so pricey" ad, I think a lot of undecideds and independents are finally getting fed up over Mr. Don't Worry I Won't Be Going Negative. I thought he'd be saving that kind of shit for the end of the campaign.
Posted by Jimmycrackcorn at July 30, 2008 1:09 PM
comment #31
George Prager says ...
THIS JUST IN: Obama camp to respond with commercial using Mr. Hand from FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH and the Crypt-Keeper from "Tales from the Cypt."
Posted by George Prager at July 30, 2008 1:44 PM
comment #32
Mjs says ...
"McCain's campaign manager Rick David explains: "What we decided to do is find the top three international celebrities in the world, and I would say from our indications, Britney and Paris came in second and third.
"It is not our campaign that is trying to make him into an international celebrity. It's his campaign... I don't know Paris Hilton and Britney Spears but they are international celebrities, so, you know, apples to apples." "
At one time McCain at least had my respect for what he went through in the war. But after using that experience for political gain, and now his people literally putting Obama in the same boat as Spears and Hilton, McCain is nearly as low as Bush on the humanity scale.
Anybody that would vote for this racist, senile, moronic piece of shit couldn't care less about the future of this country.
Posted by Mjs at July 30, 2008 2:02 PM
comment #33
MAGGA says ...
If I had a vote in the American election it would obviously have gone to Obama (not much love outside the U.S borders for Republicans, especially Jante-law spewing bitter should-be retirees who don't remember that the Soviet Union et al no longer exsist), but I would have kind of enjoyed the ad if it had simply showed Britney, Paris and Obama in succession, with no narration or explanation. His points, while stupid, could be made more entertainingly for sure. Obama has the easiest negative ad ever lined up for him: Show alternating insane statements and bloopers by Bush and McCain with drumrolls where appropriate. If McCain makes another ad about how the media favours Obama he should end it with "I'm Joh McCain and I support this message. Hello? HELLO?!" Obama could say "I'm Barrack Obama and I support this message, AND I can still remember it". When you go negative, go mean!
Posted by MAGGA at July 30, 2008 2:04 PM
comment #34
anti-sardine says ...
I don't think the spot really works either. McCain's camp needs to realize that in this time of disinformation and apathy there is probably a large portion of the population that views politicians primarily as celebrities, so to imply that Obama is a worldwide celebrity may end up helping him. Politics and so-called reality television programs are looking more and more similar lately.
Posted by anti-sardine at July 30, 2008 2:26 PM
comment #35
Richardson says ...
"And the narration implies that they're behind what it's saying. "
you keep saying "implying", but you're inferring instead.
The narration says the word "celebrity" and flashes to shots of two other celebrities who, it is implied, are comprably shallow people who coast by on being "celebrities".
What, specifically, is the thing in the narration which suggests to you that they endorse McCain? I'm not talking about outside stuff -- I agree with you that Paris Hilton and Britney Spears are Republican, and presume they are at least tacitly pro-McCain in that sense. I'm saying, what in the narration are you pointing to as the implication?
Posted by Richardson at July 30, 2008 2:35 PM
comment #36
D.Z. says ...
I dunno, the ad in itself comes off more shallow than the pair, since it doesn't exactly explain how Obama would make things worse as President. It just comes up with random scenarios, rather than explaining how McCain's different.
Posted by D.Z. at July 30, 2008 4:56 PM
comment #37
cobhome says ...
Given how inept the people running McCain's campaign are - one would think that Obama would be ahead by 50 points in the polls - this ad is just plain stupid - almost as stupid as the "blame Obama for high gas prices" was -
plus - aen't there people out there who uh - like - Paris and Brit -
Posted by cobhome at July 30, 2008 10:22 PM
comment #38
dangovich says ...
I would love to drop some of the acid that the creator of this ad has access to.
Posted by dangovich at July 31, 2008 12:14 AM
comment #39
lazespud says ...
to GRUVER --
It's old news at this point, but Huffington Post took the time to actually call Spears reps. Their incredulous response? "Why would we want to get Britney Spears involved in presidential politics?"
That's a pretty good question that you should probably ask yourself Jeff.
It's sounding highly likely that you just completely misread this ad in just about every way; from the initial message, to the supposed participation of Spears and Hilton.
I guess the good news is that if a pretty smart and savvy cookie like yourself doesn't get the point of the ad, then it's a pretty ineffective ad.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/30/britney-camp-declines-res_n_115909.html
Posted by lazespud at July 31, 2008 12:36 AM
comment #40
Dave Polands Gut says ...
A genius ad from McCain.
Now hit Obama for having a fluff resume, for higher taxes, for weaker military, for never having an accomplishment
Posted by Dave Polands Gut at July 31, 2008 6:39 AM
comment #41
SpinDozer says ...
It is quite clear from the footage selected that there was an intent to create the perception that in addition to Obama being a "clueless celebrity" that clueless celebrities support Obama.
The responce should be how GOP policies promote the economic interests of clueless celebrities over those of regular americans.
Posted by SpinDozer at July 31, 2008 11:36 AM
comment #42
D.Z. says ...
Dave: "Now hit Obama for having a fluff resume, "
And what does McCain know about economics again?
"for higher taxes,"
I'll take higher taxes over higher subsidies for faceless corporations.
"for weaker military,"
So who voted against an upgrade of the G.I. Bill again?
"for never having an accomplishment"
Except for graduating Harvard...
Posted by D.Z. at July 31, 2008 5:40 PM
comment #43
Cassy2008 says ...
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