Paris Video Riffs on McCain's Ad

"Celebrity" ad offends linguists, stars, Paris Hilton's parents

(NEWSER) - Tinseltown is ticked over John McCain’s recent ad likening Barack Obama to Britney Spears—and to Paris Hilton, whose parents have donated the maximum to the senator's campaign. The problem isn't just looking ungrateful, reports the LA Times, but the fine distinction between a mere “celebrity” and a "rock star" like Obama. More»

Republican undercuts Obama with blend of mockery, fake sincerity

(NEWSER) - Between one ad hailing Barack Obama as the Messiah and another comparing him to Paris Hilton, John McCain’s camp might be running the most sarcastic presidential campaign in history, Michael Crowley writes in the New Republic. The tactic is “in stark conflict with his image as a straight-shooting man of noble values,” Crowley writes. “The question is whether he can really be both things at once.” More»

(NEWSER) - Jackson Browne is suing John McCain for using his song “Running on Empty” in a campaign ad without permission, the Huffington Post reports. The Ohio GOP used the tune in a spot mocking Obama's suggestion that Americans inflate their tires. McCain's not getting much love from celebrities. Earlier this week, Mike Myers demanded that the campaign remove a web ad that had a "We're not worthy" clip from Wayne's World. More»

Negative turn generates anger toward candidate

(NEWSER) - A new Obama campaign memo obtained by Time documents Republican disapproval of the McCain camp’s recent tactics. Some highlights:

• Pat Buchanan on the commercial juxtaposing Obama, Britney Spears, and Paris Hilton: "Look, this is not an effective ad.”
• Ed Rollins: “John needs to be the deliberate, experienced veteran and not the grumpy old man.”

US News readers want Selleck to run

(NEWSER) - Al Franken's a senator and Arnold Schwarzenegger's a governor—so US News and World Report asked readers which other celebs they'd like to see in Congress. The winner? Magnum, PI, himself, Tom Selleck, with 41% of the vote. Respondents seem be from all over the political spectrum: Selleck is a pro-gun libertarian who backed John McCain in 2008, but the runner-up was Ben Affleck, a Barack Obama supporter, with 18%. More»