Horserace
July 30, 2008 5:08 PM

McCain Camp Uses "Celeb" Ad In Fundraising

By
Brian Montopoli
Topics
Fundraising
The McCain campaign seems to think it has a good thing on its hands with its new television ad linking Barack Obama to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. The spot, "Celeb," is now being used in a fundraising plea from the campaign.

After linking to the new spot, McCain campaign manager Rick Davis writes: "We agree that Senator Barack Obama may be the 'biggest celebrity in the world.' But as you and I know, simply attracting large crowds of fans with empty rhetoric doesn't prepare a person to lead a country. The more we get to know the real Barack Obama, the more he shows that he is not ready to lead our country."

The email goes on to ask "that you make a donation of whatever you can give to help us air this ad for millions to see."

Davis also sent a memo out earlier today reinforcing the message of the spot – and casting Obama as an arrogant elitist basking in "fans, paparazzi and media adoration." The criticism is reminiscent of that leveled at Democratic nominee John Kerry in 2004.

Writes Davis: "Only a celebrity of Barack Obama's magnitude could attract 200,000 fans in Berlin who gathered for the mere opportunity to be in his presence. These are not supporters or even voters, but fans fawning over The One. Only celebrities like Barack Obama go to the gym three times a day, demand 'MET-RX chocolate roasted-peanut protein bars and bottles of a hard-to-find organic brew -- Black Forest Berry Honest Tea' and worry about the price of arugula."

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by mattcat25 July 31, 2008 2:13 PM EDT
It is vary apparent that the Republicans are going to refuse to address the fact that they have been driving the bus that has brought all of us to where we are now as a nation.

You will not see flashy expensively produced commercial ad spots depicting the lapse of Security allowing the 911 Terror Attack on the World Trade Center, or the lies to invade Saddam Hussein%u2019s Iraq, or the mismanaged occupation and many deaths occurring in Iraq, or the increased price of Oil, or the devalued $dollar, or the Katrina Disaster and disastrous response, or the crush of the American Middle Class, or the Mortgage reset crises, or the $482 Billion Dollar Bush credit card spending spree, or all the Republicans convicted, charged, and suspect of Corruption and Crimes%u2026.

No, instead you see Britney and Paris because that%u2019s what they think of you.


Reply to this comment
by shingles1 July 31, 2008 3:16 AM EDT
Marc Ambinder reports:

John Weaver, for years one of John McCain''s closest friends and confidants, has been in exile since his resignation from McCain''s presidential campaign last year. With the exception of an occasional interview, he has, by his own account, bit his tongue as McCain''s campaign has adopted a strategy that Weaver believes "diminishes John McCain."

With the release today of a McCain television ad blasting Obama for celebrity preening while gas prices rise, and a memo that accuses Obama of putting his own aggrandizement before the country, Weaver said he''s had "enough."

The ad''s premise, he said, is "childish."

"John''s been a celebrity ever since he was shot down," Weaver said. "Whatever that means. And I recall Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush going overseas and all those waving American flags."

Weaver remains in contact with senior McCain strategists and, for a while early this year, regularly talked to McCain.

The strategy of driving up Obama''s negatives "reduces McCain on the stage," Weaver said.

"For McCain to win in such troubled times, he needs to begin telling the American people how he intends to lead us. That McCain exists. He can inspire the country to greatness."

He added: "There is legitimate mockery of a political campaign now, and it isn''t at Obama''s. For McCain''s sake, this tomfoolery needs to stop."
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by dnsallday July 30, 2008 9:30 PM EDT
CBS News chief political consultant Marc Ambinder reports that former McCain strategist John Weaver has called the spot "childish."

"John''''s been a celebrity ever since he was shot down," Weaver said.

He added: "There is legitimate mockery of a political campaign now, and it isn''''t at Obama''''s. For McCain''''s sake, this tomfoolery needs to stop."

OMG...McCain thinks that britney and paris hilton are the worlds biggest international celebrities?

That is downright frightening!
Reply to this comment
by susansc2 July 30, 2008 8:56 PM EDT
This makes John McCain and the Republicans look pretty silly. About as silly as the barrackbook makes them look.
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