Paris Hilton's dad: He's on record as a John McCain contributor

If a certain heir to a hotel-based fortune is rethinking his support of John McCain, it will be understandable.

Contributors to McCain's campaign for the Republican presidential nomination included Rick Hilton. In fact, Hilton was so enthusiastic about his candidate of choice that, The Times' Tina Daunt reports, federal records show he donated twice as much as the law allows (the campaign returned the excess).

Now, of course, daughter Paris Hilton is the costar (along with Britney Spears) in a controversial new McCain ad aimed at ridiculing Barack Obama.

No word yet on how the elder Hilton is reacting to the new ad, but Daunt will have details on how it's playing in Hollywood in a story that will post later today on The Times' website. [UPDATE: Daunt's piece has been posted].

Here's a preview: She notes that eight years ago, when he vied with George W. Bush for the GOP nomination, McCain garnered money from a fair number of entertainment industry figures, including such traditionally fervent Democratic backers as Norman Lear. The producer's reaction to the new McCain commercial: "I didn’t think McCain could look silly. But that ad diminishes him and makes him look silly.”

McCain stood foursquare behind the spot today, The Times' Nicholas Riccardi reports.

Asked at a town hall meeting (what else) in Racine, Wis., if comparing Obama to Paris Hilton and Britney Spears was a flip-flop on his pledge to conduct a high-minded, respectful campaign, McCain replied: "There are differences and we are drawing those differences."

He continued: "I’m proud of the campaign we have run, I’m proud of the issues we are trying to address with the American people. We’re proud of that commercial."

-- Don Frederick

Comments

[cabbie]

The rich support the GOP. No surprise there.

[bob lee]

Hey John:

OOPS!! OOPS! OOPS!!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.......

[michael day]

and why is this important again???

[LawrenceNY]

And i am so proud of mysefl for seeing beyond McSame before he even showed his true colors. He'll regret being proud of his mediocre campiagn!!

[Ray Warner]

McCain's ad was pure dog-whistle racism. Linking a black man with two very sexualized white women is the sort of thing that has gotten countless black men lynched and murdered and is guaranteed to get Republican "base" riled up. McCain should be ashamed of the ad and apologize to Obama.

[The Truth Teller]

John McCain is reaching just a little bit with last ad. Seriously, like all jokes aside this man bores me to death. I mean he's a decent politician but he just like Al Gore as far as his entertainment value and appeal to people which more than likely cost Gore the election in 00 (well that in Florida)

[J. Lee War]

The Hilton's must surely regret their McCain donations. Mccain is using Paris to insult Obama and in turn he is insulting the Hilton Family. The McCain campaign is running a nasty low class campaign. He deserves his poll numbers to drop...one can only hope they do.

[Frank Tillery]

How else would we expect Senator McCain to behave when he has hired several members of the Rove-Bush election squad? They are certainly picking up where they left off with Kerry, huh?

This is silly. I thought Senator McCain wanted to take the high road with this election. He should have learned from 2000 the pain and frustration of being the target of lies. Ironically enough, the same individuals who worked with Rove and Bush against McCain in 2000 and 2004 are now employed by McCain. Strange!

I guess when you back is against the wall, you resort to mud-slinging. Typical politics!

Frank Tillery
One of U.S.

[Joe]

Let me guess, the 'independent' media went out of its way to dig this information up in defense of Barack Obama - to spin John McCain as the real celebrity friend.

Every time you try to help Obama you're just telling voters that you ARE in love with him. Oh, the irony.

[Todd]

What a moron. He richly deserves to be surrounded by people driven by negativity. GO GO Bob Barr!!

[HowAboutSomeRealNews]

You guys at the LA Times should just give up the charade and go work for Entertainment Tonight if you want to report this kind of pap. I thought the LA Times once had a level of prestige and was once respected for reporting meaningful news.

How about some real news regarding donations to McCain? Like these illegal donations from foreigners:

McCain accused of accepting improper donations from Rothschilds
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/29/johnmccain.uselections2008

The United States if falling apart at the seams and all we get are these stupid distractions regarding "celebrities", meaningless divisive issues like gay marriage, playing "race cards", rap songs, lapel pins on and on..

How about pointing out the fact that both of these presidential clowns are puppets with no real difference in policy. Change? What change? Spare change? A change in underwear?

How about some detailed analysis of McCain and Obama's presidential teams (you know the same Washington insiders that have been lurking in the background for decades)?

How about some real analysis of their political history?

How about some coverage of other candidates?

How about pointing out the fact that the US is doomed with these two imposters that will only lead the US down the path of further debt, less freedom, more wars, more destruction of the dollar with the same broken system of government that is controlled by corporate interests?

This country is at a red level crisis situation and it has nothing to do with the islamo-fascist terrorists. It wasn't the islamo-fascist terrorists that destroyed the dollar, pumped the national debt, created the housing bubble, started illegal wars and continues to bleed the American people dry with inflation. It was the domestic threat - the government - not any external threat!

Why don't you people try putting your country before your paycheck at the thoroughly discredited LA Times?

[Bobby]

The ad was funny, and totally fair. Quit being so sensitive.

As for Paris Hilton's father, where the Hell are his parenting skills? I wouldn't want money from someone who's failed so much as a parent.

[Alex]

McCain, McCain, oh what a shame,
I liked you before, but now you're just lame.
Your voter support shrinks day after day.
So do us a favor and just go away.

...I just made that up haha, someone else write up verse 2!

[Christopher London]

To quote Dr. Larry Hunter (former U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Chief Economist): "The Republican Party is a dead rotting carcass with a few decrepit old leaders stumbling around like zombies in a horror version of 'Weekend With Bernie,' handcuffed to a corpse." I hardly need to tell you who is the corpse. John McCain is a soul less empty vessel, who at this point will say anything, align himself with whomever, to achieve his life long goal. BUT, to put forth a candidate for President a man who is far from intellectually gifted to be begin with, who has a LOW IQ, little intellectual curiousity who may also in fact have lost his marbles is on some level....well, it ought to be a national scandal. McCain never had a full deck and now even more cards are missing. Simply put, If McCain were a product you purchased at the store you would return it for being defective or broken. The Mainstream media and McCain's handlers have focused on selling Americans on imagery of the "War Hero...Maverick...Naval Aviator" while hiding the disturbing side of McCain, that he is in fact mentally unstable, perhaps suffering from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome), alzheimers or the onset of senility. Perhaps McCain's "Straight Talk" Campaign of 2000 vs. Bush combined with his hosting Media BBQ's at his country homes has so endeared him to those in the Corporate Media that they choose to downplay, disregard or rationalize his consistent inability to recall basic facts, put together coherent responses or randomly lashing out in anger and singing strange songs like "Bomb Bomb Iran" to the tune of the Beachboys Barbara Ann.

[joe]

I just read on Wonkette that McCain advisor Martin Eisenstadt admitted that the Hilton family was furious about the ad and called the McCain campaign yesterday to complain. http://wonkette.com/401596/hilton-family-furious-over-mccain-insulting-paris-hilton

[Mitchell in NY]

I thought that McCain's flip-flopping was going to be a serious problem for him, and it will be. But now he has a more immediate problem: defending a really trashy commercial. We may be in the presence of the mother of all political tin ears. Unbelievable!

On a list of a (baker’s) dozen reasons why McCain is going to lose, #3 and #7:

3. The Last War Syndrome. McCain and the operatives running his campaign are like generals fighting the last war. They are still convinced that negative advertising will be as successful against Obama as it was against Kerry. However, “The Times They are A-Changin.”

7. The Not So Straight-talk Factor: McCain has built his reputation on being a man of principle. This has two features: he believes in something and he sticks with what he believes in. McCain has recently begun to backpedal on principles and commitments. He is vulnerable to being viewed as a flip-flopper, if not dishonest, which will undermine his hitherto greatest strength.

A Dozen Reasons Why McCain Won’t Win: Money-Back Guarantee”
http://msa4.wordpress.com/

[David H]

McCain is getting desperate now and reverting to Bush-e-boy's tricks. NO 3rd term!

[patricia]

I'm not surprised he would think of Paris Hilton....what we say about others usually says more about US than the person we attack.

McCain? Spoiled, supported his entire life by powerful and/or rich people (and beholden by the way) and an EXTREME narcissist, who goes ballistic when the spotlight leaves him.

[captbilly]

I was a staunch McCain supporter last time he ran for President in 2000. At the time I felt that McCain got a seriously dirty deal from the Bush Rove devil, but apparently the only thing he learned from that experience is that it pays to run a negative campaign. The things he is saying about Obama a silly and petty at best, and racist and divisive lies at worst. I think he should be ashamed of himself. I would never vote for McCain ever again, and every time I hear about his negative (swiftboating) campaign I donate another $100 to Obama.

[Sam Blan]

McCain is senile and an idiot. While Obama is concentrating on fixing the world, this moron is attacking the very person who is trying to bring us to the next stage of enlightenment. McCain is a joke.

[Ron]

How do you say, "McCain"? Answer: "More Bush sleaze."

[Bob]

"if you are under 13 years of age you may read this message board, but you may not participate."

As the disclaimer , I think the McCain camp Ad is intended for those groups who can't participate here. :)

[silentNOmore]

Only a fool would allow the ad in question to run in an effort to make himself look better. An even bigger fool would not see the error in this decision and actually be proud about it. To top it off, he insults one of his own contributers...twice! Priceless.

[SSG ARTHUR MENENDEZ]

Proud of being nasty Grumpy? Well we are proud of the candidate with intellect and integrity who is going to clean your clock and become POTUS by a mile. Take your nasty low minded self to a retirement home where Cindy I have hundreds of millions and your Keting five buddies can keep you in beer and BBQ.

We will be back here taking care of our great nation and putting it back on track since George W, Karl Rove and now you took us off the rails.

Bye Bye to bad garbage Sir. My self and my fellow veteran son are joining the legions of veterans looking for a good commander in Chief Barack Obama!

YES WE CAN SI SE PUEDE

[Jim]

If lack of popularity around the world is a credential for being president then George Bush (a.k.a. John McCain) should have been one of our best. Sorry.