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

[Joe]

If "people behave" then we shouldn't have laws that annoy pigs but relieving them from their 24 hour doughnut break. Fine. Legalize pot. Less people die from pot then from work related deaths and disorders.

[emily]

ridiculous.

[Mike]

The only surprise in this blog is that John "Keating 5" McCain returned money! Let's see is 'celebrity' an important issue facing the American public at this time? McCain is turning out to be a grumpy loser.

[Freedom Rider]

Another ironic twist in regards to McCain's woefully lame comparison of Obama to Paris and Britney is that Britney is on record as a Bush supporter. Here's what she said in a CNN interview with Tucker Carlson:

CARLSON: A lot of entertainers have come out against the war in Iraq. Have you?

SPEARS: Honestly, I think we should just trust our president in every decision that he makes and we should just support that, you know, and be faithful in what happens.

CARLSON: Do you trust this president?

SPEARS: Yes, I do.

[Anthony]

Stick to the issues, McCain and leave out the namecalling. It seems to me that McCain thinks his fellow Republican supporters are idiots by making this comparison.

[Archie haase]

Sometimes I think politicians and the media think Americans are stupid. So do I but who cares what McCain thinks and for that matter what Hilton thinks.

What I think is the media acts like Paris Hilton.

[ach]

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."

-----yes, comparing obama to brittany spears is very highminded.... i laughed aloud in the library when i read " We're proud of that commercial." Haha!!
Who in the heck is proud of a silly smear commercial? An old grumpy man is, thats who!

[Ray]

Verse 2:

McCain, McCain on the National stage
Reading speeches and sputtering because of age.
Isn't there another career you can pursue
Like a stand-in for Mr. McGoo?

[Mary McCurry]

I think the ad was well done but unnecessary as it is obvious to those awake that Obama is all image and show with a poor to no track record on anything except learning his So Chicago style radical left George Soros pleasing political views. I wish the McCain surrogates would put more emphasis on the FREE ROCK concerts that preceed Obama's major giant rallys like in Oregon and Berlin.

When the choice is between McCain and Obama there really is no choice. McCain must be our next president or we might as well kiss this nation goodbye. Let Obama run against Angela Merkel next time around.

[Rich]

John McCain is disssspicable!.

[James In Oakland]

Trashy. I'm afraid for America.

[COL. A.M.Khajawall [Ret]]

Yes, in desperation and depression people do these things. If these would been normal times. These trivial things won't matter. We are entering reccession and that may end up into real depression. McCain, his staff, and Fox are again and again mislead us to something that is bad for common people and our country. These people seem to be bent upon to damage our country once for all.

I pray and hope common American Citizens will fall into their decietfull trap.

[Lily]

So it was ok for the Republicans to put Arnold Schwarzenegger their candidate, but it will not be ok for the Democrats to build and sell their own celebrity. I am offended by the use of sensationalism to attrack voters, but I am even more offended by the Republican's double standard

[Sharon]

John McCain is proud of what he does. He lacks honesty and integrity!! This man lies big time, flip flops, has explosive temper, forgets things, gets confused on issues, is grumpy, mean, etc. This particular Obama attack ad is ridiculous!! Actually appears stupid! I can see why people in ad are there!! So McCain is connected to father. Please do f/u article!

I am registered Republican and am even embarrassed to say so. This long time party member is switching parties soon.

I gave this man a good chance. I researched him from beginning. What I found out and his campaign actions have appalled me!! And scared me!! No way could I vote for John McCain!!

All news media are broadcasting - McCain Campaign quite upset & complains "Obama using race card." Yes, Obama did mention he is different than most presidents on bills. He has said this many times. McCain Campaign is lying once again. McCain has most definitely been testing waters for race issue very indirectly. Difficult to catch. Reference is sure there. Those voters who are racially prejudiced or have underlying racial prejudice will understand what all the words mean!! This is all a thin line to walk for John McCain. Republicans do this all the time and have during last several elections. Have found they usually have done horrible vicious, attack campaigns!! Called "Karl Rove Campaign." And Karl Rove is being pursued legally now. Sounds like he is not above law as he felt/claimed he was.

Republican Party got bad news today. US legislative body is conducting investigation of Republican Administration. Judge just ruled aides/staff are not above US law. Must testify!!! Hope US citizens will learn truth. Everyone must abide by US law.

News - start attacking John McCain and start checking and verifying who he is and what he is saying. Verify!! He makes mistakes/gaffes all the time!!

John McCain has turned me off!!! He is a loose cannon waiting to go off. And he sure is well known for his explosive temper. At least two times witnessed physical and verbal altercations with fellow senators and had to be broken up. Ask his one wife who he told off at a campaign or some function and called her a "cu--t". Situation witnessed and verified. He is one of Keating Five!!! He graduated at bottom of his class in military school. Military service prior to capture is not good - crashed five aircraft- not promoted and not placed in decision making positions - not trusted to make decisions. Everyone honors his prisoner of war episode- but his actual military service prior capture was not good!! ETC!!!

I judge a person by shown and demonstrated actions. Words are cheap!! McCain's actions have proven he doesn't deserve to be elected President!! His words have been found - not trusted. This man should scare everyone. Appears he may now be mentally losing it!!

I plan to vote for Barack Obama!! This man has risen to every occasion. And he doesn't stoop to these horrible attack type tactics. Yes, he will attack back, but not the similiar vicious attacks that MCCain does. He will make mistakes. Generally doesn't though. Most of time does very well. I have seen he tries to run clean campaign. AND HE SURE IS NOT ARROGANT!! Forget it - another John McCain Campaign attack. Checked and find no substantial evidence Barack Obama is arrogant. He has actually gone to great lengths to try not to be. I have watched and observd over time. Obama is attempting to act presidential, but not arrogant. Yes, it is fine line to walk. But evidence points me back to all that happened then and what he said or did. No arrogance displayed!! I don't take words of claims. I do try to do fair and intense research to arrive at decisions.

[Black Political Analysis]

Everyone's bashing on Team McCain for this spot - and for good reason, I might add. But, their internal polling must have suggested this was ad would work. And, it has. People are talking about how qualified Obama is, despite his popularity. So, in that sense, it's been a win for McCain. This is a guy quick to disavow smears, so the fact that he hasn't attests to the fact that McCain really does approve this message.

[Miss Real]

I hope John McCain keeps the ads rolling. They are only telling the truth about empty head rock star Barack Obama. Intelligent people will not vote for Obama.

[pacificGatePost]

IT’S NOT JUST BECAUSE CAMPAIGN ADS ARE NEGATIVE THAT THEY ARE A PROBLEM ---

http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2008/07/more-evidence-that-republicans-dont.html

McCain’s campaign may be getting torpedoed by Republicans.

[wise1@soapblox]

Hahaha,

Another flub from the rapidly declining John McCain. His campaign has become so disorganized, so desperate, so ideologically bankrupt that they have to make ads that portray their opponent as more interesting, more exciting and sexy cool.

Oh yeah, that will get you elected Mr. Straighttalk! For them to be this desperate this early on is an indicator of where this election is really going. It's not about national polls, it's about states, and Obama is on track to humiliate the old time politician according to a pollster.com survey.

[VietVet]

COL. A.M.Khajawall [Ret] THANK YOU for your comments. I am a VietNam veteran. Loyalty to our country and what it stands for was something that we (veterans) learned from the sacrifices we made in the trenches. We never believed that our country ever abandoned us, but recognized that "This is the land of the free..." and that there would be those few who would mock us and spit on us when we came back. However, they were such a minority that we could see through them for what they really were... Anti-American flag burners. Today we are faced with some crucial decisions. Decisions which will either bring us back to the great nation we once knew, or forever enslave us. Recognizing that the republicans have always fed us tidbits to keep us complacent, while they slowly sold us off to the highest bidders, has got to stop with this election. Why they should think that most Americans have this mind set that negative is better, I will never understand. But, that has been the way of the party for generations. We are ready for change. We are on the verge of collapse, which many people do not even comprehend. I talk to people all the time about the state of this nation and over and over again I hear the same thing... 'what can we do, they are the one's with all the money'. I admit, that I have at times felt helpless about doing anything, that would make any difference, but it is the sacrifices that our forefathers made for this country that made it a great nation. And it is this fact, that puts me back on track. I may not be able to make changes for 'myself', but maybe I can for those who follow. That is the AMERICAN WAY. I won't quote JFK's speech here, but we all know what he said... 'ask not...'. So now, here we are a generation of vets, who not only made the ultimate sacrifices in times of war, but also in times of peace. Semper Fi.

[germanguy]

Miss Real ............ "Intelligent people will not vote for Obama". Is that an OPPS!!!! John graduates in lowest part of his class and Obama graduates with honors? When you make such a statement, aren't you revealing something about yourself?

[NinaK]

I just saw Lou Dodd showing a picture of Senator Obama on the American dollarbills starting with the $1.00 bill and comparing it to the Presidents residing in those dollar bills. He came to the conclusion that, indeed, Senator Obama was telling the truth, he does NOT look like any of the dollar bill residents! He is YOUNGER, HANDSOMER, and actually looks like maybe a young JFK or Bobby Kennedy on a dollar bill, full of LIFE and PROMISE. McCain of course is much older than the presidents residing in those dollar bills and would look like a cadavar, most especially if he stretches his mouth into that horrible smirk that he tries to pass off as a smile!!

I think McCain and his campaign were LOOKING FOR THE LEAST LITTLE THING TO BRING RACE INTO THE CAMPAIGN!!! As a matter of fact, if you place close attention to McCain's words and his ads, he is definitely exposing the race card: Senator Obama does not have the judgement to do this or that = that uppity Negro is too stupid to have good judement; ONLY white males like myself have good judgement; Senator Obama is a celebrity like Braittany Spears and Paris Hilton = Both Paris and Brittany are celebrities known for being bubbleheads and having serious problems; Senator Obama is also a bubblehead and has serious problems, he does not understand anything, ONLY I, John McCain, have good judgement since I am not a celebrity, a bubblehead, and I DON'T HAVE serious problems. I KNOW how to FIX EVERYTHING AND I AM GOING TO FIX EVERYTHING THAT IS WRONG WITH THE COUNTRY (nevermind that I contributed to its deterioration and have done nothing to prevent our current predicaments); , I KNOW HOW to WIN WARS!!! YES, I KNOW HOW TO WIN WARS AND I AM GOING TO WIN THE WAR IN IRAQ (nevermind that I did not tell George Bush that I knew how to win wars, I didn't want him to win the war because I was so mad at him for beating me in 2000; but all along, I knew I would run for President in 2008 and I am going to win the election, not matter what it takes!! Then I am going to WIN the Iraq War because I am the ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS HOW TO WIN WARS! but that pesky Obama keeps talking about bringing our troops home and that puts a crack on my plan...that cannot happen, I KNOW HOW TO WIN WARS AND I AM GOING TO WIN THIS WAR BECAUSE I AM THE ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS HOW TO WIN WARS. Don't tell General Patraeus (sp), but he knows NOTHING aboat winning wars, he is ONLY a general, I am JOHN McCain, I was a POW and I am the ONLY ONE WHO KNOWS HOW TO WIN WARS!!! Obama, get out of my way, I KNOW HOW TO WIN WARS, get out of my way, I KNOW HOW TO WIN WARS, AND I AM THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN WIN THIS WAR! OBAMA, YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW I HAVE TO WIN THE IRAQ WAR....SINCE I DIDN'T WIN THE VIETNAM WAR!! John McCain awakens and discovered his "I KNOW HOW TO FIX THINGS" and his "I KNOW HOW TO WIN WARS" ARE ALL A FIGMENT OF HIS POLITICAL IMAGINATION: He and Gramm see us as having mental recession, that oil drilling will have a "psychological effect on us, and that we are a nation of whiners!! Funny they do not say a thing about McCain suffering from a severe case of Compartmentalizing the FIGMENTS of his delusional political aspirations. What's McCain's IQ anyway?? Graduating 5th from the bottom of his graduation class is NOT impressive!!

[nazcalito]

The McCain ad is a reference to the movie "White Chicks" starring the Wayans brothers.

[NinaK]

Everyone's bashing on Team McCain for this spot - and for good reason, I might add. But, their internal polling must have suggested this was ad would work. And, it has. People are talking about how qualified Obama is, despite his popularity. So, in that sense, it's been a win for McCain. This is a guy quick to disavow smears, so the fact that he hasn't attests to the fact that McCain really does approve this message.

Posted by: Black Political Analysis |
------------------------------------------

Earlier today McCain stated "race, is now fair game, since Obama brought it up". What I find very telling is that McCain and his campaign are the ONLY ONES who read race into Senator Obama stating he he does not look like those guys on the dollar bills. Senator Obama spoke the truth!! Dobbs on CNN did a comparison of our dollary bills with the residing presidents and how Obama would look on those same dollar bills by overlaying each bill with Obama's photo. NO comparison!! Of course he does not look like our previous presidents!! Obama looks youthfull, confident, and Presidential. Plus he is much more handsome!! (couldn't resist this one). The presidents residing on those dollar bills are much older and look very stern. Like I said, Senator Obama was absolutely correct in saying he does not look like the residents of those dollar bills. Now, McCain is much older than those men when those pictures were taken, he is 72 this month! I would definitely not want McCain on any dollary bill or coin, he is sooo white (pale) and his skin is stretched tight (facelifts?), and that stretched- mouth smirk that he tries to pass off as a smile really make him look like a cadavar!

[Laughing]

"I hope John McCain keeps the ads rolling. They are only telling the truth about empty head rock star Barack Obama. Intelligent people will not vote for Obama."

I suppose you are just ignorant of the studies that show IQ's relation to political ideology, right? I'll fill you in: the higher a person's IQ, the more likely they are to be liberal. Senator Obama is quite liberal, therefore it is very likely that almost all "smart people" will vote for Obama. Unless of course by "smart people" you are making a poorly veiled swipe at everyone who doesn't believe as you do.

If you conservatives really want to give Obama a run for his money, the "smart versus stupid" argument might be a poor one to start. After all, didn't he graduate first in his class from Harvard law, and edit the law review? That's pretty damn impressive. And on the other side, McCain graduated dead last from the airforce academy (class of 170 odd people) and crashed what, three jets during his service? Does that seem like the mark of a bright man?

[Rebecca]

McCain should be ashamed..

As for Mr. Hilton... I guess the fake plastic apple filled with air doesn't fall far from the tree...