# Paris responds to McCain **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 6, 2008, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-responds-to-mccain/458980 "2008-08-06T01:37:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-responds-to-mccain/458980/61 "2008-08-06T16:18:05Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] They did say that. They also said she has a better plan than Obama does. [/QUOTE] Wow. That’s…remarkable. Who do they think they’re impressing, by so earnestly missing the joke here? Daniel ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-responds-to-mccain/458980/62 "2008-08-06T16:28:50Z")
[QUOTE=Left Hand of Dorkness] Wow. That’s…remarkable. Who do they think they’re impressing, by so earnestly missing the joke here? Daniel [/QUOTE] Maybe they’re not missing the joke. 1. They need to downplay the (small amount of) egg-on-face nature of the event. 2. They could be trying to capitilize on a free marketing moment. After all, it’s essentially campaign advertising that the news organisations are running without charging ya. I know _I_ would try to have a sense of humor about the whole thing, if I was in McCains org. No sense acting hurt or bitter about it. You should be seen as willing to laugh at yourself now and then. (IIRC, McCain lets slip an age joke every now and then.) ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-responds-to-mccain/458980/63 "2008-08-06T16:33:05Z")
[QUOTE=mlees] Maybe they’re not missing the joke. [/QUOTE] You could be right. I just think they’re doing it in a very poor way: they’re trying to make a nasty stab at their opponent (“Obama is dumber than Hilton”), but come across as saying, “Hilton is as smart as McCain.” Daniel ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-responds-to-mccain/458980/64 "2008-08-06T16:49:54Z")
[QUOTE=Left Hand of Dorkness] You could be right. I just think they’re doing it in a very poor way: they’re trying to make a nasty stab at their opponent (“Obama is dumber than Hilton”), but come across as saying, “Hilton is as smart as McCain.” Daniel [/QUOTE] I have to say: Obama’s campaign staff definately seems more polished than McCain’s hamhanded ones. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-responds-to-mccain/458980/65 "2008-08-06T16:50:14Z")
Fox News is grasping at straws, trying to say it’s bad for Obama because “it keeps the story going,” and “has people talking about energy policy.” Fox is also careful not to show (or acknowledge in any way) any of the age jokes in the clips that they’re showing. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-responds-to-mccain/458980/66 "2008-08-06T16:56:09Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Fox News is grasping at straws, trying to say it’s bad for Obama because “it keeps the story going,” and “has people talking about energy policy.” Fox is also careful not to show (or acknowledge in any way) any of the age jokes in the clips that they’re showing. [/QUOTE] Sheppard smith showed them (the age joke clips) on his “Fox Report” yesterday. (It’s where I saw the ad.) Shep and Carl Cameron appeared to be amused & entertained with Hilton’s rebuttal piece. They did not (at the time I watched) slam Hilton, or attempt to help McCain in any overt way that I saw. The only “serious” analysis was what kind of impact, if any, this story may have. (They were analysing several different campaign ads, from both campaigns, over the course of the segment.) ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-responds-to-mccain/458980/67 "2008-08-06T17:05:18Z")
[QUOTE=mlees] Sheppard smith showed them (the age joke clips) on his “Fox Report” yesterday. (It’s where I saw the ad.) Shep and Carl Cameron appeared to be amused & entertained with Hilton’s rebuttal piece. They did not (at the time I watched) slam Hilton, or attempt to help McCain in any overt way that I saw. The only “serious” analysis was what kind of impact, if any, this story may have. (They were analysing several different campaign ads, from both campaigns, over the course of the segment.) [/QUOTE] Sheppard Smith is actually fairly tolerable for a Fox News host, and he doesn’t come off as openly partisan as most of them do (plus he gave Sean hannity a smackdown during the Katrina fiasco :)). Whatever this show is now with this blonde dingbat (McCallum? McCCollum?) was trying to spin the Paris video as bad for Obama. ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-responds-to-mccain/458980/68 "2008-08-06T17:13:48Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] Sheppard Smith is actually fairly tolerable for a Fox News host, and he doesn’t come off as openly partisan as most of them do (plus he gave Sean hannity a smackdown during the Katrina fiasco :)). Whatever this show is now with this blonde dingbat (McCallum? McCCollum?) was trying to spin the Paris video as bad for Obama. [/QUOTE] Ah. OK. According to the Fox News website, she is part of “The Live Desk”, which I have never seen. (It airs while I am at work.) ---
**Author:** ![threeorange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@threeorange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threeorange)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-responds-to-mccain/458980/69 "2008-08-06T18:32:39Z")
[QUOTE=Koxinga] This is the first time I’ve heard her speak, so maybe this observation is trite. Her delivery on the energy policy impressed me–imagine Keanu Reeves or Anna Nicole Smith (RIP) trying it. But I also notice she pokes fun at her clueless valley girl image very effectively, which also tells me that she’s quite intelligent and quite self aware. [/QUOTE] Although I admittedly have never paid a great deal of attention to her, Paris Hilton never seemed genuinely stupid in the way of Anna Nicole or Britney, but a person of at least average intelligence who was selling a well-crafted persona called “Paris Hilton”. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-responds-to-mccain/458980/70 "2008-08-06T19:06:56Z")
[QUOTE=Wile E] Sort of clever, so I have my doubts that she came up with the idea. [/QUOTE] The “Funny or Die” website was [founded by Will Ferrell and company](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funny_or_Die) as an alternative outlet for various kinds of material: stuff that wouldn’t be bought/aired by the mainstream, or that’s highly topical and needs to be released fast to catch the moment (as this one is), or that otherwise doesn’t fit into the ordinary available venues. It’s got some serious heavyweight comedy talent behind the scenes. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-responds-to-mccain/458980/71 "2008-08-06T19:40:34Z")
Damn, that video’s been viewed over 3.5 million times in under 24 hours! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-responds-to-mccain/458980/72 "2008-08-06T20:57:15Z")
[QUOTE=Hampshire] While Obama is discussing real topics and issues trying to become our next president McCain is busy in a humorous video battle with Paris Hilton. [/QUOTE] This is the absolute #1 point. During the last election in Canada, a commentator said something that really summed up the losing side’s unsuccessful attack campaign; “If you audition for the role of Opposition Leader, you’ll always win the job.” McCain’s campaign is doing an absolutely shit job of making him look like he’s campaigning for President; he looks like he’s campaigning for Barack Obama to not be President, which simply makes Obama look more and more Presidential. You’ll recall how “Don’t vote for Bush” worked for John Kerry in 2004. Getting into a public hair-pulling match with Paris Hilton is quite honestly the worst thing I can imagine McCain doing short of strangling a kitten on national TV. The last thing you want is for people to laugh at you. One they don’t take you seriously any more, you’re cooked. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-responds-to-mccain/458980/73 "2008-08-06T21:57:18Z")
[QUOTE=RickJay] Getting into a public hair-pulling match with Paris Hilton is quite honestly the worst thing I can imagine McCain doing short of strangling a kitten on national TV. [/QUOTE] Am I the only one who read this as “a \*\*pubic \*\*hair-pulling match”? Holy cow, I nearly sprayed my Diet Coke at the mental image. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-responds-to-mccain/458980/74 "2008-08-06T22:08:14Z")
[QUOTE=Equipoise] I know what you mean! I just saw this myself at Yahoo and came here to see if there was a thread about it yet. I can’t believe I’m actually applauding something Paris Hilton did. And the Yahoo story even ran a [decent picture](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080806/ap_en_ce/mccain_paris_hilton) of her with the story, eyes wide open! [/QUOTE] Oh, now that’s just too much! I’m prepared to believe she’s not as dumb as she’d like us to think (like **Mr. Bus Guy** , I don’t think anyone could achieve what she has if they were truly stupid), but finding out - in the same day, no less - that she’s actually _pretty_, too? Gah. You just made me jealous of Paris freakin’ Hilton, dude! Not cool! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-responds-to-mccain/458980/75 "2008-08-06T22:13:22Z")
[QUOTE=Lightnin’] Am I the only one who read this as “a \*\*pubic \*\*hair-pulling match”? Holy cow, I nearly sprayed my Diet Coke at the mental image. [/QUOTE] And then imagined McCain and Hilton in a whore-off? ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-responds-to-mccain/458980/76 "2008-08-06T22:13:50Z")
A vacuous yout’ plugging for the democratic candidate. It worked so well for Gore & Kerry. Energize the yout’ vote! Congratulations McCain, you just won. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-responds-to-mccain/458980/77 "2008-08-06T22:44:15Z")
WhyNot, I know, right? I was shocked that she’s actually pretty in that picture! [QUOTE=levdrakon] A vacuous yout’ plugging for the democratic candidate. [/QUOTE] Where do you see Hilton plugging for Obama? She doesn’t even name him in the ad (calls him “that other guy”). You’re reaching. This was strictly aimed at McCain in response to McCain’s brain-damaged “celebrity” ad. I know it’s hard to see your guy being made fun of, but he deserved it. [QUOTE=levdrakon] It worked so well for Gore & Kerry. Energize the yout’ vote! Congratulations McCain, you just won. [/QUOTE] He’s won no matter what. The American people are too stupid to vote as a majority for Obama. What Paris does or doesn’t do has no effect on that. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-responds-to-mccain/458980/78 "2008-08-06T23:04:23Z")
[QUOTE=Equipoise] Where do you see Hilton plugging for Obama? She doesn’t even name him in the ad (calls him “that other guy”). You’re reaching. [/quote] Right, I mistook the slam on the wrinkly white haired guy and the cheering in this thread. > [@](#): > > He’s won no matter what. The American people are too stupid to vote as a majority for Obama. What Paris does or doesn’t do has no effect on that. Nice way to hedge your bet, but Americans aren’t going to vote for who the MTV generation thinks is, like, ohmygod, like, so totally cool & stuff! ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-responds-to-mccain/458980/79 "2008-08-06T23:07:29Z")
[QUOTE=levdrakon] Right, I mistook the slam on the wrinkly white haired guy and the cheering in this thread. Nice way to hedge your bet, but Americans aren’t going to vote for who the MTV generation thinks is, like, ohmygod, like, so totally cool & stuff! [/QUOTE] The MTV generation is like 40. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2008, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-responds-to-mccain/458980/80 "2008-08-06T23:09:10Z")
[QUOTE=Diogenes the Cynic] The MTV generation is like 40. [/QUOTE] And the blue hairs aren’t dead yet and the MTV generation hasn’t elected a president yet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-responds-to-mccain/458980.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/paris-responds-to-mccain/458980.md?page=5)