Flashback McCain '07: Paris Hilton Gets More Attention Than Deserved

There once was a time, not too long ago, when John McCain lamented the fact that Paris Hilton was getting so much attention in the news media. Nowadays, of course, his campaign is gleefully pushing the celebrity famous for doing nothing as a relevant campaign issue.

During an August 17, 2007 appearance on Hardball, the Arizona Republican, who was already running for president, was asked to weigh in on the drama surrounding O.J. Simpson's arrest in Las Vegas for armed robbery.

McCain's response doesn't exactly jive with his campaign's posture today.

"I don't know," he said, when asked if the Juice could get a fair trial. "I would not know about that. The last time a lot of people were surprised that he got at least what was in his view a fair trial. But, honestly, I have not been keeping up with it as much as I should have maybe, because it's certainly -- This and Paris Hilton are the kind of issues that seem to get a lot more attention than maybe some of us think they deserve."

Fast forward to this past week, when the Senator has actively sought to bring Paris Hilton into the political dialogue. His campaign put out a commercial comparing her and Barack Obama and defended it as a legitimate criticism of the downfalls of celebrity. Faced with some withering backlash from Republicans and Democrats alike, the McCain campaign -- including former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani this Thursday morning -- have said they were just having "a little fun" during the dog days of summer.

Paris' mom in the meantime, has called the ad "frivolous" and "a complete waste of the country's time and attention at the very moment when millions of people are losing their homes and their jobs."

Here is the complete transcript:

MATTHEWS: Yes, let me ask you about this big story that`s breaking over the weekend. I know you have written a book called "Hard Call," and it`s about guts at the top. Here`s a hard call for you. I know Matt Lauer did this to you the other day. So I`m copy-catting him. Here`s a hard call for you. Given everything that`s happening out in Vegas right now, and Clark County, and you know what`s going on in the news with O.J. -- and let me put this in the language of the streets, can the Juice get a fair trial?

Comments

[ShamusNYC]

Love the way that Camp MCAint is trying to laugh off Paris' huge diss - she compared you to the crypt keeper! Also, what she laid out in her energy plan is basically the compromise that the Group of 10 senators have drawn up - which B has agreed to support, but McC doesn't like because it removes tax breaks from the Oil companies.

[Daly]

Horney old man lusting after PYT

[Michaelvin]

I like the Paris Hilton energy plan. It is so hot.

[FiLoLi]

Sounds an awful like Obamas and McCains, All of the Above.

[TrooAmerican]

No, McCain's plan has little to do with new alternative energy technology except a cash reward to whomever he can slip it to if he becomes president, since they are already incentivising Battery research.
His plan also is to Bypass Environmental regulations and concerns and drill with the idea that the oil companies will be careful on their own, and guarentee they wont get sued for any accidents.

McCain's plan also is to include the new big industry tax breaks which would give back another 3.8 billion to the oil industry again, on top of the 17 billion BUsh gave them.

[Heaphy]

Anyone who expects consistency from John McCain is destined to be sorely disappointed.

- Jim Heaphy

[mari2JJ]

McCain is too old to expect consistency from him. Probably too prone to flip flop and seems to forget his earlier statements ala the tire gauge as a means of saving gas. Alzheimer problems have caught up with poor old McCain.

[soupson52]

Oh, we'll get consistency if he wins. There'll be consistency every time he opens his lying mouth.
But we will, as you say, be sorely disappointed.

[Gma11]

Poor John - he just doesn't "get" this technology stuff!! Doesn't realize he has to be careful what he says because there is video somewhere . . .

[NicasioKid]

Isn't it obvious? McCain has a thing for beautiful blonds. If he thinks she's already getting too much attention, then why the special effort to put a spotlight on her? Her comeback had class, unlike the original silly attempt to make celebrity look bad. Can you say "Jelly-Cake?"

[S1m0n]

Hands up everyone who thinks that what McCain is *really* doing is introducing Mrs John McCain #3?

After all, Paris is younger and has even more money than Cindy, Mrs John McCain #2. I betcha John's thinking its time for another upgrade.

[gazissax]

Who won Miss Buffalo-Chip? My money's on her.

[ObamAtomic]

haha! Flash Gordon,re-incarnate to be that wrinkly, white-haired guy ,

[reelcobra]

Let's not forget that the old man is pulling out the bimbo because our guy is soaring above him in the polls like he is riding a magic carpet straight to the White House!

let's play out the clock like we did with Hillary! Can you say VACATION?

__________­__________­__________­__________­____

Obama '08! Change we can Hope for!

[Daly]

An O inauguration with be the most celebrated in history; partly because of the win but I think mostly to turn the page on the ugliest chapter in recent memory.

[ShamusNYC]

NO! Don't play out the clock - these guys are pigs and they will fight dirty! Including voter intimidation and other criminal acts.

Keep pushing and push hard.

Hopefully, if the win is forceful enough and some action is taken on the criminality of the current admin (indictments & jail for many) they can effectively either split the repubs or severely damage that party.

It would be nice to see a full split, with the centrist, reasonable Repubs forming a new party and leaving the rest to the far, far right nutcases who strive to tell you how to think and surrender the country to the interests of big business.

[edwarvir]

i hope she sticks to him like white on rice. She should make more ads and
sell her T shirts at least until she gets back the money her parents donated to him.
We have serious problems that need addressing and johnny makes jokes

[MACS]

.
OBVIOUSLY Hilton has more to offer Americans than McFifthChoice.
.

[Diogenis]

true, and she doesn't wear Depends!

[ObamAtomic]

Paris, On Your Face......­wrinkly, white-haired guy ,Biocht,lo­l......ah! Paris

[wm1066]

I have to say that I am beginning to really like the McCain campaign..­..its so screwed up!
The "Apple Dumpling Gang" only dumber.

[OldKnute]

Hahahaha!!!!!

And McCains,,, Celebrity Envy,,, Hollywood Bashing,,, is showing like a skirt tucked into pantyhose!!!!

Hehehehe!!

Why can’t McCain pick on someone his own age?

Why attack our children??????

I think Paris did a GREAT JOB,, now kids all over America are asking questions about Fossil Fuels, and their viability, long term.

You watch,, American Kids are not going to take this!

They are smart, articulate; they do the research and are PISSED at what has been going on!

I think Paris should do more ads, Her T-Shirts are selling off the shelves. Youtube is Laggy, and she is top viewed, celebrity.

My VIEW? McCain trashed the wrong demographic.

American kids,,, Oooops,, I mean,,, young Ladies and Gentlemen,, are NOT GOING TO STAND FOR THIS!!!!

Yep,, deep Doo Doo for the Old Dood.

Go Paris GO!!!!!!

All the best

Knute Neo-Hilton < ---- Pant Suits not included.

[chs1965]

Didn't he play the white-headed guy in" Dumb and Dumber"?

[jonjon66]

Paris Hilton has done more good with her response to McCain dirty ,low-oad,gutter style tactics than any other "super surrogate" out there. So quit laughing at Paris and start fighting back against the media's real darling John "We're Too Scared to ask him The Tough Questions" MCCain loving MSM.

[Shelly1970]

Is there an implied assumption here that McCain cares about consistency? He's an all out zenster, living in the moment.