John McCain, Paris Hilton, and the Politics of Nothing

With just ninety days left in the election it's come down to this: our energy policy and a good deal of this presidential campaign are being discussed through the lens of Paris Hilton. What a big goof it all is! If you just ignore all the soldiers and civilians dying in the Mideast, and all the millions losing their homes and their jobs at home, you could really see the lighter side of it all.

It all started with McCain's ad comparing Obama to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. And then we had Paris Hilton's "response," followed by the McCain camp's response to Paris Hilton: "It sounds like Paris Hilton supports John McCain's 'all of the above' approach to America's energy crisis -- including both alternatives and drilling. Paris Hilton might not be as big a celebrity as Barack Obama, but she obviously has a better energy plan."

Who ever thought this election wasn't going to be about the issues?

Of course, it's not exactly a surprise that the Republican election machine would resort to trying to make the entire election into an issueless sideshow. I mean, what else do they have?

But it is still a sad spectacle to see John McCain going along with it with such glib eagerness. The man who once pledged to run a "respectful campaign" and who said that Obama "would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign" has made it clear that he'd rather lose everything he has stood for than lose the White House.

As New York Magazine's John Heilemann noted, "we now have an inkling of just how deep in the mud McCain and his people are willing to wallow in order to win in November: right up to their Republican eyeballs."

The problem is, we're right down there with him. That's because all it takes is one of the two candidates to decide to yank the discourse into the ditch and the media -- and as a result, the public -- follow.

Instead of the media calling the McCain campaign on its pathetic trivialization of the presidential race, they have been engaging in meaningless horse-race analysis of "did the ad work?" The conventional wisdom appears to be that it did.

There was Gloria Borger on CNN, saying, "They put out this ad, and we're running this ad and we're talking about it, which from their point of view, actually works for them."

And there was Dana Milbank with Campbell Brown declaring, "They work and they always work. And we always go through this little dance when everybody says, I'm a different kind of politician, I'm post partisan, I'm a maverick. And of course when it comes right down to it, you need to drive the other guy's numbers down. If anything, they haven't gone negative enough just yet."

As Huffpost's Seth Colters Walls reports, this is nonsense, period. Indeed, to the extent that eventually the ad may "work," it will be only because of the media saying that it worked. It's not even horse-race analysis. It's the Observer Effect.

Even though the media play this game every election cycle, this time, I honestly thought it would be different. That the problems we're facing -- a disastrous never-ending war, the recession, the near collapse of our banking system, etc., etc. -- were just too big to ignore.

But it now appears that the bigger the problems, the more likely it is that they'll be completely ignored. So here we are: huge problems and a correspondingly empty election. It's the politics of nothing.

The McCain camp knows that the only way they can win this election is to turn it into a carnival sideshow.

Here's the question the media should be asking John McCain: "do you think the frivolous, jeering tone of your campaign matches the problems being faced by this country and the sacrifices being made right now by our soldiers overseas?"

And here's another question: what's next for John McCain? Where does he and his campaign go from here? If this is where they have taken the political discourse in early August, what have they got for us come October? Here is a preview -- our best guess -- of what the McCain has in store for us:

"Too Tall." An ad claiming that proof of Obama's arrogance is his refusal to be as short as McCain (5' 6").

"Sex Tape." An ad comparing Obama to Paris Hilton's sex tape to make the point that, well, no point, just that Paris had a sex tape and Obama is, you know, like it.

"Sex Tape II." An ad with Obama digitally inserted into Paris Hilton's sex tape.

"Rhymes with Iraq." An ad pointing out that Obama's first name almost rhymes with Iraq. The ad is pulled after it's pointed out that it comes close to mentioning an issue.

"Michelle Obama: a man?" An ad that's not making any claims, "just asking a question." The ad succeeds in getting the typical media treatment: "As many have noted, the ad uses hyperbole. Still, however, it raises the question, is Michelle Obama a woman?"

"Barack Obama: gay?" Hard to say, but, per the last ad, if Michelle is indeed a man, then that makes Obama gay.

"Barack Obama: black gay man." Previous ad forgot to mention Obama's race.

"akludfilkakmeitceks." An ad with random letters coming up on the screen. The media declares it "a home run."

Comments

[berrycooda]

What is the problem.....this pre-election nonsense is "politics as usual"
Just watch c-span sometimes and watch the senate and representatives at "work"
Most of the time...the place is empty except for a few speakers and the one keeping records.

More time is wasted trying to make a name for themselves.
No matter who gets elected, it is up to the congress to come up with a plan, no matter what the
president thinks. All he can do is veto if he doesn't like it.
Seems like the Democrat congress is waiting for a democrat to be elected, then they will do what they should have been doing in the past just so the democrats can get the credit.
Too much competition over "who wins" and not enough common sense decisions for America.
I will be glad when the election is over. I resent people making almost $180,000.00 a year for running all over the country making speeches. (Wish I had a job like that...lot of vacation time.)
The only time Congress acts swiftly is when it is time for their raise. then It happens immediately.

[aileboff]

Vote for "freee lunch" McCain. He will give you everything you want. He is going to fight Iraq to the finish, and it will not cost you a cent. In fact he will lower your taxes. He will let big oil dig off shore and the oil will flow immediately into your corner station. He wil track health care through insurance companies and it will cost you less because he will see to it the insurance companies do this out of patriotism. He will provide you with charter schools that completely observe the American principle of separating church and state. Of course he will abolish abortion which a silly supreme court legalized. You will finally get Supreme Court justices who really adhere to the Republican line.
Vote for McCain and yopu can fuggedabout the theory that there is no such thing as a free lunch.

[fishsandwichesr2good]

"Politics of Nothing" -- very appropriate because "nothing" is what BO has accomplished in his political career (exactly the point of the ad).

[stevespelling]

This was an excellent ad. Obama has been sold to the American public by the Democratic media the same way Paris & Britney have. Obama's lack of legislative accomplishments and poor judgment make him the least accomplished man to run for the Presidency in our lifetime. The American public is also waking up to the ridiculous Obama / Nancy Pelos Democratic party energy plan which is to hope and prey that viable alternative energy is developed sometime in the next 30 years & in the meantime let's have high energy prices because we already have our private jets and are making a ton of money selling "Carbon Credits" to the sheep. A total scam. Obama's energy plan enriches our enemies by making us dependent on them for our life's blood (energy). It diminishes US power & influence in the world by making us dependent on these 3rd world dictators. We need to develop every form of alternative energy, conserve & explore for domestic oil everywhere that we can! DRILL IMMEDIATELY, DRILL EVERYWHERE SHOULD BE A KEY PART OF BOTH DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN POLICY!

[dwilkerson]

And the most hilarious aspect of this all is seeing right-wing nutjobs pretending to be sophisticated while they show off their complete ignorance of the ins-and-outs of energy policy. Yes, let's drill, and offset our dependence on foreign oil by, what was it the DOE estimated? Oh right, 2%... by 2030. Brilliant policy!

[gladys46]

And it is more astounding to watch right-wing nutjobs pretending Mc's sophiscation in his abilities in foreign affairs. Mc's methods of coercing difficult foreign leaderships into compliance with what America NOW says is "soverign" is to "surge"!! Thereby disperse a soverign nation's masses off to despicable refugee camps, that is after killing more than 90 thousand, but whose counting!! Which can be considered a very last ditch scramble to clean up rather than a smart start to any reasoned "Iraqi Freedom" .... unless the plan was hedgmony in the first place. It's one thing to state the obvious as Mc has done with Bu$h's failed relationship with Russia's Putin ... Mc has stated no coherent PLAN going forward that he might follow in those "soverign" nation's conflicts! If you're able to contend with Mc's fumblings, somewhere "hidden" in the middle of his speaks, he says the last 4 yrs have not been good! With oratory "difficulty", Mc attempts to regurgitate Bu$h foreign policies sheepishly. We all know, or ought to know, those policies have failed miserably. Do something Mc says!!! Another brilliant policy!

[mari2JJ]

Maybe discussing the Hilton ad which shows even she has a better oil policy than any thing McCain has ever produced in the run up to the election. If McCain cannot even win a discussion or an ad contest with Ms. Hilton, he is dumber than even I thought. But you are correct, who wants to fixate on this jeuvenile mess when our money is going to to despotic oil countries in huge amounts. The ad was racist in content, ala the Ford ad, and any attempt by McCain to deny that is just a bold-faced lie. I think the Hilton feedback dispells any substantive issue that McCain tried to make. Also, the mcCain attitude has a lot of feminists madder than heck.

[Freakpower]

The consensus has been, without logical provocation, that
"this election is a referendum on Barack O.bama."

But In Reality, this election is a "Referendum on America."
Maybe the last chance.

Make the old, scared, and tired, and beat-down comfortable, or simply lose the Future!

[MsJoy]

If my memory serves me correctly, Ronald Reagan was a celebrity before he became president of the United States. How ironic that McCain has put Senator Obama in the same catagory. :)

Good Luck Barack

[Interested Party]

The world is watching. I live in the US but I am a Canadian citizen. For the next 3 weeks I am in Scotland. Most often asked question, once folks know I am Canadian and not American? Will the American public elect a black man as president? I have my fingers crossed but YES let's put the spotlight on McCain and stop the nonsense that is a 'war hero' and has been vetted. If the MSM actually prepared for their interviews/commentary shows, they would be more intelligently be able to discuss the issues. I noticed a new trend, the Republican talking heads get in their 'talking points', they never miss an opportunity. They NEVER ask the question just keep going on about Obama beinga celebrity (yes and you guys hate it McCain is not). Do your homework pundits, ask questions and MSNBC - do what Tim Russert did - do your homework stop being partisian - the US press is unprofessional, biased (to one or the other). How about we shut them down for the Olympics? OOOH...2 weeks of peace and quiet. I have faith in the American people to actually learn about the issues and vote their conscience. The press and the Republicans are hoping you do not!

[Dayahka]

You cannot blame just McCain or the Republicans for crass political behavior. Clearly, the Americans people, a good lot of them if not most, "go" for this sort of stuff, as they could care less about the issues and only want to be entertained. If the silly stuff did not work, no one would use it. If the people just turned away from, ignored, or imposed a penalty on such behavior, the politicians would stop using it. But we are a frivolous people, leading frivolous lives, hypocrites saying glorious things to other countries about great issues but doing in our own country the vilest and most unintelligent things, as if we were just buffoons, which I'm afraid most of us are. So, quit trying to find intelligent and thoughtful discussion among the people; this is like trying to squeeze blood from a rock.

[MsIndependent2]

I fear people will not vote for what they dislike more than what they like. I read so many posts (from Repubs) that say they will not vote for Obama because he is an elitist. I would think, based on their definition, of what makes him elitist is the one reason they would want to vote for him. Heck, many could ask him exactly how he managed to be so successfully being born to a single mother, raised by grandparents, took out student loans for his education, helped organized programs etc for the poor, write 2 books, have a wife & two kids, live in a really nice suburban home, drive a Hybrid Ford Escape, and become debt free in only 47 years.

[ContraEgoiste]

As has been said by others, "They are proud of their ignorance".

When the maturity and wisdom of a society is apparent by the leaders they choose, it is very telling of a group when they consider the trait of intellectual accumen a blemish, for this is what they mean when they say "elitist". And so they rather choose a low intellect individual, someone "they can have a beer with", as their leader.

I wonder, if they are ever in need of a brain surgeon, lawyer, accountant, ect., if they walk into the local bar and get the guy sitting in the next bar-stool, or if they look for sharpest most intelligent one they can afford. Yet this is exactly how they choose the person who will lead the nation and have an impact on their life and that of their children. And so they chose a dodo that can just barely speak his native tongue without triping over it.

Yep, they are proud of their ignorance.

[goodbyetoallthat]

The latest McCain ad begins: "Life in the spotlight must be grand, but for the rest of us times are tough." Actually, times are far from tough for Cindy and John; I understand they own nine homes. Obama and Michelle own one, like the rest of us.

Then he falsely states that Obama will raise taxes for all. The truth is Obama's plan is to raise taxes ONLY ON THOSE MAKING $250,000 OR MORE per year, and to provide tax CUTS to those making less than that.

It's pretty clear that "straight talk" is no longer McCain's style.
.

[goodbyetoallthat]

McCain's latest ad begins: "Life in the spotlight must be grand, but for the rest of us times are tough." Times are far from tough for Cindy and John; they own nine homes. Obama, owns one, like most of us.

McCain then falsely states that Obama will raise taxes for all. The truth is Obama's plan is to raise taxes only on those making more than $250,000 per year, and to provide tax CUTS to those making less than that.

McCain will continue the Bush policy of tax breaks for the wealthy; Obama wil discontinue that policy.

Looks to me like "straight talk" is no longer McCain's style.

[FADUTA]

"Falsely states BO will raise taxes"? Are you kidding me? Do you people even listen to your own candidate? He has already promised to raise capital gains taxes and those do not only hit the "rich". EVErYONE with a retire plan, IRA or 401K will get nailed on taxes by BO's plan. His plan will also hit anyone who decides to downsize their home once they retire or the kids move out.

[churchlady]

Indeed, we do listen to our own candidate because we are smart and have chosen to vote for the superior candidate. He will not raise taxes--any taxes-- on people who earn less than $250K per year. We do not listen to trolls who attempt to misinform us about our candidate.

http://factcheck.barackobama.com/factcheck/2008/08/09/response_to_mccains_most_recen.php

[MaryanneAZ]

The only thing the McCain camp has not figured out is just where they are going to go from here without risking total alienation of the voters. If they've already shot their wad in August, what are they going to load up for October? People will tune out if they run the same tired themes. People will tune out if they run even more absurd themes. If they were smart, then they would have saved the best and most compelling material for the Fall. Of course, no one has ever accused McCain of being smart .....

[Pulemerci]

"The McCain camp knows that the only way they can win the election is to turn it into a carnival sideshow. If this is where they have taken the political discourse in early August, what have they got for us come October? "

Actually, McCain needs to inform the American public just how thin a resume the former "Community Orgaqnizer's" resume has. Once that is done, it will be a Reagan-like landslide for McCain.

[citizenx319]

Bravo. Someone besides Jon Stewart having an accurate 'take' on things is refreshing. I just bought a computer, it took this long because I live in "bushworld". (New euphemism going about town here meaning you either got laid off, went bankrupt, got evicted, etc. ad nauseum ... )

It is like witnessing a takeover of peapods in 'invasion of the body snatchers'. When I watch American news I feel like "oh my god, they're snatching everyone's minds, or what?" Its good to know, and I know now only because I do have a computer, that I'm truly not alone in my sentiment. It is like watching a 10 ring circus - or more rings than I can count actually - which is why I count on folks like you to keep a tally of it all -- it does just boggle the mind. I can feel ulcers form as I imagine what would continue if republicans took the election. As far as I'm concerned, the only thing certain is that nobody should relax, republicans have brilliant strategies and mucho bucks -- we're all running from the devil -- I hope I don't have to be further awed by the ignorance that the American public has shown twice this decade.