McCain Gets (More) Britney Traction

As Britney would say, "oops, they've done it again."

On a McCain campaign press call today with campaign manager Rick Davis and adviser Steve Schmidt national political reporters skipped the issues and fell straight into the politics. The call was meant to introduce McCain's new television ad, "Celeb." It was the first time in more than a month that three major outlets asked questions during a McCain conference call. This was also the first one in weeks to focus on pure politics, the main topic under discussion being whether Barack Obama is merely a global celebrity or a genuine leader who is ready to be president.

CNN's Dana Bash asked perhaps the most relevant question of the three:

For example...when he went with Sarkozy, Sarkozy basically said, you know, "We look forward to you becoming the president," and as you mentioned, John McCain met with Sarkozy as well. So how do you square that with this idea that [Obama's] just sort of going and almost like he's releasing a movie?

NBC News' Kelly O'Donnell asked:

Can you tell us what polling, focus group work, research you've done on the issue of celebrity, presumptuousness, audacity and those kind of words and what it is that's leading you to believe that that has some traction as you put this messaging together?

ABC News' David Wright:

Why these particular celebrities for comparison, Paris Hilton and Britney Spears?

The new ad touches on energy prices and Obama's opposition to offshore drilling. AOL News' Tommy Christopher did ask about that part of the ad.

CNN, NBC, ABC? They chose not to question the campaign on the validity of the claims they were making about Obama's views on energy prices or whether McCain's position provides for a reliable energy future, but rather on focus groups and polling data and how Senator Obama compares to Paris Hilton and Britney Spears. So, even if you don't know how John McCain will help us break our addiction to fossil fuels, you'll maybe learn why Britney Spears this week has moved to the center of presidential campaign politics.

Comments

[hchriste]

This is a Karl Rove backhanded racist attack ad. Two blond ladies of questionable moral values and a black man. That is the real message of the ad and the news media is too timid to point it out. A man that endorses thes tatics should never be president and if elected we deserve another term of Bush.

[BannedFromCommenting]

To Kill a MockingBird?? Running that ol' theme of racism?

[kdublya]

Really?

I could tell right away the Director was heavily influenced by Kurosawa's "Yojimbo"

[seerickson]

I thought Kelly O'Donnell's did you research the "traction" question was one of those implied wow you are a dummy questions that I totally wouldn't have expected from her from her careful non offensive presentations on msnbc

[AnnieinOR]

Mc Cane should research his choices of celebrity prior to running his ads - Brit is a repub and the Hiltons have contributed to his campaign to the tune of $$$4600$$$ for this general election... gee, shooting himself in the foot.

[booksnmore4you]

>CNN, NBC, ABC? They chose not to [focus on] focus groups and polling data
>and how Senator Obama compares to Paris Hilton and Britney Spears.

As my 12-year old says, mocking the news media, "40,000 died today of starvation, 38-million remain without any health care, and an earthquake killed15,000. And the world wants to know: how will this affect Paris Hilton?!"

[Pupadup4oBama]

You have raised your child well.

[susanb2010]

I seriously fear for our country... that this could be the focus of anything is so surreal. I'm waiting for Rod Serling to come out of the shadows any minute. (for those under 50, Serling was the creator of the Twilight Zone)

[ErnestineBass]

There will never be another Serling...sigh.

[andhakari]

... but there will always be a "low-information voter" base. That's something the Republicans can count on. Why do you think they're so supportive of home-schooling?

[Jezreel]

I too am fearful for our country. My concern is that too many low-information voters may be influenced by these baseless and ridiculous ads and vote against their own interests. I am also hopeful. Although CNN, NBC and ABC failed to ask policy related questions they did at least begin to question the validity of the McCain talking points. This is a starting point. Maybe as time goes on, they'll begin to seriously question the McCain camp and McCain himself about the issues that really matter to American voters

[BannedFromCommenting]

(I knew the that and I am 40..... with SciFi running Twilight Zone a lot, some younger than us know who Serling is too!)