McCain campaign should not have used Paris Hilton and Britney Spears in tv ad

August 6, 2008

The McCain for President campaign recently used photos of Paris Hilton and Britney Spears in a television ad, apparently with the intent of drawing an invidious comparison between Barack Obama and those celebrities. This ad was inappropriate for two reasons: (1) the ad gratuitously slurred two private American citizens who had previously not been involved in presidential mudslinging; and (2) neither Ms. Hilton nor Ms. Spears had volunteered to have their persona used in connection with the McCain campaign.

If my campaign were to use Ms. Hilton or Ms. Spears in any capacity, I would consider it essential that they first volunteer to help in my campaign.