McCain: No longer partying like it's 1999
Posted: Monday, August 04, 2008 9:06 AM by Domenico Montanaro
The Washington Post's Kurtz writes a C.W.-changing piece about press access to McCain. The campaign is not offering near the access to McCain as some might have thought. "In the old days, reporters would have had hours to chew over the latest controversy, and plenty of other subjects, with McCain. But for a campaign struggling to regain control of its message, the old days are definitely gone."
Kurtz also says that McCain “is having a bumpier ride with journalists than when he ran for president eight years ago. The popular image of the campaign -- McCain bantering with national journalists in the back of his bus -- has, in reality, all but vanished. The traveling press is now routinely stiffed in favor of five-minute sit-downs with local reporters.”
The AP looks at McCain's first run for office and notes how he used his Vietnam hero status to get elected.
Et tu, Paris? Paris Hilton's mother, Kathy, is not happy with McCain for including her daughter in his political ad. "It is 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," Kathy Hilton said in a short article posted on the liberal Huffington Post Web site. "And it is a completely frivolous way to choose the next president of the United States."
This from a woman who contributed, with her husband, $4,600 to McCain.
The New York Post: "Mama rips McC: Leave Paris alone!"
Speaking of celebrity... "If Barack Obama gave new meaning to the term 'political celebrity,' then John McCain helped define it," Politico writes. "He emerged as the most popular Republican in Hollywood following his 2000 presidential primary defeat, winning more screen time than the rest of Congress combined. McCain made cameos in 'Wedding Crashers' and '24,' saw his memoir turned into a popular biopic on A&E, and appeared more than 30 times on late night comedy shows."
McCain defended his "The One" ad, which mocks Obama as akin to Biblical Moses. "Asked about the ad, which was e-mailed to supporters, [McCain] told reporters in Florida, 'We were having some fun with supporters.'"
In the continued negativity, "A new Spanish-language web ad from Republican John McCain needles Democratic rival Barack Obama for ignoring Latin America on his foreign tour. ... 'And the Latinos?' appears on the screen. 'Did he perhaps forget about us?'"
Variety takes a look at McCain's Hollywood support. Check out the list of actors, they have similar personalities. They’re all tough guys, including Jon Voight and "McCain's industry support ranges from such actors as Kelsey Grammer, Tom Selleck, Gary Sinise and Robert Duvall, to execs like MGM's Harry Sloan and producer Jerry Bruckheimer. Clint Eastwood has attended a fund-raiser."
