I was browsing the internets, when I came across a blog (samefacts) containing a most appropriate take on the Spears/Hilton ad against Obama.
Something about the Britney/Paris video has been nagging at the back of my mind, and I finally figured out what it was. Comparing Obama to them is wrong because they're fading stars and he's a rising star. The Britney/Paris analogue in the race is McCain: he, like they, got rather far on extremely limited talent and huge amounts of marketing, and is now desperately trying to cling to celebrity with more and more extreme antics that get him ink but offend and sadden his fans.
And that explains the raw hatred that McCain and his handlers display towards Obama: it's the hatred of the has-been (especially a has-been who never was much in the first place, a mere celebrity, like Britney rather than an actual star, like Madonna) for the person (especially the person of egregiously superior talent) she passes on the rising escalator as she herself takes the long, long ride down to well-deserved obscurity and mall openings.
Posted by Mark Kleiman
Since winning the nomination, Obama has been out getting his message to the people, unveiling his plans for America, meeting with foreign and domestic leader, getting council from a variety of advisors.
McCain, on the other hand, has been on the sideline like a jealous girl, mad because she's no longer the the most popular girl in town, despite putting out for years. McCain has spent years building goodwill with the media and now is intent on using it. That's why he's been so low with his attacks against Obama. He believes that no matter what he does or how wrong he is, the media will protect him and his "maverick" image so he can be as reckless as possible. So far he's been right.
Obama is running for President while McCain is running for Class Clown.
Which reminds of a poem I posted on the kos over the weekend: