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Hilton’s May Pull McCain Donations, Paris Can Sue McCain
Hollywood Today ^ | August 5th, 2008 | Jeffrey Jolson

Posted on 08/05/2008 12:18:51 PM PDT by Red Steel

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Hollywood Today) 8/5/08 — There has been a major backfire with presidential candidate John McCain’s TV ads comparing Barack Obama’s rock-star status and intelligence to celebrities Paris Hilton and Britney Spears.

Not only has the highly- influentional Hilton family struck back, who once donated to McCain’s campaign, about the affront to their offspring, fans across the nation are riled by the commercials offending their women, no matter how controversial they may be.

Moreover, Paris can sue McCain in many states who have “right of publicity laws.” Simply stated, you cannot use a person’ image to sell anything without their approval and likely a large check. Try using Michael Jordan’s face in your TV ad without permission and see how many lawyers call by 9 a.m..

The question will be is selling votes a sale? Political speech, like HT has First Amendment rights to run a public figure, yet TV ads may be an exception – yet this may be a question for the Supreme Court. Obama may wish to run a Bruce Springsteen song or face on his ads, but he can’t without permission.

A spokesman for Paris Hilton complained that “Miss Hilton was not asked, nor did she give permission for the use of her likeness in the ad.”

Paris may be blonde, but like Madonna, is anything but dumb. She has multiple corporations, a fashion line, makes her TV appearances and board meetings on time and has kept out of trouble. She is still young and rich, so subject to any rock star-like messes – but she can be cool as any CEO.

Similar with Britney, who is worth as much many women in business. Yet McCain played them as bimbos and compared them to Obama as one. McCain on Friday denied that his campaign had taken a negative turn, saying, “We think it’s got a lot of humor in it, we’re having fun and enjoying it.”

Paris Hilton’s mother doesn’t share McCain’s frivolity. On Sunday, Hilton’s mother, Kathy Hilton, a McCain donor, registered her disapproval, calling the ad “a complete waste of the money John McCain’s contributors have donated to his campaign.”

Kathy Hilton and her husband donated a total of $4,600 to McCain’s campaign earlier this year.


TOPICS: Extended News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2008; airhead; apostropheabuse; celebrity; ditzybroad; donors; electionads; firstamendment; hilton; hollywood; intellectualproperty; judiciary; mccain; obama; parishilton; poorpoorrinos; scotus
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To: Red Steel

"Paris, LEAVE JOHN ALONE!"

61 posted on 08/05/2008 1:00:21 PM PDT by Rebelbase (Black dogs and bacon bombs.)
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To: HIDEK6

Well, in that case... it’s time to hit the beach! lol


62 posted on 08/05/2008 1:06:19 PM PDT by Alia
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To: Red Steel

Well, it proves McCain is no gentleman.


63 posted on 08/05/2008 1:06:50 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: Red Steel

Being compared with Obama has ruined their reputations.


64 posted on 08/05/2008 1:07:47 PM PDT by Doctor Raoul (Fire the CIA and hire the Free Clinic, someone who knows how to stop leaks.)
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To: All

I think everyone is missing the point on this: If McCain is so conservative....why did he take $$$ from the Hilton’s in the first place? Of course, not brillant to them turn around and criticize their daughter (no matter how floozy she is)

What liberals will do to justify voting for McCain...


65 posted on 08/05/2008 1:08:41 PM PDT by UCFRoadWarrior (McBama....Over 300 Million Screwed)
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To: Citizen Blade

I wouldn’t want to be the attorney filing her law suit.


66 posted on 08/05/2008 1:10:02 PM PDT by nikos1121 (The first black president of the US should be at least a "Jackie Robinson.")
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To: Fred

“Paris may be blonde, but like Madonna, is anything but dumb. She has multiple corporations, a fashion line, makes her TV appearances and board meetings on time and has kept out of trouble.”

I have always liked Paris. She should look on the bright side as she hasn’t got much publicity lately and this is huge.

I think it’s a compliment for her to be the subliminal image of miscengeneration. However, Obama would never be confused with Mandingo.


67 posted on 08/05/2008 1:10:53 PM PDT by y6162
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To: nikos1121

No they aren’t. A “public figure” such as a politician is not the same as a celebrity who likeness is their income.
You can use “public figures” likenesses, not celebrities.

However McCain simply compared Obama’s celebrity status to that of Paris & Britney in a political ad, so I think they’ll lose that case.


68 posted on 08/05/2008 1:12:50 PM PDT by visualops (artlife.us -nature photography desktop wallpapers)
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To: Red Steel
"Not only has the highly- influentional (sic) Hilton family struck back, who once donated to McCain’s campaign, about the affront to their offspring"

LOL
69 posted on 08/05/2008 1:13:48 PM PDT by indcons (People everywhere confuse what they read in newspapers with news. - A. J. Liebling)
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To: longtermmemmory
actually political speech is a fair use issue, also she is a public figure because she has assummed the role of public figure.

That's what I figured...McCain has not "profited" and she has no standing as there has not been any "harm".

70 posted on 08/05/2008 1:14:24 PM PDT by Wyatt's Torch (I can explain it to you. I can't understand it for you.)
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To: DJ MacWoW

I’m offended by your very question! The NERVE of some Freepers!

LOL


71 posted on 08/05/2008 1:14:33 PM PDT by Constitution Day (This tagline is a Designated Whine-Free Zone)
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To: Red Steel
Paris has lead a very public life and has made a lot of money acting like a dumb blond and saying things like “that's hot” in response to almost anything said to her......need I mention her sex tape?

So living the life she has what does mom expect? Paris will be the subject of the late night talk show jokes, gossip columns and even a political ad.....

72 posted on 08/05/2008 1:16:11 PM PDT by Kimmers (Liberalism: Where fun goes to die)
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To: Red Steel
Obama's celebrity-hood was first compared to Paris Hilton by.......none other than Barack Obama himself in 2005.

It's on Michelle Malkin's blog.

73 posted on 08/05/2008 1:17:01 PM PDT by cookcounty (Obama, the last man to figure out the Surge ---Except for Nevada's Hopeless Harry)
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To: Citizen Blade

actually no it would not because they are not being used to endorse mccain.

They are being held up in accord with their pubic personas of celebrity bimbo.

Hilton and spears as examples of public bimbos to go with Obama as a public bimbo.

fair use.


74 posted on 08/05/2008 1:17:03 PM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: Red Steel

Hilton is a celebrity in the news constantly. As such, absent demonstrable malice and injury, she has little recourse to libel and slander laws.

I don’t see how anyone could construe the ad as McCain ‘selling’ (in the normal definition of gaining material compensation) something using by using her image.

If she wants her money back, McCain should cut her a check immediately with thanks for the extra publicity.


75 posted on 08/05/2008 1:20:41 PM PDT by wildbill
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To: Citizen Blade
"And you couldn't use his name and face as part of a political ad, either, without his permission."

It's parody, in case you didn't notice, and that allows for a LOT.

The ad in no way suggests that Paris Hilton endorses John McCain.

76 posted on 08/05/2008 1:21:27 PM PDT by cookcounty (Obama, the last man to figure out the Surge ---Except for Nevada's Hopeless Harry)
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To: Constitution Day
I’m offended by your very question! The NERVE of some Freepers!

Hee Hee Hee

To begin with, I'm not even certain why they're offended. I don't get it. I know who Paris Hilton is because of a sex tape and crying when she had to go to jail like everyone else. And her mommy is offended?

77 posted on 08/05/2008 1:21:31 PM PDT by DJ MacWoW ("Make yourself sheep, and the wolves will eat you" Benjamin Franklin)
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To: GOPJ
Paris's got those "Hilton" genes - she's probably one smart cookie under all that air head persona.

BHO is smart in the same way in getting the media to magnify his persona.
78 posted on 08/05/2008 1:22:48 PM PDT by kenavi ("My mudder thanks you, my fodder thanks you, and Obama thanks you!")
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To: Alia

Surf’s up, dude!


79 posted on 08/05/2008 1:25:36 PM PDT by HIDEK6
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To: visualops

I’d say safely that Hilton and Britney are public figures. I don’t see People’s magazine or ET or the other outlets getting sued for posting their photos. In fact the Paparazzi do pretty well.


80 posted on 08/05/2008 1:27:11 PM PDT by nikos1121 (The first black president of the US should be at least a "Jackie Robinson.")
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