Obama tries to slap celeb label on McCain

HONOLULU -- "Flip-flopper" is so 2004.

Then, Republicans charged that Democratic nominee John Kerry was a flip-flopper on a number of issues. This year's presidential campaign has brought similar charges and counter-charges between the Republican and Democratic camps.

But the harshest cut-down in politics these days apparently is "celebrity" and in a television ad out Monday, Democrat Barack Obama is trying to pin the label on GOP presidential rival John McCain.

Celebrities are widely known and often loved by their fans, defined as being a "celebrated person." So what's so wrong with that when you're trying to win a nationwide election?

McCain first used the word in a series of ads that compared Obama to lightweight celebrities like Paris Hilton or Britney Spears. A nice exterior without much substance underneath, the ad implied, not the kind of person you want to entrust your country to.

Hilton's mom called it "frivolous" and a waste of money, but Obama adviser Tom Daschle, the former Democratic Senate majority leader, says the celebrity ads have contributed to a dip in Obama's poll numbers.

In Obama's response, titled "Embrace" and released while he's on vacation in Hawaii, his campaign tries to use the word to paint McCain as the consummate political insider.

"For decades, he's been Washington's biggest celebrity," the announcer says, cutting to a "Saturday Night Live" introduction of the Arizona Republican during an appearance on the show.

The ad then shows footage of McCain hugging President Bush.

"As Washington embraced him, John McCain hugged right back," the spot says before showing footage of McCain with lobbyists, aides and Bush and on "Saturday Night Live." ''The lobbyists -- running his low road campaign. The money -- billions in tax breaks for oil and drug companies, but almost nothing for families like yours. Lurching to the right, then the left, the old Washington dance, whatever it takes. John McCain. A Washington celebrity playing the same old Washington games."