We’ve all had a chuckle over Paris Hilton’s shot across the bow at John McCain’s use of her image in his campaign ad, myself included. But as I’ve thought about it, I think her video is more than just a ‘touche’ moment that should be relegated to the level of Jib-Jab election entertainment.
No, not the wearing the bathing suit part. The part that says, “I know how to promote myself, my brand and my message.”
She seized the moment not only to reinforce her current image that keeps her in the public eye, but also planted the seed that maybe she’s something more.
Well, maybe she’s not, but there’s still a lesson for political women in this Paris Hilton video — own your message and don’t let it be co-opted by others. Granted, a Paris Hilton political video isn’t the thing she’s going to hang her hat on for keeping herself in the spotlight. But she found an effective and humorous way to turn a negative portrayal of herself into a huge positive.
Now, I’m not suggesting that I want to see Hillary Clinton in a tankini debating the merits of Obama’s energy policy or that Nancy Pelosi should shoot a commercial sitting on a chaise by the pool and a tropical drink to talk about health care. But there is a valuable media lesson we can all learn from Paris.
Maybe I’ll send her a thank you note for the reminder!
August 8th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
What impressed me about the Paris Hilton ad wasn’t Paris. It was the humor with which the original ad was answered. I still think Paris Hilton is a vapid, self-absorbed bimbo, but at least she was willing to laugh at herself to make her point.
It just pisses me off that Paris Hilton and Britney Spears are even uttered in the same breath with political discourse. It’s too much of cognitive dissonance for me.
August 8th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
“of cognitive dissonance?” Good grief, I must stop typing on this keyboard, which sucks. Ignore that “of”, it must have sneaked out of the keyboard when I wasn’t looking.
August 8th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
She still uses stereotypical female things to get ahead. As long as we have to be half-naked and/or coy to get ahead, we are still not “there” yet.
August 8th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Oh dear, you always make my brain hurt one way or another [in the nicest possible way of course!]
Cheers
August 9th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
“Maybe I’ll send her a thank you note for the reminder!
That would be hot.