In August 2008, the New York Times editorial page described an official McCain ad as “racially tinged” because it included a photo of Obama juxtaposed with Paris Hilton and Britney Spears.

The message the campaign was sending: Obama, with little experience and media adulation, was much more sizzle than steak, a paparazzi-obsessed celebrity.

No matter: Ezra Klein said the McCain campaign was “running crypto-racist ads.” Bill Press called it “deliberately and deceptively racist.” John Marshall argued that “the McCain campaign is now pushing the caricature of Obama as a uppity young black man whose presumptuousness is displayed not only in taking on airs above his station but also in a taste for young white women.” Don Lemon accused the campaign of “creating a political environment that is inciting hate and hate speech.”