Barack and Michelle Obama`s Love Story
HAMMER: Now, on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT, showbiz at the Democratic National Convention. Shocking new developments in the Madonna-McCain smack down. Tonight, both McCain and Barack Obama come out swinging against Madonna comparing John McCain to Adolf Hitler. But should they have just stayed out of it?</s>M. OBAMA: I probably did what a lot of people do when they hear about Barack Obama. First I thought, what kind of name is "Barack Obama?"</s>HAMMER: It`s a script right out of Hollywood. Tonight, an amazing look at how Barack Obama and his wife Michelle met and fell in love in their own words. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT continues right now.</s>HAMMER: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. It is 30 minutes past the hour. I`m A.J. Hammer, broadcasting tonight and every night from New York City.</s>ANDERSON: And I`m Brooke Anderson, coming to you tonight from Hollywood.</s>HAMMER: Well, tonight as the Democratic National Convention continues in Denver, Barack Obama has now been drawn into this nasty Hitler battle between Madonna and John McCain. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT has been telling you how Madonna kicked off her worldwide "Sticky and Sweet" tour in Wales by running a video montage during the concert that seemed to compare McCain with Adolf Hitler. And as McCain continues to hammer away at Obama`s celebrity status, what does McCain do on the very first night of the convention? Well, he goes on the biggest celebrity pit stop of all, "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT is in Denver at the convention. Joining us from Denver tonight, "Extra" correspondent Carlos Diaz. Here in New York tonight, the founder of the Britto agency, Marvet Britto. And in Hollywood, the founder of Fifteen Minutes Public Relations, Howard Bragman. And gang, we`ve got to begin with this whole Madonna controversy. The video that included McCain and Hitler was played during her song called "Get Stupid." Now, there are images that come up on the screen of global warming, destruction, even dictator Robert Mugabe, Adolf Hitler, and then John McCain. But she also played a video comparing Barack Obama to people like Gandhi and John Lennon and Al Gore. Carlos, we know Madonna has always done outrageous things throughout her career. But what do you think? Did this just cross the line?</s>CARLOS DIAZ, "EXTRA" CORRESPONDENT: It crossed the line in one respect because it was done not on U.S. soil. The concert was in Wales. So the same kind of thing with the Dixie Chicks a few years ago where they ripped on President Bush not in America. And it`s the same kind of thing here. You have Madonna over in the U.K. ripping on McCain, comparing him to Hitler, not in America. But it`s the kind of thing that we would expect from Madonna.</s>HAMMER: It is the kind of thing we`d expect from Madonna. But Marvet, I`m curious to get your take on this because even though, yes, it`s Madonna who always loves to push people`s buttons, is there a line? Is this a line that was, in fact, crossed by making this particular comparison? And maybe she should have thought a little harder about it.</s>MARVET BRITTO, FOUNDER, THE BRITTO AGENCY: Yes, A.J. I believe that artistic freedom should never be expressed at the expense of dragging someone`s character and integrity through the mud. And all the while, she`s making comparisons to people who committed hideous crimes. I mean, we do expect this from Madonna. We know that she`s known at 50 for reinventing herself and really going out and doing outlandish extreme things. But this, I think, is really over the top.</s>HAMMER: Well, as shocking as it was, I`ve got to tell you, the component of this that really blows me away is you would think that McCain and Obama would really have better things to do than respond to Madonna. Now, McCain had already come out and condemned what Madonna did. Now, Obama`s camp is even responding saying, quote, "These comparisons are outrageous and offensive and have no place in the political process." Howard, I need you to help me understand this. Why would Obama and McCain`s people even take the time to respond to this? Do you think they are genuinely afraid of Madonna`s influence?</s>HOWARD BRAGMAN, FOUNDER, FIFTEEN MINUTES PUBLIC RELATIONS: Here`s why. McCain`s people are spending a lot of time and money and effort trying to convince people that Barack Obama is a celebrity and that he`s vacuous and he`s shallow and that people like him for all the wrong reasons. And Barack Obama is spending a lot of time saying, "I`m serious. I don`t want to get embroiled in the celebrity thing. I want to talk about the issues." So that`s why John McCain is saying, "Here`s what Madonna did. It`s horrible." That`s why Barack Obama is saying it`s equally horrible. Finally, something they agree on, though. Isn`t that nice, A.J.?</s>HAMMER: Yes, I guess it was a little refreshing. You know, we take our silver linings where we can find them, Howard. Carlos, you`re there at the convention. You`ve been hobnobbing and schmoozing and hanging out with the people. Do you get any sense from the people you`ve spoken to that Madonna`s outrageous act is having any impact at all or buzz?</s>DIAZ: The only woman they`re talking about here on stage is Hillary Clinton tonight. She`s the big woman of conversation here. The Madonna issue happened, you know, a world away. It happened over the weekend. It`s kind of a dead issue now, and we`re kind of looking forward tonight to Hillary Clinton speaking.</s>HAMMER: Well, as Howard Bragman just reminded us, you know, we`ve seen John McCain continually slamming Obama`s star status, calling him the biggest celebrity in the world in this controversial ad that we all saw comparing Barack Obama to Paris Hilton and Britney Spears. I`ve got to show it again. Chris, would you roll that?</s>VOICE OVER: He`s the biggest celebrity in the world. But is he ready to lead?</s>HAMMER: OK, so there`s that comparison. What does John McCain do on the first night of the Democratic National Convention? Where does he show up? On the celebrity couch as a guest on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno. Hello, John McCain, Paris Hilton has been on that couch, and so has Britney Spears. Marvet, I don`t know about you but to me that makes McCain look hypocritical.</s>BRITTO: Absolutely. I mean, no pun intended, but it`s likely the pot calling the kettle black. He`s going on a show that most celebrities go on when they`re selling a movie or an album. I mean, it`s insane. And it`s the same time that he shows up at a school in Phoenix with Daddy Yankee of all people. It`s so contrived and he`s looking for an endorsement. Whereas, with Barack Obama, people are organically endorsing him because they believe in his principles and believe that he can lead this country.</s>HAMMER: Yes, but we are hearing the buzz or seeing evidence that perhaps this could go against Barack Obama having so many celebrities coming out behind him, which doesn`t make a lot of sense to me. But with all the celebrities showing up in Denver, we had to ask in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT question of the day on air and online, "Hollywood Invades Denver: Could it backfire on Obama?" I`ve got to say, I was a little surprised by this - 65 percent said yes, it could backfire. Thirty- five percent said no. Now, big stars are showing up. Scarlett Johansson, Sheryl Crowe, Hill Harper who I spoke with earlier in the program, all there in Denver. Carlos, you`re there in Denver. Do you get any sense that there is any concern on the convention floor that this could backfire on Obama having so many celebrities involved?</s>DIAZ: I don`t see how you can say that. I mean, if celebrities aren`t here, then "Extra" is not here. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT doesn`t cover it as much. I mean, the more celebrities, the more coverage you get in a bunch of different locations. What it boils down to is what are the celebrities are going to say once they get on the mike? Now, Jennifer Hudson singing the National Anthem - that will be a great moment. But when those celebrities get on the microphone and get in front of the camera, they have to mind their p`s and q`s and make sure that they keep their focus forward and say nothing but positive, intelligent things about Barack Obama.</s>HAMMER: And certainly be sure to be informed on the issues about which you speak because that`s where celebrities speaking politics can really be kind of an ugly mix sometimes. Howard, I`ve got to tell you, I think it`s ridiculous to suggest, as Kid Rock has done, that celebrities should not be getting involved in politics at all. They are citizens just like the rest of us. Don`t they just have a right to be there?</s>BRAGMAN: Absolutely. They have a right to be here. But we have to look at the reality and the reality is John McCain came out with these anti- celebrity ads, and they`re working. They`re cutting into Obama`s lead, and he`s going to continue to play that theme until it stops working for him. So I`m afraid we`re stuck with this for this election,</s>A.J. HAMMER: Well, I really would like to see people look at that for the ridiculousness of it all. I`m saying regardless of who you happen to support as a candidate, I just think it`s kind of nuts that is what is being talked about at such a high level. Carlos Diaz, Marvet Britto, Howard Bragman, I thank you for being with us tonight. And make sure you stay with SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. We`re at the Democratic National Convention all week long speaking with so many of the stars who are showing up. Wednesday night, you will not want to miss Fran Drescher. And on Thursday, I`ll be going one-on-one with the lovely actress Rosario Dawson.</s>ANDERSON: Hey, A.J., I`ve got to say the way Barack Obama met his wife Michelle and how they fell in love is truly a story that Hollywood could not have scripted any better.</s>HAMMER: You know, you`re right about that, Brooke. And tonight, we get to hear that story in their own words.</s>M. OBAMA: I probably did what a lot of people do when they hear about Barack Obama. First, I thought, "What kind of name is Barack Obama?"</s>HAMMER: This is just fascinating. Barack and Michelle opening up about how they met, very personal things about their relationship. That`s coming up next.</s>ANDERSON: And it definitely doesn`t feel like a year ago that Britney got out on that MTV VMA stage and totally mangled "Give Me More." It was so embarrassing. Is she going to give it another try at this year`s VMA? That`s new right now and that`s next. And a coincidence? Or is something else going on here? On the day Charlie Sheen reveals he`s about to be a father again, comes the shocking news that his ex`s, Denise Richards` TV show could be canceled, next.