New Paris Hilton TV Ad

No -- not the steamy Paris Hilton ad for the Carl's Jr. hamburger chain.  Taking a suggestion from Death by a Thousand Cuts: The Fight Over Taxing Inherited Wealth (Princeton University Press, 2005) by Michael J. Graetz (Yale) & Ian Shapiro (Yale) [blogged here], which suggested that opponents of estate tax repeal change the moniker from "Death Tax" to "Paris Hilton Tax Relief Act,"  United for a Fair Economy is running this TV ad in states of moderate Republican senators starring an ersatz Paris Hilton (named "London").  Sample line:  I know the government has lots of debt, and it has to cut benefits to our soldiers.  But they're used to making sacrifices.  I'm not."

The Wall Street Journal came to the defense of Paris (the actress, not the city):  "[N]o policy that penalizes the thrifty and busts up family businesses belongs in our tax code, whatever its effect on Paris Hilton." (Paris Hiltonomics; The Estate Tax Made Her What She Is Today)  For other commentary on the role of Paris Hilton in the estate tax repeal debate, see:

• The Atlantic:  Paris Hilton's Party; The Repeal of the Estate Tax and the Dawn of the United States of Aristocracy
• Blue Oregon:  Paris Hilton & the U.S. Senator
• Cincinnati Post:  Death Tax Debate Vitriolic
• Forbes: Estate of Confusion
• The Left Coaster:  Making the World Safe for Paris Hilton
• Mother Jones: Blame Paris Hilton!
• USA Today:  Opposing Groups Ready for Estate Tax Fight
• Washington Post:  The Paris Hilton Tax Cut
• Washington Times:  A Stake in the Heart of a Hated Tax
• Znet:  Paul Allen's Other Yacht