Paris Hilton

I finally decided I need a way to voice my opinion about this whole Paris Hilton debacle. It's really spiraled out of control. Prior to Paris being sentenced to jail, I didn't really care for her. I wouldn't say I hated her but I did not care to follow her or idolize her either.

Since then, it's a whole new story. For some reason her jail sentence made me like her. It's weird I know. She commits a crime and has to go to jail and she becomes one of my new favorite celebs? I've been making the same argument to my fiance for weeks and I think he's sick of hearing it so I thought I'd tell it to someone else. When I'm through, you'll probably be sick of hearing it too (if you aren't already).

First of all, Paris Hilton's sentence was unfair. Yes, she drove drunk. If you can call .08 drunk - that's typically one drink in one hour. I can drink one drink and still be perfectly fine. Then she drove twice on a suspended license. She deserved to be punished. But 45 days in jail? Really? I know a guy who has been arrested 3 times for DWIs; the third time without a license and he spent TWO days in jail. I think his was a little worse. She should have either been put on probation, had to go to a class, done community service and maybe served ONE weekend in jail. Not 23 days. We have far worse criminals in our country that don't do anywhere near that amount of time. I believe the judge and other officials in California who backed it were just trying to make a name for themselves. And they did. Unfortunately for them that name is ASS. I think it's too funny that the city prosecutor weighed in on how Paris should have to do the time and shouldn't be released for electronic monitoring and his wife has commited the same crime TWICE and is still walking. We should start a campaign to lock her up. Maybe I will!

Bottom line- it was an unfair sentence yet Paris dealt with it. She served it. She didn't appeal. She buckled down and sent 23 days in solitary confinement. She's a much stronger woman than I will ever be. For that I have to give her props. And I'm sad to say it but I respect her now. I never though I would say I respect Paris Hilton but I do in this case.

Finally, let's get to the media coverage. I was a journalism major in college so I have studied the media in and out so you could say it's my expertise (although that might be going a little far). Paris Hilton is a huge story. Everyone claims not to like her but she's like a car accident - like it or not you're going to stop and watch. That's why she's been on every channel. She is news. Not the same kind of news as the war in Iraq but news nonetheless. Personally I would much rather here about Paris Hilton than the war in Iraq but that's a whole different blog post.

NBC's Today was willing to pay Paris Hilton $1 million for her first interview according to TMZ.com. Is it ethical for Today to pay for their interviews? No probably not but who can blame Paris for wanting to make a buck out of the whole ordeal? And quite frankly, I want to see it. But then Today got scared and backed off and dumb old Babwa said it was "beneath" her. Paris is beneath her? Rosie O'Donnell made that show nothing but a gossip rag and home of the cat fights. Finally Larry King Live decided to host her and I am glad. I can't wait to watch it tonight. It will be on CNN at 9 et.

Paris Hilton isn't the best person in the world. She may not be the smartest person the nicest person or the sanest person but regardless, she is a person. She's a person who deserves to be treated fairly by the judicial system and everyone else. Just because she's a celebrity doesn't mean she should get 4 or 5 times the normal sentence for a crime. That's just ludicrous!

Go Paris. I'm on your side for once.