Madonna launched one of the most outrageous hate campaigns in recent memory losing whatever minimal credibility she had as a public voice. While much of her success plays off of cheap sexually oriented stunts geared toward naive youth, she has now resorted to pitching her malice and resentment towards young Americans that may falsely idolize her and buy her slanderous attacks to sway them politically.

An attempt to equate John McCain as a Nazi only speaks to an obvious mental illness in a person that in unfortunately still in the public eye.

The campaign of John McCain went head-to-head with Madonna today after the 50-year-old pop diva appeared to compare the Republican candidate to Hitler and Robert Mugabe.

Madonna, who kicked off her “Sticky and Sweet” world tour at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff yesterday, made the swipe during a performance of Get Stupid, when Mr McCain’s image was flashed up alongside images of the Führer and Zimbabwean dictator, as well as destruction and global warming.

In a none-too-subtle contrast, Barack Obama was bracketed in a subsequent sequence alongside Mahatma Gandhi, John Lennon and Al Gore.

A McCain campaign spokesman, Tucker Bounds, condemned the segment. “The comparisons are outrageous, unacceptable and crudely divisive all at the same time,” Mr Bounds said.

“It clearly shows that when it comes to supporting Barack Obama, his fellow worldwide celebrities refuse to consider any smear or attack off limits."

The McCain campaign has recently been keen to portray Mr Obama as a celebrity, underpinning what it says is his lack of depth and experience.

In one McCain attack advert, the Democratic candidate is juxtaposed with Britney Spears and Paris Hilton. The latter was quick to make a spoof ad of her own, lampooning Mr McCain as an old man.

Madonna is no stranger to controversy on tour. In 2006 she staged a mock crucifixion only a few miles from the Vatican during the "Confessions" tour.

The Madonna tour is her first since striking a deal with the concert promoter Live Nation Inc, which is worth an estimated $120 million over 10 years. The partnership gives Live Nation a stake of future music and music-related business she generates, including touring, merchandising and albums.