DADDY'S LITTLE GIRL
The timing worked out perfectly, that I am well into my third reading of Faith Of My Fathers, the story of the McCain family in Naval history, and of Senator McCain's military service and time as a Prisoner of War in Vietnam. It is also apt, that I am reading it to my 12 year-old son who is a history buff, in an effort to instill in him, some knowledge of the epic role this family played in our country's military and political history. It is perfect that now, stepping onto the world stage in true McCain fashion, with six-guns blazing and opinionated opinions flying, is 24 year-old Meghan McCain.
I've met Meghan a couple of times, There is no mistaking that electricity that she shares with her father, her father's mother for sure, and the elder McCains. Sure, she's a college kid in 2009, and some of the language, inflections and emotion reflect that. But it is somehow still refreshing to see one of the next generations of McCains sticking their toes in the water.
We have yet to see what the two McCain sons who are currently serving in the military will do with the rest of their lives, but there is no doubt that Meghan plans to be a political player. While she is being dismissed already in many corners as a "useful idiot" for liberalism I wouldn't be so quick to write her off. If nothing else, from a pure marketing standpoint, she has won a couple of checkered flags already.
It began recently with a couple of talk show appearances, founded on her already popular blog. And remember, for the armies of young college-types who swooned over Obama and even found the time to vote for him, there is an equally impressive army of young, politically-savvy voters growing on the other side of the frat-house aisle. Meghan had the temerity to question the usefulness of Ann Coulter, calling her bad for the party, and adding that "I find her offensive, radical, insulting and confusing all at the same time." Coulter, of course, fired back. Then, someone reminded Ann of when she had said that Jews should be "perfected" by conversion to Christianity, and calling Al Gore a "total fag". So, Coulter remains unrivaled when it comes to using provocative statements as fuel for a publicity fire.
Then, Laura Ingraham stepped into the sights, mocking Meghan on her popular talk-show, and calling her a "plus-sized model". Next thing you know, Meghan is on "The View", endearing herself to millions of American women who struggle with their weight, satirizing Ingraham and Coulter for their "ultra-thin, Hollywood" physiques, and then, suggesting that Ingraham "kiss my fat ass." What is that old saying again about the apple not falling far from the tree? After hearing that exchange, a smile grew on my face that took 20 minutes to subside. The good Senator from Arizona, must be wincing and beaming with pride, all at the same time. It can be a wicked thing, that Scottish temperament, coupled with a quick wit and tongue.
More important than the entertainment value of watching a new rider in the rodeo, is the message that Meghan is bringing to the table. It is one that I agree with, and have written about before in prior columns. The message that the party needs to resonate with a bigger crowd. That the extremists, and I consider Coulter pretty extreme, do more damage than good for the party. Republicans are still viewed as old rich guys, driving Lincolns and smoking cigars, running over poor people on their way to an all-white country club. I had written before how Senator McCain, to me, represented the very rebirth that the party was looking for. Holding to the core principals of Conservatism, fiscal responsibility, smaller government, but showing some pragmatism on social issues. Moreover, not just a willingness, but a real desire to think independently and be willing to shape policy on a case by case basis.
I have written before that Senator McCain, in 2000, was my first Republican vote, ever. He brought me, and others like me, across the aisle, simply because he made sense and was real. He grew the Republican party. I began to realize that as a young man, my ideals were, well...idealistic. As I looked at how the world worked, and how small my paycheck was when the government got through with it, the philosophy of smaller government made sense to me. Get out of the way. Let people work, think, invent and prosper. This is the message that needs to be brought forth, and people are listening now. It has taken this, to be at the brink of collapse, with an expansion of government that will leave you barely able to open your refrigerator door without finding a federal employee there taxing you and telling you what to eat, to get us to pay attention.
This is a good time for Meghan, and others like her, to step up for the next generation. The country is all ears, and that is not a pun aimed at our President. And I am grinning from ear to ear, imagining Grandfather, and Great Grandfather McCain, looking down upon their latest incarnation, letting out a good holler, and probably tossing one back.
Karl From New Hampshire