Everyone gives media bias too much credit. Really we are much smarter than that. I will agree that youth with inadequate parenting and too much media spells trouble but media bias isn't what made the long term party members determine that they can no longer tolerate each other. Media bias isn't what has drained the party of members to independent status. Finally media bias has not made the youth recruiting results a failure - it's the inflexible agenda that members not in total agreement have difficulty selling. What about the media voices of our party that harshly determine that you're not a real Republican if you do not see issues in their rigid way.
Main stream media doesn't manufacture material, they sense controversy and exploit, exploit, exploit.
But with that said I wouldn't want to be the target of exploitation so I thank your family for your efforts. John McCain 2008 will be the catalyst for a new party direction and there is hero in that.

from a screaming liberal who supported Hillary then Obama... just wanted to say, Ms. McCain sounds very positive and someone who has chosen to move on in constructive and giving ways...Brava.

Could never understand why Cindy always said "my husband" and would not use John's name when giving a speech.
Why be so mean when you spoke Cindy? More like a high school bully then a future first lady with all the nasty remarks.
Would have been better to talk about "your husbands" strong points.

I too, was a strong Hillary backer who transfered my allegiance to Obama after he won the nomination and I, too, am impressed with these insights into Mrs. McCain.
Nice job, Meghan of letting readers see what is going on behind those lovely clothes and that perfectly made-up face. Cindy sounds like a woman who would be nice to know.

"Did I ever embarrass you?" Great self-awareness in that question. I never thought you did anything to embarrass yourself in front of the public, but I can easily see how you can worry that you did so in front of your parents.

Great to read how normal you and your family seems to be.

I didn't read the NYT article, but I did read the one in the New Yorker, and I felt like I understood, respected, and sympathized a bit more with Cindy after reading it. On the other side of the aisle perhaps, and imperfect as we all are, but a strong woman nonetheless. Best of luck to you.

Media bias boils down to "the press wouldn't spin it my way." In other words, you failed to make the sale. Every time I hear whining about media bias, I am reminded of Ronald Reagan, who got the best press in the world, even though he was extremely conservative. He simply knew how to make the sale.

I think the media swings both ways and if you want an accurate picture you never rely on one source. Fanatics are just looking for more kool-aid, after all. Most people are reading multiple sources to get a balanced feed.

I will say that the body language differences between the McCains and the Obamas had a big impact on how I saw the candidates as people, and that for me it was something that rose above the clatter of the press.

Calling anything you do not like "media bias" is getting very old. I realize that the Republican party considers any report that is not Fox News glowing and approved by the party to be "media bias", but they need to understand that the days of assuming they have the media in their back pocket is over.
An unfettered media will dig into any story, find anything new they can. You and your husband used the media to tar Obama many times and did not think that was bias. They dutifully dug into his past associations and the like. The problem for you there was that this caused your lies to be exposed (except for Fox, which just repeated your assertions).
The New York Times article on Cindy covered a lot of ground that her carefully groomed image tries to hide - that is not bias. They did the same to Michelle after all. Cindy should be glad that she did not have the Fix attack dogs on her. They trashed Michelle many times (from calling her fist bump a terrorist fist bump to calling her fat to repeating claims that she gave speeches about "whitey").

Once you hauled out your 300K designer dress at the RNC, I realized you were not the my First Lady. Gosh, half of that would pay off my mortgage that I struggle to pay each month.

As a Citizen,
I've always wanted to say this.....All that stuff about the "Media".....It's bullshit. Just depends on what particular side of the fence you're on. You can find what you want to "find." Just ask Sarah (Pals around with Terrorists) Palin.....

As a Soldier,
I've deployed two times and have left friends on that Battlefield. Things I'll never forget. I respect it.....That said....I thought that the Right's hijacking of the War in General and The McCain's use of it when it was politically expedient was irresponsible.

As a Black Man,
Probably because of the two Reasons I listed above....the entire campaign just hurt a little bit. The Hypocrisy of it all. I can't feel bad for Cindy McCain right now. I just can't. She made out alright. Good luck to the McCain's going forward though.

I was a passionate Hillary supporter, and was very upset when Obama did not name her as VP. I wondered why until I watched Michele's face as Hillary spoke at the convention- she really hates HC, it was so easy to see.
Anyhow, I was going to switch to McCain- until he chose Palin- what a mistake that was. Cudos to Cindy McCain for the article, it is plain she is still holding back her true feelings, but I guess that is to be expected from a politician's wife.

Anyhow,. my question is, Why do so many people start non-profits? I mean, come on, do we really need hundreds of non-profits all doing the same thing? Why not combine into just a few- wouldn't that cut down on the famous "administrative costs?" I'm not wording this very clearly, but I don't think we need 50 different NP raising money for Breast Cancer research, for example.
Cindy's new NP sounds a lot like The United Way to me.

Dear Cindy, Meghan, and the rest of the McCain family - count yourself fortunate to have lost the election. While you have lost the opportunity to help millions, you have retained the ability to remain a normal, healthy family. I pity the Obama girls who will now spend the rest of their lives growing up under media scrutiny and secret service protection as targets for any idiot with an axe to grind - or insanely trying to impress Jodi Foster. When will the media begin calling them homely as they did Chelsea Clinton? When will comedians begin calling those two young girls the family dog as they did to Chelsea? How could any responsible, loving parent wish that for their children? It shows the Obamas value power over family. Count your blessings every day that your family is spared the abuse of growing up in the media spotlight.

I agree with several commenters here, blaming the media is a cop out. We're smart enough to search through the countless sources of information to get a balanced look. There are conservative leaning sources and liberal leaning sources. Michelle Obama was attacked just as much as Cindy McCain - perhaps more depending on your vantage point. In the end, character speaks louder than any media source.