Blogs and Stories
Why'd You Ditch My Dad?
In a Daily Beast video debate, Meghan McCain confronts her father’s former adviser Mark McKinnon about why he abandoned the McCain campaign when Obama won the primary. Plus, their conversation about why Obama will eventually be “uncool,” why it’s strange to be a 24-year-old Republican—and how the McCain family really felt on inauguration day.
Part I. Did Mark McKinnon have a problem with John McCain? Not really—but he tells Meghan he did have a problem with the idea of attacking Obama’s “historic candidacy.”
Part 2. Is the Republican Party dead? Meghan on why it’s strange to be a 24-year-old Republican—and Mark on why supporting Obama will soon be “uncool.”
Part 3. So how did it feel to be member of the McCain family on inauguration day? Meghan says she couldn’t bring herself to watch the whole ceremony—but shares what she thought of Michelle’s dress.
Part 4. Mark McKinnon on why Bush is so incredibly misunderstood—and why even Obama liked him once he actually spent time with him at the White House.
RELATED: Read a transcript of this video debate (Why'd You Ditch My Dad)
RELATED: Meghan McCain interviews her mom Cindy about the campaign and what she can only talk about now.
Meghan McCain is originally from Phoenix, Arizona. She graduated from Columbia University in 2007. She previously wrote for Newsweek magazine and created the website mccainblogette.com.
As vice chairman of Public Strategies and president of Maverick Media, Mark McKinnon has helped meet strategic challenges for candidates, causes, and individuals, including George W. Bush, John McCain, Governor Ann Richards, Charlie Wilson, Lance Armstrong, and Bono. McKinnon is co-chair of Arts & Labs, a collaboration between technology and creative communities that have embraced today’s rich internet environment to deliver innovative and creative digital products to consumers.
How Rich People Smoke Pot
Paul Schrodt is a writer living in New York City. He has contributed to New York magazine, Radar, and Esquire.com.
Justice Clinton?
As vice chairman of Public Strategies and president of Maverick Media, Mark McKinnon has helped meet strategic challenges for candidates, corporations and causes, including George W. Bush, John McCain, Governor Ann Richards, Charlie Wilson, Lance Armstrong, and Bono. McKinnon is co-chair of Arts & Labs, a collaboration between technology and creative communities that have embraced today's rich Internet environment to deliver innovative and creative digital products to consumers.
Politicians Need Privacy, Too
Meghan McCain is a columnist for The Daily Beast. Originally from Phoenix, she graduated from Columbia University in 2007. She is a New York Times bestselling children's author, previously wrote for Newsweek magazine, and created the Web site mccainblogette.com.
Yes, I'm a Pure Republican
Meghan McCain is a columnist for The Daily Beast. Originally from Phoenix, she graduated from Columbia University in 2007. She is a New York Times bestselling children's author, previously wrote for Newsweek magazine, and created the Web site mccainblogette.com.
America's Boob Police
Meghan McCain is a columnist for The Daily Beast. Originally from Phoenix, she graduated from Columbia University in 2007. She is a New York Times bestselling children's author, previously wrote for Newsweek magazine, and created the Web site mccainblogette.com.
Justice Clinton?
As vice chairman of Public Strategies and president of Maverick Media, Mark McKinnon has helped meet strategic challenges for candidates, corporations and causes, including George W. Bush, John McCain, Governor Ann Richards, Charlie Wilson, Lance Armstrong, and Bono. McKinnon is co-chair of Arts & Labs, a collaboration between technology and creative communities that have embraced today's rich Internet environment to deliver innovative and creative digital products to consumers.
Myra Adams is a media producer, writer and political observer. Her media clients have included national associations, political interest groups and corporations. She was on the creative team with Mark McKinnon that created the now infamous John Kerry "Windsurfing" ad for the Bush 2004 presidential campaign and served on the McCain Ad Council during the 2008 McCain campaign. Myra's web site www.TheJesusStore.com contributes all profits to Christian charity.
Grill Him Again!
As vice chairman of Public Strategies and president of Maverick Media, Mark McKinnon has helped meet strategic challenges for candidates, corporations and causes, including George W. Bush, John McCain, Governor Ann Richards, Charlie Wilson, Lance Armstrong, and Bono. McKinnon is co-chair of Arts & Labs, a collaboration between technology and creative communities that have embraced today's rich Internet environment to deliver innovative and creative digital products to consumers.
Not a Game-Changer
As vice chairman of Public Strategies and president of Maverick Media, Mark McKinnon has helped meet strategic challenges for candidates, corporations and causes, including George W. Bush, John McCain, Governor Ann Richards, Charlie Wilson, Lance Armstrong, and Bono. McKinnon is co-chair of Arts & Labs, a collaboration between technology and creative communities that have embraced today's rich Internet environment to deliver innovative and creative digital products to consumers.
DntBeStupid
Distilling young American's views of Obama into "anti-establishment" leaves little wonder to why the republican party is so out of touch with the world
Spasticula
Meghan, what would you be doing if you didn't have the medai access to wash your family's laundry in public? Noone cares honey... This is played out. Go get a real job.
cook1974
The Paris Hilton of politics?? I've already had my fill, so please stop.
ciantgock
It's so frustrating to hear people talk about how we just don't understand what a fun loving great guy, the ex Rascal-in-Chief is. Some of you political types can't get passed the fact that governing the United States of America is more than just watching the political horse race. No matter how charismatic someone is, it is more important to Americans how well they can manage the country, not how fun loving the guy is. I hope its a great consolation to Americans who have lost thousands of their families in a war that we were lied into, not to mention a gutted SEC and FDA that don't even have the power to protect Americans anymore, that George W. Bush is really a fun guy to have a beer with. I wish some of you political campaign work horses could see how condescending it is to be told that we should look passed the reality and just be happy to be contented with this neat little narrative that you build up for your candidates.
BernieO
Now I understand! Republicans are unpopular because after 8 years they are the establishment. Here I thought it was because there policies have run our country into a ditch. Silly me.
As for Bush being a nice guy, it is time people woke up and realized that narcissists can be very charming - as long as you don't cross them. Let's not forget it was Mr, Christian, nice-guy Bush who mocked Karla Faye Tucker before her execution, shocking the less-than-compassionate Tucker Carlson. I'm sure Cheney can be charming too. Heck, OJ Simpson was a very charming guy in public. Being nice when it suits you is no sign that you are truly a nice person. In fact the most dangerous people are the ones who can turn on the charm but are also capable of being cruel and ruthless for personal gain.
perkins
An airhead and a hack.
Uncompelling as hell.
Dreamer4Ever
Meghan and Mark are incredibly shortsighted about the Republican's problems among younger voters. Republican problems among the youth go much deeper then just anti-establishment rebellious attitudes. Like it or not, Bush is the face of Republicanism for people of my (and Meghan's) generation: uninformed, incompetent, cruel, reckless, hypocritical and corrupt. It was especially on display in this election cycle, when Republicans banked it's hopes on appeals to our basest fears: xenophobia, racial anxiety, guilt-by-association...
There's also social issues like gay marriage (80% of California voters under 25 voted against Prop 8), global warming, environmental protection and even smaller things like legalizing weed and normalizing relations with Cuba. Republican Dogma, as symbolized by Bush, left the country so devastated that for a while it really looked like our future as a superpower was in doubt. Republicans who tortured, wiretapped, and expended Habeus Corpus all while preaching high moral righteousness and rejecting thoughtful doubt seemed to be the driving force behind the government's biggest mistakes, and the sad state of America has become proof, to their minds, of the destructive power of the conservative Republican ideology Bush and his administration championed.
Republicans need to figure out how to break that spell. I wish them luck.
The difference between Liberals and Conservatives (at least to me) is that Liberals believe in Social Responsibility, where we all have to stand up for the least fortunate among us and lend a hand, whereas Conservatives believe in Personal Responsibility, where if you ARE among the least fortunate, you have no one to blame but yourself and asking for aid would be demeaning both to you and to society at large. Liberalism appeals to bleeding hearts who want to help the needy and save the world. That, as well as relaxed social attitudes towards thinks like gay rights, appeals to the young hungry to live contented, noble, full-filling lives.
Assuming that Obama's support among the young is in any way associated with the word "cool" is an insult to the intelligence of young people. Yes Obama IS cool, but that's because SMART is now cool, because then the alternative reigns, the result looks like the death of America.
TavernWench
So Meghan watched the Inauguration just so she could see what Michelle was wearing??
And they wonder why they lost to Obama so badly? Amazingly disconnected. I mean, WOW.
Mary50
not wanting to attack Obama's "historic candidacy" is exactly why Obama, who was more under-qualified than any candidate in history, won. and that is why his win was so lame. and it's funny that no one had a problem attacking Hillary Clinton's historic candidacy. oops, I forgot, black male empowerment is a more "noble" cause, since they're still suffering from so much rape, slavery, and abuse today, whoops, wait, no that's the other oppressed group. I mean because they're suffering from so much irresponsibility, whoops, darnit, no what I mean is they're suffering from so much "institutionalized racism" today.
Mary50
P.S. All the Repubs need to do is drop the abortion and gay marriage ban rhetoric and they'll collect many more supporters than they realize.
xbainx
You know who is really uncool? Meghan McCain. And all Republicans. It ain't a fad sweetheart.
Mary50
Also, Obama voted in favor of of more of Bush's policies than Clinton and many other democratic candidates did, for example, so don't let liberals tell you that he's some sort of anti-Bush savior. It's all a big, ridiculous joke.
scottiex2
Why is Megan McCain working for The Daily Beast?
Is this considered a 'contribution'?
southernyankee
Meghan should support her father. I respect her for that. The republican party should don't seem to get it. We want change and inclusion for everyone. Bush may be a fine man in private life but he should have never been picked for the presidency. The republican party knew he had an acohol problem and still was drinking which effected his thinking. The republican party put the wealthy and business ahead of the middle class. They have the religious right taking over their party and most of the country won't stand for this. The republicans need to bring back their moderate republicans.
statusquomustgo
Seriously... who the bloody hell cares
Thank you.
As a first time user, your comment has been submitted for review. It can take anywhere from a few hours to a day or two for your comment to be reviewed, depending on the time of week and the volume of comments we receive.