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The teenage daughters of Spain’s prime minister were ridiculed for dressing “Goth” with the Obamas. Meghan McCain on the perils of being a politician’s kid.
Over the weekend I was emailed and tweeted an image of the prime minister of Spain, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, and his family standing with President and Michelle Obama at the United Nations. The photo was uploaded onto the White House Flickr account but soon taken down because apparently the young girls are not seen or photographed in their country, so as to protect their privacy.
No one knows better than me that being the child of a politician is not a gig you choose but are born into.
When I first saw the picture, I didn’t understand what everyone was referencing but soon realized the prime minister’s daughters, Laura and Alba, were dressed in “Goth” attire, complete with black combat boots and kohl eyeliner. There has been somewhat of a fury on the Internet chastising these two girls—by the way, ages 13 and 16—for their attire. I want to start out by saying I can’t believe there is a country that exists where the media protects children of public figures, let alone the prime minister’s daughters. It is literally hard for me to fathom that there is a place that respects the privacy of underage children of politicians and diplomats. The second part of this that makes me very sad is that these two girls are enduring a sort of baptism by fire with the media scrutiny that surrounds their family portrait with the Obamas. Not only are they not used to being photographed, but their first foray into being photographed and criticized is on a very public scale with the most famous and powerful politicians in the entire world.
• Gallery: First Lady Face-offLet me bring you back to what I was like around these girls’ ages. The Spice Girls were the hottest band out there, and as a 13- to 14-year-old I used to dress up like Baby Spice, complete with the pigtails and wedge boots. I am sure had I had my picture taken with the president and first lady at the time, I would have had some kind of Spice Girl scrutiny for the way I looked. But I was a young adolescent, and I didn’t know better. Which brings me back around to these young girls, lest I remind everyone that Twilight and vampires are huge right now, especially for teenagers. Anyone that has been to a local mall would know that the Goth-inspired chain store Hot Topic is also wildly popular—my own little sister wanted her birthday present from that store this year. Now, I don’t know why the prime minister's daughters chose to express themselves through Goth attire and quite frankly I don’t care. They are teenagers expressing themselves, and clearly the prime minister and his wife had no problem with them dressing in their Goth attire to meet the president. So why should we?
When the pictures came out, they were printed in numerous magazines and newspapers, not including the fury in which the portrait was traded and posted online. However, what I find fascinating is that the prime minister was able to persuade the Spanish-owned news agency Zapatero from distributing the portrait—the daughters are actually protected by a Spanish law. I find it difficult to believe any picture of President Obama and his family in any context would not be distributed across the Internet and on newswires—no matter what the picture was. Our media doesn’t have the same boundaries with families, and unfortunately it is just the way it is. My heart really goes out to Laura and Alba—they are two very young adolescents who were brought to a United Nations summit in a foreign country and their physical appearance and clothing choices have been ripped apart and ridiculed by our country’s media. Really, what kind of reception is this for a foreign diplomat and his family? There are inevitably complications for the prime minister and his family that will come of this portrait but I can only hope that maybe the media can learn from this and be more respectful in the future of not only children of foreign diplomats but our own first family and other families of politicians as well. No one knows better than me that being the child of a politician is not a gig you choose but are born into. How about giving these kids a break as they grow up in the spotlight?
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.
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Chaos at Tiger Inc.
Gerald Posner is The Daily Beast's Chief Investigative Reporter. He's the award-winning author of 10 investigative nonfiction bestsellers, ranging from political assassinations, to Nazi war criminals, to 9/11, to terrorism. His latest book, Miami Babylon: Crime, Wealth and Power—A Dispatch from the Beach, was published in October. He lives in Miami Beach with his wife, the author Trisha Posner.
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Janice Min is the former editor in chief of Us Weekly.
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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.
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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.
Do Sex Tapes Matter?
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.
These Megs McCain columns just keep getting funnier and funnier, but good God Almighty, is there no one in her life who's willing to tell her that she's mentally ill?
So asking people to quit railing on the young teenage daughters of a foreign diplomat just because they dared to dress in black while being photographed with the President is a mental illness now?
Well my eyes are opened, clearly the psychological community has much to learn from you, carolinem.
Actually, no they don't
Carolinem has a point that the posts are getting funnier. While not a sign of mental illness, it's certainly not a good sign that she'd write this article and accompany it with a copy of the photo in question. Yeah, the faces are blurred, but that's not the point. People were talking about their attire, not just their make-up. A face is blurred to hide identity---the identities of the girls in the photograph are already known. I know Ms McCain thought she was being diligent enough by blurring their faces; really she should have left the photo off --- it defeats her argument.
Wouldn't Fashion Beast be a better place for this vapid drek?
This article is about a Media disease - it used to be called Yellow - journalism because only the cheapest rags would publish stories like the ones castigating daughters of diplomats over their attire. This article is about the regression of our (US) media in recent years delivering less news and more sensationalism/hyperbole. This trend to sink into the muck doesn't really serve us well and should be exposed as the waste of time and resources it is.
Vapid drek. Awesome. Perfect way to describe it.
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The Press is like a large animal it only does what it knows..take pictures and write... It is the responsability of the Prime Minister or his wife to think not to allow his daughters into the public view while visiting with President Obama. If he wanted the President to meet his children, it could have been done in private before comming out to meet the press and public!
It's cultural ignorance to not notice the fact the whole family is wearing black.. I am willing to bet that there are very few people reading this that haven't seen a Catholic woman who always wears black and goes to church on Wednesdays.....so why not say "the Prime Minister and his wife were dressed GOTHIC to meet President Obama and as usual the First Lady wore another original by her favorite designer ".Tasteless Wonder" a blind charity she donates thousands of dollars to every month!....
The Prime Minister represents his country as well as his family, how could anyone expect them not to wear what is proper for them? Just wondering how anyone can see teens much less "Kohl" eyeliner in a pic like this!
If your job is to report about the political social scene then make sure your up on your cultural studies!
Are you kidding or it's just your own cultural ignorance about my country? (I'm from Spain).
These girls are dressing in black just because they like dark gothic fashion, No one in Spain dress like that if you're not a darkie! The Prime Minister and his family are NOT representing any "proper" Spanish cloths (?) and just wear black just because they like the color.
Furthermore, the Zapatero family are not catholic, on the contrary they are openly agnostic socialists.
Only 15% Spanish citizen are regular churchgoers
One more example of woman being so nasty and patronizing to another woman, way out of proportion to the situation.
Eh!!!! Meg has 58 thousand odd followers on Twitter, and has to be verified, probably every time she says who she is, so why should she have to be validated by you. Huh!!!!
Actually carolinem due to the sad, unprofessional, self-serving garbage she constantly spews means that TDB must be told they're mentally ill for continuing to print her mindless columns.
Can she EVER not talk about herself?
i am very curious; how does one get to be so mean? mentally ill? that is way too much to describe someone, even if you do not share her views, political or otherwise.
HELLO MEGHAN, AS AN ENSLAVED SON, OF THE BRITISH THRONE HERE IN AMERICA. I ASK YOU TODAY, HOW DOES THE WORLD MEDIA JUSTIFY, REPORTING ON THE FASHION OF TEENS, BUT IGNORE THE CALL FOR JUSTICE, FROM A KIDNAPPED HEIR, TO THE THRONE OF ENGLAND?
oh yeah - what linage are you bioligically linked to? the thone of England?
Well someone tossed some tator tots and here you are?
Oh well...get in line and let me know how it works out for you?
Personally - I am adopted and in 1989 I was worth over 108.4 million...
That would be worth how much now?
Harvard projects 400-800 million now...
Haven't seen it except for those around me spending my money well...
May be I should go to Iran, Russia, England, Italy, and other countries to see if my trust is hidden in accouts there hu?
Have coffee and discuss the activites of the times...
You crack me up - you are angry - it will subside and sadness will set in...
Not for yourself but those around you who lied and betrayed you...
I have learned thru God that timing is His deal not ours...
So just go on with life and pray and give it to God...
I notice when I do that it's almost a "whammy" of results of prayers...
Why God works it that way I do not know - nor do I argue with Him either...
A lot of potentially good leaders would never go into politics because of how vicious the media is towards their children and families. We are missing out on exceptional leaders by demonstrating such viciousness towards those who would take leadership positions.
I agree with you totally. It is a shame that we do not allow our children of politicians, either here or visiting from another country, the privacy and the respect due them as they are trying to decide who they are and what they want to be when they "grow up". I remember Amy Carter and the way the press vilified how she looked. The same occured with Chelsea Clinton. Hopefully, as we as a nation mature, we will allow our children to be children. Keep fighting the good fight. There are more of us out here that support you than you realize.
You forgot to mention how badly the Bush daughters were treated in the media.
There was very little in the media about the Bush daughters unless one of them got arrested. I don't think they were treated poorly. Nothing like Chelsea Clinton was.
The Bush daughters were ridiculed for their asinine behavior -- falling down underage drunkenness, Jenna sticking her tongue out at the press like a 2yo -- not for their appearance.
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Vilified by the Press? You must be kidding--come on, you have to admit that Amy & Chelsea were the ugliest first daughters in the history of the US presidency...even if you do include Margaret Truman. Why those two unattractive, gawky idiots were left alone by the media--the same crew that attacks Sarah Palin's children relentlessly--is indicitive of the double-standard that has existed with the Press for decades.
i think you have pretty much proved the point - that people who are both shallow and mean think it's okay for adults to attack children.
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What? How can you possibly ignore the beating that Chelsea Clinton (Amy Carter was before my time, so excuse my lack of insight there) received from the press? Seriously?
And really, must I point out the obvious? It's Palin, all by herself and seemingly without thinking, who draws the media in, not her kids.... with teen pregnancy as the obvious exception. Come on.
Adolescence is awkward for everyone. For you and for anyone to throw anonymous, long distance insults at kids who are in some of the most vulnerable years of their lives is cruel and totally unnecessary.
Ass.
Hey Jonnot, Chelsea is far better educated and makes way more money than you do, in her job on Wall Street. She doesn't need to be pretty when she's smart. Only dum-dums need to be pretty because it's the only way they can make a living, by marrying well.
"unattractive, gawky idiots"... real nice....
you are so right! clearly people only say mean things about the pretty people!
(note heavy sarcasm).
if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.
And we all know, jonnot, that being unattractive is an unforgivable sin and overrides any contributions one may make to society.
Amy and Chelsea weren't attacked by the media because there was nothing untoward about them TO attack.
Palin and Bush had daughters who were immature idiots, so there actually WAS something to report on.
Gr8trwmn - Thank you for your words- those girls are cute- and I think of how I dressed in the sixties! Those young ladies are darling; besides,black is always stylish and rocker-chic! As for Ms. McCain and your column-FABULOUS! I love that you treasure your gay friends and totally admire you for that. I had a gay friend who totally changed my life-so I know the redeeming aspect of love--A wonderful way to communicate. Thank you.
It is actually a pretty funny situation these kids have been put into, as it signals yet again the media's misque in understanding the message of Fashion, even, and perhaps especially, when spoken in the language of young girls.
The hottest 'look' of 1988, after that crash, was Black. Michelle Obama wore Black in Pittsburgh...and looked fantastic. The concept and idea is that Fashion is a foil and reflection of Public Mood and idea. A statement of thinking and being...and most directly on target in a way that has not been replicated since 1988. But, these are the times we live in. These things are perhaps best understood by comparison. In 1995, we were all sporting electric green, red, pink and orange...sure markers of heightened states of Public Mood and confidence.
That the Foreign Press, of all sources, would fail to understand the rythms of life so completely is a bit of a disappointment, but frankly they only embarrass themselves in not being thoughtful or understanding of the messages sent. Perhaps this is what teenagers have always rebelled against, this being the most latest rendition.
I can't believe you were actually able to sit through Megan McCain's writing. Barf.
Here Here!
Where, where? It looks like the only barf here is you two.
estcruzer, that comment was not meant to insult magicman. I actually meant it in an appreciative tone. The comment was meant to insult Megan McCain and her atrocious, silly writing.
I always read the posts that decry how gawdawful MM's writing is and why it is such a waste of time, yet it is easily one of the most posted on and therefore read columns on TDB.... if you all hate it so much why read it?
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Yeah, jbo206, and I guess you're all for "America, love it or leave it" too.
When people say that to me, I reply that I have every right to stay in my own country, and CHANGE the things I don't LOVE about it.
Same goes here, although I'm sick of replying to this silly question. We want TDB to STOP printing her articles. By looking at our complaints, perhaps they will. If they're more like FAUX news, perhaps they'll keep printing them just to elicit controversy.
Also, jbo206, at a job I had a few years ago, there was this guy who wrote atrocious emails. We all got so much amusement from it, I actually printed them and brought them to parties. They were a big hit.
So I must admit that is partly why I read Meghans atrocious columns. Amusement.
Wow amanda...you read people's emails at party? Umm...sounds like a good time. Sounds pretty...amusing.
@ Embers
Thanks for the non-insult. Meghan needs an Editor, just like the rest of us. Failing that, her 'spin' on things is always unusual, pointed and timely. Perhaps that alone explains her popularity...and the fact that she is all too familiar to the rest of us; having as we all do, a similar form of imperfection somewhere in our own lives.
Another well written piece, and really some perfectly valid points....but better suited towards a highschool paper I think. This space could have been used to make similar points buuuut....maybe towards how Muslim Extremists treat women? Hmmm?? Rather then pointing out how old fashioned European parents are?
@Ayotte11, I won't bore you with my heritage, places lived globally etc. My Moniker will provide some indicators. I do have my own opinions on this piece but I couldn't help but be confused by your last statement referring to how " old fashioned European parents are " I really should be picking a friendly little tussle on such a minute issue but I couldn't help myself.
Let me get this straight, because the parents of these two girls allowed them to dress and be photographed with the POTUS, dressed in the garb that they are most comfortable, even though it seems completely out of place at such a formal venue, you call them " old fashioned ".
Let's be clear, if you had not made such a sweeping generalization that reeks of Bush and his " old Europe " promotional campaign I wouldn't have a dog in this little disagreement.
I would think that most people, whether they agree with the decision or not, would more likely call " these parents " actually very modern ( or soft ) for not demanding that their children dress appropriately for such an important event. I don't get your logic or why you felt the need to add a innapropriate dig towards European parents. It's very annoying indeed especially when you are so dead wrong. Are you one of those people that simply cannot help bash the Europeans, no matter whether it is relevant to the conversation ?
I will not return fire with the countless deficiencies I find with American parenting styles.
I am not sure if I totally agree with your sentiments towards Ms. McCain either, because there are more than enough writers who are dealing with the much darker issues of our time and she wanted to step up and be a public voice amongst all of the clatter and noise of condemnation towards these girls from our press corp.
I don't think these parents made the right decision to allow their girls to dress like they did. As a parent myself, I do understand that teens are very determined to express themselves but if these were my girls I would have sat them down, explained that I completely understood their need to be themselves but that this was a very important formal event and that they were representatives of their nation.
These parents can afford to purchase designer ( black ) more formal outfits that would not have taken the girls too far out of their comfort zone etc.
Having said this, one of the many wonderful things about the Obamas is that I don't think they even thought an extra second about it. They are parents themselves and while I am sure they probably thought to themselves " I hope our girls don't go the Goth route " I am sure they went above and beyond to be nice to both the girls and the parents because it is possible that they didn't give the formality of the situation enough thought. Hard to imagine but needs to be considered.
It is also possible that, when the picture was being set up, the parents said no to the girls inclusion in the photo, both because of the dress and because of the " no pictures for public consumption in Spain " but that the Obama's insisted that the girls be in the picture instead of standing on the side lines.
Meghan wasn't trying to change world history with this piece but having lived herself under the glare of so many opinionated public voices such as yours, her objective was to make a much larger point, which is that while adult public figures sign up for this scrutiny, their kids do not.
Ayotte your condemnation would have been much better spent chastizing our media for picking on these two girls. It doesn't take a scientist to realize the impact that this irresponsible approach taken by our media could have on these girls and their parents, who are likely very embarrased. It is possible though that they were not expecting them to be plastered throughout the world and didn't think much of it.
Meghan has a right to want to come to their defense publicly and it is likely that in the back of her mind, her only goal was that her message would reach this family through the grapevine and that it would express the point that not all American's are overly judgemental a-holes who have nothing better to do than to pick on two young ladies who made a fashion faux pas.
Let's be clear that, picking on kids, with such a public voice can leave a very bad diplomatic taste in the mouths of the parents. In this case it's " Nasty Americans who think they don't make mistakes ". Not so different as ridiculous broad stroke statements such as " Old fashioned European parents ".
We have an word in English, Dear. It's editing. 18 paragraphs is your average comment and I don't have that much time....
There's
Another word in English
Missbike-
It's called scrolling.
missbike, you are correct I have a tendency to be verbose and long winded although I do try to keep it relevant, but if I haven't caught your attention enough past the first paragraph, don't read any further. The beauty of a free country =).
Rita, thank you for coming to my defense =)
Who wants to read all that?
Did you see the Spanish citizen's comment below? Apparently, the pictures are blurred because the prez was using taxpayer money to haul his kids around. (do Europeans consider that sort of thing out of the ordinary? How quaint).
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Frenchmanaz -
Completely Agree.
I'll take the GOTH LOOK any day over the WAY TOO MANY American
parents who allow their young daughters to walk around in little tarted up short-shorts HO-wear with words such as "Junk In the Trunk" plastered on their asses.
American parents have no place to lecture European parents
considering our own recent track record.
I agree Frenchmanz and think the girls' parents could have helped them feel more comfortable with their appearance in official photos. They could take them shopping to specifically buy outfits and shoes the girls do like and that go with their tastes and manner of expression but are also appropriate for formal occasions. It would even be a fun excursion all together as a family to accomplish that. I also completely agree the "goth" look is much better than the pop-tart overly sexualized look many American teens wear.
"I have a tendency to be verbose and long winded"
Don't forget redundant.
This where Meg's insight is actually really useful. It's easy to make fun of people. It's more difficult to remember being 14 without much ability to realize the scope of your actions and how easily influenced you might have been.
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Since someone there seems to be worried about this case, let me inform you from Spain.
The main issue has not been the goth style of the girls, though maybe the shoes are not the more advisable to meet Michelle and her husband.
The discussion has turned around the presure made from the spanish prime minister to avoid the publication of the photo, that ended with his daughters' faces pixeled. It seemed to some people that if he wanted to avoid publicity for them they should not be part of an oficial journey, that was payed with public money.
Althogh Spain is very much different from the USA about the family exposure policy, the secretism of Zapataro has been a novelty here.
Very interesting. He sounds like Mark Sanford. If Zapataro is wasting taxpayer money, I hope that he is punished for it.
Note to Zapataro's kids: Goth is over with, and has been for about 10 years. What were you two thinking?!
I don't understand how you got wasting tax payer money from the fact that he wants to keep his children out of the spotlight so they grow up as normal children. And, I think that up until this photo, he's done a very good job. Those two girls did not feel weird about dressing in what they were most comfortable in, and good for them.
In the United States, goth isn't so huge because we prefer the emaciated emo look. Goodie for us. In certain European nations, goth is HUGE. These girls are not fashion icons nor do they pretend to be. Their parents kept them out of the spotlight so that they didn't have to be something they never wanted to be in the first place.
Grow up.
I'm glad I'm not the only person thinking "over" Embers. Except it really ended in about 1984.
But taking a good look at the ensembles in general I wonder, goth? No, Spanish. They aren't wearing a lot of absurd make up. Which is back in as off September 24 with New Goth (runway) and Nouveau Punk (people who want to kick a goths butt)
Get down your book on Survey of Spanish painting; see the ladies standing around Spain in long high necked black? That's not an unfortunate fad the Brits cursed us with, it's a cultural tradition. The boots? Maybe they have foot problems. I had to wear Doc Martins for two years and hated them...
Angie, you must shop at Hot Topic because I obviously touched a nerve with you. Goth is out of style. It's not an attractive look.
And I don't know if they're even dressed goth or not, and apparently that's not the point, if you read ortega's comment above.
Note to Embers: Goth isn't "in" or "out"; it's a style of expression for some people. They certainly don't need your middle aged ass as an arbiter of how they should dress. What are you, over 30? If so, you don't really have any standing to judge what's "in" for the under-20 set, do you?
What's ridiculous is grown people acting like they're in junior high, making asinine judgments on whether at 13 yo is "attractive" or "in style". Don't you feel like a complete moron? Why don't you go check in your own closet? Glass houses, stones, etc.
Excuse me? Goth has been and will be for as long as trends exist. Maybe there are a lot of kind-of-goth people arround, and true "goth fashion" believers (dunno how to call them). Didn't knew you were a fashion expert, Embers.
Clothing has nothing to do with this problem, is a matter of protection. But people tend to get the easy thread of the story. Dig a little bit and you will find the true meaning of that story.
LOL, thanks for completely deviating off topic to make a personal attack, Embers. And yes, assuming I shop at Hot Topic is a personal attack. xD
No, I do not shop at Hot Topic, but if you take a stroll down ANY American mall, you don't have to be a fashionista to know what all the kids are into nowadays. I was simply pointing that just because some fashion is not huge in America doesn't mean they don't exist else where.
I guess that's what they call the "American Bubble".
If it's a certain way here, it must be that way everywhere! :]
Zapatero didn't waste taxpayer's money on anything.
It was a trip he had to do, instead of going alone he went with his family. They all fit in the same plane and hotel. It's not like they had to use 3 different planes for them.
He isn't being secretive either. He just wants to protect his daughters from people like Embers here, who think that the whole Goth thing is ridiculous because they're not into it (i'm not into it either by the way).
Granted Zapatero was an idiot for allowing them to be in the picture to begin with. Obama's daughters aren't in there...should've taken the hint.
It's possible that Zapatero just wanted to share an historic moment with his daughters in the picture (pun intended). Imagine, if you had children, and you were about to get a personal photograph with someone who could, in all eventuality, be the most effective force for good (remember I'm just speculating here) to come along since FDR and you had a chance to share a photoop with your children. It's just natural you would want a memento for them.
Protect them from me? Hey, if you don't want your kids' photos published all over the world, don't pose them in front of a slew of photographers!
Zapatero isn't a Prime Minister. He's the President of Spain.
I know it's confusing, since there's also a king and royal family.
But he's the president.
My apologies ref. Zapatero as Prime Minister, I used the reference from the article.
Remember when Meghan's daddy implied Spain was not our ally? The press speculated he might not even know who the President of Spain was http://themoderatevoice.com/22810/spains-conservatives-back-mccains-snub-of -president-zapetero-el-plural-spain/, so it's no surprise his daughter thinks Zapatero is the Prime Minister.
From Spain.
Zapatero is the President of the Goverment of Spain. He has exactly the same powers than the Prime Minister of U.K. He is NOT the President of the Country. Also, we Spain if officialy a Kindom. The official name of Spain is The Kindom of Spain ( Reino de Espaá¡ ).Thats why some people and even journalist get confused. Even in international events the goverment dont fix the error if Zapatero is presented as a prime minister because is not important the diference.
It's a fine distinction, but in Spanish, he's Presidente del Gobierno, ie he's not the President of Spain but rather President of the Government. Since Spain is a parliamentary democracy, this title is often translated in English as Prime Minister.
It's not so important, really, but you made it even more confusing. Zapatero is not the "President" of Spain. Spain is a kingdom, and the king of Spain is the head of the state. Zapatero is only the "president of the government" (presidente del gobierno in Spanish), a political role better translated as "Prime Minister". If there comes the day when there is such thing as President of Spain that will mean the country has become a Republic.
It must have been so hard to have been Meghan McCain, When you applied for college dear, how many rejection letters did you recieve? Did you spend long hours in the financial aid office?
Thank God you've got this gig at the Daily Beast or how would you ever pay back all those stundent loans? Of course it was talent alone that landed you this job Daddy's name had nothing to do with it and now the poor little rich girl want to tell us how hard it was being the daughter of a multimillionaire.
If you lost this job tomorrow and became unemployed where would you end up dear? A homeless shelter? Or one of daddy's seven houses perhaps.
Would you end up selling yourself? Oh, wait that what you do now.
It's nice to see Daveparts casting judgment on a child of circumstance regarding a story written about how unfair the media treats children of circumstance.
Pretty damn accurate judgment. Reading Meg whine about her privileged life is the sort of train wreck fascination Palin brings; How can anybody be so stupid!
I grew up in a spotlight as part of a very old political family, but there was no private jet or prison records for my people. I had to start off in public service at 16 with an onerous volunteer gig that taught me reality real quick. The Megs of this world could stand to spend some time in the projects in cheap clothes and no make up finding out how badly so many Americans live.
Hahaha! A child of circumstance? Ohhhhhh, that poor little child of circumstance. How has she been able to bear up under the pressure? What a bunch of victimhood BS. (And that goes for the media coverage of the goth girls, too...big deal. People have become so freaking sissyfied.)
Daveparts, you sound very jealous. Perhaps you haven't paid off your student loans yet? Many children use their parents good name or position to get them into school, further their career, etc. It's the way the world works. When you see someone that makes it really big without the slightest bit of help from parents or friends, you think Wow, that is some special person.
But the fact in and of itself that her last name opens doors should not denegrate Ms. McCain's achievements. When I read her posts I see a young woman with slightly different points of view than the norm of her policial persuasion, AND a very unique perspective as the daughter of John McCain. I don't see alterior motives going on here.
To put it in perspective, I was reading another post here about another famous daughter, that being Liz Cheney. "After graduating, Liz worked at a law firm, as a consultant, and in a series of foreign policy jobs in the federal government, including the state department under George W Bush." Now, you want to talk about a taxpayer, wasteful, patronage job? Think her last name helped get her into law school, a consulting job, and series of foreign policy jobs? Please.
Is she selling herself on tv every day? You think? Oh wait, I would call that by another name starting with "wh****g" herself. If you're from the right you're just upset that you lost the last election. If you're from the left, shame on you for not being more open minded.
Oh God, you're the idiot who runs around the Daily Beast/Meg McCain comments board telling everyone how jealous, unhappy, insecure, etc. they all must be. You really should give it a rest because it's borrrrrr-ing. As far as the difference between Meghan and Liz? For starters, about 1,000 IQ points. Liz has worked hard for years and can actually talk about issues in an intelligent and informed way. Meghan is an imbecile who does nothing but play, whine, and make a fool of herself lecturing people far smarter, more experienced, and more worthwhile than she is. Dolt with a capital D.
Did you HEAR her on Bill Maher? Did you HEAR her on Bill Maher?
Unique perspective? I haven't seen that and I make myself read her drivel in an attempt to understand her followers, just as I make myself watch/listen to Rush and Beck to try to get a glimpse of sanity.
I can't understand and I don't get a glimpse.
I don't think McCain has student loans. I am sure that her parents paid cash.
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Anyone notice the Mother's getup ?
Looks like the daughters get their "fashion" sense from Mom.
Madre looks like the inspiration.
Would you have got the job writing on here if you was not the daughter of a politician ?
Poor hard done by Rich girl how cruel has life been.
I think she got the job because she can construct at least one grammatically correct sentence. You may want to try it.
Thank you for that kendetroit i look forward to seeing you behave like a unemployed teacher on other posts on here that do the same, looks like you will be busy.
kendetroit
oldpunk's response confirms your point.
Who need periods and commas ?
Who are you, kendetroit? Rich bee-yotches like Megan are lucky to have people like you to defend them. Even though you'll never have as much money as she does if you work full time until you're 500 years old.
Hannah Giles is the real deal conservative girl. Ms. McCain please don't call yourself a conservative, most conservatives can't stand you or your Dad, please feel free to become the democrat you are, stop pretending, be true to yourself.
When you put yourself next to Hannah Giles you see what a silly girl you really are.
Don't go away mad, just please go away.
So true. I noticed that Ms. McCain has been completely silent about the Hannah Giles sting. You'd think she'd be telling Hannah how "ballsy" she is, the way she did with that fine upstanding citizen, Blago. Obviously, the smart, courageous, and enterprising young Hannah has brought out the green-eyed monster in do-nothing, know-nothing Meghan McCain. Meg is threatened by young women with brains and class. If Hannah were a real prostitute or porn star instead of just pretending to be one, she'd have Meg-a-Slut's full support.
I thought the picture was a bit unsual, but funny!
"and we are not saved..."
"They are teenagers expressing themselves, and clearly the prime minister and his wife had no problem with them dressing in their Goth attire to meet the president. So why should we?"
Because it's inappropriate attire for the event, young lady. I suppose if their parents were good with them showing up in string bikinis that you wouldn't see anything wrong with that.
Since when is a black dress inappropriate? For anything? That's not goth. It's Spanish; It's sort of rubenesque girls wearing the traditional slimming color; It's perfectly fine!
If it was goth they'd be dressed like Halloween with a pile of awful make up on. One girl still has natural honey colored hair so goth she ain't. Especially in those suede high heel boots. She's headed for the coffee houses and is dressed like most students. So is the other girl. Women wear black in big cities.
Larger women have a terrible time finding clothes and shoes and may have planned a very different sort of day. I suspect they're dressed for the boho district but then, picture with Obama? Well this seasons fashionable black has to do. Go to Womens Wear Daily and see what's on the streets in Paris right now.
Wearing goth clothing is nowhere near equivalent to wearing a string bikini, so you're making a false analogy. Nobody said you have to like their clothes; just show some civility and not comment on it. They're children; you're an adult -- what is your excuse?
Wow. Cannot believe all the negative replies you're getting with this, Meghan. I really enjoyed reading, and I completely agree. When did our country and our politics become so completely disrespectful? Whether it's the ridiculous criticisms aimed at the children of our and foreign politicians or the hatred thrown from both the right and the left...aren't we better than this?
When I was younger than these two girls, I knew enough to dress appropriately for church...let alone for more high profile meetings with foreign dignitaries.
They should know better.
Really? Are you sure no one made fun of your clothes behind your back?
Frankly, it's none of your or our business how they dress for what event. It's between the girls and their parents. Everyone else, especially grown ups who should know a little manners, should shut up about it.
Thank you.
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