Meghan McCain Says Sarah Palin Could Win 2012; Sen. McCain ‘Coming Along’ on Gay Marriage
Email ABC News on Campus reporter Miles Doran blogs: While many were watching President Obama’s State of the Union address on television Wednesday night, about 400 people gathered at the University of Florida in Gainesville to hear Meghan McCain, daughter of senator and 2008 presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), speak and take questions.
The 25 year-old, self-described “progressive Republican” and supporter of marriage equality called for a return of civility to politics.
"I am asking the Republican party to stop being so stubborn and closed-minded," she said. "This party will never be able to lead effectively or be able to inspire a nation until they accept people like me."
For about 45 minutes she took questions from the audience.
On the Election, Sarah Palin and 2012 Since the 2008 election, McCain has kept her thoughts on her father’s running mate to herself, declining to comment on Sarah Palin in TV and online interviews.
“I liked Sarah,” McCain said, “To me she represents a lot of feminist ideals. Our politics differ.”
She added, “I can’t stand here and say I hate her…I think anybody that underestimates her at any point is very foolish.”
McCain said she couldn’t comment any further because she plans to go into great detail about her experiences and conversations with Palin in her new book, "Dirty Sexy Politics: A True Story," due to be released in August. The book is about life on her father’s campaign.
When questioned about the accuracy of the campaign stories in Mark Halperin and John Heilemann’s bestseller, Game Change, McCain quipped “My book will be much more accurate,” after admitting she had only read the excerpts of Game Change.
McCain was also asked if she thought Palin could win the presidential election if she ran for office in 2012.
“Oh sure,” McCain answered, “I honestly haven’t seen another candidate so far that I believe has the panache.”
Though McCain was not completely convinced Palin actually will seek office in 2012, McCain said if she did run, the primaries could “get dirty.”
Her Parents, and Gay Rights McCain’s mother, Cindy McCain, made headlines earlier this month when she stepped forward to support gay marriage by posing for an ad against California’s Proposition 8, which bans it.
“She’s so excited now,” the younger McCain said. “She’s like, ‘I want to come with you to Pride Week.’”
As for her father, who supports efforts to ban gay marriage in California, McCain said she is having conversations with him and taking things step-by-step.
“I think that he is coming along. He’s 73 years old. It’s difficult,” she said, “I keep telling people ‘You continue putting pressure on President Obama and I’ll continue putting pressure on my father.’”
Florida’s Senate Race A Quinnipiac University poll released this week found former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio with 47 percent support in the Florida Senate primary versus 44 percent for Gov. Charlie Crist, a difference within the survey’s margin of error.
The president of UF’s College Republicans asked McCain which candidate she likes best. McCain said she campaigned with Crist and sides with him because of his moderate views.
“I know it seems he’s made a lot of mistakes,” she said. “But I still think at the end of the day, he’s the better choice.”
McCain’s appearance was sponsored in part by UF’s student government. The university paid McCain $10,000.
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Oh Megahn, go get married, have kids and shut up! Palin’s a joke.
Posted by: JACKSON | January 28, 2010, 5:27 pm 5:27 pm
Meghan McCain is such an irritating girl. I don’t know what put her so much on the fruits but she has just lost her noodle. Even Maine, NY and NJ don’t want gay marriage. And she wants conservatives to support gay marriage?
Posted by: Steve | January 28, 2010, 6:10 pm 6:10 pm
The last thing any Republican that wants
to win a national race is to listen to
any McCain especially Meghan.
Posted by: larry | January 28, 2010, 7:04 pm 7:04 pm
hahahahaha. She’s being paid by democrats to put that out there.
Posted by: secondlook | January 28, 2010, 8:35 pm 8:35 pm
She has lots of opinions, but no core values. What she says sounds like it comes from popular opinion rather than from careful consideration from first principles.
Women like her are why we listen to so many dumb blonde jokes.
Posted by: Chuckie | January 28, 2010, 8:40 pm 8:40 pm
This girl knows absolutely nothing about any issues besides Gay Marriage.
Posted by: Brad | January 28, 2010, 8:57 pm 8:57 pm
I like Palin…She leads without a strong personality….Thats the politics we need today and into the future……Good Luck Sarah. You have my vote.
Posted by: David | January 28, 2010, 8:58 pm 8:58 pm
Palin, You got to be kidding me. When asked by Fox News who was the most influential Forefather of our country, she kept mumbling and her co-news man just look at her. Finally she blurted out George Washington and said after his reign he went back to farming. I doubt if this woman has any idea of our Country’s history, and someone thinks she can lead the country when she has no idea of where we have been!
Posted by: Steve | January 28, 2010, 9:15 pm 9:15 pm
They are calling her Sarah “TOO STUPID TO DRESS HERSELF IN THE MORNING”Palin…I think the shoe fits!
Posted by: DEO | January 28, 2010, 9:23 pm 9:23 pm
someone please make her go away.
Posted by: moonbat killer | January 28, 2010, 9:25 pm 9:25 pm
David | Jan 28, 2010 8:58:06 PM
Washington did go back to farming, even I know that and I’m Canadian LOL.
So what did you think he did after being president bright boy? LOL.
Bet you don’t even know he was offered a crown do you?
Must be a lefty.
Posted by: Durward | January 28, 2010, 9:32 pm 9:32 pm
Why does anyone pay any attention to this airhead? She isn’t even really a Republican. She switched parties last year to help daddy and that’s all.
Posted by: rogervzv | January 28, 2010, 9:42 pm 9:42 pm
The sexism from the left is what killed the democratic party.
Hillary/Palin 2012.
Posted by: AM | January 28, 2010, 9:47 pm 9:47 pm
I like Megan.I like Palin too.I disagree with Palin on some things but overall she isnt bad.Is she the best GOP choice in 12?Well thats a few years from now.Who knows what will happen?I do admire Palin for sticking to her guns.Many people want her to call down Mccain.They say she should not support him this year.She loves him and they should keep quiet.It is her choice and she will never abandon the man who chose her.
Posted by: David | January 28, 2010, 9:48 pm 9:48 pm
Meghan who? Why are we even listening to this bimbo? Who made her the spokesperson for Republican values? This bimbo is a joke, just like her flip-flopping father. Well, at least we know where she stands on these issues.
And as for Sarah Palin, if she campaigns for John McCain there goes her credibility and her 15 minutes of fame, so I urge you to reconsider.
Posted by: Ivan | January 28, 2010, 10:07 pm 10:07 pm
Two names that I wish were relegated to Trivia questions….McCain and Palin. Please close this chapter of our history and move on to some other candidates. No more losing leftovers in 2012.
Posted by: MO Inslinger | January 28, 2010, 10:16 pm 10:16 pm
you know you never hear about this kind of two-for, if McCain is defeated we lose Meghan as well! yeah, yeah,
Posted by: Rhonda | January 28, 2010, 10:24 pm 10:24 pm
“I am asking the Republican party to stop being so stubborn and closed-minded,” she said.”
Somebody tell this girl she doesn’t have to be a Republican just because daddy is, or because mommy has a lot of money.
She would be much happier with her fellow travelers in the Democrat Party.
Spend some time around a couple of Democrats and she’ll soon find out what “stubborn and closed minded” really means
Posted by: Yanqui Bob | January 28, 2010, 11:36 pm 11:36 pm
yah right. im a conservative and after this week and all the endorsing shes been doing of the same ol same ol wolves in sheeps clothing you can forget about it. Sarah Palin thinks the GOP is the tea party. They are gonna be picking there jaws up off the floor come November. The people will show her real common sense.
Posted by: aimee | January 28, 2010, 11:40 pm 11:40 pm
you might wanna check sarah out now because she is not sticking to her guns. she is endorsing people who should be OUT. shes just like all of them. 2010 please America vote for real conservatives who won’t comprimise. Please!
Posted by: aimee | January 28, 2010, 11:44 pm 11:44 pm
If you vote for Sarah Palin, you are probably a couple sandwiches short of a picnic. You thought Bush was an airhead? Just watch Sarah!
Posted by: Jeff | January 28, 2010, 11:50 pm 11:50 pm
You that criticize Palin for supporting McCain..grow up! There isn;t a candidate out there that you will never have any disagreements with…having a difference on some issues with an otherwise conservative republican like Palin isn;t the end of the world and doesn;t mean you should turn your back on her. McCain senority is needed right now in the Senate..we don;t need another new republican Senator right now that could further corrode the working relationships in Congress…I believe she supports him 50% out of loyalty and 50% because he;s simply too experienced to let go right now.
Posted by: JL | January 29, 2010, 12:35 am 12:35 am
I don’t agree with everything Meghan McCain says, but I feel like she hits the nail on the head with the lack of acceptance that plagues the GOP. It’s not everyone in the party, but it seems to be the loudest voices. I’m a young Republican from CT. I’m extremely conservative with regard to taxation and the distribution of those funds. I support a strong national defense. I’m an advocate of free trade, and government oversight to stop the Madoff’s, not bail-out the AIGs. I am, however, a complete advocate for equal marriage. I am an advocate for Science in public schools. If you support ID, teach your children at home. It does not, however, follow scientific method, and therefore cannot be taught in public schools. The prominent, vocal Republicans opposed to equal marriage or evolutionary education create an image of the party as an exclusionary religious organization. That image prevents people from looking beyond those issues, which quite frankly, have no impact on the mounting deficit or recovery of the economy. Religious Fundamentalist can picket equal marriage all day long once they’re unemployed. In Connecticut, however, we’ll be happy to collect the tax revenue and income generated from same-sex marriages. Surely it will help pay for some of the unfunded mandates.
Posted by: AJ | January 29, 2010, 2:14 am 2:14 am
Meggy endorses Crist in FLA? HAHAHA! That’s pretty much the kiss of death for his primary campaign! Thanks Meggy!
Posted by: Captain Obvious | January 29, 2010, 2:40 am 2:40 am
The only smart thing Meghan McCain ever said in her life is that Sarah Palin will win in 2012…
Palin is leading all of the polls nationally. Also leads in the latest out of Iowa.
She has a higher approval rating than Obama.
Now that she is on Fox she will destroy him. Couldn’t have a bigger megaphone, as Fox News is the number one channel on all of cable.
She ripped Obama to shreds tonight on Greta’s show. Plus she tore him a new a-hole on her blog on Facebook.
Brutal.
Can’t wait for January 20, 2013 when Sarah takes the Oath of Office as President of the United States.
THAT’S change we can believe in!
Posted by: Gary | January 29, 2010, 2:58 am 2:58 am
Meghan is correct in stating that Conservatives need to realize that we can agree on certain values that we share without demanding that All Conservatives share the same social values if we want to defeat Obama and the Progressive/Dems in the elections.
I am one of the “mixed” Conservatives. I back Palin. I’ll vote for any Conservative that opposes Obama. I am gay. And I am not alone.
There are thousands of gay people who have been backing the Dems in hopes that they would be backed by them in return.
I was never one of them, nor were many others who believed that in politics their Conservative values ranked higher than being accepted by a Progressive or Liberal party that did not represent their core values.
But Meghan is correct in her assessment that Conservatives could gain a lot of money and votes if they would drop their agenda against gay people.
Don’t fight with the people that are on your side.
Conservatives and Republicans will only get enough votes together to bring in new legislators in Nov 2010, if we all agree to limit our agreed agenda to be on behalf of Constitutional government, limited government, and fiscal responsibility as the base that we can all agree upon.
Each time you add another “requirement” you risk losing people.
Posted by: Letscheck | January 29, 2010, 3:21 am 3:21 am
Oh yea Aimee you betcha just keep voti g for conservatives who won’t ” comprimse” !! LOL that will save the country! No “comprimising” allowed! LMAO!! That’s the way to support democracy. Try learning to spell and try understanding the real meaning of our constitution.
Posted by: Damn those educated liberal elite | January 29, 2010, 3:50 am 3:50 am
This [She] is what is wrong with the Republican party.
Posted by: KJV Kenney | January 29, 2010, 6:46 am 6:46 am
This girl is as dumb as her mom and Sarah Palin put together
Posted by: antonio | January 29, 2010, 6:50 am 6:50 am
I DO NOT LIKE THAT GIRL. She is a fence-sitter. SARAH PALIN does’nt need her help either.
Posted by: Jedda | January 29, 2010, 7:44 am 7:44 am
Durwood: Kings “reign”, not presidents. Get it?
Posted by: Robert | January 29, 2010, 7:46 am 7:46 am
This lefty should go away. The only reason she has a platform is that college administrators and the main stream media hate republicans, so they invite her and promote her because she is against conservatives. Meghan McCain has very little to offer. She will break ranks sometime after the mid-term election and will support the democrat nominee in 2012. Just watch!!!!!
Posted by: marty | January 29, 2010, 8:21 am 8:21 am
“Progressive Republican”, the vampires and leaches of all things power enabled.
Sorry Meg, but we already knew that all McCains are “Progressive”. Move across the line to MOVE-ON, where you belong.
Posted by: VancouverAndy | January 29, 2010, 8:29 am 8:29 am
Funny how people pounce all over Palin – and disregard what a true idiot Obama is – Ivy League educated dolt. For a smart man, he’s made and continues to make some supremely stupid decisions. The fact that his parents wanted nothing to do with him must’ve affected him big time… I think you see it in his arrogant, elitist and entitlement attitude and his history of never really staying anywhere long enough to actually learn and grow. Would love to see his transcripts and read his papers… I betcha they’re a scream.
Posted by: asharp | January 29, 2010, 9:31 am 9:31 am
I have never heard anything intelligent come out of sarah palins mouth. There are 300 million americans are you telling me you republicans can’t find anyone better then a ignorant quitter.
Posted by: brian | January 29, 2010, 9:34 am 9:34 am
“This party will never be able to lead effectively or be able to inspire a nation until they accept people like me.”
Forget it, sister. People like you (homosexuals) are maybe what, 2%-3% of the population? (10% is a myth). Straight conservatives don’t need to ‘accept’ people like you to win.
Posted by: Yephora | January 29, 2010, 9:41 am 9:41 am
At least she admits openly that she is a Progressive…that being said, I don’t think we need any more progressives in congress and certainly not in the Republican party! They have done more than enough damage and we don’t need more of them working to undermine the constitution.
Posted by: Curt | January 29, 2010, 9:51 am 9:51 am
The Republican conservatives are not pleased with Palin because she is going to campaign for Sen. McCain in March. Sen. McCain is not conservative. I don’t think Palin will get the nominee in 2012.
Posted by: ml | January 29, 2010, 12:04 pm 12:04 pm
Meghan McCain is SO STUPID. And she has an annoying-as-hell personality.
Posted by: Matt MI | January 29, 2010, 12:39 pm 12:39 pm
Meghan go democrat. Your father is an old toad and needs to retire his old politics. Also your mother now supports Gay Marriage for political reasons and votes from Republican Gays. Why don’t they come out of the closet and stand up for their Gay pride!!!!! Are they ashame and may hurt the Christian coalition. Are there any republican senators that are gay and hiding in the closet. Come out & expose yourself!!!!
Posted by: tgiggey | January 29, 2010, 1:20 pm 1:20 pm
Meghan….I heard you on some of the talk shows and all you kept saying is “Im young”. Yes, you are….and immature….go back to school…you have a lot to learn. As if anyone cares what you think….
Posted by: talmag | January 29, 2010, 2:37 pm 2:37 pm
2010 please America vote for real conservatives who won’t comprimise. Please!*** Wonderful. Anxious to get to get back to telling me how I should live my life according to your God? How. Can’t wait! There goes stemcell research, education and free thinking!
Posted by: JACKSON | January 29, 2010, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm
Every decision Sarah Palin has made in the last few months, especially quitting the Alaska governorship, has been focused on making her more money to throw around back home. Maybe she’ll run for office, but right now she’s got a concentrated set of rubes that think she’s the alpha and the omega and if she can bleed them dry in the process of worshipping her, she’ll just say “You betcha!”
Posted by: DEO | January 29, 2010, 5:24 pm 5:24 pm
Yes indeed! I was hoping that wasn’t true about Sarah Palin, but she’s turning out to be just like the rest of them. Just like GW, they use conservatives to get where they want to be then they turn. We need to hold these politicians to the fire on this. Where are the Radio Talking Heads now that we need them. Hannity? Savage? Beck? The only one i’ve heard that is making a case for real conservatism is Mark Levin. Come guys! You’re credibility is also at stake if you allow Sarah to get away with this. For all the spill you make about the Liberal Media, you do the same by not making Sarah accountable.
Posted by: Ivan | January 29, 2010, 8:41 pm 8:41 pm
Hey does anybody know how we can get through and email Sarah? Maybe we can still get to her, before she crashes and burns.
Posted by: Ivan | January 29, 2010, 8:43 pm 8:43 pm
for real conservatives who won’t comprimise.?
that must be an ancient king.
Posted by: cjohnthan | January 30, 2010, 9:20 am 9:20 am
I am a Liberal that is thinking about changing to a conservative. It appears to be much easier politics. One does not have to know anything, nor need an extensive vocabulary. One does not even need to stay up with current affairs. You can get away with deluding yourself, and facts don’t get in the way of a good debate. You get to rewrite history to prove your point, and ignore those pesky little inconvenient truths that would otherwise show that you don’t know what you are talking about. You get to live in a past of your own continuous modification, and are able to ignore reality without consequence. It must be wonderful to be a conservative.
Posted by: Rob | January 30, 2010, 9:24 am 9:24 am
Come on Megan-You are definetly a airhead. Sarah Palin is ignorant, stupid, a hillbilly and only looking for $$$$$$$. She is a national disgrace and we have your idiot father to thank! Go home Megan you are starting to look like a joke!
Posted by: Catherine | January 30, 2010, 12:33 pm 12:33 pm
Sarah Palin is a joke as well as a nothing politician. She can only recite talking points. The reason why the McCain campaign didn’t want her out there is because they relaized that she is a total moron! But of course sister Sarah has to blame that on others. Sarah Palin a National Disgrace, thanks McCain we have to blame you on bringing out this idiot!!!! Thats John McCain’s legacy and its not a good one!
Posted by: John | January 30, 2010, 12:35 pm 12:35 pm
Come on! She can see Sarah being elected FROM HER HOUSE! Has to mean something!
More seriously, with the “purity tests” being run to determine if your political genes are 100% GOP, she may be the only one left standing with notoriety when the time comes, and as history repeats itself and since you elected GWB 2 times rather than one……..
Posted by: treblig56 | January 31, 2010, 12:03 am 12:03 am
Sorry about my 12:03:46 AM post: You actually elected GWB once, the SCOTUS elected him in 2000….
Posted by: treblig56 | January 31, 2010, 12:12 am 12:12 am
Well, there are a lot of people here who are making a case for running off Conservatives who are gay.
That does not seem like a good way to go when Republicans are a 27% minority.
If the Tea Party splits the vote by putting in their own Conservatives of every stripe, and the Republicans turn them away…then Obama gets another four years.
We won in NJ by pulling together rather than splitting the vote.
Some of you might want to look at the big picture.
Posted by: Letscheck | January 31, 2010, 3:21 am 3:21 am
Meghan is absolutely right! Anyone who underestimates Sarah Palin is foolish, very foolish! This is what I’ve been saying all along! This is the mistake that the democrats and liberals are making, especially the Palin haters. They have greatly misjudged her and underestimated her intelligence and they refuse to change their opinion. Many local and state politicians made that mistake in Alaska and they are now without jobs! There are also several oil and gas company ceos who made that mistake, too, to their peril! They thought that she was so dumb that they could break the laws and just get by with it under her watch. They found out the hard way that they couldn’t and that she isn’t nearly as dumb as they thought she was! Sarah Palin has left many in the dust who underestimated her! Her friendly “hillbilly” personality is very deceiving. Many people have made the mistake of thinking that there is nothing beyond that personality. They refuse to see the intelligent and gutsy woman behind the smile.
Posted by: JimVgirl | January 31, 2010, 4:57 am 4:57 am
If I was Meghan and I didn’t think Palin could win in 2012, I’d still say she “could” – after all, anything’s possible.
But it’s in the McCain’s interest to promote Palin as a major figure right now because John is in a primary fight and Palin is supporting him. You don’t look a gift horse in the mouth!
So that makes one wonder why this is even news. Now is someone whose opponent is being supported by Palin said Palin was a serious candidate – THAT would be news.
Posted by: The_Mick | January 31, 2010, 9:00 am 9:00 am
Anyone who thinks Sarah Palin has a shot at the presidency or any other national office simply does not understand politics. All this money sent to her pac makes me hear the sound of toilets flushing.
This country is evenly divided. It is independents who decide elections, not the base of either party.
All polls indicate that independents are staunchly against Sarah Palin. She is too conservative, showed frightening ignorance on the campaign trail last year. The only reason McCain chose her was he felt he had to cave in to the religious right.McCain lost because the economy tanked on Republican watch. But even if it hadn’t, he still would have lost because independents collectively shuddered at the thought of Sarah Palin a heartbeat away from the oval office. That is not going to change. More centrist types like Scott Brown have a shot. If Republicans allow the religious right to strongarm them into nominating their candidate, they will lose in 2012.
Posted by: LTexas | January 31, 2010, 2:08 pm 2:08 pm
LTexas There is more than one way to lose. If we republicans move away from our principles and give up our religious background just to win an election we will lose more than just an election. We will lose something much more important than an election. We will lose our souls. I will hold on to my principles and my religion until the day I die even if we never win another election. I pray that all of the other republicans feel the same way! When we stand before God we will be the winner then and that’s when it really counts!
Posted by: JimVgirl | January 31, 2010, 10:08 pm 10:08 pm
I didn’t think it was possible to find anyone more stupid than Palin — but I was wrong! Meghan McCain is truly more stupid than Palin.
Posted by: jmb | February 7, 2010, 5:48 pm 5:48 pm
Did Meghan have to read notes from the palm of her hand when she said Palin could be President in 2012?
Posted by: TCYB | February 7, 2010, 7:30 pm 7:30 pm
AM; Don’t insult Hillary.
“The sexism from the left is what killed the democratic party”.
“Hillary/Palin 2012″.
Posted by: TCYB | February 7, 2010, 7:33 pm 7:33 pm
“I disagree with Palin on some things but overall she isnt bad”.
David, What policies do you agree with including her foreign policies? Please be specific if tht is possible since Palin is not.
Posted by: TCYB | February 7, 2010, 7:35 pm 7:35 pm
I’ll never under-estimate Sarah Palin because I have learnt not to under-estimate the stupidity of the American people.
Posted by: teddymaniac | February 7, 2010, 8:33 pm 8:33 pm
How about fiscally conservative socially progressive Republicans? Did you know that Lincoln was Republican? We all are aware of his position on social issues. If the Republican party of today was in power in Lincoln’s time, there would have been no civil war, if you get my meaning. The vocal far-right are hypocrites of the first order: they talk about freedom and less government, while trying to enact laws to limit freedoms (except for themselves and their rich heterosexual cronies). evil Evil EVIL. As far as Ms. Palin is concerned, Meghan is right: if you underestimate her (and her ‘political machine’) you will be sorry… but no one will be more sorry than me if she gets into any high office.
Posted by: Caracticus | March 3, 2010, 10:47 am 10:47 am