New York Times' Op-Ed. columnist, Judith Warner, writes in this morning's NYT:
"You can’t afford to tweet about licking Stephen Colbert’s face, or to call the Republicans “an awesome party to be part of,” as though the party of Lincoln were some kind of super-fun co-ed fraternity.
You can’t do these things because they’re just stupid and, when you’re already a sitting duck, particularly one who at some point in her career could very well rise to make a valuable contribution, you just can’t afford to look stupid.
You can’t because you end up sounding like a much younger, much dumber (which you’re not), much less savvy (which you are) version of Sarah Palin — whose candidacy was the one topic that you declared, smile dimming, off-limits to Colbert."
I've met Meghan McCain. Last fall I made a feeble attempt to support the political party that I thought I was voting for in the 2008 Presidential elections. One of the only other girls in my sorority with republican tendencies joined me volunteering down at the Boston Headquarters for the Republican Party.
(I did end up voting McCain, after much inner debate-- but at the time, I was both unenthusiastic about parts of his campaign, as I was timid to 'come out of the closet' as a campus republican at a very liberal Boston University).
Casey and I got dressed up in our cute little skirts, cardigans, and pearls (which we believed made us look very appropriately conservative) and headed down to Boylston Street. One of the perks of volunteering on this particular day was the chance to meet presidential candidate John McCain's daughter, Meghan, as she toured through the Boston area.
So, therefore, we obviously had an agenda. I am sorry to say that my priorities may not have been in the right place, however, my reaction to Meghan McCain was surprisingly similar to Judith Warner's. Meghan seemed to me to be just like any other young adult, college student exploring life. In essence: she didn't really have herself pulled together...yet.
I emphasize the yet, here, because what twenty-five year old really does have all of their ducks lined up in every area of their lives? (I'm not twenty-five yet so maybe I should withhold my judgement...) Ok, some kids seem to have the full package, but I would argue that underneath their outward perfection, they are still struggling with the same issues and learning the same lessons that everyone else is. They are simply putting a heck of a lot of energy into masking their immaturity. So, yes, Meghan McCain is young and perhaps stupid at times, but only because she is human. And on top of that, she is in a unique position that puts her in the public eye; something that most young adults in their twenties don't deal with.
By Catherine Moore, camoore@bu.edu
Photo courtesy of www.topnews.in
