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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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 OPINION 
10

'Smart Cookie' McCain Is What GOP Needs

PR-savvy moderate gives party hope in courting youth vote

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(Newser) – Meghan McCain’s scuffle with Ann Coulter and Laura Ingraham has shown she knows how to take a punch—and how to throw one, writes Kathleen Parker in the Washington Post. McCain’s critique of her party’s bomb-throwers is accurate, and her strategy has been savvy. "If McCain doesn't make it in journalism, she has a future in marketing," Parker predicts. "Madonna, meet Britney."

The GOP is at sea, struggling to accommodate the more moderate cohort the younger McCain represents and “allegedly, hoping to expand its tent.” Reaching out to McCain and her generation would be a good start, Parker argues: "The GOP's extreme voices are a turnoff, not just to young people but to millions of Americans who might otherwise be attracted to conservative principles."

Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and his daughter Meghan McCain react to the crowd as they arrive at a rally in Henderson Nev., Monday, Nov. 3, 2008.
Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and his daughter Meghan McCain react to the crowd as they arrive at a rally in Henderson Nev., Monday, Nov. 3, 2008.   (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. hugs California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, left, Oct. 31, 2008 during a rally in Columbus, Ohio. At right is McCain's daughter Meghan.
Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. hugs California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, left, Oct. 31, 2008 during a rally in Columbus, Ohio. At right is McCain's daughter Meghan.   (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)
Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, gets a hug from author Laura Ingraham prior to a speech before the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2008.
Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, gets a hug from author Laura Ingraham prior to a speech before the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2008.   (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Meghan McCain accompanies her father, then-presidential candidate John McCain, at a rally in Springfield, Va., Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008.
Meghan McCain accompanies her father, then-presidential candidate John McCain, at a rally in Springfield, Va., Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008.   (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)
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In a matter of weeks, [McCain] has created a brand, presenting herself as a fresh face of her daddy's party and a voice for young conservatives. - Kathleen Parker

The GOP's extreme voices are a turnoff, not just to young people but to millions of Americans who might otherwise be attracted to conservative principles. Who better to point that out than a young maverick named McCain? - Kathleen Parker

On the other hand, McCain is also a successful blogger with a following. She has established a voice and an audience. And the GOP is, allegedly, hoping to expand its tent. - Kathleen Parker

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10 comments
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bacimom
Mar 25, 09 8:34 AM CDT
Let us hear it for moderation in all things and on all sides. Extremism brought the world the Inquisition, burning of heretics, Jihad, Taliban, KKK, Hitler, Pol Pat, Mao Tse Tung, Timothy McVeigh, Yigal Amir and Ayatollah Khomeini as well as Coulter, Limbaugh and their ilk on the extreme left; Is that something we think is a good thing to teach our children? Reply
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drlarrymitchell
Mar 25, 09 9:13 AM CDT
New face or no, little Meg McCain can't change how utterly batshit crazy the Republican base is. No matter how many times you divide the cells, you'll still come up with a clone of the original. Reply
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northeast
Mar 25, 09 9:46 AM CDT
Somehow, I don't feel that GOP strategy needs to incorporate Meg McCain's ideas. "Hillary Clinton is fat and, like, g-ross." Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
Forderon
Mar 25, 09 10:28 AM CDT
So whose should they incorporate? Limbaugh? Levin? Hannity? Cavuto? Ingraham? Malkin? Savage? Coulter? Surely not people like Frum and Brooks; those guys are just pansy "intellectuals".
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IN RESPONSE:
northeast
Mar 25, 09 11:40 AM CDT
Talk show hosts are great for riling (no pun intended) up people who have already made up their minds, but giving more visibility to the Sowells of the party and taking away from the Palins will only be a step in the right direction.
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