Comments on: Paul Begala Falls Into Meghan McCain Trap

By: Tall Brunette

Tall Brunette — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:56:58 +0000

I sort of think Meg could have done better. Ok, I take that back. I definitely think she could have.
If Meghan spoke with half the conviction she writes with, people would respect her more. But because she is braver from behind a keyboard than she is from behind a liberal talk show desk, she’s not being taken seriously. Its one time to have time to research and look into things to write an article and sound halfway informed…its another to be blinded by the limelight, and find that you are ill equipped knowledge wise to defend your side of things.

In my opinion, it would serve Meghan well to prepare better for these types of appearances, and speak more like she writes. Braver. With more passion. It pained me to see Bill Maher sort of take pity on her, and turn to speak to her and offer her momentary praise to soothe what looked like inevitable tears. If she talks the (blog) talk, she needs to walk the (talk show) walk…. period.

Good luck, Megs.

By: RIChris

RIChris — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:17:01 +0000

Stop equating Meghan McCain with the Republican Party. Meghan is about Meghan. Meghan McCain seems to be channeling Obama when he does the whiny bits about being ‘only 6 months old, not born yet, inheriting this mess, trying to fix someone else’s mistakes, not my fault, not my fault, not my fault!’

By: Tommy Christopher

Tommy Christopher — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:04:38 +0000

My guess is that her “random people” response was a way out of naming prominent names and opening a can of worms.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:56:49 +0000

“Not the point. Begala hurt himself whether Meg “deserved it” or not, and he did it by playing into the “elitist” meme.”

I’m really tired of people perpetuating the educated = elitist meme, myself.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:52:36 +0000

I really disagree with this article. I don’t generally dislike Meghan McCain, but she came off really poorly in this segment. Her flip “well, I wasn’t born then!” rebuttal was a cheap tactic, mean to simultaneously derail the topic of conversation and place herself in a position of power (I’m young and hot, and you’re just a fuddy old man!) over Begala. While Begala’s response was also aggressive, I don’t think it was inappropriate, and I don’t think it was personally insulting. From this point on Meghan McCain devolves into defensive teenage girl mode, “You tell me, you’re obviously so smart!” and then goes on to whine about how “just random people” on “twitter” are giving her “tons of shit” for being on Maher’s show.

While I’ll agree that Maher is acting like an annoying, patronizing ass, I don’t feel like Begala comes off as “a bully.” Rather, he seems to be the only one willing to treat Meghan McCain with the frankness of an equal.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:54:24 +0000

I like the part when he said

“I wasn’t born during the French Revolution, but I know about it.”

sorry, but he put her in her place on that one, it was a dumb smartmouth remark that she made about not knowing about Reagan…I usually like Meg…but……

she is biting off a bit much if she is going to spar with the likes of Begala, he knows his stuff, Megan knows what is trendy and what will get talking points on the airwaves…

By: Gypsyearthspirit

Gypsyearthspirit — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:56:18 +0000

Maghan McCain knows NOTHING about anything. Why is ANYTHING she says relevant?!

By: Batmensch

Batmensch — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:21:54 +0000

Poor Megen. She’s center left on every policy except for monetary stuff (wonder why?) but has to defend her dad’s indefensible party..

I’d have to say the “you know more than me so I’m going to cry” thing is very lame. Why does she have a public forum anyway?

By: Ike Pigott

Ike Pigott — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:06:14 +0000

Okay… since Meagan apparently doesn’t possess the rhetorical skills to ask the pertinent question, I’ll do it for her:

“The Bush Administration kicked this can down the road. However, there must exist, at some point in time, a moment where the can stops rolling on its own momentum. Define your measurement for how we will recognize the end of the can’s inertia, and can factor in forward energy from the current administration. Have we crossed that point? Are we approaching it? Are we talking about many different cans representing different issues? What are the individual benchmarks for those cans?

Go ahead… tell me if and when the can is going to stop.”

There, Meagan. Now, go tell Paul Begala that James Carville called, and he wants his schtick back.

By: Pete in Astoria

Pete in Astoria — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:43:48 +0000

*is based