I am not a fan of the GOP but I do love Meghan McCain. It is sad how she has been treated because of her looks. I am glad she has the balls to stand up for what is right unlike her dad.

Palin 2012! It is pathetic that you would do research to bring her down. Meghan McCain is an idiot who says she supports the GOP but is an Obama lover at heart.

I'm not a fan of either party - or of parties in general - but this seems to be the grand dichotomy of our day. Social movements have become bumper stickers and all the seismic changes that the 60's promised have failed to change us at a motivational level. We're still a sexist culture and if you see our future, like most in Americans do, as increasingly resembling Europe, we're just going to continue down this road.

It seems to me, respect doesn't come from increased freedom to be devalued or from tightening our grip on social morality. Something on the inside must change at a foundational level. How that happens is the subject of personal faith and perspective, which few will agree on. But can we agree that after all this time, we should be beyond this kind of petty lookism in the "highest" levels of our society?

Meghan McCain is not fat by any means of the imagination, but do you think that if you did your objectification of women manipulation with women who were heavy, you would get the same results?

hey nate, why the picture of anne coulter? was she one of the people who criticized meghan's appearance? just curious.

Andrew,

I will get back to you by the end of the semester when we do the study! We are designing the same study with an attractive and less attractive target and also with males.

But it is still reducing the person from well, a person, to just their looks. So I think it will have the same effect.

The original question from the radio interview was why McCain had credibility as a political pundit. The woman asked why people should listen to McCain about political issues, other than the fact that she was John McCain's daughter, and pretty enough to be a plus size model.

The whole point of the question was why did McCain have any credibility to discuss political policy when she's 18 months out of university and has no experience and has never held a job. I'd be asking any 23 year old male the same question.

If Meghan McCain wants credibility and respect, she should go out and earn it.

that nice and all the meghan tries to speak up and what not.......but her say SHUDNT matter...but sadly enuf there people on both sides, sum that cheer cuz she speaks up, sum that still critisize her...

both palin and mccain characters have been assassinated...soo um get over them

obama is YOUR prez til 2012, wether u like it or not

Quote by Joe Six Pack:

Palin 2012! It is pathetic that you would do research to bring her down. Meghan McCain is an idiot who says she supports the GOP but is an Obama lover at heart.

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If you are saying this study was to bring Sarah Palin down then you are simply missing the point. It's more about the perception/sexism that is present in today's culture.

Meghan McCain seems to be the one making a big deal out of her looks? I mean wouldn't it be better to not feed in to these women? No, because she likes being in the spotlight!

Kim,

I don't think you can blame McCain for fighting back, can you? I mean, I certainly would want to.

But your comment does bring up an interesting point in that McCain's reply to the criticism keeps the focus on her appearance, which could have detrimental effects.

Political ideologies aside, Meghan hit the nail on the head by saying "There's no place for weight criticism of women in 2009." Kudos to her for standing up for herself, especially on The View, where we know her only ally is that dummy Elisabeth (criticism of someone's intelligence is still ok, right??).

I must admit shopping is the first thing I want to do when my husband and I fight. When I am down the mall is my "pick me up". Sometimes, I think I spend more money on an item just to spite my husband.... I know I am an evil wife :). The question is what do people do who have NO money to spend. What do they turn to?

I would guess that they just lower their expectations. They go buy something cheap (or they turn to religion-:)

Really though, they would turn to whatever makes them feel good/like life matters. So if you are poor, shopping maybe isn't an option, but you have a million others.

No comment on Elisabeth-:) Ok, I will, but I will keep it friendly.

I am not sure she is on Meghan's side. She seems like (and I am speculating) the type of conservative that would be opposed to M. McCain for being to moderate.

And on woman's rights type stuff, Whoopi and clan weren't going to oppose her.

Still though, it was a really courageous thing to do, especially given what complete jerks a lot of commenters/bloggers are on the internet. It must be rough to be told you need to be on Jenny Craig and are a blimp and all sorts of other random BS people write. It is shocking really.

Her continued response will never let the subject pass. Unfortunately people do judge a book by its cover... let us move on...