We knew this speech wasn’t going to go over easily.
Just an hour before Meghan McCain stepped on stage at George Washington University, the college group Young America’s Foundation held a “Defending Marriage” protest in nearby Kogan Plaza. The group’s demonstration was quickly met by counter-protesters in defense of marriage equality.
The daughter of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a self-proclaimed Republican who openly supports gay marriage, caused some ire to uber-conservatives when she stepped on campus with her progressive Republican views.
“We want to protest McCain’s version of ‘redefining Republicanism.’ If you’re not toeing the party line, then you’re not really that party affiliation,” GW Young American Foundation President Travis Korson told the GW Hatchet.
That’s exactly what McCain faced Thursday night at the university, but once inside the doors, McCain reinforced her image as a very open, public person. (See her Twitter feed if you need more proof.)
The event was closed to media other than school-affiliated journalists. McCain said she didn’t want outside media because, “the students pay for this, I think student journalists should get first dibs.”
McCain even accused an audience member of being a journalist during the question and answer portion.
“Are you a journalist, by the way? I saw a little notepad,” she said.
McCain said she saw the demonstration against gay marriage as a personal attack, even though pro-gay marriage protesters also were on hand.
“If you’re going to protest me, don’t have refreshments,” McCain said, referring to the wedding cake served at the gathering.
McCain’s lack of filter was alive during the hourlong Q & A following her speech, too.
On dating: “If he voted for Obama, it’s like, what is my dad not good enough?”
The other extreme: “It’s weird if they voted for my dad. Is [dating me] like hero worship or something?”
On policy: “I’m pro-life which is why I’m very pro-birth control.”
On Sarah Palin: “I don’t dislike her as much as you would think. I respect any woman that can kick [expletive] in politics.”
But mainly, she discussed being a “progressive Republican,” a term she coined herself, and how she differs from the old, white guys who give the right wing a bad name.
— Jayne Orenstein, a GW student and Yeas & Nays intern, contributed this report
