Meghan McCain: President Obama Should Do More For the Gay Community

by Michael Jones · 2010-09-01 10:15:00 UTC
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Meghan McCain is undoubtedly Republican. Perhaps that's not all that surprising, given that her father is U.S. Senator John McCain, and that she's grown up immersed in Republican politics for more than twenty years.

But McCain isn't your average Republican. Conservative? Oh, sure. She's got hawkish views on foreign policy, socially conservative views on reproductive rights, and beliefs about the economy that could garner a column in the Weekly Standard. But Meghan McCain is also a vocal advocate for expanding the tent of the Republican Party, specifically when it comes to gay rights.

She's on the media tour of a lifetime right now, promoting her new book, Dirty Sexy Politics. And as she's made the rounds of network news and cable news shops, she's made a few waves for advocating that the Republican Party get down with marriage equality. Last night she appeared on The O'Reilly Factor, where she told Bill O'Reilly that some Republicans deserve grief for their anti-gay positions. But so, too, does the President of the United States.

"We get the bad rap, as Republicans, as being against gay marriage. But [Obama] isn't doing anything for the gay community," McCain noted on the show. She then went on to give President Obama a "C+" for his first two years in office.

Ms. McCain's criticism of President Obama should be taken with a bit of a grain of salt, of course. After all, a President John McCain certainly wouldn't be doing much for the LGBT community, at least if his 2008 platform was any indication, or his current legislative work. John McCain wants to preserve "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," sidestep hate crimes legislation, and believes marriage is not for the gays. Doesn't sound like the type of ally one would want.

But still, Meghan McCain's grade of a "C+" is interesting. Earlier this year, LGBT radio host Michelangelo Signorile emceed a town hall with some LGBT leaders, activists and bloggers. Among those on the town hall's panel? Blogger Pam Spaulding, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network director Aubrey Sarvis, Human Rights Campaign leader Joe Solmonese, National Gay & Lesbian Task Force director Rea Carey, National Center for Transgender Equality director Mara Keisling, and former Clinton advisor and activist Richard Socarides.

Signorile asked each of the panelists to grade President Obama on his work related to LGBT rights. Their collective verdict? Pam Spaulding, Richard Socarides, and Rea Carey all gave Obama a "D." Aubrey Sarvis gave a "C." And Mara Keisling and Joe Solmonese gave the President a "B."

Average that all up, and they're giving Obama the same grade that Meghan McCain did. Average, at best.

Sure, this is a bit like comparing apples and oranges. The folks on the LGBT town hall were all grading Obama solely on his work related to the gay community, while Meghan McCain was giving her overall impression of the Obama administration. But the larger point is that regardless of what political party you belong to, folks see the Obama administration as weaker than expected on gay rights issues. More "average acquaintance" than "fierce advocate."

You can check out the rest of Meghan McCain's interview with O'Reilly below. Note the special opening dig delivered toward a certain former rogue VP candidate, who according to Ms. McCain operated like she was "pre-destined" to lead the United States. Wild.

Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com

Photo credit: rachelkramerbussel

Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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