I've had two instances where there have been Republican figures who, years back, got a lot of praise from Democrats and liberals for being at the very least sane and reasonable compared to the core of what's out there -- and I argued that I didn't agree. That they were both sane and reasonable on the surface, but that's only because they were talking about things that were sane and reasonable, and you don't get bonus points for being sane and reasonable, and that I sensed much too often they were actually saying some really thoughtless, nasty and obnoxious things. And as time has passed, I believe I have been shown to be correct.
In the first case, I absolutely know for certain I've been shown to be correct. That's because the person being discussed maybe 20-25 years ago was Lindsey Graham. There was a point back then when he was saying a few things that were not reprehensible (which admittedly is a low standard), and so he came across to many as "sane and reasonable." I just always argued that I didn't think he was a "Good Guy" at all. Because much too often he'd take positions that no "Good Guy" would say, let alone think.
The other was Meghan McCain. When her father ran for President in 2008 -- the only reason she has gotten attention and built a career, but that's how life works, so be it -- she got attention for seeming to be an actual moderate among Republicans. My sense, however, was that while she might be "moderate among Republicans," that's like saying "Not as far-right as Attila the Hun" and doesn't carry much meaning. I would argue that I didn't think she was a moderate at all, just that she might be moderate on a small handful of positions and was somewhat sane. Again, a very low standard. But overall, I thought she was fairly right-wing and not remotely as insightful as some people where hoping and grasping for. And this was 12 years ago, long before I had any idea she would marry the publisher of the very far-right The Federalist, who is also one of the co-founders of the very far-right RedState website. [This corrects and updates the original draft.] To be clear: I don't color a person's opinions by who they marry. But when one's opinions so often do overlap those of your spouse, it's not unreasonable to address to think they there is a connecting bond.
And in the intervening 12 years, especially since becoming a co-host of The View, Meghan McCain has shown herself to be whiney, privileged, far-right, self-absorbed and not very insightful at all. And when she did criticize Trump, it never came across to me that it was because she was moderate, sane and reasonable, but just because he hated her father and was mean towards him. By the way, that's a perfectly great reason for anyone to dislike someone else, but it doesn't make you moderate, sane and reasonable. So, again, I think I've been shown to be correct.
I bring this all up because a video clip of Ms. McCain was posted, which her whining on The View about the COVID-19 coronavirus and the CDC and Dr. Anthony Fauci and how it all affected her and others, though mostly I think her. This isn't close to the worst of Meghan McCain. In some ways, it's a bit benign. But "a bit benign" is in comparison to the worst -- it's not benign at all. And it's very typical of her normal disinformation, selfishness and inaccuracy. It's only about a minute-and-a-half, so check it out first.
In the first case, I absolutely know for certain I've been shown to be correct. That's because the person being discussed maybe 20-25 years ago was Lindsey Graham. There was a point back then when he was saying a few things that were not reprehensible (which admittedly is a low standard), and so he came across to many as "sane and reasonable." I just always argued that I didn't think he was a "Good Guy" at all. Because much too often he'd take positions that no "Good Guy" would say, let alone think.
The other was Meghan McCain. When her father ran for President in 2008 -- the only reason she has gotten attention and built a career, but that's how life works, so be it -- she got attention for seeming to be an actual moderate among Republicans. My sense, however, was that while she might be "moderate among Republicans," that's like saying "Not as far-right as Attila the Hun" and doesn't carry much meaning. I would argue that I didn't think she was a moderate at all, just that she might be moderate on a small handful of positions and was somewhat sane. Again, a very low standard. But overall, I thought she was fairly right-wing and not remotely as insightful as some people where hoping and grasping for. And this was 12 years ago, long before I had any idea she would marry the publisher of the very far-right The Federalist, who is also one of the co-founders of the very far-right RedState website. [This corrects and updates the original draft.] To be clear: I don't color a person's opinions by who they marry. But when one's opinions so often do overlap those of your spouse, it's not unreasonable to address to think they there is a connecting bond.
And in the intervening 12 years, especially since becoming a co-host of The View, Meghan McCain has shown herself to be whiney, privileged, far-right, self-absorbed and not very insightful at all. And when she did criticize Trump, it never came across to me that it was because she was moderate, sane and reasonable, but just because he hated her father and was mean towards him. By the way, that's a perfectly great reason for anyone to dislike someone else, but it doesn't make you moderate, sane and reasonable. So, again, I think I've been shown to be correct.
I bring this all up because a video clip of Ms. McCain was posted, which her whining on The View about the COVID-19 coronavirus and the CDC and Dr. Anthony Fauci and how it all affected her and others, though mostly I think her. This isn't close to the worst of Meghan McCain. In some ways, it's a bit benign. But "a bit benign" is in comparison to the worst -- it's not benign at all. And it's very typical of her normal disinformation, selfishness and inaccuracy. It's only about a minute-and-a-half, so check it out first.
Meghan McCain is spewing disinformation again on #TheView. Dr. Fauci didn’t say we’ll have to wear masks forever, but if we’d worn them to begin with and gone into lockdown - like Israel did on Jan. 8 - maybe we wouldn’t have so much sickness. pic.twitter.com/G6A5cF1meG
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) February 22, 2021
“The fact that I, Meghan McCain, co-host of ‘The View,’ I don’t know when or how I will be able to get a vaccine because the rollout for my age range and my health is so nebulous," she said. And then, “I’m over Dr. Fauci."
Man, talk about "nebulous." Pure, unfiltered Meghan McCain. At her most normal.
This from Ms. McCain is just filled with "disinformation" (which is the polite term). The CDC & Dr. Fauci have been quite clear on things that can be done safely after getting vaccinations. And further, her complaints of how disorganized the rollout of vaccinations is -- is specifically because it was all ignored by the Trump administration. Next to nothing was done during his time in office -- from having enough vaccine manufactured to setting up the roll-out of distribution to creating vaccination centers to helping fund states to organize it all. The Biden Team is playing catch-up, and doing extremely well trying to extricate from a truly massive Trump screwup.
And although one can argue that as subjective (no matter how accurate it is...), her "Get a shot, have a shot" line Ms. McCain tried to use to shame the CDC is actually factually wrong. That line she quotes is NOT about Israel opening bars now that people have been vaccinated, which is the impression she tries to give -- and which (giving her the benefit of the doubt) is what she thinks, as opposed to knowing otherwise and lying about it. The line, "Get a shot, have a shot" was a promotion done in Tel Aviv where a mobile vaccination center was set up at a local bar -- and they gave away a free shot of liquor to adults who got a first vaccination!!
That was not the Worst of Meghan McCain. But it was the typical.
Yes, people makes mistakes. But some people make them oh-so much more often and some people who appear as a co-host on television show have the responsibility to check out the truth of what you say before you say it to millions of people and end up passing along disinformation. I'd add, too, that if one does do this sort of thing regularly, you should regularly apologize and correct all the untruths. All of them. But The View is only on for an hour each day, and I guess they need that time to also do other things on show...
Man, talk about "nebulous." Pure, unfiltered Meghan McCain. At her most normal.
This from Ms. McCain is just filled with "disinformation" (which is the polite term). The CDC & Dr. Fauci have been quite clear on things that can be done safely after getting vaccinations. And further, her complaints of how disorganized the rollout of vaccinations is -- is specifically because it was all ignored by the Trump administration. Next to nothing was done during his time in office -- from having enough vaccine manufactured to setting up the roll-out of distribution to creating vaccination centers to helping fund states to organize it all. The Biden Team is playing catch-up, and doing extremely well trying to extricate from a truly massive Trump screwup.
And although one can argue that as subjective (no matter how accurate it is...), her "Get a shot, have a shot" line Ms. McCain tried to use to shame the CDC is actually factually wrong. That line she quotes is NOT about Israel opening bars now that people have been vaccinated, which is the impression she tries to give -- and which (giving her the benefit of the doubt) is what she thinks, as opposed to knowing otherwise and lying about it. The line, "Get a shot, have a shot" was a promotion done in Tel Aviv where a mobile vaccination center was set up at a local bar -- and they gave away a free shot of liquor to adults who got a first vaccination!!
That was not the Worst of Meghan McCain. But it was the typical.
Yes, people makes mistakes. But some people make them oh-so much more often and some people who appear as a co-host on television show have the responsibility to check out the truth of what you say before you say it to millions of people and end up passing along disinformation. I'd add, too, that if one does do this sort of thing regularly, you should regularly apologize and correct all the untruths. All of them. But The View is only on for an hour each day, and I guess they need that time to also do other things on show...
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