Dirty Sexy Politics

Nov 06, 2010 Linda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Interesting and refreshing. She's a good writer. I liked McCain until he forgave Bush for that awful push-poll back in 2000 where he let Carl Rove insinuate that McCain's youngest, adopted daughter was a love child born out of wedlock. McCain writes honestly and cogently about this painful period of her life. I think she never fully forgives Bush, and I don't blame her a bit.

Strangely, Meghan is almost left adrift during her father's 2008 primary campaign, partly because she was a young adult an...more

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Dec 16, 2012 Brittany rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: pop-culture, nonfiction

I'll start off by saying that I am not a terribly political person. I voted in the last election, watched some (not all) of the debates, and did some homework before blindly choosing a candidate. I'm not particularly tied to any one party- I think both have strengths & weaknesses, but in general I think our (meaning America's) 2 party system is inefficient and needs an overhaul.

That being said, I'm not quite sure what I expected from this book. I knew who Megan McCain was, and knew that she...more I'll start off by saying that I am not a terribly political person. I voted in the last election, watched some (not all) of the debates, and did some homework before blindly choosing a candidate. I'm not particularly tied to any one party- I think both have strengths & weaknesses, but in general I think our (meaning America's) 2 party system is inefficient and needs an overhaul.

That being said, I'm not quite sure what I expected from this book. I knew who Megan McCain was, and knew that she was somewhat being branded as a new voice for/within the Republican party. I figured if I was going to attempt anything dealing with politics, one of her books would be a good start. While the book does touch on some political topics, it's 90% her experiences and feelings during her father's run for president. The biggest issues I had were not content-based, but rather the editing/flow of the book. Chronological order is always the best order, IMO, so the fact that that timeline wasn't followed made things a bit confusing for me. There were also some little anecdotes that just seemed...out of place. I really didn't feel as though they added anything to the book (stories dealing with her friends, etc, that didn't even occur during the campaign).

She has a very clear, concise writing voice that I enjoyed- I feel as though her personality shown through and everything seemed to be stated very naturally and truthfully (from her perspective, anyway). She was easy to relate to, and felt as though she was the kind of girl who would be easy to talk to and be friends with.

The way she described the town halls and other events made me understand why some people are so into politics- it really seemed to come alive and *matter.* I think that's something that a lot of the country, including myself, lacks. We go through the motions, but there's no true passion for the process. That leaves only the over zealous to get things done, which is not always the best way to handle things.

She spoke a lot about her problems with the way the Republican party is being ran today (I mean come on, she was told she had "stripper hair" and therefore didn't look Republican enough). It makes me sad that many of the things she listed as issues in the 2008 campaign (not focusing on young voters, leaning to far to the Christian Right and ignoring the moderates, etc) and hoped to have corrected by this year's election seemed to have been ignored by the Republican leaders. If anything, they went the opposite direction and steered even more into that far Right direction. It's frustrating when someone is ignored simply because of age or gender or looks (all of which she has experienced), especially when the things she listed comprise the majority of reasons most of the people who voted for Obama leaned left in this past election. I can only hope that someone will wise up and pay attention to what this intuitive young woman has so clearly realized.(less)

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Apr 18, 2012 Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: tv, chicklit

I don't know when I started following Megan McCain. Maybe she was on like TCR or TDS and yacked about her twitter, so I started following her there. And I hate to admit it, but I kind of like her! Of course, not everything she says I agree with, but some of it and the fact that she is open to people that don't agree with her. And while I am not a Republican by any means, I like that she is kind of scared and sad about her party. Because that could just as easily be the Dems! I remember her talki...more

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Jan 11, 2012 Andrew Simpson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: politics, e-books

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Dec 29, 2011 Cindy rated it 2 of 5 stars

I had high hopes. I saw Meghan on some talk shows and she came across so personable and real, and not so polished, that I wanted to see her message go beyond the talking points on tv to her book. And I definitely get the message and appreciate it. I have many a friend who are Republicans because they are for fiscal spending and small government BUT every election it becomes a race to see who is more Christian and it polarizes the Republican party. Beside that message, the rest of the book is nei...more

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Aug 09, 2011 HippieMommy rated it 3 of 5 stars

I just glanced over the reviews, and people can be really mean. Ouch.

Is this book going to be a classic? No. Of course not. Is that what you expected? It is a memoir written by someone in their 20s. That's how it reads. I think it is fairly good for what it is.

I heard Meghan when she was on "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me". I thought she was funny, and that her book might be a nice light read. That's what I found it to be. I am not a Republican (and for many of the same reasons that she mentions frus...more

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Jul 29, 2011 Miss Scarlet rated it 4 of 5 stars

I loved this, and I didn't think I would. Insight into the McCain campaign, from McCain's own daughter - who wasn't welcomed with open arms and had to pay her own way from the beginning - was just what I needed to reignite my love for John McCain again (who had fallen out of favor with me due to the whole "some Americans are more equal than others" in terms of gays in the military). She made him human again. Until now, he seemed out of touch, but I think selecting Sarah Palin for his running mat...more I loved this, and I didn't think I would. Insight into the McCain campaign, from McCain's own daughter - who wasn't welcomed with open arms and had to pay her own way from the beginning - was just what I needed to reignite my love for John McCain again (who had fallen out of favor with me due to the whole "some Americans are more equal than others" in terms of gays in the military). She made him human again. Until now, he seemed out of touch, but I think selecting Sarah Palin for his running mate was probably the worst move the poor guy could have ever made - and it seemed to be his campaign advisors who took the gamble on the unknown more than he did, although I'm sure Meghan's a bit biased, as she says repeatedly how much she loves her dad and would do anything for him. But it also made me happy to know that not all conservatives love the Becks/Limbaughs/Palins of the world, who act as though they're an elite club that would rather be exclusive than inclusive - like I can't have any moderate-somewhat conservative views because being a Republican now is a lifestyle choice that only very specific fit. I don't fit, because I don't agree with everything they say, or because I don't dress/look the way they think I should. It made me want to read more about Barry Goldwater. It made me revisit the ideas of Ronald Reagan, who current ultra-conservatives LOVE to invoke but don't emulate - he was passionate about the individual and personal freedoms. He was not about everyone giving into what McCain referred to as "groupthink" which many conservative leaders advocate for today - uniform line with their vision of society and the Republican party. Reagan thought FORWARD, not back, like America's best days were behind it because not everybody was a Republican. He was a moderate. He won with Republicans AND Democrats. It isn't about party. It's about individuals. That's what made this book so appealing to me. Even though Meghan McCain is different than I am, she's really a lot like me. She showed me that, and I didn't think she would. Loved the book, love her.(less)

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Jul 22, 2011 Karen added it

Several months ago, I saw Meghan McCain brave an appearance on The Daily Show in order to promote this book. Jon Stewart showed no mercy and Meghan McCain definitely had an above average giggle rate for a Daily Show guest, but she handled it pretty well, considering she's neither a politician nor some "celebrity". I developed some sympathy for her when she mentioned how people on the campaign trail were coaching her on how to look less like a stripper, in spite of having a pregnant teenager on t...more Several months ago, I saw Meghan McCain brave an appearance on The Daily Show in order to promote this book. Jon Stewart showed no mercy and Meghan McCain definitely had an above average giggle rate for a Daily Show guest, but she handled it pretty well, considering she's neither a politician nor some "celebrity". I developed some sympathy for her when she mentioned how people on the campaign trail were coaching her on how to look less like a stripper, in spite of having a pregnant teenager on the campaign as well. When I saw this on the shelf at the library, I figured, why not?

Given the book's rather low page count and eyestrain-friendly line spacing, this book could easily be at home in the Teen/Young Adult sections of a library. More than once, she mentions that she likes wearing dresses with tights or leggings and loves her UGG boots (yes, she mentions the specific brand). For almost every key moment she mentions in the book she also recalls what outfit she had on, sometimes down to the designer; for example when she and her mother met Mrs. Bush and her daughter(s) she wore a Dianne von Furstenburg dress with Tory Burch shoes and oh god why do I remember this crap. *slams head on desk*

McCain mentions right off the bat that she is not a highly political person, which is no surprise to anyone who has seen her during the 2008 election coverage. She complains that people call her a RINO---Republican in Name Only, even though the only political statements she made in the book center around "being raised to appreciate freedom". Yes, she likes freedom, which covers having gay friends, supporting gay marriage, supporting contraception as a pro-choice strategy...I could totally see why they call her a RINO. She expresses her disapproval of the current Republican "groupthink" which eschews freedom and discloses that she originally registered to vote Independent, since she became of voting age when Bush was president (...I don't blame her).

Fun fact: After her father lost the election, she got out of a speeding ticket in Arizona by saying "I'm sorry, my father just lost the presidential election." She also played a lot of Rock Band.(less)

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Jun 25, 2011 Suzanne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

I'm a Democrat who grew up in Arizona. I remember a time when John McCain was a likable moderate Republican. This book reminded me of that time. Meghan McCain clearly still sees her father as he used to be (and perhaps how he remains in private)--a man with principles who stands strong for moderate values. Her story is set from this point of view, and she clearly misses some of the deeper politics behind the election (e.g., John McCain's actual policy decisions and statements that were almost 10...more

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Apr 26, 2011 Ceilidh rated it 1 of 5 stars

I don’t like Meghan McCain. Even though she has shown herself to be a more moderate figure in the Republican party (which really says something about the left-right divide in American politics these days), I find her to be an extremely unnecessary addition to the pundit and commentary scene of US politics, one with no insightful opinions, no real knowledge of that which she speaks of, a bad habit for false equivalency and the most cringe-worthy of columnists on the Daily Beast. Her hypocrisy, i...more I don’t like Meghan McCain. Even though she has shown herself to be a more moderate figure in the Republican party (which really says something about the left-right divide in American politics these days), I find her to be an extremely unnecessary addition to the pundit and commentary scene of US politics, one with no insightful opinions, no real knowledge of that which she speaks of, a bad habit for false equivalency and the most cringe-worthy of columnists on the Daily Beast. Her hypocrisy, in calling herself a moderate Republican yet refusing to call out Donald Trump on his racist birther rubbish as well as completely bypassing her own father, Senator John McCain’s rank hypocrisy and bigotry when discussing him, leaves me rolling my eyes in annoyance. It’s no secret that she’s achieved everything in her life so far based on her family’s name, wealth and good connections, and her debut book “Dirty Sexy Politics” perfectly encapsulates everything that is bad about Meghan McCain. I’m a liberal but I don’t think there are many people of any political standing that won’t come away from this book with the impression that they have read anything other than the self-obsessed, vacuous and incredibly annoying ramblings of a nepotistic little brat. One almost feels sorry for the publishing house that reportedly paid a six figure deal for this extremely short but no-less headache inducing excuse for a book.

From the introduction to this book, I knew it was going to be a tough read. McCain’s prose is often clunky, trying to balance colloquial cool with a weighty style more suitable for the subject of politics. She uses an incredibly clunky reference to the red-blue pill scene from “The Matrix” to describe her dreams for the future of political discourse:

“Here’s my dream: The political party that identifies with the color red should start taking pills of the same color.” (p6.)

Nimbly stepping over the fact that the latter part of the sentence would be classified as an order rather than a dream, there’s no real explanation given for this dream of hers beyond the blue pill being that of the taker choosing the dream world over reality. Does this mean she thinks the Republican party should stop living in the dream world, or that the Democrats should continue to do so? Her ambitions for the GOP are never really developed after this either. There’s a lot of talk about anti-big government and pro-freedom, which is all well and good (and not explicitly Republican) but what does it mean beyond buzzwords and placard slogans? We’re never told. McCain is infamous for having no real opinions on issues beyond supporting gay rights and admits to knowing nothing about economic policy, except that she supports the Republicans. Surely it would be more beneficial for the author of a political book to know a little about politics? This question is given further fuel by McCain’s admission that she might not be telling the entire truth throughout this book:

“I checked dates and facts, and corroborated my accounts with friends and family, but my stories are decidedly impressionistic rather than reportorial.” (p5.)

I’ll give her credit for being honest but this doesn’t bode well for the rest of the book and we’re barely in double figures.

There’s nothing dirty about this book (beyond McCain’s shoe-horning in of oh-so shocking mentions of naughty campaign shenanigans she never indulged in), nothing sexy and barely anything political. McCain never goes into deep discussion of the intricacies and complexities of being part of a massive presidential campaign, both as a staffer and as a family member. In fact, she barely shows any interest in politics despite this desperate attempt to advertise herself as the face of moderate Republicanism. She fails at that, of course, but she does become particularly adept at bemoaning how tough it is to be a rebel in the GOP, with her edgy bleached hair and tattoos. The only thing she shows any real interest in is Meghan McCain. Like a teenage fan-fiction writer, McCain dedicates an inordinate amount of page time to describing what she was wearing during the campaign (all the more amazing considering her earlier admission over her ‘impressionistic’ recollection of events) and all the girly gossip revolving around hair-care, make-up and all the associated topics that are unfairly associated with smart, capable and brilliant women in politics who aren’t Meghan McCain. I swear, if you take all this fashion info-dumping out of this 192 page book, it would be about a third shorter. Her attitude isn’t any less superficial either; she throws a tantrum and sobs like a child when her mother refuses to tell her who her father’s running mate is, despite McCain admitting later on that she tells her secrets to everyone so she was clearly not a trustworthy person to give such information to. She does nothing to counter-act the image the campaign staffers have of her as an indignant, privileged brat. This wouldn’t be so bad if McCain came out of it in the end and admitted what a horrible person she’d been, but she never really does. She admits to being naive and learning a lot but it’s hard to believe this book is supposed to be the wise, learned opinions of a 25 year old. She fails to understand just how important and complicated a political campaign is as she spends page after page scolding staffers for not giving her access to certain areas and revelling in how she deliberately tried to make their lives harder. Keep in mind that this is the daughter of a presidential candidate, a man who needs to be surrounded by security at all times for fear that his life may be on the line, and all McCain is worried about is taking some pictures for her blog. She scolds the media for deliberately portraying her as an idiot before bragging about her extremely expensive education. To say Meghan McCain comes across as an unpleasant individual in this book would be an understatement.

The Obama-McCain 2008 campaign was a fascinating moment in politics, not just because of the people involved. The trials, tribulations and utter chaos of both camps are well documented, as is the varied reporting and commentary on events from the left and right. This was the first real political event that sparked my geeky love of politics and I have fond memories of browsing the internet for updates on the candidates and comparing and contrasting how different news outlets would cover the same story. I credit that presidential campaign with giving me a lot of my ambitions and drive to make a difference in the world. However, if you were to take “Dirty Sexy Politics” as your only source of reporting on the campaigns, you’d come out of it with no information, no insightful facts or opinions, no real behind-the-scenes gossip on the McCain camp (be honest, that’s why most people bought this book) and you’d probably think that women in politics had just taken a monumental leap backwards. I may have less than positive things to say about Sarah Palin but even I can acknowledge how big a deal it was to have her on the Republican ticket. Of course, all Meghan cares about is how she looks and what she wears. We have no insight into these people at all. She briefly talks about the focus put on women’s appearances and clothing choices, something that male politicians don’t have to worry about, but it’s hard to take her seriously when she’s so obsessed with Ugg boots and what fabric she’s going to wear. Her bemusement over being fired from her own father’s campaign is a sweet sort of justice.

One of the reasons this book is so awful is because it reeks of privilege. Meghan McCain comes from a very wealthy and advantageous background. Her father’s a senator and her mother a businesswoman with an estimated net worth of $100million, she went to Columbia University and has had everything handed to her on a silver platter. Yet despite all this, or possibly because of all this, she acts like a spoilt brat who thinks the world revolves around her and everything bad that happens is just put there to annoy her. One day, there will be a new dictionary where, under the definition of ‘nepotism’, McCain’s picture will be. Not once does she acknowledge just how lucky she is, and how little she deserves to be put in a position of trust and privilege on this incredibly important campaign. McCain is riding her family’s coattails all the way to the top. It’s such a shame she couldn’t quickly learn how to use proper punctuation on the way. I haven’t seen grammar this bad in a published book in a long time. There are so many commas and dashes carelessly thrown into sentences where there shouldn’t be any that I began to wonder if this thing even had an editor. Maybe the publishers were as embarrassed reading it was I was and wanted to rush it into publication before people forgot who she was.

If I have anything positive to say about this book it’s that we at least get a rather sweet insight to McCain’s relationship with her parents, especially her mother. Cindy McCain was frequently portrayed as a very cold woman during the election so it was different and refreshing to get a glimpse of her behind the scenes. These moments in the book are also mildly enjoyable because it’s the only time Meghan doesn’t spend obsessing over herself. Otherwise, this book was pretty much a waste of time. It takes true skill, or lack thereof, to make one of the most exciting times in recent political memory boring but Meghan McCain does it exceedingly well. Chock full of bad writing, painfully awkward pop-culture references, obsessive fashion talk, narcissistic nepotism and completely void of any political relevance or insights, “Dirty Sexy Politics” has the honour of being the worst political book I’ve ever read. It feels like an insult to even call it a political book. A true piece of political writing on the 2008 campaign would know that McCain got just under 60million votes, not 48million as McCain claims. When your reader can go onto Google and find out within 10 seconds how many votes the candidates got in the election, why can’t she? It’s a sad state of affairs when Meghan McCain is the face of moderate Republicanism in the American political system, although her actions speak louder of her hypocrisy than my review ever could. McCain ends the book with a call to arms for young Republicans to join her. “Don’t make me pick up this torch alone” is the line she closes her book with. For the sake of politics at large, I hope somebody does pick up that torch because if McCain is the future of politics, we may wish to stay in the present.

1/5.
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Apr 17, 2011 Alicia rated it 5 of 5 stars

I LOVED this book! I don't know what it was. I think it was the sum of all the parts. The way she addresses how young Republicans feel these days, the feeling like they don't have a place, the way she felt pushed out of her own father's campaign. It was just a great story. It really made me wish that McCain had one. Except for that Sarah Palin. I don't like her so much. (And I didn't before this book, so her opinion of her didn't sway me) But she talks about how Palin just became so much more th...more

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Mar 24, 2011 Chrissy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-fiction

I saw Meghan McCain making the talk show rounds to promote Dirty Sexy Politics, and I was compelled to read it. I like Meghan, she speaks her mind and is a moderate republican. American politics could use more moderates on both sides of the aisle, so good for her. As far as this book goes, it is a breezy read that isn't all that insightful. It's interesting that Meghan got kicked off her father's campaign, while nobody seemed concerned about the unwed pregnant teenager...really, who is the bigge...more

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Mar 15, 2011 Mollie Katie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2010, reviewed, reviewed-on-blog

Most of you have probably already read Leon Wolf’s scathing review of this book. In my approximate year and a half spent on Twitter, I can’t recall a single article getting that many Re-Tweets in my timeline ever before. In the interest of full disclosure: I don’t like Leon Wolf for personal reasons and my issue with him is serious enough that I’m probably going to dislike or disagree with anything he writes. My review of this book is no exception. To me, his article felt like half book review,...more Most of you have probably already read Leon Wolf’s scathing review of this book. In my approximate year and a half spent on Twitter, I can’t recall a single article getting that many Re-Tweets in my timeline ever before. In the interest of full disclosure: I don’t like Leon Wolf for personal reasons and my issue with him is serious enough that I’m probably going to dislike or disagree with anything he writes. My review of this book is no exception. To me, his article felt like half book review, half hit piece. (He starts with making a legal distinction between the mentally retarded and the just plain stupid, and near the end of the piece states that the book would be enough evidence for a medical professional to make a DSM-IV diagnosis of psychological disturbance.) I follow a lot of conservatives on Twitter because of my love for the show Red Eye, so I’m aware that the consensus seems to be that you all miss Leon Wolf’s presence there and hate (or at least strongly dislike) Meghan McCain’s online persona. For that reason, I was very apprehensive about reviewing this book for my blog.

I planned to post this review for Fearless Friday, as I’m calling it when I force myself out of my comfort zone, but I was delayed due to technical difficulties. Now is probably as good a time as any to break out this book review. SPOILER ALERT! Here goes nothing… (view spoiler)

http://mkisstacked.wordpress.com/2010...(less)

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Nov 21, 2010 Jackie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction

Dear Meghan, I will try to be nice because I know your feelings get hurt very easily. But honestly, this book was not great. You led me to believe you were going to give me an inside veiwpoint of the campaign trail however instead, I got an inside viewpoint of your tempter tantrums. Honestly, It was ridiculous. I'm sorry you didn't get to see your parents whenever you wanted to. I have no idea what that would be like- being kept from my parents by the secret service. However, by the time I was a...more

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Nov 05, 2010 Maeve rated it 4 of 5 stars

I started reading Meghan McCain's column in the Daily Beast after I saw her on either Colbert or the Daily Show about a year or two ago, and when I saw that she'd written a book about her experiences on the campaign trail, I was eager to read it. I wasn't disappointed.

I like Meghan McCain; I don't always agree with her, but I do always appreciate her point of view and really wish that everyone was as reasonable as she is. That's in general; for the book specifically, I liked that, but I also lik...more

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Oct 20, 2010 Jen rated it 2 of 5 stars

Mostly, I was curious about why politics is dirty or sexy. Not that campaigns don't get dirty or sexy, but what on earth would the maverick's daughter write about.

She makes no bones about the fact that the book is her own baby, not approved by her parents. I don't know how happy Mom and Dad were when the book came out, but I'm guessing not completely euphoric.

I struggle with liking how McCain's alter-ego "Meggie Mac" describes her adventures on the campaign in funny, even at times self-depreca...more

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Oct 19, 2010 Nancy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: memoir-biography

Meghan McCain and I differ in our political parties and on some issues but I have to say, she is refreshingly honest and someone I'd love to be friends with. This book covers Meghan's experiences during the 2008 election. It is a quick read and I know many reviews dismiss Meghan as being entitled, a diva, or drama queen but she freely admits that she can be difficult to work with. She talks openly about why she supports gay marriage, why she admires Hillary Clinton, how she was fired from her ow...more

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Oct 12, 2010 Grace rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: current-events, memoir, american-history, non-fiction, read-in-2010

I enjoyed Meghan McCain's "Dirty Sexy Politics: A True Story" so much that I devoured it in just a couple of hours and was kind of sad to see the book end. Kudos to Meghan McCain for putting herself and her experiences on her father's campaign trail out there for the world to read. She isn't the most likeable person at times, but she stays true to herself and her love for her father and everything he (and she) believes in. That's what counts in life.

I wish that she had dug a little deeper into...more

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Sep 26, 2010 Ashley rated it 2 of 5 stars

I don't know precisely what I was expecting from Dirty Sexy Politics but what I got was a hot mess of rambling and meandering writing with a few insights about the Republican party and the inner workings of a presidential campaign thrown in.

Meghan McCain's memoir about her father's 2008 Presidential bid did expose the ugly underbelly of life on the campaign trail. The insane hours, short tempers, and sexcapades of stressed out staffers are no real surprise. The lack of juicy tidbits in these are...more I don't know precisely what I was expecting from Dirty Sexy Politics but what I got was a hot mess of rambling and meandering writing with a few insights about the Republican party and the inner workings of a presidential campaign thrown in.

Meghan McCain's memoir about her father's 2008 Presidential bid did expose the ugly underbelly of life on the campaign trail. The insane hours, short tempers, and sexcapades of stressed out staffers are no real surprise. The lack of juicy tidbits in these areas was disappointing.

I understand from some other reviews that there is a blatant lack of fact checking and editorial oversight in the book. To be honest, I didn't go so far as to try to directly refute anything because I don't care. I didn't read the book as any form of Republican bashing. I read it because only a handful of people ever get to experience what Meghan McCain did, as both a blogger and as the candidate's daughter. I did feel that the writing was at times disjointed, and there did appear to be a lack of good editorial review.

I was surprised to learn that even as the candidate's daughter, McCain did not have unfettered access to her parents while on the trail. I had always assumed that would be a non-issue. But with campaign leaders concerned about Meghan's blogging of day to day campaign life, as well as her image, they managed to relegate McCain to marginal status within the campaign. They even forced her to go so far as to see image consultants, to get rid of her "stripper hair" and wear the ubiquitous pants suit.

That being said, McCain has what I feel are some golden nuggets of wisdom for the Republican party, and politics in general. First, stop with the double standard for women in the political arena. Who the hell cares about our hair and clothes? Obviously people do, but we don't judge our male candidates the same way, so we shouldn't include it in the evaluation of our female candidates.

Second, McCain urges the party to become more inclusive: embrace technology; don't ignore the youth voting block; don't force all republicans into the same narrow social viewpoints; stop treating intellectualism as a four-letter word. I think those are incredibly valid points, and I hope McCain uses her rebel tendencies to help further those causes within her party.

Overall, I don't find the book particularly well-written or deeply insightful, but it is a quick read and does provide an inside look at a world few of us will ever see firsthand. Meghan McCain is a smart woman. She graduated from Columbia. I like to think this book is more a reflection of her age than her ability. (less)

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Sep 22, 2010 Joanna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 100-books-2010, non-fiction, politics

I come from a long line of hard core Democrats, but I freaking love Meghan McCain. It's like she's the last real person left in politics - and her willingness to be almost the only prominent member of the Republican party who is outspokenly in favor of gay rights makes her something of a hero - bleached blond hair, Matrix references, and all.

You should not judge this book by its cover or its title, both of which are sillier and more sensationalistic than Meghan McCain's funny and fair accounting...more I come from a long line of hard core Democrats, but I freaking love Meghan McCain. It's like she's the last real person left in politics - and her willingness to be almost the only prominent member of the Republican party who is outspokenly in favor of gay rights makes her something of a hero - bleached blond hair, Matrix references, and all.

You should not judge this book by its cover or its title, both of which are sillier and more sensationalistic than Meghan McCain's funny and fair accounting of life on the campaign trail for her dad. In the prologue, she explicitly says that she's not about making things up, and reading the book, you do have to believe her. She nicknames staffers she doesn't like "Mr. Burns" and "The Blond Amazon." She makes jokes about how people responded to one of her interviews as if she had "just released a sex tape with the President of Greenpeace." She writes with honesty, candor, and a good sense of humor about a very unique experience (being the child of a major party Presidential nominee) that most of us will never have.

She is also very clear sighted about the short comings of the Republican party - the intolerance, the lack of true fiscal restraint, and the nagging feeling that some people just want to turn back time to the good old years of Reagan. It's not a deep look at any of these issues, as she doesn't come off as an especially deep person, but she's sharp and observant and highly relevant.

The book is short, the chapters are almost travelogues, and it's a very quick read. It is worth it for the hilarious story of her being blown off for a lunch date with Jenna Bush. ("Wanna talk about feeling stupid and unwanted? Try carrying a take-out bag as you leave the White House in sparkly glitter heels and your hair braided in three huge cornrows,") for the story of meeting Sarah Palin for the first time with unwashed hair, and for the story of getting pulled over the day after the election. ("I'm sorry officer. My father just lost the election to Barack Obama.) It is also interesting to observe her feelings about Sarah Palin and the Palin family evolving over time in a way that indicates a growing awareness that they may have created a monster.

I do think that Meghan McCain loves her father too much to be really objective in terms of his politics and his role in letting the campaign get away from him. But I love the way that she never tones herself down, never pulls any punches, never omits downing a shot of whiskey in a Nashville bar or having unmentionables spill out of her suitcase in a hotel hallway. She is also abundantly loyal to her friends as well as her family.

No matter what your politics are, I think we should not be afraid to hear what the other side has to say. And Meghan McCain represents one of the sanest and most genuine young voices in politics today. (less)

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Sep 21, 2010 Kim rated it 4 of 5 stars

I think I have a girl crush on Meghan McCain. Do I think she's the smartest person in the world? No. Do I think she would've gotten a book deal if she wasn't John McCain's daughter? No. But you know what, she seems really down to earth and is trying to find her way in politics. She's figuring out that the personal is political and I can relate. Even though we have VERY different views on a lot of things, I respect that she's not a fanatic and does seem interested in common sense politics.

I liked...more

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Sep 09, 2010 Megan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 3-stars, non-fiction, memoir

There isn't much analytical depth here, but that's what's so appealing about Meghan McCain's memoir of her father's 2008 presidential campaign: it's authentic and she puts the reader right in her shoes. You don't need an analysis of why the Republicans are out of touch with the moderates and the youth of America (and, particularly, moderate youth), because Meghan shows it in action. She puts us in her shoes when she shows what it's like to be a "daughter-of," and the complicated image-work neces...more

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Jun 29, 2011 DeAnna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I didn't really have any expectations about Dirty Sexy Politics and I knew she wasn't going to dish on Palin because she told us so on twitter. However, she did...a little.

I was simply expecting McCain's view on her father's campaign for President and that's what we got.
I've read reviews where people call her shallow or vapid and naive. Well...she WAS naive and she fully admits it. She was a girl in her early 20s in a scary world that, to me, seems to make no sense. This was from the point of vi...more

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Mar 06, 2011 Kristin (Kritters Ramblings) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kritter-reviewed-2011

Meghan McCain writes this book to show a different side of the behind the scenes view of the 2008 Presidential campaign - I am glad she shared her story. While I think this book had moments where she was very negative, I think in the end she was able to effectively give her viewpoint as to where the malfunctions in the organization occurred.

Her sass and opinions were apparent throughout the book which I enjoyed because I felt that she was being honest instead of putting rose colored glasses on e...more

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Oct 03, 2010 Christine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Meghan McCain does a great job of writing in her own distinct, gloriously fun personality. She is the kind of chick I would hang out with on a Saturday night! She is smart, sassy and thinks for herself. And in the book, over and over she states that her father brought her up that way and he still embraces her to be like that.

The real reason I wanted to read this was to see a true perspective on McCain and Palin. And what I learned is her dad is really still the moderate guy, the maverick, he al...more

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Sep 25, 2010 Beth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: nonfiction

I was suprised at how much I enjoyed this book. Meghan McCain's story of her dad's presidential campaigns, the 2008 in paticular, is an interesting, fast read. McCain's youthful perspective permeates the book, for both good and bad. The book focuses on her own personal experiences and she does an excellent job of conveying how emotionally and physically draining campaigning is and offers an interesting glimpse of the strange world of being a "daughter-of" . She does not attempt to paint an espec...more

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Sep 06, 2010 Margaretann rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was driving around on Saturday listening to my favorite NPR quiz show, "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!" when I heard Meghan McCain being interviewed. She was on to promote her book and I thought she was funny, smart, down to earth, and sounded like she had an interesting story to share. So when I was at the bookstore later, I picked it up (I hardly ever run out and buy books like that, BTW...but I was in need of a new book so it was good timing I guess).

I finished this speed read of a book over t...more I was driving around on Saturday listening to my favorite NPR quiz show, "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!" when I heard Meghan McCain being interviewed. She was on to promote her book and I thought she was funny, smart, down to earth, and sounded like she had an interesting story to share. So when I was at the bookstore later, I picked it up (I hardly ever run out and buy books like that, BTW...but I was in need of a new book so it was good timing I guess).

I finished this speed read of a book over the Labor Day weekend and I have to say, I liked it! For the record, I am a registered non-partisan 30-year old DINK that usually leans to the left. While I am drawn to some of the Republican ideals of self-reliance and individualism, the far Christian right definitely scares me off. Not only that but I want gays to have the right to marry and I'm worried about the environment! I agree with Meghan that these days the Republican Party is totally out of touch with this nation's younger generations and that both the far left and far right are turning moderates like me off with mudslinging, hateful name-calling, and negativity. If only BOTH political parties could learn to work together imagine what great things could happen!

Meghan comes across very approachable and likeable as she shares tales from her father's 2008 presidential campaign. I enjoyed the behind-the-scenes stories of her first impression after meeting the Palin family; how she went to an image consultant at the request of the campaign manager (and hated the changes that they made to her appearance and clothes); and the melt-downs she experienced while on the road. I also loved the chapter on being Laura Bush's "guest" at the White House for a day (and finding both Laura and Jenna to be rather snobbish and awkward to be around). She does a great job of walking the fine line of being honest about what she thinks of people like Sarah Palin and former President George W. Bush without being totally disrespectful.

I appreciated Meghan’s feelings of not feeling like she could fit in with the Republican Party because she doesn't wear pant suits, has more moderate views, and is best friends with a gay man (among a multitude of other reasons). And I also liked that she could recognize, looking back, that she made some mistakes and sometimes acted immature and dramatic (like when she photographed with a Bud Light on her bed for a magazine interview). Overall, I found Meghan to be bold, hip, smart, interesting, and extremely relatable. I enjoyed this book quite a bit.
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Feb 15, 2011 Ubalstecha rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reads, us-politics, 2008-election

Meghan McCain is an interesting figure in US politics. She is the eldest daughter from John McCain's second marriage, and the only one of his children who joined him full-time during his most recent run for president. Frequently dismissed by both sides of the political spectrum, she is also a bleach blonde, pro-life, pro gay marriage Rebulican.

This book is her memoire of the eighteen months she spent on her father's campaign, both as, what she calls, "first daughter political prop" and blogger....more

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Sep 26, 2010 Elise rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I don't know why I wanted to read this, but somehow I wound up at the B&N checkout with it in my stack. I guess the main word I'd use to describe it is interesting. As a democrat, I respect Meghan's ability to comment on her own father's run for presidency without much bias. She analyzes the republic party with both an insider's perspective and yet, she also notes how alienated her "modern" views make her in the eyes of other republicans. It's a shame there are so many others with her same o...more

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Dec 17, 2011 Diana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Will start of by saying that I'm pretty damn moderate when it comes to politics. But when a young Republican affiliated with a big presidential campaign wants to dish what happened behind the scenes, I'm all ears.

So I picked up Meghan McCain's book.

How I would describe Meghan: opinionated, has ideas worth listening to, is careful about offending political figures that people normally have strong views on (e.g. although she discusses Sarah Palin's red-flag moments during the campaign, she coats...more

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