I'll admit it, I was glued to the TV pretty much every night of the 2008 presidential campaign. At the time I don't know if I even heard of Meghan McCain. The Palin and Obama kids got a hell of a lot more coverage in the press. That's a shame, because if Meghan McCain got more coverage, it would have done her dad a lot of good.
This book reveals how and why McCain didn't get a lot of coverage. It's because Steve Schmidt, the senior campaign strategist, pushed her into the backgroup, one of several mistakes made by the campaign. The book also reveals how she felt when Sarah Palin was announced as the running mate. First, the question, "Who?" and then tears. Until that day, the assumption was that it would be Mitt Romney (but Meghan really wanted it to be Lieberman).
Dirty Sexy Politics doesn't have a lot of dirt or sex in it, but if you want to know what it was like on the inside during those crazy months, this book is for you.
4 stars.
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Dirty Sexy Politics Hardcover – Aug. 31 2010
by
Meghan McCain
(Author)
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Meghan McCain came to prominence as the straight-talking, progressive daughter of the 2008 Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain. And her profile has only risen since the election ended in favor of the other guy.
What makes Meghan so appealing? As a new role model for young, creative, and vocal members of the GOP, she's unafraid to mix it up and speak her mind. In Dirty Sexy Politics she takes a hard look at the future of her party. She doesn't shy away from serious issues and her raucous humor and down-to-earth style keep her positions accessible.
In this witty, candid, and boisterous book, Meghan takes us deep behind the scenes of the campaign trail. She steals campaign signs in New Hampshire, tastes the nightlife in Nashville, and has a strange encounter with Laura and Jenna Bush at the White House. Along the way, she falls in love with America--while seeing how far the Republican Party has veered from its core values of freedom, honesty, and individuality. In Dirty Sexy Politics, Meghan McCain gives us a true insider's account of life on a campaign trail.
What makes Meghan so appealing? As a new role model for young, creative, and vocal members of the GOP, she's unafraid to mix it up and speak her mind. In Dirty Sexy Politics she takes a hard look at the future of her party. She doesn't shy away from serious issues and her raucous humor and down-to-earth style keep her positions accessible.
In this witty, candid, and boisterous book, Meghan takes us deep behind the scenes of the campaign trail. She steals campaign signs in New Hampshire, tastes the nightlife in Nashville, and has a strange encounter with Laura and Jenna Bush at the White House. Along the way, she falls in love with America--while seeing how far the Republican Party has veered from its core values of freedom, honesty, and individuality. In Dirty Sexy Politics, Meghan McCain gives us a true insider's account of life on a campaign trail.
- Print length208 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherHyperion
- Publication dateAug. 31 2010
- Reading age18 years and up
- Dimensions13.97 x 2.03 x 21.08 cm
- ISBN-101401323774
- ISBN-13978-1401323776
Product description
About the Author
Meghan McCain is the creator of the Web site mccainblogette.com and has written for Newsweek. She is currently a blogger for The Daily Beast.
Product details
- Publisher : Hyperion (Aug. 31 2010)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 208 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1401323774
- ISBN-13 : 978-1401323776
- Item weight : 272 g
- Dimensions : 13.97 x 2.03 x 21.08 cm
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
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MEGHAN MCCAIN writes a weekly column for The Daily Beast. Prior to that, McCain worked on her father’s 2008 presidential campaign and created the website McCainBlogette.com, which provided a personal look at daily life on the campaign. Her children's book, My Dad, John McCain, was a national bestseller. She lives in New York City.
Customer reviews
4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
85 global ratings
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Top reviews from Canada
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HALL OF FAME
Reviewed in Canada on September 1, 2010
You may know her dad a bit better, but if you haven't read her "blogette" then you don't know the daughter. Meghan McCain is a heck of a smart girl. Displaying a bright, open mind, this was a joy to read. She's tactful when she needs to be, and you get the sense that when it comes to certain disasters (cough Palin cough) she could have said a lot more than she did.
But don't worry. She says plenty. If you want an inside look at the dirtiest election in recent memory, this is a great read. But it's also just a great read if you're sick and tired of the same old right-winged cliches. McCain proves that you don't have to be a teabagger to be on the right.
I felt that John McCain was a bit misunderstood. Not a great public speaker, with a muddy disorganized campaign and too much mudslinging, McCain the man got lost a bit. Now you can get to know him through his daughter's eyes.
Highly recommended!
But don't worry. She says plenty. If you want an inside look at the dirtiest election in recent memory, this is a great read. But it's also just a great read if you're sick and tired of the same old right-winged cliches. McCain proves that you don't have to be a teabagger to be on the right.
I felt that John McCain was a bit misunderstood. Not a great public speaker, with a muddy disorganized campaign and too much mudslinging, McCain the man got lost a bit. Now you can get to know him through his daughter's eyes.
Highly recommended!
Top reviews from other countries
Charles McGuinness
4.0 out of 5 stars
A fast, enjoyable, and interesting read
Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2010Verified Purchase
Regardless of your political position in the presidential election, you can't help liking Meghan McCain as she goes through the ups and downs of the campaign after finding herself thrown into the job of "daughter-of" with a campaign staff that prefered her to be seen and not heard.
The press may focus on the book's comments about Sarah Palin, but that almost entirely misses the point of the book: it is a first person story of the campaign, and Sarah plays only a small role in that experience.
Meghan talks a lot about the battle for the direction of the republican party. It is either irony or foreshadowing when she talks about how the party has shifted away from its roots, as we've just seen John McCain seemingly disavow his earlier, more moderate positions in order to win a primary. I cannot imagine that this makes the author happy, at least not privately.
There's no doubt in my mind that the timing of the economic melt-down propelled Obama to the White House, and there was probably little John McCain could have done in the end. But there is also no doubt in my mind that, had he solicited and taken the advice of Meghan gives in the book, it could have gone a long way in narrowing the gap. Her prescriptions -- embrace new technologies, be accepting of differences, focus on freedom and leaving people alone -- would have gone a long way towards broadening his base. (And, of course, have Joe Lieberman as VP...)
If you buy this book, it will not be a scholarly as you might like, nor as in detail about key events in the campaign as it could, but it is an interesting read and you won't regret it. The title is a bit misleading ... maybe "The girls on the bus" would have been better?
The press may focus on the book's comments about Sarah Palin, but that almost entirely misses the point of the book: it is a first person story of the campaign, and Sarah plays only a small role in that experience.
Meghan talks a lot about the battle for the direction of the republican party. It is either irony or foreshadowing when she talks about how the party has shifted away from its roots, as we've just seen John McCain seemingly disavow his earlier, more moderate positions in order to win a primary. I cannot imagine that this makes the author happy, at least not privately.
There's no doubt in my mind that the timing of the economic melt-down propelled Obama to the White House, and there was probably little John McCain could have done in the end. But there is also no doubt in my mind that, had he solicited and taken the advice of Meghan gives in the book, it could have gone a long way in narrowing the gap. Her prescriptions -- embrace new technologies, be accepting of differences, focus on freedom and leaving people alone -- would have gone a long way towards broadening his base. (And, of course, have Joe Lieberman as VP...)
If you buy this book, it will not be a scholarly as you might like, nor as in detail about key events in the campaign as it could, but it is an interesting read and you won't regret it. The title is a bit misleading ... maybe "The girls on the bus" would have been better?
One person found this helpful
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TheReader
3.0 out of 5 stars
Oh Meghan....
Reviewed in the United States on January 28, 2012Verified Purchase
I was so excited to finally have gotten my hands on this book, as I've been very upset with the Republican party for leaving their ideloogy and catering to the Christian voters. I see Meghan McCain as someone who is true to the true conservative values as for instance freedom for the individual. How anyone can claim to be pro freedom and pro a small state, while at the same time thinking it is right that the state should decide who can get married and who cannot is beyong me. So, I was excited. The first chapters lived up to my expectations. I loved the opening quote by Goldwater. Then it started lacking. I felt like I read chapter and chapter, without really having read anything. And why she put in that anecdote about Laura and Jenna Bush, I'll never know..
If you are after a book on how this one person experienced being on the a campaign, then maybe you'll enjoy. Although I must warn you she doesn't give a detailed encounter, there is a lot of feelings and very few actual events. If you are after a book where MM gives her views on the issues, and her take why she can be a republican and still have a different standpoint then many of the republicans we normally hear from, (like I was) then this is not the book for you.
Dear Meghan McCain, can you write a book about what you belive, why you believe it and how that fits in with being a republican? I will buy it right away!
If you are after a book on how this one person experienced being on the a campaign, then maybe you'll enjoy. Although I must warn you she doesn't give a detailed encounter, there is a lot of feelings and very few actual events. If you are after a book where MM gives her views on the issues, and her take why she can be a republican and still have a different standpoint then many of the republicans we normally hear from, (like I was) then this is not the book for you.
Dear Meghan McCain, can you write a book about what you belive, why you believe it and how that fits in with being a republican? I will buy it right away!
4 people found this helpful
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Kevin Nicholls
4.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining at face value.
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2010Verified Purchase
Normally, I wouldn't even buy a book like this, but I caught Meghan on The Daily Show and grabbed a Kindle sample. To my surprise, Dirty Sexy Politics was engaging, so I went ahead and bought it.
Meghan recounts the everyday nuances of being on the road, and the feeling of being "left out" as only a woman of her years and experience can. And when taken in that context, Dirty Sexy Politics is interesting and well-written. There aren't any amazing revelations to be found here, but again, that's not really the context of the book. What you get is a very personal recounting of being on the sidelines of an unusual and ultimately failed political campaign.
And while some decry Ms. McCain as "spoiled" or "entitled", those who have actually taken the time to read the book will discover that she's quite aware of where she came from, and acknowledges being out of touch with those of us outside politics and the niceties that come with it.
Expecting this book to be an academic treatise from a poli-sci Ph.D. is no more reasonable than expecting aged Porterhouse and fine wine at Applebee's. This is more like ordering a six-piece McNugget and getting eight in the box.
Meghan recounts the everyday nuances of being on the road, and the feeling of being "left out" as only a woman of her years and experience can. And when taken in that context, Dirty Sexy Politics is interesting and well-written. There aren't any amazing revelations to be found here, but again, that's not really the context of the book. What you get is a very personal recounting of being on the sidelines of an unusual and ultimately failed political campaign.
And while some decry Ms. McCain as "spoiled" or "entitled", those who have actually taken the time to read the book will discover that she's quite aware of where she came from, and acknowledges being out of touch with those of us outside politics and the niceties that come with it.
Expecting this book to be an academic treatise from a poli-sci Ph.D. is no more reasonable than expecting aged Porterhouse and fine wine at Applebee's. This is more like ordering a six-piece McNugget and getting eight in the box.
8 people found this helpful
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John Edinger
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantastic !! written in everyday language
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2021Verified Purchase
Written by the 24 year old daughter of John McCain when he ran for presidrnt in every day language without 3 or 4 sylobol words to describe people or political orientations. Very readable about Meagan being part of the candidates family, what it was like to be at different events, getting there, and the aids that accompanied her. Just out of colkege and getting reunited with her family and interacting with Sarah Palin's family while learning about them during participation rather than at a long weekend of a family get together. A great book about an interesting oresidenal campain and an election.
Rhonda C. Elsaesser
5.0 out of 5 stars
Meghan’s first book is a delight.
Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2018Verified Purchase
So I’m reading this book 8 years after it was published and I have to say, after watching Meghan this past year on The View and all shes been through with her father’s passing, she has not changed a bit. In the book, she adores her father and writes of how she wears her heart on her sleeve, both very true to this day. And I find that refreshing that she has stayed true to herself 8 years later. The book is about all that went on from her perspective on the campaign of 2008. It’s a fun look at politics from her young point of view. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. She’s got a great way of speaking to the reader and my hope is that she writes a book about her father’s illness and his passing and how she dealt with all the pain and heartache. I would read it for sure.
5 people found this helpful
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