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McCain, the person who destroyed the Republican party.

I used to consider myself a republican because at the time I thought they were for individual freedom and less government. Since Newt's "Contract on America" and the Repub sucking up to religious bigots I have found them to be the opposite of me.
Ms McCain is on the right track, but she is alone at this time.

Go Meghan!

Any political party that has the hatred of one group of people
as one of it's core values has got real problems.
Faith and Acceptance are christian values.
Hatred and Intolerance are not.

I applaud Cindy McCain for taking the lead in good
old-fashioned American idealism where this country's strength
comes from it's diversity.

Gay people should get the same rights, and priveleges,
treatment and respect as every other american.
We pay the same taxes you do.

Kudos to Cindy and Meghan. I think you can give up hope on the GOP - they are a party of haters with no ideas. The vitriol that comes from their leaders (Rush, Hannity, Coulter, and the gang) is breathtaking (and not in a good way).

May there be a day when true equality reins in the US!

From a straight, white, lower middle class gal, working two jobs in WA state, I wish the best for ALL our citizens.

You go girls!

Good for her. Republicans need to stop pretending "the gays"are Americas worst enemy to apease the ignorant religious community.

Isn't being a gay Republican akin to being a Jewish Nazi?

A gay republican group? Does anyone else see any irony in that?

OMG! They want to create their own party! Sorry McCains, you don't like the liberal ways, remember? Were horrible people that care about others whether their a minority, poor, pro-gay rights and believe abortions should be up to the individual. The Democrat party is already taken sweeties! You can join us if you like, but stop lying just to win an election. Palin has rubbed off on you with her LIES, now and during the election.

Obamalism, I feel the same way as you do, you put it better than I could.

Oh boy, the McCains are really going to have the Palin/Limbaugh crowd seeing red over this one.

Good for them for showing that not all Republicans are closed-minded bigots with no tolerance for people who don't look and think exactly like they do.

oh her father must be so proud of her....we did not vote for gay marriage here in arizona and it is likely that it will never happen....

perhaps one day i'll have a candidate to vote for who shares my values: socially liberal and fiscally conservative.

here's to hoping!

As soon as the republicans realize that their social agenda is poison the sooner their fiscal policies will gain credibility.

I se nothing on these blogs but liberal hate comments–back to the real news at fox.

Pete said it all.....I applaud these ladies, but are they doing this just to get more votes? (i don't care either ways) I have always said that republicans, who are self-proclaim champions of morals, are the most bigoted of the two parties. They easily forget the most basic rule: The Golden Rule. Yet on sunday they clutch tightly to their bibles.
They decry any thing that serves the interest of other Americans when it does not serve theirs. Selfish bunch!!

I always laugh when I see Republicans whining about smaller government and saying they want the government out of people's personal lives. Then they turn around and want to tell us who we can sleep with, who we can marry, how we can die, and what we can choose to do with our bodies. Then they wonder why they have no credibility.

Any type of Love is better than any type of Hate!

Brian, NJ April 16th, 2009 5:44 pm ET

"It is not the governments job to decide who goes to hell and who doesn't. The government does not belong in the bedroom. A real Republican would feel this way.

These people that are against gay marriage, what are they afraid of, what are they trying to stop? Gay people will continue to be gay and to live with the one they love. Why not afford them the same legal rights."

It's not the legal rights that are in question, it is the definition of marriage. I don't think most Republicans have problems with civil unions affording all the same legal rights, but to define a gay relationship as a marriage gives it a moral legitimacy and sanctity that I think many people are still not comfortable with. I must be behind the times, society has been pushing gayness for a long time now, but I'm still not ok with gay "marriage".

Looks like Meghan has found her dads straight talk (no pun intended). Too bad gramps caved in to his handlers and kept her quiet during the campaign. He might have fared better on election day with a reasonable Republican like Meghan by his side.

It's 2009 & we're still discriminated against & victims of hate in America, the Land of the Free & Home of the Brave. America is guilty of this, Democrats & Republicans alike. This is the first time I've read these messages and I'm surprised by the amount of democrats who do nothing but hate on other people. Do you work? Question really is, where were YOU during the past 8 years? You did nothing, just as Obama did nothing by voting "present". His people died for the right to vote and he DID NOTHING! Did you have any tea parties? Get a job & start paying taxes. It's as though Wright's congregation fills up these message boards. Stop complaining and join us working Americans – the Republicans! Go Sarah! We love you!

Hello Meghan:

This liberal Democrat thinks you are pretty cool! I love your independent, gutsy thinking–you are my kind of maverick.

Even though I didn't vote for your Dad, I still greatly admire him a person
and his service to our country.

Warm wishes from Colorado

Meaghan in 2020? She's already better than Palin

I love how outspoken and "straight talking" she is, but what part of her is actually a republican?

M. McCain seems to be touching all of the issues that will bring attention to her and make her believable. There is an underlying agenda here. Yesterday it was Schock, the young Republican Rep. Now her again. She started leaning towards CNN because most Liberals blog here...I see clearly...There's nothing blurring my vision. They are up to something....Individually and collectively...Or maybe their paranoia is rubbing off on me...

I have to agree with Mississippi Mike, the Republican base will never accept gay marriage or rights in this lifetime. I listen to Meghan McCain whenever I get the chance and to me she sounds more like a very moderate Democrat, she'd have an easier time persuading Democrats to lean more center then the Good Ole' Boys of the Republican to lean an inch left. Lost cause.

I'm not gay and couod care less if someone else is. This is not a Republican vs. Democrat issue. This has to deal with the narrow views of religion vs. the evolution of society and culture. Someone mentioned earlier that gay couples are higher educated , more financially responsible and its true. This has become a civil rights issue.

We can compare this to how Blacks. When blacks began to stand up for equal rights, the majority did whatever they could to hold them back. Hoses, lynches, segregation, etc. This is the exact same thing in a different time with different people. Gays don't choose to be gay, they just are so whats the problem wit someone being happy and being themselves. Its not contagious.
My question would be to anyone anti-gay is what if the gay person is religious. What happens then? I know for a fact that not every Christian is perfect. It says in the bible so again whats the problem?

One of my best friends, my mother, and many of her friends are Republicans and support gay marriage. I'm independent and support equality for all - even if you don't like gays they are citizens and deserve (and will have) the same rights as everyone else. That's reality.

Hats-off to Megan - there might be hope for that party yet.

How come some moron always gets on here and says "WITH ALL THE NEWS GOING ON THIS IS ALL CNN CAN POST" like this is the only story on the ticker or on CNN. Don't they know that line stopped being clever the first time it was used. If you have nothing to say how about saying nothing. Enough about amoeba brains.

This Meghan is either a plant or a closet Democrat. I bet she didn't even vote for her Father.

The LCR's have always really confused me. Today, they had their spokesman on CNN and when pressed to name Republican elected officials who supported them named John Huntsman and Michael Steele. I'm not familiar with Huntsman's attitude, but I do recall Steele saying that it would be "crazy" for the GOP to moderate on gay marriage and also said, regarding allowing civil unions in lieu of marriage, "what's the difference?"

Imagine this was a group of Muslim Americans and they supported a party that didn't want to allow Muslims to marry or even get civil unions. It's just mind-boggling. But I'm happy they finally got some real support. Meghan is really trying to drive a new direction for the GOP. We'll see if anyone follows.

uh oh, shaft, rush and the other GOP rank and file that the repug senator and reps answer to wont like this

they have been deliberately ignoring that gay people exist for some time now

I'm a proud Gay American and moderate-conservative and I am happy that the McCains have donated their time to this event. Meghan is exactly right-if Republican ever hope to expand the party, they need to adopt a more open approach for gays & lesbians, racial/ethnic minorities, women, and other underrepresented minority groups.

She should be excommunicated from the GOP for sticking up for equality. Disgusting.

Uh, oh, Meghan you stepped in it this time! However, I must commend you, because you did this knowing full well that Lush will throw down the gauntlet to get at you.

We Dems may have trouble with you in the future since you come across as a rational repub.

Nah, the comments from the neo-cons on this blog that are about to rip you to shreds will never change before they all die out!

Then we better keep an eye on you!

Watch out for those extremists in your party and your all set. Though I myself couldnt imagine voting for a Republican for a very very very long time after the behavior ive seen and am still seeing. Who knows what the future holds, maybe their childish mentality will finally be more accepting of reality and alot of the things Americans face that they've ignored for so long. Whatever the case they need BIG changes.

the reason why the GOP will not come back in years is because this branch of the party will repeatedly be shot down by the rest of the party

I support the alternate reality in which conservatives can support gay rights. Too bad that our two party system ends up with a conservative party with social, religious, economic and political values all so twisted together that they'll be lucky if in a hundred years someone who's conservative in one aspect doesn't necessarily have to tow the rest of the ridiculous party line.

This is very admirable of Ms. McCain. I can't wait to hear all of the howling from the rest of the right-wing. I also have the feeling that she won't be apologizing to the thrice divorced, college drop-out, junkie (Limbaugh) who seems to control the repubs.

As a fiscally moderate gay male, I'd be voting for republicans, were it not for the nutwing base of the party that has a problem with my people. Nice to see McCain seeking common ground. I voted for her father, though I was a little sick about his VP choice.

Those loyal Log Cabin Republicans need to go back in the closet like good Republican lap dogs. These disgusting people do more harm to the cause of gay rights than they do good. These are the same dillusional people who still think G.W. bush was a great president.

"If the Republican Party has any hope of gaining substantial support from a wider, younger base, we need to get past our anti-gay rhetoric."

Damned straight!! Spot on!!!

Meghan McCain is not a Repub; she is a Dem posing as a Repub. She shares none of the principles that most Repubs share. She doesn't speak for me; in fact if this is what the new Repub is, I'm done.

kimberly April 16th, 2009 5:32 pm ET

"If they stop hating gays, blacks, women, and people that dont worship like them, then they would not be republicans, they would be Democrats. Sorry miss Mccain, but you will NEVER get the gay vote, or pro-choice vote, or the vote of any American that believes in the constitution. Its NOT the republican way to live and let live."

Social issues are very important to many people, but BTW, a black man is the head of the RNC and they just ran a woman as the vice presidential candidate. Man is your face red! I project that if the Republicans do eventually accept homosexuality (they will have to the children of today have no chance to oppose this issue, constantly being barraged by everything saying it is OK and great), the Dems will kick it up a notch and recognize bestiality!

Gay marriage proponents are fighting for the wrong thing...

By all means fight for your equal right freedoms. Please do. Just don't confuse equal rights with sexuality and marriage.

If you want full rights that a spouse receives...argue against those rights being only available to a spouse. Leave marriage out of it. Leave sexuality out of it.

If I want John Madden or Barney Frank to to be able to visit me in the hospital or be a guardian or whatever...it should have NOTHING to do with marriage. Marriage really doesn't have much place in govt laws.

If all you want it equal rights under the law, then you should argue that ANYONE can be declared your legal equivalent. It's not much different than a living will...

It is not the governments job to decide who goes to hell and who doesn't. The government does not belong in the bedroom. A real Republican would feel this way.

These people that are against gay marriage, what are they afraid of, what are they trying to stop? Gay people will continue to be gay and to live with the one they love. Why not afford them the same legal rights.

EWWWW!!! Watch out, Cindy and Meghan!!! It might rub off on you!!!

Watch out, fellow Republicans!!! You may start treating gays like citizens of the United States with the same rights and privileges deserved by all!!!!

Meghan McCain is a Dem posing as a Repub. She does not speak for most Repub, in fact, I'm not sure who she speaks for except for herself; basically she'e a one women show. Now, I wish she would go home. With peopel like her posing as repubs, Dems may win again in 2012.

As a liberal, I am very glad to see news like this. Megan McCain is an impressive young lady and hopefully embodies the future of the Republican Party. I happen to believe in our two party system, which has been severly challenged by hate and bigotry on the right.

I like Meagan, but I hate the Republican agenda. I will be a Democrat until the day I die, and proud of it.

So, when Meghan McCain says that Republicans might get more votes if the party tones down it's mean-spirited and occasionally hateful rhetoric towards gays, minorities, immigrants, what's the Republican response? OH, that's right, they do the exact opposite. Because in a very diverse population of many races and backgrounds, the GOP would rather just rely on being an all-white, all-Protestant, all-Southern irrelevancy.

With all the news going on in this country today, this is the best story CNN could post?

While it is refreshing to finally see a Republican that isn't an out-of-touch lunatic, She's still not president material. She's still just a pundit, albeit a much more reasonable one. We need educated people in the White House, not talking heads

@ MIssissippi Mike, who said "Republicans are against gay marriage in particular and the homosexual preference in general. Watering down the party's ideology isn't going to make it stronger."

Prime example of why the GOP will die. Guess what? Gay marriage isn't a Republican v. Democrat issue...nor is it a liberal v. conservative issue. It's a religion v. LAW issue. As soon as the GOP figures out how to adapt it's core principles of conservatism to the real world 21st century, effectively removing the religious dogma from their policy positions regarding how the GOVERNMENT should operate and protect the interests of society, it will begin to make prorgess...and not a second sooner. You guys just don't seem to understand that our nation has had it once and for all with your social conservatism, mostly because 90% of what you're pushing IS AGAINST THE LAW OF THE LAND, I.E., THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION AND THOSE PESKY CIVIL RIGHTS YOU HATE SO MUCH.

Never mind Limbaugh and his Rush slaves. They are all allies of the Democratic Party. Quite apart from her support or non-support of gays, Meghan McCain and her kind are the real challenge to the Dems

They'll never get anywhere. The social conservatives to squash this in a heartbeat.

As a conservative, I think this girl is utterly vapid, but this is one issue on which she and I agree.

On average, households of committed gay couples are higher educated than the general population and they are more often than not, high income earners, which translates to more investments, more economic activity, and more economic consumption.

In an age when the government is economically enslaving the next five generations of Americans with spending that would embarass drunken sailors, gay marriage is hardly an issue to get upset about.

I can't wait until this woman is 35 years old and can run for president. If she keeps up these great, fresh, open-minded, yet conservatively fiscal ideas, she may very well be the first Republican candidate I vote for.

If they stop hating gays, blacks, women, and people that dont worship like them, then they would not be republicans, they would be Democrats. Sorry miss Mccain, but you will NEVER get the gay vote, or pro-choice vote, or the vote of any American that believes in the constitution. Its NOT the republican way to live and let live.

Watch out. Liberal news anchors might report and joke about this in gutter slang terms same as they did on the tax tea party demonstrations. Nah- this is one of their pet subjects.

Republicans are against gay marriage in particular and the homosexual preference in general. Watering down the party's ideology isn't going to make it stronger.

Could this be the future GOP presidential candidate??? This is the best they have to offer so far!