CNN

[...] elections, people like your father, people like Arlen Spectre, who is now a reliable Democrat. You've said, "In my Republican Party there is room for everyone!" How is that logical at all? The [...]

I am a strong Democrat, Ms. McCain needs to go get a job and start doing as President Obama said, go out and help someone who needs helps and stop talking about "Specter" he made his choice, live with it, and explain while would that be selfish. Limbaugh said it best "leave the party."

I bet she gives great head....That is about all.

The party that is disrespectful is the DEMS. They say they believe in freedom of speech and so many other rights, but when it comes down to it they only believe they have those rights. Opposition is what they will not tolerate.

all you republicans need to really pray.........

the gop is like a heard of elephants getting into quicksand, they (Ain't no way out. ) is mccain (megan) afraid of limbaugh??

Megan McCain is turning out to be quite an intelligent young lady. I'm glad to see her views getting out there. Thank you CNN.com.

CNN, do you realize that Meghan McCain is not an elected official or in any way possessed of cogent insight into current events, American history, or politics? She seems like a nice person, but there are a lot of nice people in the world, and we don't really need to see their opinions headlined in the news on a regular basis.

Hi Megan,

Senator Specter gave 29 years to the party of Lincoln. After Ike the party has gone downhill. There were few good people left in it, like your dad, Jim Jeffords , Lincoln Chaffey, Olympia Snow, Susan Collins Arlen Specter were some of the class people in it. Now Jeffords and Specter have been pushed out. All others are rifraf.

Jaidev Rao

I agree I you Persuing-Through – if put Rush Limbaugh, Dick Cheney,Karl Rove, Sean Hannity and Glen Beck in an Identification Parade you would not be able to tell the difference. The Republican Party is gradually becoming a party that disrespect the intelligence of the American people. Do they really have conservative values at heart ? What is conservative values anyway? With characters like those who would want to follow conservative values. The Republican Party needs to separate themselves from such characters, else they will fade into oblivion.

Who is this little girl again?

I don't think CRS has fully overtaken me, but didn't a certain smooth talk'in hollywood actor switch from Democrat to Republican, and then become a thorn in communisms' side..

M. McCain,

Your season is over....Please go the way of FP Bush and stay out of the spotlight.....Freedom is a wonderful thing....He Sen. Specter)
didn't sell his soul to the Party like you....Thank God he had the sense to leave.....He doesn't need the money. He enjoys politics. And since your party has lost it's luster, the thrill is gone.....He's a smart man, and he's more than welcomed in our party....Goodbye, please....Go back to Drudge, TownHall, The Daily Beast, and your other mean-spirited blogs....

Meghan who??? McCain? Didn't he lose the election? Why is SHE campaigning still for him?!!?

I am thankful that your soldier fights for our country, I have many friends in the military. However, one does have to be a Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative, to be patriotic. We should not forget that our forefathers foreswore that ideas of political parties and factions when founding the country. Specter had the courage to switch because he is more moderate than most conservatives- I also give him credit for being up front about the decision being based on the political realities of PA- where I am a resident. The Republican Party has gone to the right of its founders and greatest Presidents. History has showed that Theodore Roosevelt, a staunch Republican, was also one of the greatest Progressives of his time. The latter Roosevelt was our greatest wartime president- a liberal who left his conservative Republican background. If the Republican Party is to come back, it has to be on the minds of the younger generation and not those a la Cheney et al.

It was a great choice to see Arlen Specter change parties. The amount of foolishness the Republicans are doing behind doors, the corruption and the Bush-ites who followed along with the decisions to go to war and give Bush "dictatorshiop" power is what veterans like Specter hate to see. I must say Specter is one of the enlighten one's of his 'former' party because he too believes in bipartisanship. His party is just mad because he voted for the stimulus - where his vote was what caused it to pass in Senate floor. So what? Do they fail to see that the stimulus is actually helping the economy at this moment? Do they not see some progress since it was passed?

The Republican party is trashed and in order to change the Republican politics in Washington, the leaders must change, the policies must change and the GREED must change! This is just the beginning for the Rethuglicans. Let them keep on keeping on...history often repeats itself; that especially when Roosevelt was in office for nearly four terms...we can have two Democratic presidents who both sevre two terms...!

Proud mother of a soldier: We need more Americans like you. You actually believe in individual responsibility–what a concept! If I understand you correctly, politicians should not be seeking office until they draw their dying breath as Specter is. Hmmm, now how would common sense like that ever make its way to DC? Specter ought to retire–and take Pat Leahy, John Kerry and other 4-term + Senators with him. We definitely need term limits for ALL politicians.

Meghan does not speak for Republicans, unless you watch one cable news network regularly. For those who hate Republicans, would you be content with a one-party state? Ask Mexico how one-party rule works. For that matter, tour Detroit for the results of one-party rule! It ain't pretty. I still vote for the party that promotes freedom and defends private property rights! Government-run economies always fail. And the government that can give you everything has the power to take away everything. We now have a government that threatens private enterprise and can fire executives with whom they disagree.

I'd rather have the freedom to fail than no freedom at all!

Who really cares what Meghan McCain thinks? She, Rush and Newt are all wanting attention. Newt and Meghan I believe are wanting to be president. What a scary thought that is.

Megan may be right. But she is'nt thinking either. Instead of jumping ship, or saying who is selfish. They should be getting together and see, if they could bring their party back-up to par. I agree with PELOIS, take back you're party. But I do'nt blame Spector. If the party do'nt wants to pull its head out of the donkey-ass. Then move on to better grounds, to keep doing what you need to do. To get the job done.

Don't worry they will running you out of the party next you and your dad.

I read all the dems and liberals here and I am sickened by the people of this country. WHY, would anyone fight for people like you? If you think Spector leaving the GOP was anything but self serving and he is an asset ,you are wrong, He has joined the right party ...the party of "it's all about me". I believe in term limits, I voted for him in the past but I am ready for him to leave. He said it himself....it is all about his political longevity. He will add to the destruction of this country as founded by our forefathers just like Obama, Pelosi and Reid. Go out and work folks doing whatever necessary to earn money like our parents had, grandparents and greatgrandparents.

CNN is so left wing they can't be trusted to report the truth. Switch to Fox if you want any real news . To hell with rating these bums what a waste of air time.

Wow! you are a noise maker. keep quiet

How unfortuante for the American people that the Republican party has fallen so far to the right that they appear to be becoming little more than obstructionist hate-mongers. With Republicans losing people and influence our nation faces the possibility of becoming essentially a one party country. Regardless of how great a party may be and how good its leaders, one party rule is inevitably a bad thing.

Megan, you can only succeed if you bring people like you. With all due repect people like your father or Spector are rigid, often uninformed and have been sided by extremist as the likes of Palin, Hanity,Cheney and that idiot lazy do nothing whinner Limbaugh.
you need to draft young people to regain the GOP from what has become the grand ole piss party.

He decided he wanted to CHANGE things, not to go back and more of the same, he wanted to see things get better , not worse, We are making a difference and now he will be on board to make that CHANGE too.

Megan, what do you thing you are. Making noise as if you know the politics, come on keep quiet for people that know politics to air their view.

Your own article demonstrates not only how ridiculous the GOP has become, but ironically what a pathetic twit Meghan McCain is. When asked any substantive questions about the budget or anything of any real weight, she typically giggles and demures that she really is "not up on that or those details," so she really does not want to speak on those issues. The only thing that she is any good at is pointing out the many hypocrites and creeps in the GOP. Please give me a break. She is not even a person of any substance. She is merely the privileged daughter of John and Cindy McCain, nothing more. Please stop wasting our time with "Celebrities" famous for being born into the right elite family.

Wow....if Specter is "selfish" for wanted to get elected, what does that make Sarah Palin who started a PAC four (4) years ahead of the 2012 election...???

Good for her!!!! I LIKE it! God intended marriage for a man and a woman since Adam and Eve. He never intended it to be for Adam and Steve.

This nasty and hateful attitude is exactly the reason why so many people are leaving the Republican party. Enough with the sour grapes because he doesn't feel aligned with your party anymore. What? Is the Republican Party the mafia or the Hotel California? You can't leave? What a bunch of bullies.

Republicans are really reaching. No one cares whats she, Jindal, or even Chuck Norris have to say. Stop embarrassing yourselves. Accept defeat and continue your march into oblivion.

The republicans are running scared.. now they are fighting the inevitable.
No there is no room for the non ultraright, next may be Arnold, McCain, and other centrists. As you can see for the cooments here, they becoming more intolerant even with in their own party..

Interesting..

Republicans should remember ""if they go too far to the right, they may find themselves in the far left..

I don't see it as selfish.

He saw his constituents change from radical right-wing to moderate progressive and he changed with them.

The only people in the R party are far-right-wing radical evangelical hypocrits. The party of exclusion.

We don't want what the republicans dictate and demand.

I hope someday the GOP will return back to the middle ... I applaud Meghan McCain for having the courage to want to stick it out until the day that happens.

Meghan McCain, who herself switched from the Democratic to the Republican party in 2008, is criticizing Arlen Specter for switching?

Hilarious. Does she know Rush told Specter to take McCain with him and his daughter too?

I find Meghan McCain refreshing, but her observation that Senator Specter is "selfish" speaks to her youth and inexperience. In a few more years she will see the political and philosophical reasons for the change. Frankly this sort of petty and silly branding ("selfish choice") doesn't square with her cheer to be more inclusive. If you want to be more inclusive you don't go calling someone "selfish".

I guess if your rich the republican is for you

Big Tent Party!*

* as long as you're white, rich, old and heterosexual

WHO CARES what Megan McShame thinks!!!
Stop trying to make her into a political star because she's not.

Well, when there is room for everyone in the Republican party, I might consider it. At the moment, I don't see where they care to make room for me.

Why do you believe in your party Meghan? They don't support or believe in you.

Megan McCain, Joe the plumber, why is it that the media thinks we care what these two have to say. Is it because she is the Mavericks daughter and he was a shill for McCain. Maybe it is because there is NO voice in the republican party. As a democrat I am enjoying this but the Specter move is no big win for us.

He will most likely become a thorn in our sides along with Lieberman. I am not sure why he didn't go Independent except maybe he thinks that Democrats will support him with money. I hope that he understands if he does become a problem for the democrats getting Obama's agenda passed he may get the Presidents help because he said he would but that doesn't mean all democrats will fall in line. We didn't promise to support him.

Hey Meghan, I am republican and I would really like for you to go and sit in a corner for eternity time-out! Whoever started listening to you in the first place should be booted where the sun doesn't shine.

Meghan McCain- if Rush, Palin, and (former) Ms California are "real" republicans... I'm amazed more aren't fleeing the GOP like rats from the Titanic.

On the other hand- I always liked and admired Specter even when he was a republican. He seemed to be the only one with brains in the bunch.

Just as I predicted. She is just like her daddy. Smiles in your face while saying one thing and does exactly the opposite. I hope all the Obama supporters (I to support him) who have been "mooning" over her wake up. She is a spoiled brat with no convictions or loyalty. I still remember her standing there smiling while her old man held hate rallies. Yes, that was her. Did you really think she had changed? Please little girl go away and take your daddy with you.

Well done Mr. Specter,

It is always good to Abandon a Sinking Boat
Or
To make hay while the Sun Shines

WE WILL SEE MORE HISTORY IN THE MAKING.

THANKS TO RUSH LIMBAUGH.

GO RUSH GO… KEEP THEM SWITCHING…

No No No. Specter is not the "selfish".

Rush Limbaugh is the real "Game-Changer".

This is just the first half. See the results after the full game

Just become a democrat already.

please someone tell me why I care what this twit thinks about anything?

Come on over Meghan... there's plenty of room for everyone!
For everyone but Limbaugh, that is.

You know you want to... go ahead... make the smart choice. You'll
gain more than you'll loose.

Who is Meghan (who)? She's a nobody and who cares what she thinks. She is as racist as alot of the Republicans and their followers. Mr. Specter made a wise decision because Republicans are selfish and stuck up. Support our President and shut up.

Meghan McCain is being naive about the Republican Party. The sad fact is - and Ms. McCain will inevitably have to face it - is that, as President Obama said in his inaugural address, "the political ground has shifted" from under the GOP's feet.

That shift is generational. As Ms. McCain herself said in a speech at the Log Cabin Republicans conference in Washington last month, "The old-guard [read: conservative] GOP is scared [expletive]less" about the major demographic and attitudinal changes taking place among the American people.

Unfortunately for Ms. McCain, the "old guard" has no intention of giving up their iron grip on the party. On the contrary, right-wing purists are engaging in a wholesale attempt to purge the GOP of anyone and everyone who doesn't comport to their radical right-wing worldview.

Contrary to Ms. McCain's assertions, the purists drove Sen. Specter out of the party - just as they drove retired Sen. Jim Jeffords of Vermont to quit the GOP in 2001 (he became an independent), attacked former Sen. Lincoln Chafee during the 2008 campaign (He's since defected to the Democrats). The right-wing purists are now going after Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine - and inevitably, they'll go after Ms. McCain herself.

You go girl! The problem with Specter is that he didn't agree with the Republicans on much of anything anymore. We probably won't hear of him again after 2010.

Who cares about Meghan McCain's opinions?

A few things.
1. Who woulda thought that Arlen Specter would leave the GOP before Meghan McCain (she is so pretty)
2. Do you think she heard Boss Limbaugh call her and her father out before she came with those words of encouragement for her hate and hopeless party . (They are hate-FULL and hope-LESS)
3 And I quote "I am still a believer in this party! I have faith we can bring this back, who is with me?!?" Ya see! this is why she is still with this party. for some reason I can't figure out, she still believes in them. And they say we liberals are naive for believing in the American People. You, Ms. McCain are naive for believing in the GOP...but yer just so darn pretty I'll have to forgive you.

I can't believe this party of republicans.......you have this teenager speaking for the GOP, yes she might have some clue to what this party needs to do to regain some of it's strength, but she is still clueless, then you have Steele from the getto with his gutter talk.....then you have Limbaugh with his radical racial white thrash talk.....need I go on with the rest of republicans that have no clue as to how to get this country going again, but they all seem to know that Obama isn't the answer.....you people are blind and deaf to what the people of this country need and want..........glad to see the smart republicans that still have so gumption to leave the party of NO and come over to the party of YES WE CAN......

As much as I respect the courageousness of your position Megan, it's probably time to join the other 75% of america that has realized that there is no talking to an idiot because an idiot is always sure he's the only one in the room that's "right" which is why they become idiots in the first place and the reason they never change into anything more. If your looking for a political party that's more in line with YOUR ethics and morals and you feel it absolutely necessary to maintain the two party system (see gridlock and lack of accomplishing basically anything) then consider the independant party as a viable alternative to the party of bigotry and hate you are currently aligned with and maligned by...

The problem with the Republican Party is:
[a.] – Rush Limbaugh,
[b.] – Dick Cheney,
[c.] – Karl Rove,
[d.] – Sean Hannity,
[e.] – Glen Beck,
[f.] – Sarah Palin

Well I do agree with the last sentence. It's good to have disagreements, but why would you want to be a member of a party that is so unwelcoming to you and no longer stands for a single thing that you believe in??