CNN

Ah, the nievity of youth... She says he was 20 points behind and that he should try to overcome the obstacle of winning the party... It is obvious she either hasn't a clue to the fact the the GOP had already screwed him over for that as they would of used the fact he voted against the GOP for the stimulous or anything else regardless of his reasoning behind it... The Republicans haven't got any clue how to fix anything especially considering they are a majority of the ones responsible for the situation this country is in now... Spector did the only thing he could do under the circumstances and considering how Rush said McCain should go with him and the Steele agreed with Rush should tell her where her parties leaders are taking themselves... She even blasted Rush yesterday for saying her dad should go too and then today she has the ignorance to say Spector should have stayed when it is pretty obvious to most of the people that he was through as a Republican as far as the ones running the party are concerned...

So, as I said, don't feel bad for Meghan and don't think of her as anything more then nieve (or basically young and dumb) when it comes to what is going on in the overall spectrum of things... she is a typical young Republican, following on blind faith instead of actually looking as what is and has been going on and trying to make a change... most of the stuff she writes or comments on has no bearing to the actual way the party is being run at this point in time, but I will give her credit for being on of the 20-30% of the population that still admit they are a Republican...

HE SAW THE WRITINGS ON THE WALL, WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT? SOME PEOPLE NEVER SEE..... IT! AND PLUS, HE GOT A "SWEET DEAL"!......................................

Republicans let the whole country down. Why are you republicans not surprised. Your ideals are from the dark ages.

They don't even like you Megan.

Meghan:

I am not a republican, but I truly respect your dedication to making your party more progressive. You represent the future of your party and I think, the Republican leadership should pay more attention to what you are saying.

okay I dont care if Meghan party hates her.. if anyone wants the republican party to win anything they probably ought to listen to her. End of story. I am for the best person in my opinion and I felt Obama is better than Mccain. But I am begining to like Meghan!!!

Meghan, take a hint from Sen. Specter. The RNC IS NOT THE SAME PARTY THAT YOU KNEW!!!

Get out while you can, child.

Megan is hot.

Like her or hate her, she brought up the most important point.

Senator Spectre wasn't going to even win the nomination of his own party to run for re-election next year. He switched to save his job first. Any help to the great people of Pennsylvania is a distant second.

Does Arlen even KNOW who Meghan is? Does he care what she thinks?

Probably not....her dad wants to jump ship too...but can't....

OK,

she speaks a lot about what's wrong with the GoP (and I agre with her) ...

BUT, BUT!!!

What is she saying the GoP's direction should be? I haven't heard a cohherant policy discussion with her yet ... Where would she take the party on a political level ? what's the plan ?

She's no better than the far right billowing about how some are not GoP enough in their ranks ... What does that mean for policy and ideas?

I'm waiting for Meghan to start issuing her solutions to the party as we all know it's problems...

Crickets.....

we're waiting ....

There are no 'real' differences in the political parties anymore anyway. All either side does is blame the other and spend money that isn't there. Arlen Specter left to better his chances for re-election, plain and simple. At 79 yrs old – why isn't he stepping aside anyway and letting someone with different ideas get in there?

Senator Specter knows he represents PA as a whole state: not just the narrow branch of the GOP that plans of "Purging and Purifying" their political party. So instead of this small group purging Specter in the GOP primary, now the voters of PA will have a choice.

Intelligent people are not welcome in the new republican party: if you aren't a brain-washed clone, ready to mindlessly follow the "glorious leader" – you will be purged and thus the party will be purified... too scary for me!

for the people making "Republican letting you down comments" ... I have to admit in the almost 40 years I have been eligible to vote, every time I have voted for a Republican (at any level), I have regreted it after they took office and showed their true colors. I still look at the person not the party when voting, but I sure do look more closely! And lately the Republican's aren't looking too impressive!!!

Ms. McCain,

With all due respect, your father's campaign slogan was "Country First", not Party First. The only thing Specter turned his back on was the new "branding" that the GOP has been using for the last 8 years plus.

Moreover, how many people in the GOP turned their back on Specter when he voted for a bill he didn't like? The answer was/is obvious for the GOP, either you're with us or against us.

Just ask Mr. Steele.

Congress has let us all down and it doesn't make any difference which team you play for because they are all out for themselves, self-preservation is the name of the game and Specter is just being honest and upfront about it. No one is standing up for the lower and middle class of America, the wealthy and influential still control congress and party affiliation is irrelevant.

i don't see many examples of the demcratic party accepting conservative democrats. who cares what megan thinks.

remember the RNC nominated a presidential candidate that critisizes his own party many times. would the dems do the same thing? nope.

which party is the open minded ones and which aren't? its not what you think.

I've tried to think of a lot of ways to say it, but all that comes to mind is, "Shut up, Meghan!"

I wonder if she said the same thing to her father after he let his rabid minions and his VP spread racist and vicious lies about Obama, and after he lost the election. Meghan, you let us down.

That's what happens when your own party tries to eat you alive; you leave it.

Meghan, you have it wrong.

What are you smoking, Meghan? The GOP has been taken over by ideological far-right nutters who continue to spew their nonsense even after staggering election losses. There are no "progressive Republicans" anymore. If anything the term is an oxymoron.

Granted that the only reason Specter jumped ship was so he could keep is seat in the next election...

FIRST OF ALL I DID NOT REALIZE THAT MEGAN MCCAIN IS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL- WHAT DOES IT MATTER WHAT SHE SAYS??
REGARDING LIMBAUGH THIS IS REALLY LAUGHABLE- THE MAN WHO SPEAKS FOR THE MORAL MAJORITY IS A SKIRT CHASING DRUG ADDICT. HE IS ON MY PAY NO MIND LIST AND WILL ALWAYS BE ON THIS LIST
THE REPUBLICANS HAVE NO ONE TO BLAME BUT THEMSELVES
THE COUNTRY WAS BLUDGEONED BY CHENEY , ROVE AND RUMSFELD.
CHENEY PULLED THE STRINGS THAT MOVED BUSH'S MOUTH AND BRAIN- IT IS IRONIC THAT BUSH IS QUIET -WHY ? BECAUSE CHENEY DOES NOT PULL THE STRINGS ANYMORE...
THEN THROW IN SARAH PALIN INTO THE MIX AND YOU REALLY HAVE A CIRCUS.
I THINK THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CAN REPLACE RINGLING BROS AND TOUR THE COUNTRY AS " THE GREATEST MESS ON EARTH"....

No, the Republican party let Specter and the people of America down.

I like Meghan McCain but she should have asked her father that question when he picked Palin out of the woods.

Why in the world are we listening to Meghan McCain?? She is just trying to prolong her 15 minutes of fame.

His would-have-been opponent in the primary will never win a general election in PA. I’m sure the party must realize that. So they’re basically saying they would rather have no republican senator from PA, than a moderate one. It’s the Republican party that let you down Megan, and they let down Senator Specter too.

I am one of those former republicans in PA that switched parties to vote democratic in the primary and general election. I was considering switching back after the election until I saw all the hate and and exclusinary tactics that the republican party was and still is dishing out. I looked deep in myself and said, "that is not what I am about". You cannot win elections by spewing hate and hoping for the current president to fail. We are a different America. We have to include latinos, african americans, gay, straight, disabled, and not, because wether you like it or not THIS is the make-up of America. I once heard it said that America is not a melting pot, but rather a salad bowl. Republicans are using the wrong dressing thus giving this "salad" a bad taste. Meghan is giving a good fight for moderates (like myself) to be heard, but I dont think it is worth it.

I think the GOP let Specter down rather than Specter letting the GOP down. While I don't agree with her on this particular issue, I'm glad Meghan speaks up. She's one of the very few moderate/sane voices coming from the GOP lately. There may be other GOP'ers out there that are moderate and sane but they're apparently silent.

I certainly hope Arlen Specter continues to vote for what he believes is the best for his state and country rather than blindly following party lines. Honest debate based on facts is good for everybody. The GOP voting in lock step with your party (Party First) nonsense needs to stop. It doesn't help the country and in the long run will not help the party either.

I like Meghan, but only in small doses.

ray ray,,,,,

maybe because the Republicans are a bunch of racists? you see, if you are addressing a racist, then you have brought race into the picture already....... ya racist.

Meghan, Arlen didn't let you down... The republican party let this whole country down. I can't blame him for leaving and you should to.

Meghan McCain knows all too well that Senator Specter didn't leave the Republican Party, the Right Wing Takeover left him.

The Right Wing manipulation of John McCain's presidential campaign sunk his hopes as well but, Old John is too polite to say anything about it.

Meghan McCain would do well to work within her party to wrestle control from the "Rush & Cheney Fringe" before she's criticizes the Senator from Pennsylvania. Senator Arlen Specter would not win the Republican nomination in Pennsylvania because of the Right Wing influence so Meghan should congratulate the Senator on his plan to continue doing good work for the country.

The Right Wing fringe has driven the republican party down to 21% of American Voters and it's time that the GOP got it's collective act together.

Megan I like you very much, but on this one you are not really getting it. Specter is not leaving your party, he is just calling himself a democrat to try and get ahead with a particular chairmanship that he wants, and to get re-elected. I frankly, don't think he will win, because he trying to be too cute about all this. His overly ambitious nature, as does Palin's, will be his downfall. He wants under any circumstances to be re-elected, and believe me he will continue to be as ridiculous and irrational as most of the others in the GOP are being right now, whenever necessary. He will go along with them. He will continue to be a repub, and most of us realize he is just doing what is politically expedient for himself, and don't think much of him being a progressive/democratic thinker. When all is said and done, he really is one of the dinosaurs who should be retired to make room for new senators with new ideas. Ask you father how it works. By the way, he is also one of the senators who should retire.

Meghan has missed the point. Moderate repulicans have no place in the conservative religious right wing evangelical republican party. That is what it has become. That is why 200,000 Pennsylvanians changed their party affiliation last election from republican to democrat. What you have left if a right wing religious evangelical faction that is determined to destroy this country in the name of religion. Senator Specter was going to be an example of this just because of his vote on the stimulus bill. Toomey as all Pennsylvanians know is a right wing religious nutjob like Rick Santorum was. Senator Specter a 30 year sitting republican was let down by his party. Not the other way around Meghan. We are extremely glad he made the move and I as a democrat will be glad to vote for Senator Specter come 2010.

Shut your trap, Beny.... what have Republicans done to let you down? Judging by your racist comment, it's obvious you've never voted for one, therefore you should not have any expectations. I've personally never voted for a Democrat, so when they "let me down", I'm not bothered by it because I expect them to do stupid things, such as apologizing for the big, bad United States or spending pretend money in the middle of a recession.

Oh well, lunch breaks over.... time to get back to work supporting government dependents.

I feel that Meghan is denying the fact that her own party doesn't like her because she expresses her own views about the party. I think Meghan knows deep down inside she fits in better as a Democrat. But she doesn't want to be look at as a traitor to the Republican party and she knows that wouldn't help her father. But how much BS can Meghan take from her own party..I agree with Carl from MI

YOUR OWN PARTY HATES YOU, MEGHAN!! Wake up….

Meghan the man is 79 yrs olf, been in politics for over 40 years on the republican side...he's seen a lot. If he now sees a landscape that he no longer can stand with I think it's 100% his decision. The man deserves nothing but respect.

Don't be disappointed by Sen. Specter, be disappointed with the Republican Party. Yes, he had his career interests in mind, but remembert the Republican Party created conditions where moderates are not welcome. If you don't believe me, ask Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter!

Meghan: Leave with him!

I say that not as an angry hard-right conservative, but as someone who sees how clearly the current GOP has FAILED. It's time to destroy the broken, old nonsense and form a new party – one that's about fiscal responsibility, one that's about social justice not preaching, and one that's about patriotism not jingoism.

The Republican Party is DEAD. It's finished, it's over. It's time to stand up and band together as people who live in the real world not his bizarre fantasy-land desire for a resurgence of McCarthyism.

We don't have to join the Democrats, it's time to form a significant new party that's not just the "party of no." We have to form an all-new entity that's responsible AND progressive – those things are not mutually exclusive!

Meghan, voices like yours are the future. Let's not try to save what's old and broken and no longer able to serve America. Let's make something NEW!

Just because you are in your 20s, can do Twitter unlike your father, and have a familiar last name.......does NOT mean I have to care about your opinion!
PLEASE Meghan, go hang out with Sarah Palin and all the other complaining Republicans. Soon the 60 Democratic Senate seats will give you something ELSE to complain about.

You are the minority now....either help or get out of the way!

"What do the Republicans do every day that lets you down? Tell us just exactly does the Democratic Party do for you everyday?"

Wow, where do I begin? As a former Republican turned Independent, I consider myself aligned with some core conservative principles of freedom, fiscal responsibility, and security. However, the Bush administration tainted these principles and last year's GOP campaign only solidified their recent reputation of being the party of no and a fear-mongering exclusive group. Arlen Specter's departure underscores the lack of identity and leadership of this dwindling group. Why would I support them when they automatically oppose almost every policy the current administration has put forth without offering any viable solutions of their own? Who is their bona fide leader? Rush? I don't always agree with the Obama administration, especially on fiscal policy, but he has my support and tirelessly calling him socialist with the hope of scaring Americans to the "other side" is not my idea of addressing our current problems, which are probably the most a president has ever faced in history. Have you heard even ONCE a GOP member articulate a solution to any of our problems without criticizing the president?

Time can only tell how these will play out but I for one, after the last 8 years, am willing to give POTUS the benefit of the doubt and by his own admission, if the president fails to get us out of this slump within this term, then we as Americans can vote him out. Whether or not that means we vote for a Republican remains to be seen but they need to get their act togther first.

How much punishment do you expect a person to take Ms. McCain? While I have a lot of differences with Senator Specter on the issues, everyone has his or her breaking point. The Republicans were merciless in attacking him, Senator Collins, and Senator Snowe for their votes on the stimulus. And the most vocal governors in the end contradicted themselves and took the money.

The Republicans are not the "Party of No", they are the Party of ridicule, derision, and personal attacks. At least a "Party of No" may have a coherent philosophy as a basis for dissent. The current crop of Republicans in the House and Senate are mere "Know Nothings".

As a practical matter, a man that is around 70 years old IS NOT going to fight the principled fight. He's looking at one more 6-year term and then he will retire. His decision was purely a selfish one.

He was driven to that decision because there are not enough Republicans willing to confront .... Limbaugh, Cheney, Bachmann, Hannity, Gingrich, Palin, Steele, etc ..... Specter doesn't have time to wait to purge the negative elements from the party. In her 20's Meghan McCain has all the time in the world.

It will take "an Army of Meghans" 12 to 20 years before they have rid the GOP sufficiently of its divisive, rotting elements to attract the people that are voting Democratic. Much like the American car companies in the late 1970's, it will take them a long time to dispell images of poor quality. You can't just do it with "re-branding".

Meghan, the current leadership of the republican party made it crystal clear to Senator Specter that he would be actively campaigned against by his own party for following his own political instincts instead of toeing the party line. Was he to the the sacrificial lamb to the slaughter? Yeah, that would have made a GREAT impact on other members of your party with any idea about being too moderate or progressive. I'm a Pennsylvania Democrat, and I think Specter will do well now without the gun to his back.

Just what I needed today...some young daughter of a somebody starting out with saying...."Let me be clear"....as if she is now some National leader and we are all breathless with anticipation of her words of wisdom.
Whats next from her? "Mr. Ahmadinejad, TEAR DOWN THAT MISSILE SITE"

Other Senators seem to have considerable respect for Spector, but I don't see anything special about him. He's one of those "moderates" who want to split the baby in half and call that wisdom. Pennsylvania would be better served by another Democratic Senator.

I'm a Democrat. Mark my words, Meghan McCain will be the savior of the Republican Party. At this point, its a race to see if she saves it before Obama leave office in 2017 or if Emperor Limbaugh and his imperial stormtroppers will continue to do what they can to make the Republican Party less viable to the American people.

Meghan should stop being a part of that losing side of history and join in
with the winners !!! Senator Specter realized how nasty and down-trodden republicans were to him after he voted for a bill intended
to help this country get out of a rut, and he was a republican for 40 years.
That just goes to show how 2-faced republicans are. I'm sure Senator
McCain let Senator Specter down when he was running for the oval office.

Seems like the moderate republicans should start their own party, they are at such odds with the ultra conservative republican party they will never get along.

Meghan McCain and Specter really don't belong in either party and the republican brand is such garbage right now it would be worth trying to break away and bring independents with them.

Thomas... ditto !

@ Beny writes,

"As a black man I feel the Republican party lets me down everyday. They are the party of the old white rich man."

----–

Using Beny's "logic" ... by default the Democrat Party must comprised of young naive broke black men?

Just curious Beny... why do so many black men (like you, Sharpton, Jackson, Rev Wright, John Lewis, Farrakhan, etc) ALWAYS have to bring race into your conversations?

In politics LOYALTY is short-term and selfserving...I say to the GOP
weed out Specter-weeds ...............he has gone to overgrow the DEMs
not with loyalty but ......?????????

Meghan McCain is doing no more than getting her name out there for voters to know her. She has her eye on public office somewhere. One can only hope she is better at it than her dad.

Spector let know down but him self. How can anybody truly trust a politicain, they are all crooks and look out for there best interest. The RNC is a group of old rich racist men who use patriotism and Jesus as a way to scare people into there point of view, which is let the rich handle the money and we will give money to those we see fit. RNC is against every social issue or program that will benefit the lower and middle class. If you are part of the lower and middle class and you are a Republican you are a complete idiot when there interest is all about big business and over throwing countries for it's monetary success.

I think Perez needs to respect other people's opinions.....He wants to be respected for his choice but he can't respect other people's choices.....what's wrong with that?....Also, I value her coreage for being honest...good for her!!!

Benny ... I am not a "old white rich man" and resent your racist comment. What do the Republicans do every day that lets you down? Tell us just exactly does the Democratic Party do for you everyday? Bet you can't come up with 2 sensible, intelligent and factufal responses to each of these questions.

He did the right thing Meghan. Maybe your dad will catch on and do the same thing.

Do we need the Republican party?

Michael April 30th, 2009 1:15 pm ET

I think Specter did set an example for progressive-minded Republicans. He left the party that no longer reflects enough of his ideological principles.

Here here!

I feel bad for Meghan, honestly. It's pretty tough to go up against zealots trapped in circular arguments on one side and resentful moderates on the other to save the Party that recently ran your father as their candidate. She really is trying to save the Republicans Party folks so there will be a Republican Party for her kids to be able to join.

The Republican Party should replace their symbolic elephant with an ouroboros – a snake eating its own tail.

Another bimbo blonde joke? Maybe she ought to get with Palin. Specter grew a new set of you know whats and that is good for him and the Democrats.

The GOP let Senator Spector down when they turned their back on him and became a party that insists their members have no right to independent decisions...much like facists.

Whatevs. The GOP turned its back on him, not the other way around. Specter just took the hint and moved on. He obviouslydidn't change his beliefs..in fact, that he wouldn't put his beliefs aside for the aprty was prcisely why they ostracized him...so the party affiliation really doesn't matter. The people of PA will (hopefully) vote based on his past performance and policy positions...one way or the other...not solely on which tribe he belings to.

Obama give me some money

Meghan, Senator Specter ain't your daddy but John McCain is, now he's the one you should be pointing the finger at if you really feel "let down". Get over it, you sound like a spoiled brat, life is full of let downs.

I think Meghan McCain is a lot more saavy than her dad polically. And, as a Democrat – I felt the same way as her when Leiberman decided to go independent and play Republican during the McCain campaign. The one thing I disagree with her on is that Republican's care about progressive-minded Republicans. I do not think there is any such thing currently in the Republican party. The Republican's have moved so far to the right, that nobody can see them anymore. For those Republican's who are progressive, they are being consistently dictated to from the right – and ultimately that is pushing them left.

I am a Democrat, but I think we need several parties in this country to really make it a Democratic state. Unforutnately, Republican's need to get with the program before more "jump ship."

The question is: Does the GOP deserve "progressive-minded Republicans".

If the party keeps beating down these "progressive-minded Republicans", why would they stay?

Speaking as a recovering Republican, the party is moving in the wrong direction and evidently does not have a problem with it. So be it. That is their right.

But they need to recognize that they are still driving people away from the party, just like they drove me away from my party.... or what used to be my party.

What did people expect him to do? Steele had already said he would withhold RNC funding for his re-election due to his vote for the stimulus. And then they decided to primary Toomey against him and fund his campaign instead. What did they think Specter was going to do? And now, many in the republican party are pushing for Snowe and Collins to do the same.

Limbaugh is a coward and traitor to our country.He once wanted bloodshed and riots in the streets during the Democratic Convention.

As a black man I feel the Republican party lets me down everyday. They are the party of the old white rich man.

Hey beautiful blonde Meghan! Why don't you consider jumpin' into the democratic ship and become an active supporter of Dems' ideas. Just a suggestion! We think Specter is where he belongs and he ain't a rubber stamp for the Prez, believe you us, girl.

Let me be clear – I have NO respect for Meghan McCain. She's stupid. I don't care what she thinks about anything. Why does she have a forum?

I think Specter did set an example for progressive-minded Republicans. He left the party that no longer reflects enough of his ideological principles.

Almost the entire party was calling for him to leave... now that he has, their condemnation of him only confirms he made the right decision.

How can she say Arlen let her down, when the party is also calling for her to leave the party as well? They don't want you in the party, young lady!! You're not one of them... and until you learn how to goose-step in unison with the party line, they will continue to hate you.

YOUR OWN PARTY HATES YOU, MEGHAN!! Wake up....