Photo: Jumping cheese

Over the past year, Meghan McCain has attempted to establish herself as the fresh, authoritative voice of the Republican Party. She blogs regularly on The Daily Beast and signed a six-figure book deal with Hyperion Books in April. She’s also been making the rounds on Larry King, The View, the Rachel Maddow Show, and the Colbert Report.

The subject of McCain’s second book is yet to be released, but it’s likely that it will focus on how the Republican Party should modernize and adapt its platform to attract younger voters. In April 2009, as the Log Cabin Republican Convention’s keynote speaker, McCain summed up her political views as follows:

“I am proud to join you in challenging the mold and the notions of what being a Republican means. I am concerned about the environment. I love to wear black. I think government is best when it stays out of people’s lives and business as much as possible. I love punk rock. I believe in a strong national defense. I have a tattoo. I believe government should always be efficient and accountable. I have lots of gay friends. And yes, I am a Republican.”

It’s true that asserting oneself as a Republican engenders particular stereotypes—and McCain rightly points to the diversity of the young voter demographic in asserting her differences. Since emerging into the political blogosphere during her father’s presidential run in 2008, McCain has resisted being pigeonholed as a traditional conservative. She described herself as “a pro-sex Republican” on the Colbert Report, but is also a self-proclaimed gun lover. She posed for the NOH8 celebrity photo ad campaign opposing California’s Proposition 8, but claims there is a double standard in the media towards conservative women.

As a young woman, I often find myself agreeing with McCain. I agree with her argument that that the Republican abstinence-only education platform is outdated. It makes sense to me that one of the best ways to reduce abortion rates is to make birth control and comprehensive sex education more accessible. I agreed with McCain when she criticized David Letterman for joking about Willow Palin, and pointed out that he “would never have considered doing the same about the daughter of a Democrat.”

But sometimes she makes me cringe. On the Rachel Maddow show in March, McCain said, “I didn’t even take econ [sic] in college. I don’t completely understand it so I’d hate to make a comment one way or the other. I keep reading and I just don’t understand it.”

At least she’s honest, right?

For once, I’d appreciate having a young, intelligent conservative woman in the media with whom I can identify. I’m sure that the Columbia University-educated McCain could speak about issues with a bit more substance than sex and her affinity for tattoos. There’s a serious lack of role modeling among young, conservative women at the forefront of media attention. Bristol Palin looks hypocritical on the cover of People magazine extolling abstinence-only education with a baby in her arms. Ann Coulter is impossible for any sane person to relate to. I’ve never met another woman who didn’t either completely love or completely hate Sarah Palin.

Meghan McCain would be much more credible if she were able to hold her own when challenged. For example, in an appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher last week, McCain said that the Obama Administration should stop “blaming everything on its predecessor.” When Paul Begala, a former advisor to President Clinton, noted that Ronald Reagan blamed Jimmy Carter for years, McCain responded, “You know I wasn’t born yet so I wouldn’t know.”

This isn’t to say McCain doesn’t have anything to offer. Her attempt to modernize the Republican Party’s image is with good intention. In May, Gallup reported that Republicans were losing support across all demographics. In the 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama beat John McCain by 35 points among voters under the age of 30. Recovering at least some of the youth vote is essential for a Republican comeback in 2012 or 2016.

The Republican Party should not be obligated to remodel itself in order to appeal to young people, as McCain advocates. Young conservatives exist, but more need to step up to the forefront of the party’s leadership to demonstrate what Meghan McCain rightly highlighted—that conservatism is a broad political movement made up of many voices.

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