When intelligent, high profile women choose to make a point by going off subject and attacking another woman's weight, I want to scream. Recently, Meghan McCain, daughter of Senator John McCain, wrote an article for The Daily Beast criticizing Ann Coulter and the extreme right of the Republican Party. In response to this article and a subsequent appearance by McCain on the Rachel Maddow Show, Laura Ingraham attacked McCain on her radio show by referring to her as a "plus size model" and poking fun at her "youthful" manner of speaking. This then escalated when McCain appeared on The View and told Ingraham to "kiss my fat ass". Why can't we, as women, have reasonable debates without attacking one another's appearance? It does nothing to advance our assertion. Moreover, we aren't taken seriously. You don't hear men making snide comments about their opponent's baldness or girth.
Meghan McCain is not fat and that was the assertion made in Ingraham's comment – despite Ingraham's most recent back-pedaling on the issue. What if she was heavier? What would her weight have to do with any of her views on the Republican Party or Ann Coulter's divisive rantings? What does a woman's weight or beauty have to do with her ability to start an intelligent debate? Does the value of one's perspective lessen with each pound of excess weight?
I'll be honest -- I don't like Ann Coulter. I find her annoying and not particularly intelligent. She makes most of her points by talking over those she debates. Prior to this week's debate, I had no opinion of Meghan McCain. Now? I'm a bit intrigued and willing to hear more of what she has to say. As far as Laura Ingraham is concerned, before this debate, I found her, despite her conservative views, to be tolerable. Most of the time I didn't agree with her, but I was willing to listen to what she had to say. That is until this incident. I'm insulted by her comments about McCain, but I am more insulted by her use of weight as a distraction from the issue at hand.
Yes, Ms. McCain does not have the "experience" of others in the world of political commentary, but she's only 24. This should not be reason in and of itself to dismiss her views. Young women need to be encouraged to put their thoughts out there. Over time, their ideas will evolve and, perhaps, change. What we should NOT do is stifle their opinions in a dismissive manner and make fun of their weight and youth.
