October 15, 2009 5:22 PM

Meghan McCain Twitter Photo Creates Uproar

By
Brian Montopoli
Topics
In The News
(twitpic.com)
Meghan McCain, whose profile as a young political commentator has steadily risen in the wake of her father John McCain's loss in the 2008 presidential election, posted a photograph on Twitter of herself yesterday in the midst of what she called, in a tweet, her "'spontaneous' night in" with "my Andy Warhol biography and takeout."

The response to the photo, at left, was apparently not what she had expected.

Just one hour after she posted the picture, a seemingly hurt and angry McCain posted this tweet: "so I took a fun picture not thinking anything about what I was wearing but apparently anything other than a pantsuit I am a slut, this is."

And then this one: "why I have been considering deleting my twitter account, what once was fun now just seems like a vessel for harassment."

And then this: "when I am alone in my apartment, I wear tank tops and sweat pants, I had no idea this makes me a "slut", I can't even tell you how hurt I am." (Here's McCain's twitter page.)

McCain, who writes a column on the Daily Beast Web site and has more than 60,000 twitter followers, quickly took the photo down. But it had already spread far and wide online and generated enough interest to rise, for a brief moment, to the top spot on Google Trends.

She also kept posting about the picture and the response to it.

"ok I am getting the f*** off twitter, promise not to delete my account until I sleep on it, thank you for the nice words supporters," she wrote. And then she offered an apology: "I do want to apologize to anyone that was offended by my twitpic, I have clearly made a huge mistake and am sorry 2 those that are offended."

Twitter users expressed surprise that McCain was taken aback by the response to her photo.

"I find it difficult to believe that she [didn't] expect *some* reaction to that photo," wrote afrobella. Others expressed sympathy for McCain for the criticism she received.

"i really don't understand why people r having a cow over megan mccain's pic," wrote pamela1483. "i think it's fine. whats the problem? that she has boobs?"

On Thursday afternoon, McCain wrote a pair of tweets that, taken together, formed what seemed to be her takeaway from the experience: "I would like to thank my family and friends for their support. This has been an embarrassing experience but also a learning one. I will not…be deleting my twitter account but I will be more careful in the future about my use with the medium."

McCain seems to have learned the same lesson that many young Internet users have taken to heart in recent years: Be careful what you post online.

Update: Meghan McCain Hits Back at Twitter Photo Critics

Add a Comment See all 111 Comments
by BeckieBest October 18, 2009 5:13 PM EDT
The family values party?
Reply to this comment
by billie2222 October 18, 2009 5:32 PM EDT
Like mom and dad. Cheat on your first wife, steal another woman's husband, get involved with Charles Keating, and steal drugs from your own chartiable organization. Meghan got some great moral parents!
by Imadinnerjacket October 18, 2009 1:37 PM EDT
Meghan .. you can twitterpate me anytime you want darlin.. ;)
Reply to this comment
by Fringlish1 October 18, 2009 1:29 PM EDT
well, that is just crazy--what do you expect posting the "look at my boobs" photo? No way that was not totally planned-and a terribly long way from a "pantsuit"--this attitude of "I can't believe people commented about my photo" makes me totally question her intelligence. I thought she was a bright young girl, but maybe she is just a young girl with big boobs.
Reply to this comment
by bobnjersey October 18, 2009 7:47 PM EDT
[I thought she was a bright young girl, but maybe she is just a young girl with big boobs.]

she's likely a bright young girl with big boobs and an empty bottle of wine on the table.
by fourjunk October 18, 2009 11:21 AM EDT
Wow, this is news? A girl, no matter who she is, not baring flesh causes an uproar. Not only do folks need to get a grip, the news media does to. It's no wonder this country is going down the toilet. The news doesn't report on anything news worthy anymore, just what will hold the average Americans attention span, which sad to say, isn't much.
Reply to this comment
by sandy19731 October 18, 2009 11:11 AM EDT
Apparently she would garner the dirty old man vote. At least according to this thread.
Reply to this comment
by gnome111 October 18, 2009 10:25 AM EDT
I can't believe anyone would judge another person by what they wear or do. Anyone who has a problem with this picture and made her apologize is controlling another American's ability to pursue happiness. Next you will want every American to register in a National Registry that controls your every move. This is America home of the free or it used to be.
Reply to this comment
by bobnjersey October 18, 2009 7:59 PM EDT
[Anyone who has a problem with this picture and made her apologize is controlling another American's ability to pursue happiness. Next you will want every American to register in a National Registry that controls your every move. This is America home of the free or it used to be. ]

everyone is now pre-registerd w/ the nsa.

it's part of the patriot act, the lawlessnes of the last adminstration, and congressional approval of immunity for those part of a conspiracy to ignore the constitution and the rule of law.

this has now replaced the 'godd@mn piece of paper' that used to be known as the us constitution. welcome to america ... where twittering the minute by minute status of your boobs is the new 'land of the free'.
by yossid85 October 18, 2009 9:15 AM EDT
You are what you wear and say ,****!!
Reply to this comment
by fcs25 October 18, 2009 7:05 AM EDT
Goodlooking girl with big boobs.Show some more we'll vote for you.
Reply to this comment
by billie2222 October 18, 2009 3:23 AM EDT
This is what trust fund babies do when they are bored. Why do we even care about Meghan McCain? Her greatest accomplishment is being the daughter of a wealthy heiress and a US senator. Heck if she keeps on track she'll be a future US president like another bored trust fund baby called George W. Bush. We will forget her stupid crap and nominate her for a political office like we forgot George W. Bush's DUI, cocaine abuse, and dodging real military service. Keep up the good work Meghan, you're going places!
Reply to this comment
by mia45 October 18, 2009 1:24 AM EDT
you got to be kidding me.....is she not over 21? As an American does she not have the right to wear what she wants? If you do not like the picture then stop lookng at it.
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