On Thursday night, Republican Meghan McCain celebrated the Democratic National Convention in a way that hinted she may be changing sides.
For years, she has expressed her discomfort with the populist Republican Party led by Donald Trump, a man who smeared her father, John, when he was alive and even smears him now that he’s deceased.
Meghan McCain’s discomfort turned into out-and-out cheerleading this week as she lavished praise on the DNC:
“Maybe republicans just shouldn’t have conventions … just forfeit because I DO NOT KNOW HOW YOU CAN COMPETE WITH THIS! #DNC2024”
“Oh man, how cool is this drum line?! #DNC2024”
“Republicans cannot compete on the culture space with artists, musicians or celebrities on any level whatsoever. Just give it to democrats — which is why we shouldn’t worship them and then nominate them for President. Bring back the normies in ‘28.”
McCain also expressed gratitude to Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Ruben Gallego after he spoke favorably of John McCain.
What’s going on here?
Republicans are split over a key question
There is a battle in the Republican Party over how to reform it.
The family of the late U.S. Sen. John McCain just happens to embody that dispute.
Here’s the question they face:
How do we cope with Donald Trump — a populist demagogue who punches hard against the new and more activist left?
Roughly 30%-40% of Republicans are die-hard MAGA, meaning they would take a Fifth Avenue bullet for Trump. Anything he says or does is A-OK with them.
Cindy McCain is part of the #NeverTrump wing
Then there are the rest.
Cindy McCain represents the #NeverTrump branch of the Republican Party.
The matriarch of the McCain family has long had an independent streak and would occasionally steer left of her husband when he was alive.
In the 2020 election, Cindy McCain dressed in Democratic blue and posed for the front page of The Arizona Republic as an unabashed supporter of Joe Biden and the Democrats.
Biden would reward her by naming her ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture.
Meghan McCain has tried to deal with Trump
Meghan McCain at that time represented the larger segment of the party that knew Trump’s character was a problem, but Democrats weren’t about to ease up so you could solve it. You had to deal with Trump while still fighting the Democrats.
The Democratic Party had grown more aggressive and more socialist and was on a mission to destroy American conservatism.
Meghan stayed with the party and fought, while never pulling her punches when it came to Trump.
This year, however, she is actively rooting for the defeat of Republican U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake. Who can blame her after Lake once called on “McCain Republicans” to “go to hell”?
Meghan McCain is also actively rooting for Trump to lose.
But her comment “bring back the normies in 2028” doesn’t sound like someone who is ready to pose in blue, like mom did.
There are better ways to finesse the Trump problem
Meghan McCain is her father’s daughter and her father was — for all the garbage Arizona Republicans threw at him — a loyal conservative.
He consistently voted conservative — more than his GOP critics realized — and he defended conservative values.
Meghan grew up in his reflection and has generally expressed her father’s values and ideals.
Trump arrives in Arizona:With a big antisemitism problem
As a Republican struggling with the character of Donald Trump and the unrelenting assault of Democratic socialists, Meghan should study Brian Kemp.
The Georgia governor has found a way to finesse Trump — to maintain a proper distance — while fighting off the Democrats.
A few weeks ago, Trump tore into Kemp the way he used to tear into John McCain. He called him “Little Brian” and said Kemp is “a bad guy. He’s a disloyal guy. And he’s a very average governor,” reported Politico.
John McCain knew it: Stick with the party and fight
This week Trump is eating out of Kemp’s hand.
On Truth Social on Thursday, Trump thanked Kemp “for all of your help and support in Georgia, where a win is so important to the success of our Party and, most importantly, our Country.”
How did that happen?
It happened because Kemp maintained the loyalty of Georgia Republicans without cozying up to Trump. Today he holds the keys to Trump’s success in Georgia in the 2024 presidential election.
Without Kemp’s help, Trump probably loses the election.
Meghan McCain has another model. Her father.
He too dealt with the Trump problem. He too finessed it, out-performing Trump on the 2016 Arizona ballot.
John McCain looked at Trump and decided he would be damned if he ever surrendered his party to that man.
John McCain wasn’t #NeverTrump.
He was #StayInAndFightTrump.
Phil Boas is an editorial columnist with The Arizona Republic. Email him at phil.boas@arizonarepublic.com.
