How Do You Explain a Savings and Loan Scandal to an Eight-Year-Old?

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Meghan McCain, who has made a career of sorts out of following her father’s campaign, has a book deal. According to Meghan’s blog, the recent Columbia grad will soon be writing an illustrated campaign biography of her father. Meghan’s book will join the ranks of other literary endeavors by the daughters of Republican politicians, offering children “the unique opportunity to see the character building events that happened over his lifetime” that have prepared John McCain to lead the nation.

One wonders which of many character-building events this book will actually highlight. Seminal experiences in the Senior Senator from Arizona‘s life include his oft-mentioned torture in Vietnam. Then there was that highly damaging Keating savings and loan scandal that almost destroyed his career in the 1980s. More recently, there was Mrs. McCain’s addiction to painkillers. Are these things really so easy to explain to children?

All in all, decidedly interesting reading for America’s Republican tykes.

—Daniel Luzer

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BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

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