On his radio show Wednesday, conservative broadcaster Glenn Beck thought it would be funny if he pretended to be vomiting as he watched a public service ad featuring Meghan McCain, daughter of 2008 GOP presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (R-AZ).
Beck's gag? Meghan McCain appeared to be naked (but really wasn't) in the spot. She and other women were calling attention to a health issue that her family feels strongly about — skin cancer, which her father has suffered from. Glenn seems to think Meghan's not attractive and needs to lose weight. Hence the fake vomiting.
Yesterday, Meghan used her Daily Beast column to thank Glenn "for helping me spread the word about a serious condition" — and added that he should "shut up about my body." Here's some of what she wrote:
"You're a full-grown man with teenage daughters who are probably dealing with the sexist, body-obsessed media environment that is difficult for all women. Is this really the legacy you want to be leaving for yourself?
"As a person who is known for his hot body, you must find it easy to judge the weight fluctuations of others, especially young women. If any of your daughters are ever faced with some kind of criticism of their physical appearance or weight, they should call me, because women's body image is another issue I feel passionate about, and have become accustomed to dealing with and speaking with young women about on my college tours."
Here is the PSA that Meghan did:
And if you want to see Beck doing his schtick --
Update at 4:30 p.m. ET. Her Father Is Not Amused.
On last evening, Sen. McCain was asked about what Beck did. The senator said, "I now think I can relate more closely to Harry Truman, who took some umbrage at a critic who criticized his daughter's singing."
McCain was referring to a letter that President Truman wrote in December 1950 to Washington Postmusic critic Paul Hume, who had said that Margaret Truman had "a pleasant voice of little size and fair quality ... cannot sing very well ... [and] is flat a good deal of the time."
Truman told Hume that "some day I hope to meet you. When that happens you'll need a new nose, a lot of beefsteak for black eyes, and perhaps a supporter below!"
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