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Meghan McCain on the politics of Thanksgiving dinner

'Dirty Sexy Politics' author Meghan McCain says she and her parents won't be discussing 'don't ask, don't tell' when she goes home for Thanksgiving.

When the McCain family sits down for Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, one topic for sure won鈥檛 be on the menu: 鈥渄on鈥檛 ask, don鈥檛 tell.鈥�

That鈥檚 the word from Meghan McCain, an outspoken advocate for gay rights 鈥� and daughter of Sen. John McCain (R) of Arizona, leader of a congressional effort to block repeal of the military鈥檚 policy that bans open service by homosexuals.

鈥淚鈥檓 going home for Thanksgiving tomorrow. When we sit around Thanksgiving dinner, I鈥檓 not going to be talking about 鈥榙on鈥檛 ask, don鈥檛 tell,鈥� 鈥� Ms. McCain said Sunday at the Miami Book Fair International. She was , 鈥淒irty Sexy Politics.鈥�

McCain described a warm relationship with both her parents. But the secret 鈥� as in many families 鈥� is apparently to steer clear of politics. And she鈥檚 even a Republican, though of the more liberal variety, at least on social issues. McCain worked on her father鈥檚 2008 presidential campaign as a blogger, but was eventually kicked off the campaign plane for being too, um, lively.

鈥淚 think sometimes my father wishes I was a kindergarten teacher,鈥� said the 20-something McCain, dressed in a black dress, big hoop earrings, and Jessica Simpson shoes with five-inch heels. 鈥淏ut he still loves me. And I have to separate the political and the personal, otherwise I鈥檓 not going to have a relationship with my parents.鈥�

McCain鈥檚 mother, Cindy McCain, has also been embroiled in DADT of late, first appearing in ads favoring repeal, then abruptly announcing via Twitter Nov. 12 that she supports her husband鈥檚 position.

With her book tour, the younger McCain seems to be on a multifaceted campaign of her own 鈥� part personal rehabilitation, part outreach to young people promoting a hipper, more moderate version of Republicanism, part town crier warning about Sarah Palin (鈥減olarizing,鈥� she says) and the tea party (鈥淚 worry that it鈥檚 too extreme鈥�).

On Part 1, she admits to being 鈥渂ratty鈥� to the Secret Service during the campaign. But despite the title of her book, she says she was 鈥渁ctually celibate for most of the campaign, because I personally am not attracted to men in politics as a general rule.鈥� Her book鈥檚 title, she says, refers more to campaign journalists and staffers.

After she was kicked off her father鈥檚 plane, she went to an image consultant in Los Angeles, who told her to cut her hair and dress more conservatively. 鈥淚 did all those things, but I was still swearing a lot,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t was a very intense situation. My job was to stand still and look pretty.鈥�

Eventually, she was allowed to campaign for her father on her own.

McCain defends her status as a Republican, saying she passed an online 鈥減urity test.鈥� She describes herself as 鈥減ersonally pro-life,鈥� but believes abortion should remain legal. She also opposes abstinence-only sex education. And, in views her father would certainly be happier to hear, she favors a strong national defense, as well as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

On the politics of 2012, she鈥檚 ready to sign on to Team Romney, though it鈥檚 not clear if the feeling is mutual. (Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney hasn鈥檛 announced yet if he鈥檚 running for president again, but is widely expected to.) Senator McCain's surprise selection of then-Alaska Governor Palin as his running mate in 2008 clearly still rankles Meghan. She rejects a suggestion that Palin could be her dad鈥檚 biggest legacy when all is said and done 鈥� more than his years as a Vietnam POW and in the Senate.

鈥淢y dad鈥檚 a rock star,鈥� she says.

For McCain, the highlight of her Miami book fair appearance seemed to come when a tall, cute guy from the audience came to the microphone to ask a question.

鈥淲ere you on 'The Real World'?!鈥� McCain said, her eyes lighting up.

The man smiled, then replied. 鈥淢eghan, is that really the most interesting thing going on right now in this room?鈥�

鈥淚鈥檓 a child of pop culture, honey,鈥� McCain replied. 鈥淚 recognize you.鈥� She even remembered his name: Dan.

鈥淵ou look fantastic,鈥� she said.

鈥淪o do you,鈥� he replied. 鈥淲e should go get drinks.鈥�

Back in July, Democratic Senator Carl Levin of Michigan, the chairman of the Senate's Armed Services committee, commented on 'Don't ask, don't tell' at a Monitor Breakfast.