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This month, Meghan McCain, moderate conservative pundit and daughter of Senator John McCain, will briefly step in for Elisabeth Hasselbeck on “The View” while Hasselbeck is out on maternity leave. In the past, on Meghan’s personal blog and as a columnist on The Daily Beast, she’s proven a divisive political figure, voicing her softer views on certain issues (including birth control in sex education, gay rights, etc.) while still staunchly asserting her Republicanism.

Sure, daytime talk shows aren’t exactly prime viewing for her peers, but the appearance will certainly raise Meghan’s increasingly prominent profile and her sound bytes may very well be picked up by other media outlets that do effectively reach the 18-34 demo, a.k.a. the youth vote.

I wouldn’t hold up the twentysomething as representative of a new generation of conservatives, but as one of the few to assertively stand on a political soapbox (vs. Bristol Palin’s inadvertent foray or recently named “Today” contributor Jenna Bush whose focus will be exclusively on education matters), I’m sure she resonates with a certain subset whose voices may get drowned out by older, louder members. For both those inside and outside of party lines, Meghan highlights the reality that conservatism is a broad political movement. And setting aside how this inclusive rhetoric will factor into determining the fate of the party come 2012,  I think a spokesperson like Meghan McCain could have a positive impact on younger Republicans –  particularly women, and those who believe in similar party reforms but may be self-conscious about the negative stereotypes around the conservative party and perhaps feel a need to play down that part of their identity.

On that note, I also see potential in the willingness of young liberals to listen to Meghan explain some of the key components of the GOP platform via relatively neutral mouthpieces like The Daily Beast and “The View.” So many of us are used to associating conservatives with the Stephen Colbert/Daily Show parody versions, that a rational discussion may sometimes seem hopeless. If a figure like Meghan could inspire dialogues “across the aisle” in political science classes and dorm rooms, it might help both sides achieve a better understanding beyond stereotype.

For more campus coverage, visit the Ypulse Campus Channel, sponsored by Campus Media Group.

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Categorized under: Collegians

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