was a push to a plaza and buildings. >> without question. >> a civilization. >> without question. i mean, just a few weeks ago, i mean, it's just been astonishing to me they discovered these enormous earth works in the amazon that spread out nearly 200 kilometers were connected by roads and they look almost from the sky like somebody had to try to edge a geometric equation into the earth, spread out over this huge area. and we want know what the purpose of these were but they get to this question that people are trying to find purpose to make sense. it may be a religious purpose and look at the sun and the stars but people tried to impose some order and meaning out of chaos. and some do better and malcom's stories and he talks about the dangers in the misperceiving and in the willingham case, it's a case of misinterpreting data.

>> and i think that's about all we have time for because we have to do the book-signing and people will line up for that. so thank you, david and malcom. [applause] >> malcom gladwell worked at the "washington post" from 1987 to 1996 as a science writer and later as new york city bureau chief. he's currently a staff writer for the new yorker. david grann is the author of "the lost city of z" a tale of deadly obsession in the amazon. he's also a staff writer for the new yorker. for more information visit newyorker.com. >> next, megan mccain, daughter of senator and former presidential nominee, john mccain, discusses her experiences on the campaign trail in "dirty sexy politics" this discussion took place at

the 2010 miami book fair international. and it's about 45 minutes. >> hi, everybody. thank you so much for coming out this afternoon. [applause] >> so watch me and geo talk about my book. >> kyeah, we're just going to have a lot of fun here with this but, megan, let's talk about your florida memories, your favorite florida memories and now you're back in miami. tell me, what do you remember? >> i love florida. i love being in miami. definitely some of my most favorite memories were campaigning here with senator lieberman? i'm staying at the biltmore in miami where we spent a lot of time in the icampaign. if you have read my book, it's also the place where i took a budget of xanax and almost overdosed on my father's campaign the day before the election so some mixed memories too but it's great to be back and i lovew it here. d it's just nice to be in warm weather with good cuban food. >> now, i don't know if you all have seen this cover but it's

got the elephant and a lot of people think this is a photo shopped photo it's not. this is a real elephant, isn't it? >> this is a real photoshoot. this elephant is names in a britney spears video and a katy perry video. her name was ty and it took all day but i really, really did that. [laughter] >> you know, when you first open this book, the very first thing you're talking about is freedom. it's a very big thing for you. what does freedom mean to you? why is it the very first thing you're talking about? >> and again, i don't know how many of you have actually read this book. but the first line in it is freedom is addictive. the book was from me a coming of age story and i grew up reading "primary colors" and "fear and loathing on the campaign trail" and i was really inspired by those books and i just wanted to write my sort of coming of age

story. i was 22 when i joined my father's campaign. i was 24 when it ended, which is a pinnacle time for any young person. and it was such a labor of love. and hi, anna. anna navarro is a good friend on the campaign. and it was a labor of love and people responded to it seemed to be people like me that sort of feel. disinchanted by the political process and t politic in general. so it's been really nice to go to colleges and see a lot of 20-somethings that really sort of relate to this out of water, a fish out of water, coming of age story so i'm just happy anybody is reading it honestly. >> well, you talk about feeling like an outcast in this campaign. why? >> well, i was thrown off so that's a pretty good message to be sent by anyone that i wasn't liked. during the primary process, i had a really amazing time. that's when i first came on and started blogging for my father

and then after he became the nominee and sarah palin was chosen as his running mate, i was sort of -- you can read the book. i was sort of excommunicated if you will for notou placating, f not dressing the right way or talking the right way. and at the time i came through a lot of self-loathing, what's wrong with me? why do i look like this and talk like this and it doesn't fit into republican politics and then after the electionk i realized there's nothing wrong with me. there's nothing wrong with anybody else. and a all these pundits and experts that seem to think young people need to change and go a certain mold to be involved in the political process will be the end of any young person wanting to be involved in politics especially republican politics. so for me personally that was also very inspiring but it took time. it took reflection for me to be able toin write about it. >> you mentioned sarah palin and one of the fun parts of the book is you're going through trying to see who is going to through the running mate and you're

going through all the different folks who are possible contenders when you found out it was sarah palin, what did you think? >> i started crying. that's the opening scene. [applause] >> but it's -- there's preclude in the book but the first real chapter that i detail i didn't know who she was. like everybody else. and i started googling on my blackberry and there was flashes on the news and they were saying her name wrong. they were saying palin instead of palin. i had no idea who she was. on the bus to the event meeting her, i was told that she had a bunch of children and that i was going to have to figure it all out and help them. i'm really good and rolling with it in stressful situations, so i did and then it just all kind of -- like everybody else, it unfolded the wayon it unfolded r everybody else is the way it unfolded for me. i did havend any inside information i found out an hour and a half before we all went on stage together that she was my father's running mate and i cried 'cause i know who this was

and i knew myow life was changi and that i was about to go do something with someone i had not only never met but knew nothing about. and at the time there was i ver little to find out about her on the internet, which for me was a very bad sign 'cause there was nothing else. she wasyo from wasilla. she's a w governor and she's gorgeous. that's what i knew. that's how it started. >> one of the things you decided to start through this whole thing was that blog, the mccain blog. tell me a little bit about tth. >> i wanted to join my father's campaign during the primary process but i'm not a pundit and i wasn't at the time. and i had very little experience. i wentra to columbia, which was very liberal school and that was the scarlet letter for me that was the liberal college. i worked at news work and i blogged there and so i suggested doing it. it ended up being my baby and veryth successful with young people not w so successful outse of colleges.

but it was liberating. and i may joke but it was the most amazing experience of my life which was why i was inspired to write about. >> you talked a lot about mistakes. what was the mistake that you think -- that you learned from the most? >> to talk about in the book also i made too many things about me. it wasn't about me. and that's again age and reflection. i was still very young when i joined. it wasn't about me politics isn't about the person. i think it's about the idea, the party, the polls, sort of getting over the fact that people didn't like me. it wasn't about me. and i think if i could go back in time i would definitely do some things different and be a little less bratty to the secret service in a time capsule. >> you talk a lot about attracting young voters. that's something very important to you. how did you do that? i know that mccain blog with you juan way but what did you do? >> they sent me to campaign a lot of colleges but i

think i had been more effective post-election because i really felt like i no longer had to answer to people anymore. i no longer had to answer to my father's staff orm advisors. and the great irony now is a lot of these people can't get jobs of their own, and i have no problem working right now. and i think it's very ironic. i don't think that people that claim to be experts necessary are. i did not read "going rogue" but sarah talks a lot being molded and feeling like being herself and maybe that caused a lot of problems. i thinkhy women in politics are asked to be put into a mold, to be put into a small box to fit into and i think that's why sarah had a hard time on the campaign as well. >> what are some secrets about the campaign trail? >> secrets. well, there'sep lots of secrets. i don't know. i putt. a lot of of it in the book. >> you talks about drunkenness with even some reporters and stuff like that. >> yeah, i think the incestuous

naturewi of campaigns is probab what people would be surprised at. you get on a bus every day and journalists are with you and you oftentimes stay at the same hotels. there's a reason why a lot of people end up getting married post-election, journalists and staffers. a lot of hanky-panky on the plane, not with me at all. [laughter] >> but i think that's what -- it's like beinlbg on tour with band. i have a friend who's a musician who at the same time was touring with his album and the stories really mirrored each other it's a lot more fun than, i think, peopleni give it credit and i d read "game change" and i think what that book really missed was the fun aspects of it. you're going on tour to try to change the world and i thought mark halperin depressing and sad. i don't like journalists acting like it was so serious and so depressing at the time. i have pictures of me and

journalists doing karaoke in iowa. >> megan also writes for the daily beast and one of your recent articles was about you beingn' -- you said yes, i'm a true republican. >> yes. >> so tell me a little bit about that because obviously there are some issues that you don't agree with, with the republican party on? >> i was challenged to take a purity test, which anyone can do online to see if you're a real republican. and i nopassed. [laughter] >> which a lot of people were pissed off about that i actually passed. but i think we live in a weird time where i know that i get harassed on a daily basis for not being pure enough or conservative enough. people telling me why don't i just become a democrat because i really believe in the core ideals of the republican party. but i'm for gay marriage and i wrote a column about how people can come to the defense of carrie prejean who has done a sex tape and has done scandalous tapes but no judgment but conservative people will come to

her defense all day because she's against gay marriage but because i'm for gay marriage, go to google if you want to see a grab written about me i don't care anymore but i think it's sad if you're harassed right now if you speak out or exit the mold a little bit. >> do you think there's something wrong with the republican party today? >> i worry about the tea party influence. i worry that it's too extreme. i understand why tea partiers are so angry. i understand where the anger and the frustration comes from. i myself am angry and frustrated but i don't think it's organized well and i don't think there's a cohesive messageer and i think without a cohesive message you can't win.e i think that was part of the problem withan my father's campaign. there wasn't one clear cohesive message. there wasn't an anecdote to hope and change and i think until we actually get that and instead of saying we hate obama. we hate the spending, that's not a message and i don't think any real movement has ever come to fruition without some sort of inspirational message of some kind. so, yes, i do worry.

>> you're very honest. what is the message you want people to get from this book? the one most important message you want people to get? >> when i was growing up and when i was on my father's campaign i went through a period of self-loathing and depression and i was very sad and i thought something was really wrong with me. i thought i did not fit in. i can't ever have a career in politics. i really can't have a career in republican politics and again, i came to a point where my readers were at home saying, i feel the exact same way. i'm a young woman. i don't completely tow the party line and i want to be involved in the party line. i would tell me you're not alone out there. i feel the exact same way. my father is a very famous politician and how long you want to go back my mother was pregnant with me at the '84 convention and however long you want to say you want to do this. we're not alone and i think we can come together and work together the older generation

and theof younger generation ani will keep fighting this fight um i die. i love it and that's what i do and i guess that's my message. >> and i guess a lot of you have some questions so why don't we start getting some questions from the audience for megan? >> anything you want. i'll answer almost anything. >> i enjoyed the part about the politics. but i'm here to hear a little bit about the dirty sexy side. [laughter] >> you know, people are sort of like -- i was asked this question on "good morning america." i was actuallyat celibate for mt of the campaign because i personally am not attracted to men in politics as a general hole. you want to page dr. freud go ahead. but i'm normally not attracted to men in politics and i didn't date and i was more like the journalists sleeping with each other and the staffers and i think sex in politics pretty much go hand-in-hand like anything else. >> and so why the title?

>> actually i was at a party with some of my girlfriends and i was trying to explain the experience and i was like, it was fun, it was crazy and it was sad and it was dirty and it was sexy and it was interesting and myth friend was drunk, i like t dirty and sexy part. i'd pick that up and so that's where it came from. >> when you were a kicked off your -- >> were you on the real world? >> megan, is that really the most interesting thing going on in this room right now? we're here for you? >> were you, miami, real world miami. [applause] >> i'm a child pop culture, honey. s i recognize you. [laughter] >> megan, i'm trying to be nice i'm a democrat. i'm on your side. >> you should be happy i recognized you. you look fantastic. >> so do you? >> we should go get drinks, dirty, sexy politics. one of your cast members is now -- >> megan, are you going to let me ask my question. >> ysorry. >> sorry, go ahead.

>> my question is -- >> sorry. >> i'm curious if you could please just talk a little bit about when you were asked to leave mccain's campaign. >> sure. you rectified the situation with him as a politician versus him as your father. >> sure, and this is something that i still deal with today, dan, from the real world miami. [laughter] >> i was thrown off -- i went to an image consultant in l.a. who told me to cut my hair and start dressing more conservatively and i did all those things and i was still swearing a lot and it was a very high tense situation and i just basically wasn't -- i always say my job was to stand still and look pretty. and was that i whole entire job and i didn't talk to my father about it because he was running for president and i talked to my mother and the choice was go home or go campaign by myself. .. and we toured and went into towns and like want to see

a presidential campaign bus, come on. it was really fun. it ended up being like we made our own fun. it became sort of a weird story, rumors that went on and rumors about why i was thrown off. some of them were that they wanted to highlight bristol being the pro-life daughter, and i was the opposite of that. i don't have anger about it now because it was my experience, but people bring it up about don't ask don't tell now with me and my father personally and politically. i grew up in a very open household, always talking a i grew up in an open house hold. away is open dialogue. my parents know the daughter they raised. if you didn't want me to be like this you should have sent me to all these things as the 12-year-old if you didn't want me to turn out this way.

they love me and support and my father wishes are was a kindergarten teacher. he still loves me and i have to separate political and personal or won't have a relationship with my parents. i have to separate it. when they sit around thanksgiving dinner i will not talk about the desk don't tell. it was a choice i had to make that have to fight with my parents everett, home or have a relationship with them when and do my own sing. he thought that i was going to be a problem as well. looking back on it, you just have to play the game right. i am so important and whatever. the advisers agreed you are

becoming a problem. i was never invited back. it is part of my story. i grew up watching on tv. >> what do you think about the immigration policy? >> say that again. [talking over each other] >> i assume you are talking about arizona's notorious -- asking about my father -- he got a lot of publicity this summer. it was a large part of being

arizona. it was not the racist bill that they wanted you to see. i don't think it will go through. it was a large part of being an american. as ronald reagan said, for many people, it is unfortunate it did not get negative publicity it for the ones that really took major hits. thank you. >> hello. i am old enough, and in u.s. senate, those would be the

legacies. i hear sarah palin will be is legacy. what are your thoughts about it? >> no matter where i go in my life, i was in vegas playing blackjack and recognize you and want to talk about sarah palin. people are curious. reality show is popular. the highest ratings show on tlc. third daughter is on dancing with the stars. this is everyone wanting her. the media needs a hit. i am not interested any more. is this who you want to be your next president? she is running for president right now. i know she is running.

more importantly, america needs to decide where we are going from here. that is more important. my father is a rock star, his legacy will stand on its own. [applause] >> it is terrific. what magazines it is terrific. what magazines do you read? >> it is amazing i get asked this question all the time. people just awhat women this question. i get up every morning, that is how i start my morning. actual tangible magazine and every newsweek, the wall street

journal and new york magazine, i like it all. i read conservative bloggers and some liberal bloggers. i like to get it all in. >> they don't always agree with you, that is the problem with politicians. they don't go on any other shows. >> i take a lot of heat going on, he wasn't still crorny. it is a lconeral lesbian and if we only go on fox, i worry more and have a problem on monday about this.

this will happen. ry ust doing interviews on fox. this is something that can happen. eadhe got her message out o eadaturating the media. i worry about this. i worry about what is happening. i love going on some shows on fox and msn b.c.. i give you a fair chance to speak. thank you. >> two part question, they fallen those principles and values that make you a republican and those principles and values that would not make you a republican and even a dejusot oat. >> a marriage is the big one that apparently makes the dejusot oats so i don't know wh democrats are doing for gay maessiage or the gay-rights movement at all. i think it is hypocritical to

is sy dejusot oats -- it won't happen. democrats should stay out of our lives as much as possconle. those of the three main principles. pro-life program a marriage of republican. people don't seem able to reconcile that with what i believe. that is what i continue to believe. people have a hard time with the fact that i am pro birth control. they are going to support the wars in afghanistan and iraq-that is the problem and where people lose me. i am who i am and meet a lot of people who share the same belief and i would rather be out and

honest and going--unfortunately when you are behind the curtain people go on and it is an a co. politics is like a coing. hollywood for ugly people. hollyair pe is politics for the weak minded. i hope that answers your ãaluestion. >> thank you for being here. if this strikes too close to home and you prefer not to answer that is fine with me. you think of your father as a rppak star, there was a time tht i would vote for john mccain. >> then you probably love me. >> at this point i have watched

him change where he stands on jusst issues of importance. i wonder how you personally feel watching your father do this. like a matter of walking away from his principles. how do you feel foxout that? >> sounds like you were never a fan. the media has changed at different times, i don't have a hard time reconciling who my father is or who i am. i can not delineate between the personal and political in my life, i don't talk about

politics as a general. i can't live hitting my father. i can pain-free about political decisions he made. at the end of the day my father, senator lieberman and lindsey graham are the three men to continue to inspire me everyday in politics. i would not have the beliefs i have. my father let me come on both his campaigns at 14. i don't have a hard time reconciling anything. if pis qple lost faith in him i sorry you feel that way but i haven't. >> was it hard to tell your father i don't agree with you? was that harrifi >> no. i haven't agreed with him since i was 10. they don't like me talking foxot

eadex. neither of my parents like that. are started -- this is a zinestion for college students o ask and there's little i airn't talk about any jusre. that is when they were like please raise me christian, please. >> at the influential republican what is your personal strategy for helping to prevent sarah palin becoming our next president? >> again, go pe zinestion. i keep saying if i had -- i would be on team ronny. and complications to pass. republican party need somis qneo go against obama in the general election. sarah palin is one of those

pis qple. i go to school sometimes and people worship at the altar of is srah palin. how could you doubt anything she says? eadhe has mk me it clear to does not like me or my book. i don't care. harreleke int to me. hy worry more so media wise where we are. the media can make this woman president. stop reporting on every single facebne k update. you can't turn on the news without seeing something about her. tlc, dancing with the stars, i am not interested. no matter how en. disagreeable come to her defense. i don't think the media realize that they're making her stronger or her emp hare more intense. i have been doing this a long

time. the only thing that may prevent . yters in new hamreadhire and iowa, she will have to campaign like an actual candidate. hhtsothetically maybe she won't. >> hopefully you can do some all >> reporter: some opinion. [talking over each other] >> hell airuld freears, over b% wheor somo cf1 o i go on dancing with the stars. >> i never bought a bne k like that. >> thank you. >> as a moderate young republican, they are polarizing strictly conservative, it was the loudest group put in the

media to say we have a voice too. the litmus test and purity test. they want it out of the party. >> i always say start on line. it is the largest a --ience and jusst effective for me. facebook and twitter and myspace in the har wre ssite online, anything, i tell people to start with. the hard part is i am under no delusions'. i am john mccain's daughter and ran with it. what is sad is the media doesn't cover it. i blame the media for all of this by far. it worries me. the average person saying we eadhould work together. i am not a republican or ex

>eme or really want a large par- i. i tell you to go on line and find a candidate. i am already really % icited for the general election. i worked my ass owere on a campaign. i will choose a candidate before they start announcing and i will work as hard as possible in every way i can to make sure we don't completely lose what is in the republican party. thank you for buying my bne k. glad you liked it. >> thank you for being here. i heard you twice say that you are pro-life. i also heard you say that you want government to get out of our lives. i am wondering how you reconcile those e bo. >> proselife is what i believe. i don't want to preach to other people. i am also a woman.

i went to columbia. i am against abstinence ohary education. abortion should be legal. ng anm not against repealing it. i make a lot of speeches. pete like curious about my personal beliefs. i don't want to police your body. everyone is entitled -- these are issues that will never get resolved. i have no idea how you feel but i think -- i saw this movie a few years ago, it really changed my impression on foxortion clinics. this movie is >agic. it is foxout foxortion dppatorso get shot. i am pro-lin's in general. i don't want hate ot oimes or anything like that going on. this is for me personally what works. and understand each other long time ago. i hk m conflict with my faith.

i don't think being a is the eadame. trying to work out one day at a time like everyone else.ther woman. it's up to each woman? >> i think woman should have the choice. for me, in my life, i'm pro-life. >> thank you. >> you're welcome. [applause] [applause] >> i'm sorry. i arrived late, i don't know if you covered it, what do you think of oursoo >> what do you think of the new governor as a republican? >> you guys elected him. i did have anything to said. i was a fan of charlie crist in the election but i will support

marco rubio. i am sorry i didn't cover florida politics as closely as i should have. i was working on my father's campaign. >> i wonder what your opinion is about the young vote not coming out in the midterm election has compared to the huge outturn better record in the general election. why weren't they there? >> i don't think the midterm elections were sexy. in the general electric--general election obama made it 62 vote. was about hope and change, i've voted in every single election including the midterm elections since i was 18. bristol pailin didn't vote in this election because she would

rather be on a television show. we have to set -- it should be a law that you have to vote in this country. a lot of women did a lot of things to make sure i had the right to vote. anyone who doesn't vote in any election is an american. i don't understand it. >> what are some of the things you say to young people? >> you can't sit around and complain about anything unless you are voting. you don't have a right to criticize any politician unless you by the rise. >> you do that through twitter and facebook? >> you can't yell about things unless you are voting. i would be humiliated to admit i didn't vote. i can't wrap my head around not voting. the last election was very sexy. i personally think like australia it should be illegal not to vote but that won't get

past. >> i'm interested in your experience in the 2,000 campaign and how that is different from the 2008. >> i was 14 when my father first campaigned. it only lasted during of the primary. i have a fantastic memories of that time. going to town halls with my father and watching him in new hampshire playing in the snow. it is where it started loving politics and understanding it. it is when i first started realizing the people that were around me as a child were like a henry kissinger and other later figured out who he really was. i thought he was a scary old guy who talks to young brats and then i realized he was a prominent fixture in american history. that is where it started. amazing, beautiful memories. i don't have any real memories of south carolina.

people ask me about that as well. but parents kept me very sheltered. beautiful memories is where it all started. i wanted to get a house in new hampshire for the state and people and nation's status. that is much vitamin why sarah palin won't be president. you have to earn the vote. people go to town halls two pour three times, really take that right very seriously. it is where i start to understand the political process. i understand the electoral process which is somewhat rare and that young age. beautiful memories. i was very lucky as a child. >> we are curious to know what your own aspirations life might be and what with you would like to bring your legacy to

fruition? >> i do not.to run for office. i talked too much flip-flops i tell my life story to drivers. anything you want in the. vice weather all the time. i am not very private. i don't if the woman like me could get election. the next election process, working with this -- i want to do it all over again to somebody else but i want to get republicans elected to the to kick about what's after the next election. i will do anything at can to get there. i would like to be a strategist. it is a male-dominated industry. a woman's perspective would be helpful. already few are off the record. that is what i was like to do.

>> good afternoon. i see into here use a fifth for the tea party movement is something you are not taking into account. -- what is the republican party standing for? >> i would never dismiss the tea party movement. it is a force to be reckoned with. i expected sharon angle to win. i expected joe miller to win. i did not expect nancy pelosi to still be in office. this movement is overheight. we will take over all these people would be in office.

lisa edgar county is the first to win a right in in 50 is in the state of alaska. if it were really that big just the fact that john stewart and steven colbert were able to trump the numbers really says something. i would never be little fatigue party movement because it has inspired a lot of people. i understand why everyone is angry. spending is out of control. obama has done nothing with his administration and i am as scared as everybody else by what is going on. it is poorly organized. ed understand the message. sarah palin is a leader i am not getting behind it. >> i don't consider sarah palin a leader but i do think -- >> with all respect do you know who the leader is? >> no. that is because it is grass roots. holdings seems to be go back to the constitution, stop trembling the constitution, stop spending

so much money that no one can reap a. i am >> i am as frustrated as you are. i agree. i think will happen is we will throw everybody out. we will get to a place and politics will really be fascinating with a complete anti-government candidates running the government. i am so excited to see what rand hall does. i can not wait for what he does. i am glad he got elected because i want to see -- i want to see how he's going to govern. if he does an amazing job there is your leader. >> thank you very much. before we end i want to bring this to a very different light.

those of you sitting in the front can see the shoes. gl has the latest greatest sneakers and i pray for meghan mccain in those high heels. they are wonderful. they have been wonderful. >> thank you for coming out. [applause] >> meghan mccain writes a weekly column for the daily beast. for more information on meghan mccain and "dirty sexy politics" visit mccainbloget.com. >> we are at the national press club of diane rehm, and b are posted on a rate chairwoman of the press club book and author ni