Wednesday night on the Tonight Show, guest Hillary Clinton listened intently as Jimmy Fallon’s female writers as well as a teary-eyed Miley Cyrus read the former presidential candidate “thank you” notes:
Watch as women writers for Jimmy Fallon, and guest Miley Cyrus, write thank you notes to Hillary Clinton: pic.twitter.com/3dTmVNNo9A
— NBC News (@NBCNews) October 5, 2017
Meghan McCain chided Clinton (and her biggest fans) for their inability to get past it:
When my father lost, we prayed, hiked, grilled a lot of red meat….and then he went back to work and completely moved on. https://t.co/TtnyVnCHl1
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) October 5, 2017
McCain’s tweet generated plenty of backlash from Hillary fans, with much of it coming from a writer for Jimmy Kimmel Live:
Respectfully, she hiked and did yoga and then gathered herself and told her story to inspire women to do what she couldn't.
— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) October 5, 2017
She's not hiding, and women don't have to shame her for having a voice that inspired over 65 million Americans.
— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) October 5, 2017
Let's go forward together, instead of making petty comparisons that diminish her for doing what male politicians routinely do.
— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) October 5, 2017
As a public servant, your father chose bipartisan cooperation in the aftermath of this election. This totally flouts his graceful example.
— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) October 5, 2017
I think the reason this tweet inspired so much backlash is it disrespects not only one woman, but all women who value Hillary's voice.
— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) October 5, 2017
More upsettingly, this video you tweeted shows women crushed by her loss. And mocking them for it, whether or not you agree, seems unkind.
— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) October 5, 2017
Your callous tweet, and the snark it broadcasts to thousands, is going to resonate with a base, but it won't further an American dialogue.
— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) October 5, 2017
McCain defended herself to a couple of Bell’s tweets:
I'm really trying to extend an olive branch and say, look: Everyone deserves a voice. And women can speak even if we lose. Like men do.
— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) October 5, 2017
Do Ivanka Trump, Melania Trump, Kellyanne Conway and Sarah Huckabee get an equal voice and chance too? https://t.co/8oDsAJCkwE
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) October 5, 2017
They all have the most powerful platform in the free world. Millions hear from them every day. On every channel. In every newspaper.
— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) October 5, 2017
Hilary doesn’t have a powerful platform or a voice in the media? https://t.co/8991ujsh4W
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) October 5, 2017
I would never tell any of them they don't deserve to be heard as much as any man in the same position. That's the distinction.
— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) October 5, 2017
We clearly will find no common ground. Just the same your passion is admirable. I have the same passion for my beliefs and worldview. https://t.co/LfccivqR9t
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) October 5, 2017
I'm asking you to find common ground as a woman. And say you won't silence other women or begrudge them for speaking when they lose.
— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) October 5, 2017
Is it possible we actually agree, and belittling Hillary Clinton doesn't hold water with your core values?
— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) October 5, 2017
In case you forgot how all this began: