Here we go again.  Just like Sarah Palin, Meghan McCain's (pictured left) appearance has become a media fascination. But this time, it is not expensive makeovers and clothing causing the stir.  Instead, it is the criticism she has received within the Republican Party over her weight. And, to make things even more interesting, the insults have been dealt primarily by women.

McCain fought back during an appearance on "The View" stating that, "when we want to have conversation about the ideology of the Republican Party, and these women say ‘you are too fat to have an opinion' what kind of message are we sending to young women?"

Focusing so heavily on a woman's appearance could be doing more than sending the wrong message. A recent study by University of South Florida psychology professor Jamie Goldenberg and me found that it reduced belief that a women is intelligent and capable.  In this study, 133 college undergraduates were randomly assigned to write about Sarah Palin's appearance or her personality.  Participants who we assigned to write about her appearance rated her as less competent and were less likely to vote for her than participants who were assigned to write about her personality.  (These same findings also occurred when participants wrote about Angelina Jolie's appearance or personality and rated Jolie).  Interestingly, given the attention McCain's appearance is receiving mostly from women, these effects occurred for males and females.