Cindy McCain: A Woman with Heart

During the 2008 Presidential election, Cindy McCain captured our attention as Senator John McCain's wife and the nation's potential First Lady. Throughout the campaign, she stood strong as democrats and the media attacked both her and her family with rumors and accusations that proved never to be true. Unfortunately, few got to know Cindy McCain the philanthropist and woman with a big heart.

Cindy Lou Hensley McCain was born in Phoenix, Arizona to beer distributor James Hensley and his wife, Marguerite. She attended the University of Southern California, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education in 1976 and receiving her Master of Arts in Special Education in 1978. Despite being offered a role in her father's business, she went on to work as a special education teacher at a high school in Arizona. She met John McCain in 1979 and the two were married in 1980. In 1982, McCain began his political career with his wife at his side giving her full support. The couple has four children: Meghan, John IV, James, and Bridget.

Between time spent supporting her husband's political career, raising her children and fulfilling her duties as chair of her late father's company, McCain has worked tirelessly helping needy children and working to improve health care and other issues around the world through a number of charitable organizations, including one she founded herself, the American Voluntary Medical Team (AVMT). The organization, which planned trips for medical professionals to disaster-plagued parts of the world, allowed McCain to lead 55 missions throughout the course of seven years. Trips were taken to places such as Kuwait after the conclusion of the Gulf War, Zaire to help refugees from Rawanda, and many other nations including Nicaragua, India, El Salvador, and Iraq.

In 1991, during a trip to Bangladesh, following the 1991 cyclone, McCain and the AVMT were at Sisters of Charity of Mother Teresa Children's Home when she spotted two baby girls who were in desperate need of medical attention. McCain felt the two girls would benefit from being brought to the United States and they did, in more ways than one. John and Cindy McCain adopted one of the girls (their daughter Bridget) and helped a family friend adopt the other.

In 2001, McCain became involved with Operation Smile, a non-profit organization that provides cleft lip and palate repair to children all over the world. She has traveled to Morocco, Vietnam, and India with the organization and currently serves on the board of directors. She also serves on the board of directors of CARE, one of the largest international humanitarian organizations in the world, and HALO Trust, a nonprofit organization that removes debris left by war, such as landmines. With HALO Trust, McCain has visited Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Mozambique and Angola.

Friends of the very private McCain say that despite her wealth and privileged upbringing, working with these organizations is where she is most comfortable and she's not afraid to get her hands dirty. They call it her "defining characteristic," despite how she is often portrayed in the media. In 2008, Vonnie Wray, the development director at Operation Smile told the Arizona Republic that McCain is "low maintenance" and insists, "the thing that differentiates Cindy and why I think she will make an excellent first lady is that she has this true connection with the underserved." Though Cindy McCain never made it to the White House, she is certainly making her mark on the world and its people.

Women of the GOP "In the News" Weekly Round-up

Lot of great Conservative and Republican Women in the news this week! Here is your weekly round-up:

- Fox News' Primetime Shows have been filled with Conservative and Republican women, this week. Last night, Cindy McCain, wife of Senator John McCain sat down with Greta Van Susteren to discuss everything from her work in Camboida and Congo to her Twitter habits. Tonight, Women of the GOP favorite Liz Cheney, daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, will be on "On the Record" to discuss the CIA vs. Nancy Pelosi and more on the CIA memo controversy. Meanwhile, "The View" co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck visited "Hannity" to discuss everything from President Obama to her new cookbook. Sean Hannity also interviewed Miss California Carrie Prejean about her big news-making week!

- Congresswoman Michele Bachmann has spoke out this week, calling on Congress to block ACORN's access to federal housing funds due to charges of voter registration fraud. Yesterday, Bachmann spoke outside the Capitol,

"ACORN, as you know, is no stranger to the spotlight. Yet no matter how many times prosecutors investigate and even indict ACORN and their employees, they emerge unblemished as far as the federal government is concerned from having access to federal tax dollars."

- Governor Sarah Palin has, once again, made news this week. Not only did she defend Miss California Carrie Prejean against "malicious attacks" but rumor has it, Palin has signed a book deal to publish her memoir sometime next spring. Palin tells the Associated Press,

"There’s been so much written about and spoken about in the mainstream media and in the anonymous blogosphere world, that this will be a wonderful, refreshing chance for me to get to tell my story, that a lot of people have asked about, unfiltered.”

- Finally, Georgia Secretary of State and Conservative Republican candidate for Governor, Karen Handel has a new message and a new website: Karen Handel for Governor - Bring it on! Handel gave a big speech today at the Georgia Republican Convention in Savannah, GA. In it, she presented a message of change, her personal story, and beating the odds in both life and politics!

Elisabeth Hasselbeck Beyond the View

It's not easy being the lone voice of dissent, especially when your co-workers do not let you get a word in, but every day Elisabeth Hasselbeck manages to do it and keep her dignity. For those who don't know, Hasselbeck is one of the co-hosts of the controversial women's talk show, "The View." Each day, Hasselbeck stands up to her liberal co-hosts and speaks her mind about a range of issues from abortion to the war in Iraq, often making headlines, and winning the sympathy and admiration of conservatives across the country. But there is a lot more to Elisabeth Hasselbeck than "The View."

Elisabeth DelPadre Filarski Hasselbeck was born and grew up in Rhode Island where she was raised in the Catholic Church and attended Catholic schools. Eventually, she went to Boston College where she earned a degree in Fine Arts. Upon graduating from Boston College, she worked for Puma shoes, as a designer, before auditioning for and being cast in the reality show "Survivor." In her time between "Survivor" and "The View," Hasselbeck begin making a name for herself in the entertainment industry. She judged the 2001 "Miss Teen USA" pageant and in 2002 she began hosting "The Look for Less," a television show on the Style Network. But 2002 was a big year for Hasselbeck for another reason; on July 6, she married her college sweetheart, former NFL quarterback, Tim Hasselbeck. In 2003, she would begin guest-hosting "The View" from time to time and was eventually hired to replace Lisa Ling.

Since becoming "The View's" youngest and most conservative co-host, Hasselbeck has continued to make a name for herself. She's appeared on a number of television shows from "Hannity" to "The Tonight Show" and even filled in on Fox News morning show "Fox and Friends." She's appeared on many magazine covers including the famed Fitness cover where she bravely donned a bikini just three months after giving birth. But Hasselbeck has always been known for her athleticism and competitive nature. She served as captain of the Boston College softball team, leading the team to back-to-back Big East championship titles. In 1999, she ran the Boston marathon. In 2004, she'd find herself doing even more running, but this time it would be to carry the Olympic torch through the streets of New York City.

Hasselbeck is also known for being a champion of several causes, whether they are political or charitable in nature. In the politial arena, she campaigned for Senator John McCain in the 2008 election. Before the election, she traveled with Governor Sarah Palin to several rallies in Florida and during the Republican National Convention, she hosted a luncheon for Cindy McCain. She gave a speech at the 2004 Republican National Convention. Hasselbeck has also worked with a number of charities, including the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Making Memories Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, The Wireless Amber Alert Program Initiative, Autism Speaks, and the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness. She has filmed a public service announcement encouraging breast cancer awareness and continues to support that cause.

So what's next for Elisabeth Hasselbeck? What else could she possibly add to her list of accomplishments? Recently, she created a clothing line for QVC. In May, her new cookbook "The G-Free Diet" will be released in May, focusing on gluten-free recipes. (Hasselbeck suffers from Celiac disease.) In May, she will also guest-star on the show "Ugly Betty." Despite all of this, Hasselbeck will take on her biggest project in August when she gives birth to her third child. The baby will join big sister, Grace Elisabeth and big brother, Taylor Thomas.