Last night, Miss California Carrie Prejean called into Fox News’ On the Record, hosted by Greta Van Susteren, to talk about her latest venture. You may have heard the news yesterday that Prejean is appearing in an ad for the National Organization for Marriage, the same group that created the much-mocked "Gathering Storm" spot earlier in April. Prejean’s claim to fame is her Q&A session with blogger Perez Hilton during the Miss USA pageant. Hilton asked her whether states should legalize gay marriage, and Prejean responded in the negative, saying she herself believes in "opposite marriage." As my colleague Jennifer Armstrong pointed out, it was a brief soaring moment of journalistic clarity for Hilton. (Whereupon he immediately crashed back to earth by calling Prejean a "dumb b—-" on his video blog. Was the air too thin up on the high road, Perez?)
Prejean became an instant martyr to the anti-gay-marriage cause, claiming that she lost the Miss USA crown because of her views. Now, I’m all for freedom of speech (even for pageant contestants) and Miss Prejean should be able to announce any opinion on marriage, gay or "opposite," that she wants. But after rereading the transcript of Prejean’s interview with Van Susteren again, I have to say: If you’re going to make her into an anti-gay-marriage Joan of Arc, shouldn’t she be better informed? When asked about her thoughts on civil unions or gay adoption or general rights for gay couples, it was obvious Prejean didn’t have any, even saying at one point "I will get back to you on that one." The most she could offer beyond the "promoting marriage" boilerplate was "I think that people that are homosexual should have some rights, you know, hospital rights, and things like that." (Gee, thanks.)
Seriously, is this the best spokesperson NOM could come up with? Someone who gained notoriety from a beauty pageant that goes on television and maligns the rights of an entire group of people while making it clear she hasn’t thought at all about what she’s saying? Or is she just milking the controversy for all the airtime it’s worth, while she carries on with her Miss California "duties"? Seriously, when will her moment in the sun be done? And, more importantly, when will someone take her NOM ad and set it to "It’s Raining Men"?
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For some reason, conservatives often have sub-par representatives. Witness Sarah Palin, Rush Limbaugh, Bobby Jindal, Miss California, Glenn Beck, etc. I can’t imagine being proud to be represented by any of them.
Here! Here! Totally agree with you. She is obviously using her notoriety to extend her 15 minutes of fame. And not having an opinion on the issues makes me think that Perez may have been correct in calling her a “dumb b%tch.”
Marriage is not a “right”. It is a priveledge, like a Driver’s License. Not everyone is entitled to a driver’s license. Not everyone is entitled to a marriage license. It has nothing to do with being anti-gay.
Obviously NOM couldnt come up with a more informed, better educated and eloquent spokesperson than this siliconed Anita Bryant.
I think something good will come out of this. More and more people will realize that anti-gay marriage supporters are nothing but bored and uneducated bigots just like Miss Carrie Prejean.
Prejean a “martyr”? Why, exactly? Because a horse’s ass like Perez Hilton trashes her? Because she (gulp, sob) didn’t become Miss USA? In fact, her being grabbed up by the crypto-religious right has given her far more celebrity than that Miss USA tiara would have meant. And, insofar as she exhibits almost total ignorance on the subject of the rights of same-sex couples–she is a perfect representative of that bloc. While any religion or religious group is free to define marriage within their own in any way they choose, marriage–in terms of our civil laws–is another matter. In terms of law, such buzzwords as “normal” and “natural” are without meaning or value. Marriage is a legal arrangement between two indivduals; religion may be brought into it or not, at the discretion of the participants. Under those circumstances, the sex of the participants should not be an imediment to marriage.
Did god give her implants??? Go away you dumb bimbo.
Prejean a “martyr”? Why, exactly? Because a horse’s ass like Perez Hilton trashes her? Because she (gulp, sob) didn’t become Miss USA? In fact, her being grabbed up by the crypto-religious right has given her far more celebrity than that Miss USA tiara would have meant. And, insofar as she exhibits almost total ignorance on the subject of the rights of same-sex couples–she is a perfect representative of that bloc. While any religion or religious group is free to define marriage within their own in any way they choose, marriage–in terms of our civil laws–is another matter. In terms of law, such buzzwords as “normal” and “natural” are without meaning or value. Marriage is a legal arrangement between two indivduals; religion may be brought into it or not, at the discretion of the participants. Under those circumstances, the sex of the participants should not be an imediment to marriage.
Did anybody really expect this woman to prove her self as anything but a bubble headed dimwit? I mean she said she supported “opposite marriage”, it could have only gone downhill from there.
Ladies and gental men…Sarah Palin!
“Marriage is not a “right”. It is a priveledge, like a Driver’s License.” from Barry
We can get as many drivers license we want (if we move from state to state) just like Elizabeth Taylor can marry and divorce as many as she can.
I totally agree with Perez hilton after watching the interview last night. She is really a dumb B, and i meant that with a capital B!
I think Greta was holding herself last night, Not sure if it was laughter or something like “you dumb B, i wished i never invited you on my show!”
I am surprised at how liberals across the board are being highly critical of her remarks. The last I knew, we live in a country that grants us free speech. That is a liberty not limited to one political leaning. I do not support gay marriage, but I am not opposed for supporters of gay marriage who excersize their constitutional right to do so. Why are you liberals so threatened? I never write into blogs, but give me a break. Leave the woman alone. She is willing to take a public stand on her beliefs. What are you willing to do for yours?
I’m not a conservative or a liberal. I’m just wondering whether freedom of speech means we can all go on TV and talk about groups of people we randomly hate and want to deny rights to. So is that cool for race, religion, etc? Everyone on board with that?
It has nothing to do with “liberals”. I hate how that term immediately gets pulled out in these kinds of situations. Prejean has every right to her own opinion – the article above (which I agree with) is merely commenting on her utter lack of preparedness and forethought on a topic she is now being called upon to intelligently discuss. In a nutshell, she isn’t representing her cause very well, because she’s coming off as ignorant. Whether I’m a liberal or conservative is irrelevant to the point that I can recognize ignorance when I see it.
What is perez opinion of presedent obama, who I think has the same position
Wow. What a waste of life. She is really pathetic and I feel she has a huge wakeup call coming, but knowing how ignorant she is, she probably won’t get it then, either.
I thought an opinion was a personal view. We do not have to agree with her, but we should not crucify her for it. If you stand up for a personal belief, regardless of popular sentiment, you should be proud of doing so.
It is a good thing to have a strong view. That is not why she is a bit off balance. When a real dumb, stupid person has a strong view, that is what gets you. The republicans prey on these people, use them to make more stupid people.
To Robert Samuel: I’m not mocking her because she’s standing up for her beliefs. I’m mocking her because she sounds so stupid while doing it. If she and Sarah Palin are the best that the anti gay marriage crowd can come up with, then those of us who support equal rights for everyone have absolutely nothing to be worried about.
Oh, and Diner waitress, hilarious comment and I have been asking myself the same question! Why is it that so-called “Christians” and “Bible believers” like her (and I say it that way b/c I go to church and am a Christian) seem to take only bits and pieces they feel are important from the Bible and ignore the rest. God said a sin is a sin and no one is considered larger than another (I actually majored in religion and I’m positive I could quote more of the Bible than that bimbo), so with that said, doing anything unnatural to your body is just as bad as being gay or lying or commiting adultery, etc…. you get the point…
The religious right loves to play the victim card. Us poor Christians. We’re the majority but soon those mean gays will force us to marry them in our churches! So they take this poor maligned abused christian who was bashed for giving her opinion and turn her into a martyr. The people who fall for these NOM ads and their lies will eat this stuff up because to them shes a beautiful young woman standing up for her beliefs. Too bad she doesn’t even know what she believes and is pretty uneducated on the subject overall.
Ok Bob..slow down. No one said they hated anybody. She just stated her beliefs. Save that for another thread.
and to every body else….marriage is defined as a union between a man and a woman. This country was founded on Christian principles. Ever heard of “In God We Trust”. Before you trash that do your research…most of our founding fathers held Christian beliefs.
If you think it’s cool to interfere with peoples’ personal lives and prevent gay marriage, you’ll probably be cursed with gay children.
Just let EVERYONE live their lives and stop judging.
Seriously, aside from Vanessa Williams (who it seems really hit the jackpot by losing the crown), name just one Miss Whatever, even last year’s would do. Can’t do it, and it seems like too much of a waste of Google’s capacity to actually do a cursory look. See, she’ll be gone soon enough, unless she attacks her boyfriend and gets arrested or something. Beauty pageants are not about brains, so why get upset when some vapid vessel says something stupid and ignorant?
I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.
Mohandas Gandhi
Brianb, yes the country was founded on Christian principles. In the YEAR 1776. Things have changed a little bit since then, don’t you think? Otherwise, we’d still be an all-white country; and don’t get me started on slavery.
I’m hetero and married and fail to see how a same-sex marriage devalues my marriage, let alone remotely affects it positively or negatively. If two consenting adults want to get married, regardless of gender, who the f cares?
She’s an idiot. And so is anyone who agrees with her.
Do you realize that practically ANY group can demand “Rights” in this Country? ANY group. Who ever shouts the loudest for a cause.. and gets the most people on their side to shout along with them, wins. That’s the way it seems to work in America. If Perez Hilton has more people shouting along with him on his side in favor of Gay Marriage than Miss California does against it.. then he and his kind win. The politicians will simply go along with whatever group shouts the loudest in their State. They want to be re-elected. They don’t 100% care about the actual issue. Their #1 concern is getting re-elected. We need to start voting for people who actually share our beliefs.. and will stand by them no matter what. Even if it means becoming unpopular. The “unpopular” usually come ROARING back as the heros in due time. It’s just the way it is.
@brianb: If you’re going to to throw out “In God We Trust” then you should be aware of the history. It came about during the civil war but wasn’t codified until 1956. Prior to that the actual unofficial motto of the US was “E Pluribus Unum” or “from many, one.” Much more inclusive isn’t it? That was the original founding father’s thoughts on our new nation. That we are ALL deserving of rights. So, before espousing rhetoric, at least know the history behind it.
As far as Miss California and her statements go, another great motto to think of in this case “Opinions are like a55holes, everybody has one.”
brianb, don’t bring the founding father’s “Christian Beliefs” into this. A quick google search might surprise you to learn that most, while identified as Christian, believed that the Church should remain seperate from affairs of the state. Also, In God We Trust, wasn’t adopted as a national motto until 1956; mostly due to a ground-swell of anti-communist sentiment. Around the same time, most states still prevented Whites and non-Whites (Blacks, Asians, Hispanics, etc.) from marrying each other; as it was “not part of God’s plan to intermingle the races.” Imagine if Anita Bryant…I’m sorry, Carrie Prejean, said she didn’t beleive in “opposite-race marriage” 50 years ago?
I think Jesus the Christ would say
“Where are your accusers?” “Go and sin
no more”
God’s word makes it plain and simple,
the practice of homosexuality is sin.
Why sin against a loving God?