On April 19, 2009, during the ceremony of Miss USA 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada, the five finalists were all asked about political issues such as how to fight domestic violence, whether to use taxpayer money to bail out corporations, whether to give immigrants access to health care, and whether or not the United States should donate money to the government of Afghanistan to fund its elections.
But that's how I was raised and I believe that it should be between a man and a woman.After the pageant, Perez Hilton published derogatory comments about Prejean on his blog, and told ABC News "She lost [the crown] because of that question.
[4] Hilton stated on April 20 that the pageant director, Keith Lewis, sent him a statement reading: "I am personally saddened and hurt that Miss CA USA 2009 believes marriage rights belong only to a man and a woman.
"[10] On conservative blogs and radio talk shows such as Michael Medved, Hilton was highlighted for what they viewed as an inappropriate expression of intolerance.
Malkin concluded, "The Miss USA pageant should be ashamed for providing Perez Hilton a platform for his intolerant bigotry and abuse of Carrie Prejean.
"[11] Ann Coulter, wrote that "the Miss USA contest held a press conference to announce that Prejean had breast implants.
Regarding the release of "genuine 'semi-nude' photos," Coulter commented that "Liberals believe abortion is a sacrament, but smoking, wearing short skirts and modeling lingerie are mortal sins.
)"[12] Liberal columnist Matt Littman wrote in The Huffington Post that Prejean's beliefs are the same as President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
"[13] Gavin Newsom, mayor of San Francisco, defended Prejean's statement even though he disagrees with her position: "I want to challenge her on her point of view, but she spoke her conscience; I think she's being a little unfairly maligned".
[14] On April 24, Fox News correspondent Bret Baier pointed out on the program, Special Report with Bret Baier, that Prejean's statements were very similar to President Barack Obama's previous statements regarding gay marriage, replaying a speech in which Obama said marriage should only be "between a man and a woman".
[15] Television personality Elisabeth Hasselbeck defended Prejean, saying that if the beauty queen was pro-gay marriage she would not be the source of relentless rumors and media coverage.
[13] After the controversy, MSNBC commentator David Shuster remarked that, in his opinion, the type of people who participate in beauty pageants don't have anything to say worth listening to.
A. Latham Staples, the foundation's executive director, was quoted as saying, "Demeaning Carrie Prejean or others by using terms such as bigot will not advance our cause of civil rights and social justice.
On The Sean Hannity Show she stated: By having to answer that question in front of a national audience, God was testing my character and faith.
"[1] On April 26, 2009, while speaking at Rock Church, where she is an active member, Prejean stated that Miss California USA officials had pressured her to apologize for her statement and "not talk" about her Christian faith.
During the discussion, openly gay British Conservative Party MP and Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, Alan Duncan commented, "If you read that Miss California has been murdered, you will know it was me, won't you?