Is This Thing Loaded?

Because I’m so late in writing this post, I’m sure you’re already familiar with the new reality saga (appearing on TV and Twitter messages everywhere), Blogger vs. Beauty, starring Perez Hilton and Miss California USA 2009, Carrie Prejean. If you haven’t, you can watch the clip below.

Perez posed to the following to Miss California: “Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit, why or why not?”

And Miss California replied: "Well, I think it's great Americans are able to choose one or the other," she said. "Um, we live in a land that you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. And you know what in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised and that's how I think that it should be, between a man and a woman."

This response drew a most loaded look of disgust from Perez Hilton, who proceeded to give her a score of 0 on the interview portion, which some speculate cost her the crown. He has since shot himself in the foot by calling her a dumb “b-word” while admitting he was thinking “c-word” at the time. Not, not, not acceptable, Perez, and firing off derogatory names and insults is not going to enlighten anyone to your point of view. Get your finger off the trigger.

Interview is a big part of the scoring process, though. No doubt, it’s nerve wracking and there’s also no doubt that the bullets loaded into those questions are not always the same caliber. That being said, I do not think she lost that crown solely because of her personal opinion. Her response was poorly worded, didn’t really answer the question and was wishy-washy.

Slide up and re-read the question that was posed to her. She was not asked if she supported same sex marriage. She was asked if she thought every state should follow the decision already made by four states. That’s not the same thing.

This is an equality question. Marriage laws and definitions are decided by each individual state and states do not have to recognize marriages that do not coincide with their own marriage laws. The Defense of Marriage act Also states that the federal government may not treat same-sex relationships as marriages, even if it is recognized by any of the states. So, basically, even if you reside in a state that considers you married, good luck trying to file a joint tax return.

She has the law and the Prop 8 decision (from her very own state) on her side to answer this question “No”, which is according to her beliefs. Instead she chooses to answer that she thinks “it’s great” that Americans can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage, (a term I admit I’ve never heard before) and then completely 180’s and says that in her country and in her family, she thinks she believes that marriage should be between a man and a woman.

In order for it to be great that people can choose, the option has to be available, no?

So, she agrees that the other states should follow suit? It sounds like it. Oh wait, here comes the next sentence. She thinks she believes that marriage should be between a man and a woman. Well, do you or don’t you? Even if you do, do you still support the choice for others statement that you just made?

Does she think that other states should legalize same-sex marriage? I don’t know. I’m thinking not, but she never answered the question and her statements contradict each other.

I’m willing to bet that she received lower interview scores than did the winner across the board. Miss North Carolina, who won, was asked a question regarding bailouts. Her beliefs were in direct contrast to current policies set forth by the government and in opposition to the President. I didn’t necessarily agree with her response, either, but she answered the question posed to her and didn’t fire a blank or worse, miss the target. Miss California lost because of the way she answered the question, not because of her personal opinion.