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Trump: Miss Cali Stays

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted May 12, 2009 10:51 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Donald Trump declined to fire the embattled Miss California today, TMZ reports. In a press conference, Trump, the owner of the Miss USA pageant, praised Carrie Prejean for answering a "tough" question about gay marriage 'honestly"—the same way, he noted, the president and the majority of Americans have. He said the topless photos of her that have surfaced, "some beautiful, some risqué," are perfectly “fine” for a 21st century beauty pageant.

An emotional Prejean thanked those who have supported her and "God, for trusting me with this important task." She accused Perez Hilton, the judge who asked the question, of having a personal agenda, and noted tearfully that her grandfather had fought in the Battle of the Bulge for her freedom of speech. As for the topless photos, she said some were real, some photoshopped, and others taken surreptitiously between posed shots. When asked why she didn't disclose them to pageant organizers, she said nobody could be expected to remember every photo they had taken at 17.

Miss North Carolina Kristen Dalton, left, and first runner-up Miss California Carrie Prejean from San Diego react after Dalton is announced Miss USA, Sunday April 19, 2009 in Las Vegas.
Miss North Carolina Kristen Dalton, left, and first runner-up Miss California Carrie Prejean from San Diego react after Dalton is announced Miss USA, Sunday April 19, 2009 in Las Vegas.   (AP Photo/Eric Jamison)
Miss California Carrie Prejean competes during the 2009 Miss USA Pageant Sunday April 19, 2009 at The Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
Miss California Carrie Prejean competes during the 2009 Miss USA Pageant Sunday April 19, 2009 at The Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.   (AP Photo/Eric Jamison)
Miss California Carrie Prejean waves to the crowd as she takes part in the finale at the Dove awards in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, April 23, 2009.
Miss California Carrie Prejean waves to the crowd as she takes part in the finale at the Dove awards in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, April 23, 2009.   (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Executive Producer Donald J. Trump speaks at a news conference to announce MTV's new show The Girls of Hedsor Hall on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009.
Executive Producer Donald J. Trump speaks at a news conference to announce MTV's new show "The Girls of Hedsor Hall" on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009.   (AP Photo/Peter Kramer)
Miss California Carrie Prejean listens to a question at the Rock Church during services in San Diego Sunday, April, 26, 2009.
Miss California Carrie Prejean listens to a question at the Rock Church during services in San Diego Sunday, April, 26, 2009.   (AP Photo/Denis Poroy, File)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 18 comments
paul123
May 13, 2009 6:28 AM CDT
Fair enough artfully. I'm not trying to be contradictory. What I was saying was that you said she should speak for the majority, I said that she shouldn't, but should speak for herself, as was evident by the question which was posed to her: "How do YOU feel about gay marriage." The question was not, "How does the state of California feel about gay marriage?". That said, maybe the majority of california is for gay marriage, I don't know as I don't live there. However, based on the population that ACTUALLY VOTED, prop 8, gay marriage, was voted down, reguardless of by what margin, and as such her answer was more in accordance with the outcome of the most recent vote, than opposed to it.
ArtfullyViscious
May 13, 2009 5:33 AM CDT
OK...fair enough Paul.... but the question is NOT about representing Prop 8, it's about the STATE of California which is NOT just the voting record but the WHOLE state (again, because it bears repeating the WHOLE state). Furthermore, to say say she should represent the "majority" of voters that voted against Prop 8 but then turn around you don't think she SHOULD represent the majority is a complete contradiction in terms. Also, may I remind you that this "majority" of which you speak (although still the majority) was so SMALL that is barely passed and that a recent Gallop poll revealed that 63% of Californians disagreed with the outcome. Regarding her as a representative, (clearly not the case) the pageantry system is set up for the contestant to speak for herself, yes, but also act as an "ambassador" if you well on behalf of the state, showcasing all that is good, not negative, about her home. My sister has been in pageants her whole life so having been exposed to these guidelines are second nature to me. Finally, let us get ONE thing perfectly: Prejean is NOTHING more than a pretty girl in a bikini with, granted, some opinions but she is by ABSOLUTELY NO MEANS a senator for the state; you MAY want to look towards them for and ACTUAL opininon and all allow the their voting record to speak for itself. I think it is THAT record by which any intelligent arguement should be made.
paul123
May 13, 2009 3:47 AM CDT
Artfully, you make some great points, accept for the following: You say her answer should have been in accordance of the ENTIRE state of california. That being the case you make a good point in stating that there are 2.8 million gays (estimated) in California, however that does not make a majority. No, you do not have to be gay to support gay marriage, but I turn your attention to proposition 8, the gay marriage ammendment. Prop 8 was voted down actually. So if you are going to use the argument that Prejean should have spoken for the majority of Californians, I think she did, based on the ballot results. Either way, I don't think a contestant SHOULD speak for the majority, I think she should speak for HERSELF, which she did, fairly articulately in my opinion.

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entertainment • gay marriage • Donald Trump • nudity • nude photo • Perez Hilton • Carrie Prejean • Miss California

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