In a strongly worded statement relased late Wednesday, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin defended Miss California Carrie Prejean and ripped into "the liberal onslaught of malicious attacks" against Prejean for her response to a question about gay marriage.For more on Moakler's resignation, see Robert Stacy McCain, "Miss December 2001 Decides She Can No Longer Associate With Miss USA Pageant." See also the commentary at Memeorandum.
"I can relate as a liberal target myself," Palin said. "What I find so remarkable is that these politically-motivated attacks fail to show that what Carrie and I believe is also what President Obama and Secretary Clinton believe — marriage is between a man and a woman."
Prejean created a stir with her response to a question about gay marriage at last month's Miss USA pageant, questions about her work with gay marriage opponents and nearly nude photos taken of her when she was a teenager put her title in jeopardy.
"I applaud Donald Trump for standing with Carrie during this time. And I respect Carrie for standing strong and staying true to herself, and for not letting those who disagree with her deny her protection under the nation's First Amendment Rights," the former vice presidential candidate said.
"Our Constitution protects us all — not just those who agree with the far left," Palin said.
On Wednesday, former Miss USA Shanna Moakler resigned as co-executive director of the Miss California USA pageant, saying she no longer believes in the organization because of pageant owner Donald Trump's decision to let the state's controversial title holder keep her crown.
At a news conference, Moakler angrily accused Prejean of violating the contract she signed with pageant organizers, but Trump announced Tuesday that Prejean would keep her title.
Moakler, the Miss USA of 1995, said she decided after Trump's news conference to quit.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Palin Backs Prejean, Blasts "Liberal Onslaught"
Here's The Politico's report, "Sarah Palin Backs, Relates to, Miss California" (via Memeorandum). But see also, "Palin Backs Miss Calif., Blasts 'Liberal Onslaught'":
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3 comments:
please. disagreeing with someone does not deny them protection under the 1st amendment.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.---
Yeah, the whole "denial of free speech" angle makes as much sense here as it did when the "target" was Don Imus. In both cases, there was nothing but free speech from all players, followed by a business decision, based on money, ratings, and popular opinion.
Those who would claim that Miss CA or Don Imus had their free speech limited in any way do not understand what the first amendment and free speech are all about.
There is no F.A. protection against having people disagree with you, or calling you rude names. (In fact, some might say that everyone who speaks, for or against, politely or rudely, is using their freedom of speech.)
There is no F.A. protection against being fired from a corporation's airwaves by that corporation, or being disqualified or otherwise removed from a beauty pageant by the owner/operator of that pageant, for ANY reason, INCLUDING something you said.
The F.A. guarantees you the right to speak, but not a stage to speak from. MSNBC TV & WNBC radio took Imus' stage away. Trump allowed Miss CA to keep her's. But neither was a first amendment issue in any way shape or form.
Only the government can limit or remove your free speech in a way that goes against the Constitution.
Individuals and corporate interests are not limited by first amendment protections. Any individual can shout nasty words at you in reply to things you've said or done, and yes, your employer can fire you for the things you say, especially when you're engaged in fulfilling the requirements of your job.
Whatever trouble Miss CA faced, it wasn't a free speech issue, no matter what she, Sarah Palin, or anyone else tries to claim. (Some of them should know better, too.)
I agree that this isn't a free speech issue, but it most certainly is a decency issue. And the left has behaved in a most indecent, no quite disgusting, manner.
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