But In an exclusive interview with Big Hollywood, Ms. Prejean’s attorney, Charles S. LiMandri, who says that he and his client learned of the firing during a phone call from gossip site TMZ, vehemently denies those allegations.

“She greeted troops, ‘Fox and Friends,’ she was lined up for the Special Olympics this weekend. It is pure BS.”  He continued that neither the Miss California USA Pageant organization nor Miss USA owner Donald Trump had ever taken issue with the frequency of her media appearances: “They never said it was a problem.”

According to Mr. LiMandri, the real reason behind the firing was three-fold: His client’s beliefs regarding same-sex marriage, a possible book deal with his client (a deal approved by Mr. Trump), and the fact that Ms. Prejean refused to pose for Playboy Magazine or participate in a docudrama promoting same-sex marriage. 

The email below [click to enlarge], provided to Big Hollywood by Mr. LiMandri, is from Mr. Lewis to Ms. Prejean inquiring about her interest in doing a photo shoot for Playboy Magazine involving “partial nudity.”:

This second email [click to enlarge], also provided by Mr. LiMandri, is the response from Mr. LiMandri to Timothy Shields, an attorney representing Mr. Lewis:

Mr. LiMandri states that Ms. Prejean was always enthusiastic about making appearances as Miss California and representing the Miss California pageant organization and the state of California. “They are not being honest that she wasn’t cooperating,” Mr. LiMandri said.

As an example of the excitement and enthusiasm Ms. Prejean’s appearances generated, Mr. LiMandri forwarded the following email [click to enlarge] from a participant in last month’s Las Vegas Jewelers’ Convention:

Mr. LiMandri stated emphatically, “[Ms. Prejean] is being persecuted for the [same-sex marriage] answer she gave. They wanted her out of the way so that she couldn’t be standing in opposition to their same-sex marriage agenda.  And a lot of people in the gay community wanted her out. I told the Miss USA organization, she is not anti-gay, she is just pro-traditional marriage. She never wanted to be part of that fight. She got thrown into it when Perez Hilton asked her that question.“

The proposed book deal might have been another factor in Ms. Prejean’s firing. According to Mr. LiMandri, Ms. Prejean had been given permission from Donald Trump to go ahead with the deal but this may have alarmed Mr. Lewis and Pageant co-director Shanna Moakler: “Keith Lewis made a decision that he was going to fire her because Lewis did not want her wearing a crown and sash while she was doing a book deal telling the truth about him.”

Contributing writers: Alexander Marlow and John Nolte

I would like to thank Mr. Donald Trump and his organization for his support and defending me through the most challenging time of my life. I am so grateful for him, and the opportunity I’ve had to get to know him. I admire, and respect him. I wish Tami Farrell the best; I know she will do a great job.

I hope Americans watching this story unfold, take away the most important lesson I have learned through all of this: nothing is more important than standing up for what you believe in, no matter what the cost may be. I’ve done my best under the difficult circumstances to handle the vicious attacks with integrity and show respect to others, even those who don’t agree with me.

I worked in good faith to meet my responsibilities as Miss California USA. I have met every scheduled appearance, and responsibility, as recently as May 31st. I have followed the proper protocol requested of me and haven’t made any appearances or speaking engagements without the consent or approval from the Miss California USA or Miss Universe Organizations. I have not signed with any book publisher or taken on any business proposals. As of today, June 11, 2009, I have done everything possible to honor my contract.

I am proud to be an American, and blessed to have had the opportunity to exercise my freedom of speech. I am excited and looking forward to where God leads me in the future. I know He has big plans for me. I am proud to be the strong woman God has molded me to be. I will always stand for the truth, respectfully, and never back down.

Thank you and God Bless,

Carrie Prejean

[Ed. Note: There's more on this evolving story here, here, and here.]

PC is something everyone seems to hate, yet it pervades our culture and lives. The only people who seem to like it are the ones who use it to impose their will on everyone else. The abusers. But we don’t have to put up with it anymore. It’s time we stood our ground and said “no more.”

Of course, to be un-PC doesn’t mean going out and insulting everyone. Bad behavior isn’t going to win you friends. But a lot of the alleged outrage out there from the PC clowns is bogus and it should not be allowed to pass anymore.

How do we do that? Simple.

It won’t be an overnight process. But it can be done. All that’s required are a few steps, and a dedication to following them. And not wavering. Because the abusers of PC will not give up easily.

The good news is the public is against them and signs are there that they tide is already turning. If there’s one thing power fears it’s when the masses are against them. We’re already at that point, it’s just a matter of focusing our energies.

Here are the steps to take:

1. Honesty: The Miss California incident showed one way to fight back successsfully. Stand your ground and stick to your guns. It certainly helped that she had an ally in Donald Trump who saw how popular she became and how much press she was getting. One way to be PC is to stop playing the game. Look for supporters who agree with you and back each other up.

2. Organize: Like-minded people need to band together to fight injustice and PC is injustice. Form groups with others. We should create an acronym organization that is a pressure group against PC. Since PC got its way for many years thanks to pressure groups, we should form one to counter it. What do we call it? STFU comes to mind, but I’m sure we can think of something catchier.

3. Fight Back: If you get into trouble for not being PC, don’t roll over like Don Imus did or many others who knuckled under. Work with groups who support you and don’t let the media tell you how you’re supposed to act. If people call for you to be fired for saying something that wasn’t what they claim it to be, don’t let them push you around. Bullies need to get smacked back. Teach them a lesson.

4. Unity: We need to stick together to overcome those things that are a threat to our freedoms. PC is only part of a larger problem. But taking care of it is a great start. Stick by your fellow PC critics and back them up. Together we can do this.

5. Speak Out: Finally, when you see the media being PC or promoting some absurd PC agenda, email or write them. Do the same to politicians. Make sure they get the message that the people are not supporting this nonsense anymore. If they get enough mail like this they will get the message. Believe it.

Turns out she was Miss California, Carrie Prejean, the reigning queen of the state in which I just happen to reside. Cavuto’s producers were able to nab the beauty for an early interview. My wife and I and two of our daughters watched from the green room as Miss Prejean very respectfully stated her belief that marriage should be between a man and a woman. Before seeing her interview, I was unaware that her response to a question posed to her on the subject during Sunday’s Miss USA competition had quite possibly cost her the Miss USA crown.

On the plane home that evening I read a piece in Newsday about the incident and learned that it was you, Mr. Perez Hilton, who posed the question about gay marriage to Miss Prejean. Apparently, you didn’t care for her response. “That’s not the kind of woman I want to be Miss USA,” you were quoted as saying. “Miss USA should represent all Americans and, with her answer she instantly alienated millions of gays and lesbians and their friends.” You further went on to say on your video blog that had Miss California won the crown, you would have “run onstage and ripped the tiara off Prejean’s head.” You followed that demonstration of courage by calling her a few choice names that even I, a former Caporegime in the Colombo organized crime family, would be too embarrassed to put in print.

For the record, Mr. Hilton, I would like to state that I, too, believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman. My wife also shares that belief and we have brought our four children up to believe the same. We have also brought them up to be tolerant of people who do not share our beliefs. In other words, we would not tolerate our children “ripping a tiara off of the head” of a person, had they been judging that contest and the winner was a lesbian. Nor would we tolerate their calling her disrespectful and shameful names. In fact, I wouldn’t even consider breaking your knee caps for disagreeing with my beliefs, Mr. Hilton, and I’m a former mobster.

Miss Prejean had every right to state her beliefs in the honest and respectful manner in which she did. She has as much right to respectfully disagree with same sex marriage as you do in advocating such a union. In my opinion, your response to a young lady who represented my home state with dignity and class brought shame to the very people in this country that you so poorly represented in your position as judge of the competition. My daughters are of college age and have brought their gay and lesbian friends into my home, where they are welcomed and treated with respect. My nephew is gay and even though we disagree on the subject of marriage, we are both die hard Yankee fans and enjoy watching the games together while downing a bowl of pasta. For the record, my nephew is a great cook. My wife and I have friends and associates who are both gay and lesbian. They have no problem what- so-ever with our belief in marriage being between a man and a woman. In other words, they tolerate our opposing beliefs.

I am quite sure that these fine people have been embarrassed by your disgraceful response to a person whose beliefs are in opposition to your own. It is you who have alienated these fine people and their friends, and not Miss Prejean, with your disgraceful display of intolerance to another person’s beliefs. We are blessed to live in a country where opposing views expressed in a respectful and civilized manner are to be tolerated. That’s the law of the land. If, in fact, Miss Prejean was deprived of an award she rightly deserved because of her honest and respectful expression of her beliefs, both you and the organizers of the Miss USA contest should be thoroughly ashamed.

Furthermore, if I were Donald Trump, rather than deciding whether Miss California will be allowed to keep her Miss USA crown, I would be holding a press conference to publicly admonish you for your disgraceful representation of a contest I owned. I am very surprised not to have heard the word’s “You’re fired,” directed at you from the Donald.

I would like to offer you the opportunity to publicly apologize to Miss Prejean and to the millions of Americans, — gay, lesbian and straight, that you have shamed with your childish behavior. It would be a good way to show all Americans that we have the right to respectfully disagree on this subject or any other and not suffer as a result. That’s an offer you should not refuse.

 –Michael Franzese

Michael Franzese was formerly a top-lieutenant in New York’s  infamous Colombo crime family, whom Fortune Magazine cited as  number #18 on its list of the “Fifty Most Wealthy and Powerful  Mafia Bosses” in America. He is the author of the best-selling  books, “Blood Covenant” and “Quitting the Mob“. Franzese’s most recent book, “I’ll Make You an Offer You Can’t Refuse: Business Tips from a Former Mob Boss,” was released in April.

What, exactly, is the principle that Moakler must resign to protect?  It likely has nothing to do with the scandal over Prejean’s topless photos, since Moakler has shown far more of herself in Playboy.  No, Moakler’s concern is Prejean’s insistence on pressing a political agenda: “In the entire history of Miss USA, no reigning titleholder has so readily committed her face and voice to a more divisive or polarizing issue.” 

Carrie Prejean with Shanna Moakler

Funny – I don’t recall Prejean injecting the issue of same-sex marriage into Miss USA; the blame for that falls in the lap of celebrity judge and gay activist Perez Hilton, a man best known for decorating celebrity photographs with bodily fluids and infantile commentary.  Prejean did not cause this conflagration.  It must be clear to everybody-even Moakler-that she would have preferred to avoid the question entirely.  

It is not Prejean’s fault that she became a spokesperson on same-sex marriage.  But Moakler isn’t upset that Prejean is speaking out on the topic.  Not really.  Moakler herself has taken a very vocal position in favor of same-sex marriage.  Recently, she even posed for an advertisement with two other beauty queens, all three with mouths taped shut, presumably to make the point that somebody-it isn’t entirely clear who-is muzzling them on the subject of same-sex marriage.  

Moakler’s advertisement is ironic, even if she will never understand that.  The idea that gay-rights activists are somehow being muzzled from speaking their minds is beyond absurd.  Hilton-the other major player in this drama-has certainly been able to speak his.  He intentionally injected this issue into the pageant and, having prompted an answer he didn’t like, published a profanity-laced tirade trashing Prejean.  Yet Hilton’s post-pageant invective-delivered with all of the class and grace we’ve come to expect from Hilton-did not cause Moakler to resign.  Moakler’s children can apparently handle mom’s association with people who speak about young women in such a degrading fashion.  

What they cannot handle, it seems, is Moakler’s association with a young woman who had the temerity-the gall!-to answer a question she did not want to answer, on an issue she did not want to address, in a way consistent with the overwhelming opinion of the American people.  Had Prejean simply lied-had she simply given Moakler, Hilton, and the rest of the gay-rights lobby the answer they demanded-she might be Miss USA today.   

And that, of course, is exactly what Moakler and Hilton want.  They have not been muzzled, and there is no threat that they will be.  It is they who are looking to muzzle us, us being anybody who does not agree with their desire to impose same-sex marriage on a skeptical public.  Those who disagree must be punished.  Prejean has been.  But with Trump letting Prejean keep her Miss California title, Prejean’s public humiliation will not be fully complete in Moakler’s eyes, nor in the eyes of the other activists who simply want to shut down the debate and declare themselves the winners.  

Moakler has resigned from the Miss California organization.  I hope the people of California can somehow manage to survive without her.

All right, it’s a press conference about a beauty contest.  It’s not a world summit – it’s a beauty contest!  Should it really garner this sort of press coverage, this sort of media scrutiny, this sort of public attention? 

Well, yeah.  It should.

Aside from affording us a chance to gaze for long moments at a dazzling woman, the runner-up to the Miss U.S.A beauty contest, Miss California, Carrie Prejean; there actually was great import revealed at this morning’s Trump Trump, Donald Trump, The Donald, Trump-Trump-Ta-Trump news conference.  (I’m not sure I mentioned that it was a DONALD TRUMP news conference?) 

Don’t get me wrong, I love Trump.  For years I’ve been a fan.  Read the Art of the Deal, and he was instantly my hero.  Aggressive, independent rogue businessman with the vision and courage to think big.  No, not just big, MEGA-big.  And a total egoist.  I loved that about him as well.  The balls on that guy.  Putting his name all over everything he touched, in huge, bold letters, TRUMP TRUMP TRUMP.   What a stamp.  The name even sounds like ‘stamp’.  So it’s TRUMP! TRUMP! TRUMP!

Then there’s the hair.  I never could really understand what that was all about, still don’t, but I don’t give a rat’s ass how he likes to wear it, so what if it looks like it was once alive, who cares.  I just admired how the man dreamed big, put money into play and built things.  Really, really big things.

Then…he got into such huge debt, he owed so much to so many that none of the banks to whom he owed money could afford to let him go under.  He became (all right Lee Iacocca started the ball rolling with his Chrysler bailout, but really it was Trump who lifted it to an art form) the poster boy for the “too big to fail” concept.  At the time, mid-nineties, it just seemed so…American.

Jump forward a decade and a half…and Trump is now a TV star.  “You’re fired!” is a household word, a punchline at the office, (well maybe not at the office, but certainly everywhere else) and Donald trump has teamed with Australian megaproducer Mark Burnett to be one of the most successful reality-TV hosts/stars/producers in the biz.  Things keep going like this and in another twenty years he may be out of debt!  But don’t count on it.  Trump likes to run at a deficit.  Too Big To Fail suits him.  If your name gets big enough, and if you are indebted to enough people, you can write your own ticket.  Whatever you want, just name it, it’s yours.  What, they’re going to say no?  To you??  HA!!  Don’t they know who you are?  You’re Too Big To Fail!

But I digress.

Side note:  With all the media attention and glowing, adoring press coverage…we now have a President who is Too Big To Fail.   And no matter how much deeper he plunges this nation into debt, no matter how much his ‘progressive’ policies mire our economy with make work jobs, debilitating regulation, and punitive taxation…the Mainstream Media will prop him up, give him a pass, redirect the blame, exonerate him from any culpability, and frame the man as beyond fault or defect.  He will be held as pristine, he will be lifted up and placed on a marble pedestal and the world will see him as Immaculate.  He is Too Big To Fail.

But I double-digress.

Back to Miss California!   Carrie Prejean, the runner-up in the Miss USA contest may have lost her title today.  The Miss USA Beauty Pageant was pressured to strip her of her Miss California USA title for one reason and one reason only.  She was not Politically Correct. 

Carrie Prejean, when asked by snarky no-talent gay firebrand Perez Hilton what she thought of Gay Marriage, actually gave her honest, heartfelt belief that marriage was for one man and one woman.  One would have thought she had endorsed cutting up little children and barbecuing them over a slow flame.  The MSM and entertainment news have come out to universally excoriate her in hateful tones reminiscent of Genghis Kahn (and John Kerry) and have absolutely lost their minds in rabid media hysteria. You would almost have thought that her very gracious and semi-apologetic answer that night had instead been a vehement diatribe ascribing all gay people as perverts and aberrant, twisted fruits.  No, she indicated nothing of the sort.  She was a lady.  She apologized in advance if anyone was offended; and then simply stated her own personal view – a view shared by none other than our newly elected President, one Barack Hussein Obama. 

Miss Prejean will retain her beauty contest title.  But more importantly, she will retain her image as role model to millions of impressionable young girls.  She speaks of honor, strength, faith, respect, civility.  You know – all the things the Left hates.

Carrie thanked everyone for being there, the pageant, Mr. Trump, and in an emotional moment, her parents…and lastly…God.   Oh yeah – she thanked God.

Now the Left will reeaally let her have it.

Here is an excerpt from Miss Prejean statements today:

“Three weeks ago I was given a politically-charged question with a hidden personal agenda.  I answered my question honestly and sincerely from my heart.  I was very careful to articulate in saying that I did not want to offend anybody, and that this is how I was raised and that this is what I believe a marriage should be; between one man and one woman. I was given a question, asking for my opinion and I stated my honest belief.  Not only do I hold this belief, but as Mr. Trump said, the President of the United States, the Secretary of State and many Americans agree with me in this belief.  Immediately after the pageant, Judge  #8 [Perez Hilton] began a cultural firestorm in the media.  It went national as he was trying to be self-promoting and hateful.

“While I have remained silent since, I am honored to be here today to finally let my voice be heard and address the hateful attacks, despicable rumors and false allegations I have had [leveled at me] within the last three weeks.  To be standing here today on behalf of the great state of California and the greatest country in the world, is by the grace of God.  Being in the middle of a media firestorm is not something that I had planned or signed up for.  But the days since have taught me to stand up for what you believe in, regardless of the consequences, personal attacks or disagreements.

“I am a strong woman.  And because of that I am able to move forward and be the best Miss California, USA, that I can be.  I am excited to fulfill my duties and continue serving the great state of California.  Let me be clear:  I am not an activist or anything, nor do I have a personal agenda.  I was thrown into this firestorm from the time I was first asked the question onstage.  I have become an advocate for the importance of not redefining marriage, based upon my own upbringing and beliefs.  While I am not the most vocal proponent of traditional marriage, it appears from my singular response, I am the most visible.  I am proud  to be an American.  I am proud of the freedoms we enjoy because of the brave men and women serving this great country and who have served.  My grandfather served under General Patton during WWII and is someone I admire greatly.  He never spoke about the Battle of the Bulge that he participated in as a rifleman, or the honorary medals he earned because of his bravery.  But he did speak about the freedoms he fought for and he taught me to never back down and to never let anyone take those freedoms away from you.  On April 19th, on that stage, I exercised my freedom of speech.  And I was punished for doing so.  This should not happen in America.  It undermines the Constitutional rights for which my grandfather fought for.” [sic] 

Miss Prejean then went on to recount how a photographer whom she had formerly trusted had released candid shots taken at a photo shoot, that were not meant for publication, and taken unbeknownst to her, when the wind was whipping around her clothes. 

WHAT??!!  A photographer sells gotcha photos to the tabloids for profit!  In L.A.??  That is unheard of!!   (I know – young, beautiful, just starting out…and taken advantage of.  Almost never happens, right?)

The lovely, if naïve, Miss Prejean continued:

“I am excited to continue my duty as Miss California, USA.  All I want to be able to do is to tell my story, which no one can take away from me.  Not everyone may like me or agree with me…but I hope at the end of the day, everyone can respect my rights, as I respect theirs; and together we can bring back civility in our social and cultural discussions.  I am convinced, now more than ever, of the importance for standing up for your beliefs and convictions.  For everyone out there listening – do not be silenced.  Take this story of mine and apply it to your own life.  I hope I’ve inspired others to maintain compassion, civility, respect, and tolerance – while staying true to your convictions…and to never, ever, compromise your beliefs in the pursuit [of your] goals, regardless of the consequences.

“I want to share this message.  I am a representative of my generation.  Young adults and teenagers are greatly impacted by both media and culture.  And I want to encourage them to maintain their integrity and not concede their values because of what they see or hear going on around them.  It is this message that I will incorporate to my Miss California, USA duties.  As the pageant has embraced my message of recognizing and respecting diversity, think about how much better our society would be if we would just agree to disagree, and show respect.”

Wow.  I don’t think I was the only one dazzled by how sincere, honest, credible and absolutely beautiful this young woman is.  The noteworthy thing about Carrie Prejean is that her beauty has great depth to it — because it emanates from her convictions.

Carrie Prejean then graciously wrapped up, and both she and Trump fielded questions, and I think, did very well, the both of them.  (And I gotta say – I had prepared, in anticipation of Ms. Prejean getting dumped from the sheer gravitational pull of political correctness, an essay entitled “NO BALLS TRUMP”.  But I had prejudged the man (to my shame) and completely misjudged him.  Cynically expecting him to bend to the PC wind of the times, I was proud to see that he stood strong against the loonies screaming for her head on a platter; and, though he danced the diplomatic two-step once or twice, still emerged as a man of honor.  Props to you, Mr. Trump.)

But what was Carrie Prejean’s sin in the first place?  This young woman dared to voice her heart on national TV.  For this she was excoriated in the press, in leftist special interest groups, i.e., lefty gays, and her reputation was dragged through the mud. 

She was ‘PALINed’. 

Now, to believe in God and not be Mother Theresa is to be the poster girl for hypocrisy.  The ACLU rings the bell and the liberal trolls crawl out from under the bridge to light the fires of hatred and join hands with their fellow miscreants to dance their tribal celebration of everything nasty and debasing and hateful. 

You don’t have to be on drugs to be a Lefty…but it helps.

Miss Prejean should be extremely proud of her convictions and values, her parental upbringing, and for giving this nation a well-needed moral shot in the arm.  I’ve got a 16-year-old daughter, and I wince at the daily barrage of debasing media and counter-culture influences.  Teenage girls are woefully in need of good role models.  It’s nice to see an All-American Girl emerge through the silt and smoke and pollution that is our pop culture today. 

Carrie Prejean is a breath of fresh air.

Greetings, from a poolside cabana at a trendy boutique hotel in Santa Monica. Oh, how I love these overpriced overnight stays. The sleek designs. The ambient music. The uniformly attractive and stylishly dressed young staffs. The plush beds with sheets of an absurdly high thread count. Weird faucets and weirder sinks. I bask in the attention to detail. W is my favorite letter. Philippe Starck is a personal hero.

As a realist, I’ve built into my mindset that the majority heterosexual population is less than exclusively responsible for creating this and countless other high-end consumer and artistic experiences. Plus, I have a ton of wonderful gay friends – even ones “married” and with children. If gay activists created “A Day Without a Gay” (as they promoted Dec. 10 of last year), I’d be the first to cry “uncle” – even before Cher. So, accordingly, I make philosophical and political accommodations. I’m – as the MTV generation says – “gay-friendly.”

But lately, color me “gay perturbed.” “Gay-friendly,” a term once manifestly redundant, now seems a glaring contradiction.

The gay political-activist community – in my view, a small minority of left-wing agitators acting on behalf of the whole – has been on a binge of bad public behavior, and I’m not referring to the bare-buttocked-chaps look and inappropriately placed sparklers during “pride” parades.

The Mormon community was recently targeted for its support of Proposition 8, the pro-traditional-marriage initiative in California. Donors to the cause were isolated and even exposed on online maps. Businesses were targeted. People lost their jobs.

The latest high-profile act on behalf of the “community” came from the Miss USA pageant. Perez Hilton, the wildly popular Internet gossip and celebrity hit man, somehow got himself placed as a judge of female beauty at the Donald Trump-sponsored event. Not to be judgmental, but the apprentice behind that hire should be fired. But I digress.

At the point in the pageant when the young lovelies are asked questions by those who pick the winners, the flamboyantly gay man (who by day pries into the private lives of stars and scrawls human DNA-spewing phalli under the faces of those he doesn’t like) asked Miss California, Carrie Prejean, whether she approved of gay marriage.

It was a setup.

You can read the column in full here.

The Match Up: 

• The Beauty Queen – Ms. Carrie Prejean – Miss California, now Miss USA 2009 Runner Up.
• The Drama Queen – Perez Hilton. He has a B.A. in drama, is a gay activist blogger, and co-opted his professional name from a celebrity with whom he has a personal fascination. He was a judge in the Miss USA pageant.

Ms. Prejean was the underdog. She’s not a slugger. She’s just a dumb blonde, right? 

Mr. Hilton, on the other hand is the notorious gay activist blogger – a verbal street brawler known for picking and winning fights by jumping victims in back alleys and clobbering them with whatever he can get his hands on  - pipes, tire irons, beer bottles.  

On the surface, the pageant appeared to be a well refereed event. Even Hilton looked freshly scrubbed and donned a toothy grin throughout the evening. But the fix was in. What we didn’t see was that Hilton had a horseshoe hidden in his right glove. This was one match he wasn’t going to lose – not on national television. He figured he had one punch and it had to be a knock out. 

There they stood, face to face – both representing different philosophies, opposing beliefs. The moment dripped with anticipation. Then Hilton threw his punch. Gay Marriage! Of course. What else from Hilton. Yes, the hotly debated issue of redefining marriage to include gay unions was supposed to be a knockout punch. But it only grazed her chin. She stumbled slightly, recovered and shot back her reply. According to her, the definition of marriage should remain as it has been defined throughout the history of our country – between a man and a woman. 

She knew it wasn’t PC. But she was, after all, Miss “California” -  a state that just voted (Prop Eight) to uphold the current definition of marriage. She is also a woman of faith – holding a belief consistent with the majority of the state of California (not to mention consistent with Pres. Obama and Hillary Clinton). But more importantly, her answer was authentically truthful to her own personal beliefs. 

The camera cut to Hilton in time to catch his jaw drop – his face crestfallen. If you listened closely enough you could even hear the horseshoe fall out of his glove.  This was clearly not the answer he expected. Who in this world has the temerity to proclaim a personal position so politically incorrect on national television? Apparently there’s one person – Ms. Prejean. Doesn’t she know that people like Hilton can destroy her? That she might never work in this town again? And even more tragic, she may never get invited to a Janeane Garofalo Oscar party?  

For Ms. Prejean, it was clearly a seminal moment in her life – with defining clarity and simplicity she expressed a personal belief. Standing for something, and telling the world doesn’t need to be complicated. I wonder if any of our politicians were watching? 

Now if Hilton had even a modicum of self respect he would have gone home and licked his wounds. But pathetically, Hilton couldn’t contain his rage. It’s as if he decided to continue his brawl in the parking lot where he caught up to Ms. Prejean and sucker punched her getting into her car. And while she was down, he continued to wail on her.   

You’ve all seen the clips by now. Hilton viciously berated Miss California on TV and YouTube, calling her a “bitc*” and reportedly a “cun*”. And where does this rage come from? Ms. Prejean shared her beliefs.  

As America struggles to reclaim its soul and find true leaders for the future, regardless of political philosophy, you have to admire any display of bravery, courage, or sacrifice made on behalf of “principle.” 

Miss California has transcended beauty queen status. She is now much more than a pinup girl for our soldiers. She is a soldier – and leading a charge. 

As for the pageant “judge”, he set aside any pretense of objectivity and egregiously used his position of power to advance his cause. When he ranted that if Miss California would have somehow won the crown, “I shi* you not, I would have gone up on that stage, I would have snatched that tiara off her head and run out the door!!!” – you have to ask.  Who at the pageant organization thought it was a good idea to make a bigoted heterophobe a pageant judge? 

Maybe that person is Keith Lewis- co executive director of the pageant – or maybe his boss Donald Trump? Trump ducked responsibility for Hilton’s assignment on Bill O’Reilly’s The Factor. Lewis stated (speaking of himself) that he “…is saddened and hurt  that Miss California believes that marriage belongs only to a man and a woman.” Well I’m saddened that Keith Lewis is saddened. 

Help me out here. The directors of the pageant are offended when a contestant expresses a belief contrary to theirs? – a viewpoint which by the way is mainstream – nothing radical about it. So, help me out here. Is being guilty of such an offense a de facto disqualifier for contestants? If so, disclose it to the contestants in advance. Flat out tell them what beliefs are acceptable to the committee, and which ones are not – which religions and churches can be attended and which ones can’t.   

Hey, why not issue a booklet to contestants containing all the acceptable answers and viewpoints of the committee. Give them time to consider the option ahead – when they’re in the spotlight and they may need to choose to abandon their core principles for the sake of receiving the tiara……. Tiara, or beliefs. 

In fact, just send out a mass email to the country with all the acceptable positions of the committee and forego the charade of running the pageant as a propaganda machine? 

Maybe the title of this piece should have been Beauty and the Beast. And the Beast isn’t confined to Perez Hilton. You decide.