The following is a transcript of the Q&A between Perez Hilton and Miss California at the competition on Sunday night, which answer (now we find) may have cost her the crown:
Perez Hilton:
“Vermont recently became the 4th state to legalize same-sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit. Why or why not?”
Miss California:
“Well, I think it’s great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. We live in a land where 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 it should be between a man and a woman. Thank you very much.”
Ok. So here are my thoughts:
(1) Miss California was not targeted by a harder question than the other contestants were asked and (as far as I know) Perez Hilton was randomly chosen to make his question to her (although, it is crazy ironic that an openly gay individual was able to ask the rep from the state that recently repealed the law that permitted gay marriage), so I don't think the question itself was part of any conspiracy -- more or less just SUPER bad luck for Miss Cali.
(2) Miss USA has to be able to be a spokesperson (I mean, do they really have many other purposes?), which means that there are going to be instances where she is put in a position that she has to respond and come across intelligible. This answer is not a very good answer. I have read it a couple of times and don't believe she answered the question well at all. (I actually had flashbacks of the one contestant last year who answered that schools don't have enough maps so kids don't know how to find "the South Africa, ectetera...") Miss California starts off well by saying that it is great that we live in a country that lets us make choices, which was certainly a good starting point. Where I think she went wrong was to say "in my country," because she implied she was speaking for everyone out there (which clearly she is not)... and then she says "no offense to anyone out there." Hello, that is THE sarcastic precursor that someone says when they are being bitchy, e.g. "No offense, but you are an idiot" or "no offense, but those pants make your butt look big." So, the answer itself was poor quality, regardless of her opinion.
(3) Just like Miss California has her opinion regarding same-sex marriage, Perez Hilton (and the other judges too -- he wasn't the only one there) has an opinion about the kind of "ambassador" he wants representing the USA.
Conclusion:
After hearing the story, as well as both Miss California and Perez Hilton defend themselves live yesterday morning on the Today Show, I side with Perez (who, as a matter of my opinion, comes across as a far better speaker than the 1st Runner up) on this one.
