Press Release: Miss California & NOFM's "No Offense" Campaign
U.S. News & World Report reported that tomorrow (April 30, 2009) Miss California, Carrie Prejean, will be publicly announcing her involvement with the National Organization for Marriage and their "No Offense" campaign. Prejean believes that marriage should be between a man and a woman and declared this during the Miss USA Pageant (video here). Why am I not surprised at this PR path she has chosen? What do you think?
Below is the Press Release from NOFM.
***MEDIA ADVISORY***
MISS CALIFORNIA CARRIE PREJEAN HELPS LAUNCH NATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MARRIAGE'S " NO OFFENSE " AD AT NATIONAL PRESS CLUB IN DC ON THURSDAY
What:
National Organization for Marriage (www.nationformarriage.org) news conference featuring Miss California Carrie Prejean to announce the launch of "No Offense,"the second of NOM's previously announced $1.5 million ad campaign.NOM's first ad, "Gathering Storm," focused on the threats to religious people who oppose same-sex marriage, generated intense public and media interest. The newad "No Offense"will be played for the first time at the press conference.
Who:
Scheduled speakers include:
· Carrie Prejean, Miss California 2009
· Maggie Gallagher, President, National Organization for Marriage
· Brian Brown, Executive Director, National Organization for Marriage
· Frank Schubert, President, Schubert Flint Public Affairs-Creator of ad
Where:
National Press Club, 529 14th Street, 13th Floor, The Holeman Lounge,
Washington, D.C.
When:
Thursday, April 30, 1:00 pm ET
Details:
"No Offense," thenext ad inNOM's $1.5 million national ad campaign, will be previewed for the media. What happens when a young Californiabeauty pageant contestant is asked "do you support same-sex marriage?" She is attackedviciouslyfor having the courage to speak up for her truth and her values. But Carrie's courage inspired a whole nation and a whole generation of young people because she chose torisk the Miss USA crown rather than be silent about her deepest moral values. "No Offense" calls gay marriage advocates to account for their unwillingness to debate the real issue: gay marriage has consequences.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at 12:21PM
Reader Comments (77)
Be gay all you want, I dont' care. Just don't push your views down my throat or force me to accept/ tolerate it. Don't tell me I am racist, prejudiced, whatever for not agreeing with you or not accepting your lifestyle. If you don't want my lifestyle pushed on you, don't push yours on me. And by the way, Christianity does not affect your life, you do not have to believe it, that's why this is a free country. However, having the choice to not believe does not give you the right to trample me or put me down because of what I believe. You people say you don't want your children "exposed" to any part of Christianity, so heaven forbid there is a cross standing in a cemetary or in front of a church, but did you ever stop to think that I might be offended if it's not there? Not having to accept one way of life does not give anyone the right to push out the other lifestyle. If you continue to do that, I will continue to speak against your lifestyle and beliefs to anyone who will listen. My last word on the subject because apparently you aren't listening or letting me have my beliefs: the Ultimate Judgement is coming someday and anyone, dead or alive, will be raised and present at the Judgement and those who did not live a life pleasing the the Judge will be cast into the lake of fire. God is a loving God, but He is also a God who does NOT tolerate disobedience! If you do not believe me, read the book of Revelation. It's the last book of the Bible. Or read Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, or 1 Corinthians 6:9, or many more books in the book that is most precious to me, the Bible. And no, the Bible does not change "because of the times." God's word is the ONLY unchanging thing in this world. You can choose whether or not to believe me, but someday ALL will know and see the truth, and their will be consequences for those who went their own way. If God was a supporter of the homosexual lifestyle, He would not have condemned it in MANY places in the Bible. Now this is what I believe, so don't you try to cut down my beliefs, because if you do that, then you ARE being a hypocrit. Believe what you want, but leave those who oppose you ALONE. This is part of the package deal of having one's own mind and holding on to one's own beliefs. You do not have to agree with the other,but you have no right to cut them down, either. I do not cut down gay people, I do not judge them, but when people say that I am a bigot because of my beliefs, it ticks me off and I open my mouth and defend myself, probably offending you, but so what? You have offended me!
@ Anonymous
You just do not get it. You can believe all you want. You can have a cross all you want on your property. Feel free. I DO NOT CARE. The difference between you an me is that you want to prevent someone for their freedom. I definitely have my opinions about organized religion, but I do not care if you have your beliefs. My feeling that way has not bearing on you doing what you want. You can believe that same sex marriage is wrong, but it is a violation of the Constitution of the United States (imho) to deny equal rights to gay people. You are a BIGOT, not for your belief in a god or for your thoughts that homosexuality is wrong. You are a bigot for how you want to hold that group down as second class. If I wanted to deny you equal rights due to your Christianity then I would be a bigot, but I do not. I do not care if you marry, have missionary sex with your spouse, or whatever.
As for the rest of your comment;
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, lake of fire, hahahahahaha.
If you want to have a debate on religion or the bible, I am happy to ask Jinxi to open up a forum on here to do so. I would look forward to discussing those topics with you.
Hey, Jesus is "coming", I hope you have a Kleenex.
P.S. Jesus is a myth, just like Hercules is. Hey maybe Disney will make a feel good movie about him someday and have a parade based on said movie.
Oh, and SORRY Jinxi, I know it is a pain in the ass to have all this crap on here, but Anonymous and her "friends" post the lamest crap that it must be comment on.
Anon, someone was making you marry a gay person? Ridiculous. Try again.
Sigh, Miss Prejean's sponsors just announced that "god's will" wasn't good enough for her...so they paid for her bulbous tata's popping out of her bikini and gowns.
The pulpit pounders insist Jesus was never married and we're to emulate Jesus ... so EXACTLY why does marriage need preserved?
Christian insurgents sinnin' against nice Jewish boy Jesus' edicts....to be nice to ALL people .... have some 'splainin' to do.
Who can remember Jesus saying to love everyone except gay people; if it was such a big deal, he would've mentioned it at least once at his many magic shows or ranting rallies against bigots of his era.
Christianity is the most perverted system that ever shone on man. -Thomas Jefferson
One more item before I move on - I believe in God. The God I believe in would find bigotry in any form an ugly thing - so it is especially annoying to watch you throw Bible verses around as they suit you while even NON Christians get the basic message of the Bible. I't sad really, your faith is that fragile. I'd pray for ya, but it's clear you march to a narrow minded evil God instead of the real one.
ah hahahahaha, Jesus came, better get the morning after pill Anonymous, wouldn't want you to have a gay child. What exactly would you do if you had a child who came to and said he/she/farm animal was gay? Please answer this truthfully, Anonymous.
Steve already said it ten times, but I'll say it again, I'm not calling you a bigot because of your belief in the bible, I called you that because you are against a whole class of people being equal to you. Don't you get it? We're putting you down for what you believe? No no no, we're putting you down for what you don't believe in, equal rights for all people. See, in a different way, you are also a non believer. Lets see if you can figure that one out on your own. So, since you don't believe in equal rights then I don't believe in you or a your fancy shmancy bribe-all. Ah man, anyway, go get that morning after pill and I'm gonna go watch Religulous and laugh at how funny Bill Maher is.
"Jesus is coming, get a Kleenex", c'mon Steve, I almost spit my lunch out, hahaha!
@ Everyone reading this thread
This is an amazing discussion! I think my remarks below will spark even more discussion:
I don’t know you and you don’t know me (save one – love ya buddy!). So, who am I? I am an Iowan, born and raised here. I am a middle-aged Caucasian; 45 years old. <looking all around and whispering> I am a homosexual. <gasp!>
I have a partner of many years that I love very much. He and I have committed ourselves to each other and our monogamous partnership. We own our home. We are Christians; we attend worship (at a rather conservative church) with people we love and who love us. We celebrate holidays and birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. We follow the rules: “spring forward” and “fall back” as Iowans (and Tigers) do, we do not cheat, we do not steal, and we pay all our taxes on time. We even graciously support our local charities and schools – even though we have no children of our own who benefit from those charities and those schools and therefore have no real obligation to support or share with them.
You get the picture: we’re just like you! We’re just like you with 10 fingers and 10 toes, 2 eyes that can see you and look at you, 2 arms and 2 hands to hug you with or hit you with. We’re just like you in that we have a desire to learn, to laugh, to cry, to dance, to sing. We’re just like you in that we like to own nice things. We’re just like you in that we have our own opinions. We’re just like you in that we sometimes forget the Golden Rule and say or do hurtful things. We’re just like you in that we are sincere when we apologize and say “I’m sorry”. We’re just like you in that we sometimes argue. We’re just like you in that we often try to persuade others to believe how or in what we believe. We’re just like you in that we love each other. We’re just like you in that we want to ask the love of our life “Will you marry me?” or BE asked “Will you marry me?” We're just like you in that we're human and not perfect.
We live the same as you all do but there are many things we are not allowed to do or that make us different. Maybe you smoke pot, we don’t, but so what. Maybe your favorite color is red, mine is not, but I'm not going to criticize you for it. Maybe you file jointly your state and federal taxes, we cannot – regardless of the fact that we both own the real property and that it would benefit us to file jointly. We are not allowed the automatic privilege of right of survivorship or of medical power of attorney like you, our heterosexual brothers and sisters (not without legal documentation, anyway but if we got married, that would change for us – be better for us). Even if you don't get married and live together – after 7 years the state and federal government considers you common law husband and wife.
But wait a minute! We live in America – The United States of America!! What did the founding fathers of our country want for not just themselves but for all future generations? They wanted us to have the freedom to be who we are, to believe what we want to believe, to say what we want to say. What does the second sentence in the U.S. Declaration of Independence state? It says “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” So, one would think that if my partner and I, in our pursuit of happiness, would like to marry, shouldn't we have that unalienable right? And if we do get married (because we sure can now in Iowa, you know), or if all states agree that same-sex couples have the right to marry, how is that going to change you or the way you live or what you believe? Will it mean " =) " will want to marry their pet if they have one, a piece of furniture, their car, or some farm animal? (Pah-leeeese!!!) I don’t think so. Will it mean Steve will believe in God? Highly doubtful. Will it turn Tiger’s girlfriend into an Alpaca? Absolutely not. Will it mean Tiger is gay? No way! Will it mean you all are bigots? Hell no! Only YOU can change you; I am the only one who can change me.
So WTF? Homosexuality has been around since the dawn of time and it always will be a part of the future. There’s nothing you (or I or anyone else) can do to stop it so why do you even CARE what same-sex couples do? Let my partner and I be happy. If you want to say we’re sinners and we're going to roast in hell, fine, say it. It's okay. If you think you need to pray for us and our evil ways, by all means, do it! We love it when people pray for us and our well-being! But just let us be happy!
If you cannot be tolerant of the opinions, lifestyles or identities of others, that’s a bummer!
I believe a good Christian would be tolerant of those things. I believe an educated, open-minded human being would be tolerant of those things. I think many of the participants in this thread are tolerant of these things. If anyone begs to differ with my opinions, bring it on!
Craig, some of us (MOST of us) hear you and will not stop pushing for equal rights for all people. I'm not gay, nor do I really believe in the idea of marraige for myself. None of this touches my personal life in that way. But my family, friends and I won't tolerate laws that come from bigotry, and are most offended by the idea that it is a Christian thing to do. Much peace to you and your partner.
Thanks Julie! You, your family, and your friends ROCK!!
Craig,
So very well said. With tears in my eyes, I thank you for posting it. I am so very a happy for the love that you and your partner share. Equality for ALL.
Steve
dang, I have the most amazing friends in the world!
<patting Steve on the back and handing him a Kleenex> Thank you, Steve! That means a lot. You say it best when you say "Equality for ALL". You're awesome!
@ anon.....
dont u worry....judgement day will be here...and the ones that really love jesus,and understand and follow his ways will be welcomed into the kingdom of heaven ...and the rest of the atheists well....u know the rest
@ tiger...
ur such a pathetic sad straight man....I feel bad (again) for ur gf that claims to be a Christian.....seriously....what Christian believes in gay rights and has a stoner for a bf? NOT a Christian...poor girl!!! she needs to really look at her life,and stop pretending to be something she is not.....I'am sure there are "special" churches that bend the rules for people just like her!!!! like this gay guy I know that attends a Synagog with a gay rabbi!!!!!! can you image a gay rabbi leading an entire congregation straight to hell !!!!!!!
I dont know who said it....but it sure made me laugh(and think)...the comment about how all these atheists who have children...what in the world will they do the day one (or all) of their babies comes home and says "Mom,Dad.....I have accepted Jesus christ into my heart and I want to follow Jesus and go to Church!!".....Will they hate thier children? call them bigots,and every name in the book (just like they have done here)????? How interesting that WOULD BE!!!! humm...maybe that will be the testamony of these children...."How I came from Athetist parents...then God came in and changed my life!!!!" wow!!! now that would be something!!!!
@ =)
So there are "the ones that really love jesus" (you did not even capitalize Jesus, damn) and then there are the atheists. Wow, so you are one or the other. So what is Craig above? He is a Christian who loves Jesus. However, it would seem that you are saying that since he is gay, then he does not "really love jesus" so is he therefore an atheist, I THINK NOT.
Do you realize that there is over 1200 different Christian organizations in America alone and over 30000 in the world. Those 1200 sects in America are further divided into conservative and liberal wings.
Here is a question for you. Little Miss America is now working for NOM, which is (are you ready for this) a Mormon front group. One of the former directors is the son of one of the 12 Apostles. So, I ask you, are Mormons going to burn in hell and if so, why would you support a group led by them?
I notice that you did not respond to Craig's comment. Why? You do not have the guts to respond to his comment with your rhetoric.
listen =) you are a fucking idiot! You didn't even answer my question...."If you had a kid(lets hope not) and they came to you and said they were gay, what would you do?" answer me instead of going off on my girlfriend. She has gone to church every sunday and holidays her ENTIRE life....how dare you say she is not a christian. I can't wait for her to read this, she already thinks you're dumb and incoherent, now she's gonna flip. She 'claims to be christian'?? You just dug your own hole smiley. You come after her beliefs again and I will come after you! take that however you want! You and your hiding behind a stupid smiley face. And you call me stoner again for smoking when my back hurts...You have a lot to learn in life, how old are you? You have nothing good to say, ever. Wipe that stupid smile off your face. I may not believe in god but I can't wait for you to meet your god when you pass, hes gonna mess you up son!
Ya, why don't you respond to Craig's comments, he's waiting...hahaha, I think it's so funny you coming down on me....like I'm gonna change the world or something. You're lost, get mommy to help you find your way. Go masturbate to your bible, being that you can't possibly have a significant other with all the hate you spew.(bible reference only intended for =))
Craig, when you get back to a computer, =) is all yours.......hahaha. I'm done wasting my awesome typing skills on this thing called =)
@ =) sorry for such harsh words, but you ripping on my gf is pretty lame man/woman. My girlfriend actually feels bad for you, and wishes you didn't think the way you do, but like she says, "that's his/her opinion, oh well" She didn't even get mad at your stabs. Why? because she is a real Christian, not whatever you think you are. She has love for all things and does not hate. She respects everyone's beliefs, even yours!!! So yeah, she must not be the Christian that you are. I'm so glad she isn't.
So I'll ask this again and be done with this conversation, because I doubt I will get a real answer....If you have a son or daughter, and one day they tell you that they are gay, what will you do? That's all I want to know from you........??
@ Tiger....
I know you meant this post for =), but I am taking it upon myself to answer for him/ her, because I'm sure he/ she feels the same way as I do....
My son or daughter will NOT be gay because they will be taught God's laws from day 1! Homosexuality IS a choice! Mt. 7:13-14 says "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Going to church does NOT make one a Christian (in reference to your GF going to church her whole life)! being a Christian does not give you a license to sin! If you want to get technical, I am not only against gay marriage; I am also against people who live together outside of marriage (in a HETEROSEXUAL relationship), as it's called fornication in the Bible, I am opposed to divorce and remarriage, it's called adultery in the Bible, I am also opposed to abortion-their is absolutely no reason to kill an innocent unwanted baby when so many others are waiting to adopt. And I dont' want to hear about how it's for the health of the mother-both my cousin and I were premies, me 8 weeks early, and my cousin 18 weeks early-no I'm not kidding. that was 30 years ago and 24 years ago. Both were because of the mother's health, and all of us are alive and well today, other than allergies and asthma, so if our problems could be fixed all those years ago, with as far as medicine has come in the past 30 years, there's no excuse for "the health of the mother." So you know that I am not just against gay marriage. If I did not stand up for what I believe, I would be held accountable by God someday. He destroyed 2 entire cities because of homosexual activity; read the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, found in Genesis 18:16-19:29. He does NOT allow it because "of the times." I will say it again, His Word is the ONLY unchanging thing in an ever-changing world! I AM a Christian; people who don't even know me come up to me and tell me that they can see God living in me, just because of the way I act and live my life. And I dont' hate people,I just hate the sin. Now before I go, I just want to say that I know this blog post wasn't meant to get this heated or off-topic, but that's the way it has to go sometimes. All I hear about is how wrong the Christian population is, and everyone should do away with churches and Christianity, but guess what? If we retaliate with a "hate-crimes" lawsuit, do you think it's going to stand in court? Whereas, if gay people wanted to sue for "hate-crimes", do you think the would win? NOW who's rights are being violated? It seems to me that the CHRISTIANS are the ones who have no rights, we are not even allowed to speak our opinions anymore! But guess what? I AM, and I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYONE THINKS OF ME! I will be richly rewarded someday in Heaven!!
@ tiger....
if one of my kids were to tell me that they were gay...it would not change the love I have for them...did you think it would? of course not,sure I'd be upset,but I would not hate them,or their choice for it (how ridiculous) just as Im sure you would not hate ur kids for whatever they choose in life...(gay,straight,satanist,chriistian,buddist...whatever)
I did read Craigs lil rant...and really I dont have anything to say to him...he's one of a million gays that claim to be Christian,and love God...if that were true...if he reallly did love Jesus and followed his ways,he would know that being gay is a sin,a SELFISH sin,that many gays just want people to tolerate....not me,aint gonna happen!!!
sorry I made ur gf upset......
smoking weed,no matter if u have a Doc note or not...ur a stoner ,man-up and call it what it is!!! stop putting a pretty hat on ur addiction.
I always love how Christians claim that the majority of the country is Christian. In this case Miss America says that she represents the majority of America and California with her views. Then out the other side of their mouths they talk about how trashed they are not accepted. So what is, are you the vast majority or are you the poor picked on minority of America.
Perhaps it is just that the Constitution of the United States does not support your bigotry and hate speech. Deal with it, you live in America and we are all equal (or will be soon once the bigots loose their fight.)
The poor "picked on majority christian" routine reminds me of what a middle aged working class white man would have said right before slavery was abolished.
@ steve
if Cali is so bad,and u want to live in an "equal rights" state.... THEN MOVE UR A** TO THAT STATE!!!!
Stop complaining,YOU live in Cali....anti-gay marriage state!!! oh yea!!! I love Cali!!!
@ Anonymous
Don't worry about 'hearing' anything from me. I read about 5 lines of your comment and it makes me yucky feeling inside. Feel like I have hate smeared all over me.
@ =)
addiction? Do you judge everyone like this? We all know the answer.
I already told you...I'm done conversing with your brainwashed mind. Just go hate somewhere else. I'll call myself a stoner just for you. I'll take 'stoner' over 'bigot' any day. And I know why you won't respond to Craig's comment, you hate gays! Bigot. I take back my apology, I thought you might be halfway reasonable...ha...not a chance.
bye bye bigot!
-Your lovable stony friend,
Tiger, yeah, my real name is Tiger Rotenburger, stop putting a pretty hat on your =)
@ Anonymous
Holy shit! (pun intended) I did read the rest of your....what have you....Whoa! did you materialize from the bible? You are wicked. I'm sorry, you can believe whatever you want and that's fine with me. I just have to say again, you're wicked. I pray for your children( pun again, intended) Bring on the 'stoner' comments, haha, you two are so crazy it's funny.
Again, I do not mean any harm towards any people of faith reading this, but these two are not like most Christians I know. I can hear the thumping from my house(where I get stoned every night, or is it every so often?) You're the judges, you tell me when I smoke, cuz I guess I smoke way more than I think. ah hahahahaha. poop.
@ =)
Where did I say that I hate California? I was making the point that you live in a country that has a constitution that does not allow groups to be treated as second class citizens. If you took the time to actually read my comment you would have seen that. You are the one who does not agree with the values that this country was founded on. Would you have told a slave to leave America if he does not like slavery. I can hear it now, "stop your crying you big baby, if you don't like picking cotton, then you should leave" the difference between you and me is that I stand up against bigotry and do not back away from it and you value it as the basis for your life. Good luck with that.
Suck on that you bible thumper.
@ steve
this is for you..simple and to the point...
You may not believe in God,BUT HE BELIEVES IN YOU!!!!!
@ =) and Anonymous
Please be honest. How many tattoos and/or piercings do you have? The reason I ask is that I find that so many Christians have something about them that other Christians would damn them to hell for. Just curious. I could be wrong, but I am trusting that you will tell the truth.
Again, lying is a sin, so please answer truthfully.
Leviticus 19:28, Romans 10:14, Galatians 3:23 and Ephesians 2:15