Miss America Contestant Tepid about Occupy Wall Street, Loses Competition
In recent years, the Miss America and Miss USA pageants have been places viewers can see how well-poised, educated women field tough questions about divisive issues the country is facing. The 2012 Miss America competition was no exception, as Miss New York was asked about Occupy Wall Street. But similar to Carrie Prejean’s pro-traditional marriage answer from the 2009 Miss USA competition, Miss New York’s reasonable answer to a hot button political question may have landed her as the runner up.
On Sunday Jan. 15 during the Miss America competition in Las Vegas, Nevada, Miss New York Kaitlin Monte was asked whether the protestors that comprise “Occupy Wall Street” had a valid point. Her response was tepid at best, showing neither full support, nor full dismissal of the movement.
“Occupy Wall Street brought discourse. ... If they're going to come up and complain about a problem, they have to come up with solutions, too. You can't just say there is a problem without trying to troubleshoot.”
Though her response drew applause, the judges were probably hoping for more full-fledged support of the liberal movement The judges (among them, Mark Ballas of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars and Lara Spencer of Good Morning America) are all employed by the left-leaning ABC and Comcast (with the exception of Raul de Molina, employed by Univision). Though there’s no direct evidence that her lack of support for the Occupy Wall Street movement is what secured her place as first runner up (3rd place), the contest is reminiscent of the 2009 Miss USA controversy in which an honest, non-liberal answer landed Miss California’s Carrie Prejean in hot water.
In April 2009 during the Miss America competition, judge and notorious gay blogger and celebrity bully, Perez Hilton asked Carrie Prejean (Miss California) whether or not states should follow Vermont’s example and legalize same-sex marriage. Prejean’s response, affirming her support for traditional marriage started a firestorm of controversy, prompting Hilton to call her a “c**t” and a “dumb b***h.” Prejean believes she lost the crown because of her honest answer about gay marriage.
Comments
This is so so weird.
Submitted by Mashugana on Tue, 01/17/2012 - 5:21pm.
I understand this story to be pure speculation based upon an answer given several years ago by another contestant.
Though there’s no direct evidence that her lack of support for the Occupy Wall Street movement is what secured her place as first runner up (3rd place), the contest is reminiscent of the 2009 Miss USA controversy in which an honest, non-liberal answer landed Miss California’s Carrie Prejean in hot water.
The only thing similar between Prejean and Monte is that they were both asked questions about current events.
I also heard Miss Georgia didn't win because she has smelly feet. I can't prove it, but...
You want "weird" Mashugana?
Submitted by Kansasgirl on Tue, 01/17/2012 - 7:01pm.
I've heard some weird things about O.
Can't prove it, but...
Snot
Submitted by Mashugana on Tue, 01/17/2012 - 7:17pm.
Nothing but snotty little remarks from Kansasgirl. Don't forget the aluminum foil hat at your next gathering of conspiracy theorists.
Maybe you can predict why next year's blue state contestants will lose.
Shut up, Zippers.
Submitted by SickofLibs on Tue, 01/17/2012 - 7:23pm.
.
What the fuck?
Submitted by Mashugana on Tue, 01/17/2012 - 7:26pm.
What the fuck is that supposed to mean?
Locked.
Submitted by SickofLibs on Tue, 01/17/2012 - 7:29pm.
.
Wanna play Connect 2 next time, Zippers?
Submitted by SickofLibs on Tue, 01/17/2012 - 7:30pm.
.
be' taille*
Submitted by cajun2 on Tue, 01/17/2012 - 8:05pm.
It means, your language skills are as poor as your ability to comprehend.
Yes, that's surely why she
Submitted by balboa on Tue, 01/17/2012 - 5:29pm.
Yes, that's surely why she lost...
streeeeeeeeetch.
Maybe not in your world balboa.
Submitted by Kansasgirl on Tue, 01/17/2012 - 7:03pm.
Try living in the majority that the minority has tried to marginalize.
The majority live with
Submitted by balboa on Tue, 01/17/2012 - 7:17pm.
The majority live with conjured up conspiracy theories?
The biggest conspiracy ever...
Submitted by MrLuigi on Tue, 01/17/2012 - 8:37pm.
..is peddled by the political left, that america is hopelessly racist. Unless of course you're referring to the outrageous and disproportionate number of crimes committed by blacks against whites.
Speculation...
Submitted by Jarhead68 on Tue, 01/17/2012 - 5:34pm.
Newsbusters, you're better than that. Send out the hounds to sniff out the story.
Nice try Jarhead68
Submitted by Kansasgirl on Tue, 01/17/2012 - 7:09pm.
Epic fail.
Until the libs start taking the "high road", we're through with your type dictating how we respond. Pffft.
Don't like it?
Maybe you should stick with the "dummie funnies".
It may not have been a factor
Submitted by Smartypants on Tue, 01/17/2012 - 5:58pm.
It may not have been a factor in whether or not this young lady won the competition, but I still tend to wonder why such a politically charged question is asked in the first place. Were all the contestants subject to equally politically charged questions? It is one thing to ask tough philosophical questions to see how someone thinks on his/her feet, it is quite another thing altogether to ask questions which (if answered honestly) compel a contestant to reveal her political leanings. The question asked of gay marriage years ago was wrong for the same reason. Any honest answer is going to offend roughly half of the people out there. This is a pageant not a political debate. Last time I checked, Miss America does not set policy for anyone.
Getting caught matters
Submitted by T D on Tue, 01/17/2012 - 6:10pm.
Funny how conservative-leaning contestants don't win. The one smoking gun (Perez Hilton) is now supposedly a statistically insignificant fact. A one-off.
No, it works the other way. When you're caught discriminating, the presumption that you might have done it again is valid. When you trash your reputation, you have to earn it back by showing you have left your previous habits. The Miss America competition hasn't done that.
For a competition with proven discrimination, it's legitimate to ask if a conservative can win. As in the past, not this time.
She should have said communism totally sucks...
Submitted by Dave. on Tue, 01/17/2012 - 6:11pm.
...and communists and their supporters are all stupid suckers.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
She should have asked
Submitted by Tugboat Phil on Tue, 01/17/2012 - 7:08pm.
the questioner to fully explain what it was the filthy protesters were protesting. I watched hours of television interviews of those people and still have no clear, specific idea of what it was about.
Either that or she could have said, "I am emphatically against shi**ing on police cars!"
She Should Have Quoted The Constitution
Submitted by Rikki_Doxx on Tue, 01/17/2012 - 7:08pm.
She should have quoted the Constitution. The United States constitution explicitly provides for 'the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances'" in the First Amendment.
Notice the word "Peaceably"? The OWS and people like that always want to point to the 1st. Amendment when they go out trashing public and private property. Was the OWS peaceable?
Was the OWS peaceable?
Submitted by upcountrywater on Tue, 01/17/2012 - 7:18pm.
Y yes it is, they let the rats live. The demoRATS.
You Didn't Build That.
what kind of stupid question
Submitted by jkwtrading on Tue, 01/17/2012 - 7:58pm.
what kind of stupid question is asking is she loves Occupy Wall street? it's like asking if she loves cockroaches. a good response though would be "oh yes I love them I stomp on them daily" I save them too and give them to liberals for their presents.
She should have said that OWS should be treated the same....
Submitted by Kingfish17 on Tue, 01/17/2012 - 8:55pm.
She should have used my line: The people protesting in the OWS movement should demand and be treated exactly the same as the banks that got "bailed out"! The should have to pay back all their government loans, with interest!
"You can’t go take a trip to Las Vegas...on the taxpayer’s dime." Barack Obama