Chen also failed to mention that during live coverage on MSNBC on Monday, Hilton declared that he was not sorry for using that language and even went on to say that he wished he had used the "c-word" to describe Prejean. Chen only vaguely alluded to Hilton’s vulgarity as she asked her first question: "Perez, let me begin with you. When you first heard her answer, what did you think? And please keep it clean, this is a live morning program."
The only thing depicted as controversial in the segment was Prejean’s answer to the question, not the question itself or Hilton’s attacks. Chen asked Hilton: "So give me a good example of how you think she should have handled it and still staying true to her beliefs, Perez." Hilton basically called for her to have dodged the question: "A very simple way she could have answered it is, 'as a future Miss USA it is my job not to be a politician, but to be someone who represents and inspires the women and the troops, and I think it's great that the states get to decide for themselves.' Something like that, she could -- she would not have had to insert her own personal politics into it." It's good Hilton did not insert his "personal politics" into the pageant.
Chen also spoke with Miss USA pageant co-director Shanna Moakler about the controversy: "Shanna, what do you think? How did she handle it? Did it cost her the title? What are your thoughts? You've been down this road." Moakler acknowledged the question was the reason for Prejean losing: "...this is not the first conservative Christian title holder. And, you know, I have to applaud her that she was willing to miss out on the opportunity of being Miss USA, you know, to stay true to her convictions. But, on the same token, you know, I think she has muddied the waters a little bit by -- by making -- just by -- her question was insensitive. And it's now become more about compassion, being compassionate in the way that she answered her question."
Moakler went on to explain: "...we're not abandoning her and we don't hate her. But it puts us in a difficult situation because we do have a difference of opinion. And we also have sponsors, and people that have supported her, and helped get her to where she was standing on that stage, that I think there's now become a sense of betrayal. So it's just, you know, that's where I'm saying it's become a topic of sensitivity, and she needed to answer her question with more compassion."
Here is the full transcript of the segment:
7:13AM TEASE:
JULIE CHEN: And the blogging queen versus the beauty queen. We'll talk to Perez Hilton about the same-sex marriage controversy at the Miss USA pageant.
7:24AM TEASE:
HARRY SMITH: Coming up, the same-sex marriage debate hits the Miss USA pageant. We're going to talk with celebrity blogger Perez Hilton when we come back.
7:31AM TEASE:
CHEN: Anyway, ahead this morning we have a lot coming up. It's something we're calling the blogging queen versus the beauty queen. Perez Hilton caused quite a stir at the Miss USA pageant when he asked Miss California about same-sex marriage. We're going to ask Perez all about it as we get into that debate.
7:35AM TEASE:
SMITH: Up next, Miss California is at the middle of a same-sex marriage controversy. And celebrity blogger Perez Hilton started it. We're going to talk to him when we come back.
7:39AM SEGMENT:
JULIE CHEN: There was controversy at the Miss USA competition Sunday night when out and outspoken celebrity blogger Perez Hilton asked Miss California a question about same-sex marriage.
PEREZ HILTON: Do you think every state should follow suit, why or why not?
CHEN: Miss California, Carrie Prejean, decided to tell gay blogger and judge Perez Hilton what she really felt about same-sex marriage, and it might have cost her the Miss USA crown.
CARRIE PREJEAN: You know what, in my country, and 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 that it should be between a man and a woman. Thank you.
CHEN: Hilton reacted angrily after the show, posting this video blog on his website.
HILTON: I am so disappointed in Miss California representing my country. Not because she doesn't believe in gay marriage, but because she doesn't inspire and she doesn't unite.
CHEN: Joining us from his computer via Skype is Perez Hilton and in Los Angeles Miss USA pageant co-director Shanna Moakler. Good morning to you both.
SHANNA MOAKLER: Hello.
HILTON: Good morning.
CHEN: Perez, let me begin with you. When you first heard her answer, what did you think? And please keep it clean, this is a live morning program.
HILTON: Absolutely. Well, when I first heard her answer, I was shocked. Because, I thought, having been from California, a state that recently passed proposition 8 outlawing same sex marriage, she should have been better prepared to answer that question. Also I didn't think-
CHEN: Are you saying she should have lied? I mean, that's what she believes.
HILTON: No, not at all. I never said that, Julie. Don't put words in my mouth. I think she should have been better prepared. There were various other ways she could have answered that question, and still stayed true to herself without alienating millions of people.
CHEN: Okay. So give me-
HILTON: She didn't answer it-
CHEN: So give me a good example of how you think she should have handled it and still staying true to her beliefs, Perez.
HILTON: A very simple way she could have answered it is, 'as a future Miss USA it is my job not to be a politician, but to be someone who represents and inspires the women and the troops, and I think it's great that the states get to decide for themselves.' Something like that, she could -- she would not have had to insert her own personal politics into it. And I'm not saying it's bad to insert your own personal politics. But you have to answer the question as Miss USA, not as Carrie Prejean.
CHEN: Perez, did it cost her the crown and the title?
HILTON: I think she was definitely one of the front-runners. But I think it's kind of very rude of her to be saying in interviews, like she was yesterday, that if she had been given another question she would have won. And that she felt like a winner. You know, Miss North Carolina, congratulations to you. She did a great job. She earned that crown.
CHEN: Let me turn to Shanna. Shanna, what do you think? How did she handle it? Did it cost her the title? What are your thoughts? You've been down this road.
MOAKLER: Yes, first of all I just want to say congratulations to you on your pregnancy.
CHEN: Oh, thanks.
MOAKLER: But I also -- but I also want to state, you know, this is not the first conservative Christian title holder. And, you know, I have to applaud her that she was willing to miss out on the opportunity of being Miss USA, you know, to stay true to her convictions. But, on the same token, you know, I think she has muddied the waters a little bit by -- by making -- just by -- her question was insensitive. And it's now become more about compassion, being compassionate in the way that she answered her question. So-
CHEN: Shanna, do you think-
MOALLER: And I have to say this, too, you know, I am her state director. And I want it to be known and, you know, be clarified that we're not abandoning her and we don't hate her. But it puts us in a difficult situation because we do have a difference of opinion. And we also have sponsors, and people that have supported her, and helped get her to where she was standing on that stage, that I think there's now become a sense of betrayal. So it's just, you know, that's where I'm saying it's become a topic of sensitivity, and she needed to answer her question with more compassion.
CHEN: Shanna Moakler, Perez Hilton, we thank you both.
MOAKLER: Thanks
HILTON: Thank you.
