Invited on Tuesday's Today show to promote her new book, Carrie Prejean defended the latest scrutiny surrounding her as the latest example of "liberal bias in the media," of "conservative women" being attacked. When confronted by Today co-anchor Meredith Vieira about her assertion she's been "Palinized," Prejean threw back "Do you think Sarah Palin has been attacked," to which Vieira dodged the liberal bias charge simply stating: "I think Sarah Palin has certainly been criticized, absolutely, by a lot people, as have many politicians." Prejean then slammed Vieira's NBC colleague Keith Olbermann:
CARRIE PREJEAN: And there is a double standard out there. There is an extreme double standard that conservative women are under attack for whatever it is. I mean if Sean Hannity went out there and said some of the things that Keith Olbermann has said about me, you know, if he said anything about Sonia Sotomayor or Michelle Obama, he would be off the air. Why is there this double standard? And that's the reason why I wrote this book. [audio available here]
The following is the relevant exchange from the November 10 Today show:
MEREDITH VIEIRA: This book, it obviously doesn't take on the sex scandal, but it, it does take on what happened to you in the pageant. Why did you feel the need to write it? What hadn't you said that you needed to say?
CARRIE PREJEAN: Well, I think it's important for people to understand, I that think Americans heard only bits and pieces of, of what really happened. And I think that there is a liberal bias in the media, and it's unfortunate that, you know, conservative women are attacked. They are attacked for their beliefs, you know? And it's, it's unacceptable and it shouldn't happen. And so many Americans are frustrated. So many Americans believe that their beliefs, you know, are under attack and they should be silent, and free speech doesn't exist. Since when does free speech not exist? Since when is someone able to go on national TV and call someone the most awful names you could ever call a woman and get away with it?
VIEIRA: And you have been called absolutely terrible names, but there are people who say they want to call you on the carpet when they feel you're being a hypocrite. In the book you write "Our bodies are temples of the lord. We should earn respect and admiration for our hearts, not for showing skin to look sexy." So now people are seeing this tape, whatever you want to call it-
PREJEAN: Right, absolutely. Absolutely.
VIEIRA: -and they're saying, "Well she's a hypocrite-
PREJEAN: Yeah, well I model.
VIEIRA: -she writes a book that says one thing."
PREJEAN: I'm a model. I was in a beauty pageant. I mean if people want to call me hypocrite, then that, you know that's their, that's their prerogative. But, you know what? I've learned from my mistakes. No one's perfect. You're not perfect. I'm not perfect. No one's perfect. Everybody makes mistakes and I think it's all about, you know, taking responsibility for their mistakes. And it just so happens that, you know, seven months, it's been seven months since I gave that answer and they have done nothing but attack me and try and silence me and keep me from spreading that message that free speech still exists, and that's the reason why I wrote this book.
VIEIRA: You, you say in the book you've been "Palinized," referencing Sarah Palin. What do you mean by that? "I've been Palinized."
PREJEAN: You know of the attacks Sarah Palin's been under, don't you?
VIEIRA: But do you think if you're a conservative woman that-
PREJEAN: Do you think Sarah Palin has been attacked?
VIEIRA: I think Sarah Palin has certainly been criticized, absolutely, by a lot people, as have many politicians.
PREJEAN: Right, right. And there is a double standard out there. There is an extreme double standard that conservative women are under attack for whatever it is. I mean if Sean Hannity went out there and said some of the things that Keith Olbermann has said about me, you know, if he said anything about Sonia Sotomayor or Michelle Obama, he would be off the air. Why is there this double standard? And that's the reason why I wrote this book.
