Watching cable news talking heads bloviate on current events for 12 hours each day has eroded away some of the enamel preserving my sanity. Chris Hayes is plaque on a person’s mental health.
Imagine the ratings bonanza if instead of Alex Wagner, we had a network who enlisted Miss South Carolina, Miss Illinois, and Miss Alabama to deal out #smarttakes on the Iranian election, U.S. aid to Syria, and whether "Man of Steel" is too Christian or too bleak. I'd watch.
There's no shortage of talent. The Donald’s "Miss U.S.A." pageant crowned its latest champion using the time-honored method of quizzing contestants on current events. Amy Argetsinger at The Washington Post compiled the Q&A from the pageant’s finalists.
South Carolina's Megan Pinckney (5th runner-up)
Question from judge Christina Milian, the pop star: "Should people who leak classified documents in the name of public information be charged with treason? Why or why not?"
Miss S.C.: "I don’t believe that they should be charged with treason. Personally I think that being a part of this country we have been given specific documents for specific reasons. Our lawmakers have put that into their decisions for certain reasons. And if we feel the need to have to show those documents, then I think we should show them."
Texas's Ali Nugent (4th runner-up)
Question from judge Betsey Johnson, the designer: "In a recent beauty pageant bikinis were banned amid protests from religious groups. As someone who competed in a swimsuit tonight, do you believe such groups should have that influence? Why or why not?" [Johnson was alluding to the rival Miss World pageant, which banned bikinis under pressure from hard-line Muslim groups in the host country of Indonesia.]
Miss Texas: "I think we live in a country where we have freedoms that people around the world don’t. And we have the ability to vote for things we agree with and vote against things we don’t agree with. I personally am very confident with myself, and I feel perfectly fine being up here in front of millions of people in a swimsuit, but I absolutely agree with those people: They have the right to stand up and vote against whatever they feel is not necessary."
Illinois's Stacie Juris (2nd runner-up)
Question from judge Bob Harper, a reality TV star: "Due to the problem of binge drinking on college campuses, a growing number of college presidents are encouraging lawmakers to lower the drinking age. Do you agree that this would promote responsible drinking? Why or why not?"
Miss Illinois: "I think if you’re going to drink irresponsibly, you’re going to do so whether you’re 18, 19, 20 or 21. I think it’s important to continue to encourage our youth to be responsible and drink responsibly and look out for the safety of those around them as well as, as well as themselves."
Alabama's Mary Margaret McCord (1st runner-up)
Question from Wendie Malick, the actress: "Government tracking of phone records has been in the news lately. Is this an invasion of privacy or necessary to keep our country safe? Why or why not?"
Miss Alabama: "I think the society that we live in today, it’s sad that if we go to the movies or to the airport or even to the mall that we have to worry about our safety. So that I would rather someone track my telephone messages and feel safe wherever I go than feel like they’re, um, encroaching on my privacy."
Connecticut's Erin Brady (Miss USA winner)
Question from judge Mo Rocca, the comedian: "Miss Connecticut, the Supreme Court ruled that criminal suspects can be subjected to a police DNA test after arrest. Do you agree or disagree with this, and why or why not?"
Miss Connecticut: "I would agree with this. I think that if somebody’s being prosecuted and is . . .[short pause]. . . committed a crime that’s that severe that they should have a DNA test. I think there are so many crimes going on in this world that if that’s one step closer to figuring out who has done it, I think we should absolutely do so."
The most buzzworthy of answers from our contestants was Miss Utah’s response to a question on how women are becoming primary bread-winners despite earning less than men.
Creating education better. Miss Utah, pro-small-biz.