In a society where notoriety is worshipped, champions of causes are sometimes hard to explain. The latest of these is Carrie Prejean. If you have been taking Advil pm for the last couple of weeks and not paying attention, Ms. Prejean is the reigning Miss California.

In a recent contest to decide who the US representative in the Miss Universe pageant would be, Carrie came in second but gained a lot of exposure for her political views, which put her in the national spotlight, which can't hurt her future modeling plans.

A contest to determine the prettiest girl in the universe seems ambitious to begin with, seeing as how no one outside the planet Earth is entered. I also don't understand asking political questions to smiling young darlings wearing less clothing than the average stripper, but that's just me.

Perez Hilton, who is one of a growing list of people who is famous for being notorious, was a judge. He is a flamboyant attention junkie who will do most anything to get his name in the paper. He probably shouldn't be taken seriously about anything; especially politics.

He is also gay which makes you wonder about his qualifications to judge a beauty contest. Isn't that like having a vegetarian determine the best ribs at the Memphis in May Barbecue contest?

Perez asked Ms. Prejean her opinion about gay marriage. She showed her vast knowledge of the subject by first saying how great it was to live in a country where people could choose. I must have missed something. Doesn't most of the country refuse to allow gay marriage?

Anyway, she went on to say she was against it because that was how she was raised. Hilton had a hissy fit, which kept his name in the paper for an extra 15 minutes, Miss California finished runner up to Miss North Carolina and immediately claimed she lost the contest because of her answer.

People don't usually rally round the political views of beauty contestants. They can be a bit strange. Google Miss South Carolina and maps if you need a refresher course.

But the liberals got their undies all bunched up about the comments. Then conservatives, realizing they were losing precious TV airtime, began to show support for Carrie's courage and beliefs. The Alabama state legislative body, my all- time favorite comedy ensemble, even passed legislation in support of the lovely blonde.

A few days later provocative pictures of Prejean surfaced on the evil internet and Carrie was in hot water with the California pageant authorities. She had signed a document promising there were no such pictures around.

The uptight people who run the contest weren't happy. So now the liberals are stuck with Perez Hilton and conservatives are mulling a reversal of attitude about how bad being naked is.

Carrie Prejean is getting lots of airtime and blaming her indiscretions on everyone but herself. She does have her priorities straight though. She told one reporter she's received more than 500 new Facebook hits.

I guess it could be worse. Bristol Palin could be a spokesperson for abstinence.