[1]McMINNVILLE, Ore. (BP)–What is the difference between a prostitute and a porn star? A porn star, it seems, can attend a fundraising dinner hosted by the National Republican Congressional Committee. The word is still out on the prostitute.
If all goes as planned, “adult film actress” (can you say oxymoron?) Mary Carey will accompany her boss, hardcore pornographer Mark Kulkis, at the 2005 President’s Dinner and Salute to Freedom June 14.
While the purpose of the event is to raise money for the NRCC which, according to its website, exists to support the election of Republicans, one of the main reasons guests are forking over $2,500 a plate is to dine with President Bush.
In the case of Carey and Kulkis, the pair hopes their $5,000 will also translate into positive public relations.
Carey describes herself as an aspiring politician. She was one of 135 candidates who ran for governor of California in the 2003 recall election. Her platform included taxing breast enhancements, making lap dances tax deductible, using porn stars as “goodwill ambassadors” and installing web cameras throughout the governor’s mansion.
Prior to the dinner, Carey plans to officially announce her candidacy for Lieutenant Governor of California. “Since Arnold [Schwarzenegger] is a Republican, I thought this dinner would be a great networking opportunity for me.”
[2]Carey indicated she was looking forward to meeting Karl Rove because, “Smart men like him are so sexy.” She also added she hopes to persuade Rove to support “gay marriage.”
Kulkis, president of Kick (expletive) Pictures, sees the invitation as a way of gaining credibility for the porn industry.
“Republicans bill themselves as the pro-business party,” Kulkis said, according to WorldNetDaily. “Well you won’t find a group of people more pro-business than pornographers.” He added, “We contributed over $10 billion to the national economy last year.”
Kulkis also sees the dinner as an opportunity to challenge the stereotypes of porn workers. “We’re not the freakish demons people make us out to be,” Kulkis said. “I’m not a creep with a coke spoon around his neck. I’m a regular guy.”
Regular guy? Yes, of course, how silly of me to not realize that all regular guys shamelessly exploit women for profit.
What is going on with the Bush administration? Earlier this year it was the First Lady cracking risque jokes at the White House correspondents’ dinner. Now purveyors of degrading hardcore porn will be dining with the party that champions family values. What’s next, mud wrestling on the White House lawn?
It is worth noting that Carey is known for more than just her “acting.” She also makes appearances at “gentlemen clubs.”
In April, Carey (real name: Mary Ellen Cook) was one of five people arrested at a strip club in a suburb of Tacoma, Wash. The Associated Press reported that all were accused of violating an adult cabaret ordinance, which included “getting too close to patrons and others” as well as “touching themselves in a sexual manner.”
When asked about the presence of the porn peddlers, NRCC spokesperson Carl Forti downplayed the situation. “There are going to be about 6,000 in the ballroom,” he told WorldNetDaily. “It’s not like it’s some kind of one-on-one dinner.”
Forti added, “They’ve paid their money. No matter what they do, the money is going to help elect Republicans to the House.”
Thank you, Mr. Forti, for clearing things up for folks, like myself, that voted for the president this past November. If I understand the explanation correctly, economics trumps ethics. To put it another way, money talks — even money gained by prostituting the glorious gift of sex — and everything else walks.
“Lighten up,” you might say. “After all Jesus spent time among prostitutes.” Yes, He did. However, His purpose was to bring positive change to their lives and empower them to walk away from a degrading occupation. And, I might add, He did not charge them $2,500 for the privilege of dining with Him.
The Bush administration should urge the NRCC to return the pornographers’ money and rescind the invitations. It would send the message that while the porn industry might be legal, it is not credible or ethical.
If the porn star shows up at the President’s dinner, I think we will have the answer concerning the presence of prostitutes.
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Kelly Boggs is pastor of the Portland-area Valley Baptist Church in McMinnville, Ore. His column appears in Baptist Press each Friday.