Transgender beauty contest pageant contestant Jenna Talackova threw a tantrum about being disqualified from the Miss Universe [1] pageant because Talackova was born a man. And NBC’s “Today” proved more than willing to hype his complaint – despite the fact (or because) NBC News’ parent group, NBC Universal, is helping Donald Trump run the Miss Universe beauty pageant.
On April 4, “Today” anchor Ann Curry teased a segment on the Talackova incident [2]: “It’s not often that Donald Trump backs down, but following an outcry, he’s decided to lift a ban on a transgender woman from entering his Miss Universe competition.”
Then “Today” proceeded to put on numerous voices in support of Talackova, while only mustering one minor criticism of Talackova.
NBC reporter Mike Taibbi favorably introduced Talackova, declaring “She is 6’1”, statuesque, and striking, and until recently had competed in transgender and transsexual beauty pageants.” Taibbi then quoted Talackova: “She knew from the time she could think that she was not the male she was from birth.” Calling Talackova female was repeated throughout the report.
NBC would not allow any voices who might contradict the liberal mantra that gender is changeable, while sexual orientation is not. Instead, NBC put on psychologist Jeff Gardere, who opined: “Letting people know that she’s proud of being transgendered and certainly, I think, makes her a pioneer.”
A clip of Talackova himself was shown, complaining: “I have never asked for any special consideration. I only wanted to compete.” Talackova has elsewhere demanded that Trump change the rules completely [3], and drop discriminatory eligibility rules for the Miss Universe pageant.
Talackova’s statement raises the question of why the contestant hired activist lawyer Gloria Allred [4]. (Allred previously represented Herman Cain accuser Sharon Bialek and declared that Rush Limbaugh should be prosecuted [5] for his comments on Sandra Fluke.) A clip of Allred was shown, demanding answers from Trump: “We need a clear answer. Not a wimpy, wish-washy type of answer.”
NBC did quote a short excerpt from the pageant organizers, noting: “But Talackova was disqualified from the upcoming Miss Universe Canada pageant because she was not a natural-born female, ‘despite having stated otherwise on her entry form.’”
NBC even managed to dredge up controversy [6] against favorite liberal punching bag Carrie Prejean. Prejean, the 2009 Miss California winner, spoke out against gay marriage [7], and was attacked viciously by the left for her comments.
Buried at the end of the “Today” story was this disclaimer from Taibbi: “We should note that the Miss Universe pageant is a joint venture between Donald Trump and NBC Universal.”
Translation – NBC is helping to run the Miss Universe pageant, and any extra publicity for the pageant is a good thing for NBC’s bottom line.
NBC is no stranger to questionable ethical decisions, having recently edited a 911 call [8] to make it seem like Trayvon Martin shooter George Zimmerman was a racist. They issued a vague two-sentence apology [9] for their behavior, which MRC President Brent Bozell [10] characterized as “fraudulent.”