The Place of Dead Roads

Bush speaks at the 2005 President's Dinner

From the AP, Bush Helps Republicans Raise $23 Million:

President Bush stepped up his efforts to boost Republicans' political fortunes by headlining...[a]t an evening congressional gala in Washington...

Among those attending the $2,500-per-ticket dinner was Mary Carey, a blond porn star...

A few hours before the dinner, Carey met with reporters to talk about a Republican lunch she and her boss, adult film executive Mark Kulkis, attended where presidential adviser Karl Rove spoke.

From Reuters, Bush blasts Democrats for 'agenda of road block':

"On issue after issue, they (the Democrats) stand for nothing except obstruction," Bush said at the annual President's Dinner, a $23 million fund-raiser attended by Republican leaders, party donors, and a blond porn star and former California gubernatorial candidate named Mary Carey.

The Religious Convervative WorldNetDaily has the following exchange with the White HouseWhite House won't address porn star dining with Bush:

WND: What is the president thinking about the propriety of the Republican Party accepting $5,000 from a pornographer and the example that is set for the moral climate of this nation, and I have a follow-up.

McCLELLAN: I think you need to direct those questions to the committee itself.

WND: Among the evangelical protestant leaders that so helped the president win re-election, the Rev. Don Wildmon of the American Family Association said, "The Republicans need to go public with an explanation. Just doing nothing is the worse thing they can do." And my question: Do you think tomorrow night none of the TV cameras at all will focus on Mary Carey, who was arrested in Tacoma last month for publicly touching herself in a sexual manner?

McCLELLAN: You've asked this question before –

WND: No, no, no – this is a new question. It's newly worded –

McCLELLAN: It's another question to direct to the event's sponsor.

WND: But do you agree with [Wildmon] or not?

The WorldNetDaily continues to ponder this matter, Bush fete with porn star to raise $23 mil for GOP:

Pornographer Mark Kulkis says tonight's presidential fund-raiser...will make pop-culture history.

But the National Republican Congressional Committee seems more intent on using President Bush's $2,500-a-plate speech to make political fund-raising history.

Kulkis, who says he was personally invited to the dinner, has been using the opportunity to promote...the pornography industry.

The presence of two high-profile pornographers at an event to honor the president hasn't concerned the organization hosting the event.

Communications Director for the National Republican Congressional Committee Carl Forti told WND: "They've paid their money. No matter what they do, the money is going to go to help elect Republicans to the House."

In closing, what Mary Carey has to tell John Aravosis, There's Something About Mary:

She pauses for a minute then asks, "Do you think I should shave my vagina tonight or tomorrow?"

Perhaps Tom DeLay might enjoy a fine Cuban cigar.


For a whole alot of fun, check out AMERICAblog for the fruit's of John Aravosis' hard work blogging this story.

Thanks to RandyMI for pointing out the Bush photo. And yes, that is a real Reuter's photo from the dinner.

[Update: 6/15/05] Check out my next entry: The GOP loves Porn, at least it's $$$$.

[Update: 6/15/05] Also, for a video of Mary Carey on Olberman, jump on over to Crooks and Liars.

"Republician can almost party as much as porn stars."