Posted on 06/08/2005 7:39:02 PM PDT by wagglebee
Mary Carey, the buxom porn star slated to dine with President Bush at a GOP fund-raiser Tuesday, says despite her racy occupation, she's still a Christian, and has her own aspirations of winning the presidency in the future.
"I read the Bible and pray every night," Carey told WorldNetDaily in an exclusive interview.
The 24-year-old actress will accompany her boss, pornographer Mark Kulkis of Kick A-- Pictures, at "The 2005 President's Dinner and Salute to Freedom," costing $2,500 a plate and hosted by the National Republican Congressional Committee.
"We're not the freakish demons people make us out to be," said Kulkis. "I'm not a creep with a coke spoon around his neck. I'm a regular guy."
But the idea of the president of the United States rubbing elbows with pornographers is shocking to some, including Rev. Don Wildmon, chairman of the American Family Association.
"The reason these people are doing this is for publicity and to embarrass Bush," Wildmon told WND. "I think the Republicans can survive this, but they need to go public with an explanation. They need to exclude them or withdraw the invitation. Just doing nothing is the worst thing they can do."
Having just received her plane ticket from Los Angeles to the nation's capital, Carey said she's excited about the possibility of speaking personally with the commander in chief.
"It would be an honor to meet him," she said. "I'd like to talk to him about issues like freedom of speech and the crackdown on the adult industry. Maybe he can give me some political pointers."
The actress says it's among her dreams to eventually become president, and that's why she's getting involved in politics now.
She previously ran for California governor among a large number of serious and not-serious candidates in the wake of the recall of Gov. Gray Davis, resulting in the election of actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. She's currently considering another bid, deciding whether to run for governor or lieutenant governor, where she says she might have a better shot at victory.
"People can relate to me," she said. "I come from a middle-class household and I'm very friendly."
Carey, whose real name is Mary Ellen Cook, says she was named after the Mary Ellen character on "The Waltons" TV show. Born in Cleveland, she was raised in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., studied theater in college, and worked jobs in restaurants before trying stripping and then making the decision to enter the world of celluloid sex.
"I kind of wanted to be a porn star," she said. "I wasn't raped or abused."
With a Lutheran grandmother, Carey says she attended church regularly until the age of 12, and still considers herself a Christian in spite of her occupation.
"I probably have less sex with those guys than any college girl [typically has]. It doesn't make me less moral," she said. "I'm sure a lot of Christians have had sex before marriage. God reads my heart. I'm a good person. ... I think I have more morals than the politicians in office. I don't rob, steal, hurt, or lie – a lot of politicians do that."
When asked about Bible verses condemning adultery, she responded, "Bill Clinton committed adultery. [Doing] adult movies is acting, portraying a role. It's not Mary Ellen Cook, the real me."
She maintains pornographic movies don't harm anyone, and are beneficial in a way, providing safe fantasies for the "lonely" public.
Last month, the actress was among five people arrested at a new strip club in a suburb of Tacoma, Wash. All were accused of violating the local adult-cabaret ordinance, some by getting too close to customers and others – including Carey – by touching themselves in a sexual manner, according to the Associated Press.
Kulkis, 40, says he'll be representing the $10 billion porn industry as well as his own company at the fund-raiser. A native of Michigan, the English literature major turned pornographer says he'd be surprised, disappointed and upset if he were somehow turned away, but he doesn't expect that to happen.
"I have good intentions," he said. "We're not out to corrupt the country. ... You can be faithful to your wife and still enjoy adult movies."
Kulkis has mixed feelings about Bush, describing himself as a fiscal conservative and social liberal. He also notes the trend of pornography becoming more prevalent and accepted in American society.
"Let's face it," he said. "You had [hard-core porn actress] Jenna Jameson's book on the New York Times best-seller list for weeks. Porn now is pretty mainstream."
WorldNetDaily readers have a wide variety of views about the upcoming dinner:
* "The Republican tent is broad and needs to cover all people – even those with views and lifestyles with which we disagree." (Thomas R. Moore)
* "It hurts for self-respecting citizens to watch their leaders play the fool for influence ... Let's not let those who abuse their bodies, and our children's future, buy a voice in this administration." (K.R.)
* "Mr. Bush brings many virtues to his job. But, he refuses to lead on important moral issues. When Janet Jackson outraged Super Bowl viewers, he professed to be asleep and ducked the issue. ... [T]here is a vacuum of leadership on issues important to this country. Yes, Mr. Bush can and should speak to the issue." (David Wallace)
* "Look how far the Republican Party has come in just two decades: from Reagan's Commission on Pornography, under then-Attorney-general Edwin Meese in 1985, to today, porn stars invited to a White House fund-raising gala. The leadership of the Republican Party has lost its mind." (Brian Hudgins)
* "Basically politicians are prostitutes anyway. Why should there be a problem associating with porn stars and entrepreneurs?" (Ken Zwick)
* "If you stop and think about it, you can see where Bush might be her hero. I can't think of anyone who has screwed more people in such a short period of time. Especially the veterans." (Fred Perry)
* "Why wouldn't they use porn stars at a fund-raiser? Porn stars are about 10 steps above politicians. At least they are honest about what they do. The real question is why would the porn stars want to degrade themselves?" (Bob Bolton)
Wasn't a problem for Jesus.
But its an interesting wrinkle in what it says about the supposed power of the Christian Right in the party.
Kulkis, 40, says he'll be representing the $10 billion
porn industry as well as his own company at the fund-
raiser.
Dear Robert;
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others above yourself. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Proverbs 14:12, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."
"but in humility consider others above yourself."
Don't think so. Bush doesn't even understand what he's reading, re Israel.
You dont fool me.
Kulkis, 40, says he'll be representing the $10 billion
porn industry as well as his own company at the fund-
raiser.
this ain't church dave.
you aren't the pastor or even a very good teacher.
you got problems with the president's guest list... take it up with him. send him a letter of your discontent. preach at him for meeting with an immoral woman.
knock yourself out proving you are a better pharisee than everyone.
but don't expect folks to stop mocking YOU by accusing them of mocking God.
Mary is God's business.
Not yours or mine.
She paid her ticket to eat the dinner.
She's not doing a table dance there so GET OVER IT... dingbat.
I think your just amoral as they are.
Mary's probably right about that!
Also, here's a nice, unobjectionable portrait. 
I pray to God for her, that she turns around her life. There is no future in that business. You are right though, take it up with the president if you have problems with it. Maybe the dinner can have an effect on her and the way she conducts her life. I pray for President Bush and for her.
How is it that you quote scripture out of one side of your
mouth and this out of the other? "At least with the adult film actress, they probably get a video for their 15-20 bucks.'
I pray to God for her, that she turns around her life. There is no future in that business. You are right though, take it up with the president if you have problems with it. Maybe the dinner can have an effect on her and the way she conducts her life. I pray for President Bush and for her.
"I think your just amoral as they are."
Or the theocons, for that matter. They'll take money and say nice things to anyone.
>Yeah, right.... let me try and sell that one to my wife. I'll let you know how that goes! :)
Best of luck--I hope you both enjoy them! We won't look for you on Friday night.
Just warn her that the plotlines are supposedly quite thin. (When friends of mine get a movie, she gets to pick it out, so she's not bored. lol)
You're casting a pretty wide net of judgment there, bud.
Just because someone stands up for moral standards doesn't make them a Pharisee.
Yes, Jesus met with and loved sinners of all kinds, including religious hypocrites and prostitutes, but the ones that were accepted were the ones that accepted Him, and there was a noticeable change in their life as a result. He said that those who just talk a good game are still lost. There must be a genuine relationship with Him.
That relationship results in a repentant lifestyle, whether you were a judgmental religious jerk or whether you had sex for money. In the end, we're all in the same boat, except that some have moved past that point of decision, and some are still facing it.
Don't be so defensive toward the 'religious right'. It's a worn out buzzword that belies your true feelings. You sound like a lib. You're better than that.
But to defend her profession and that it is not harmful to others, demonstrates to me that she has never met Jesus.
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