Miss USA Kara McCullough Sparks Backlash On Social Media For Conservative Remarks, Changes Her Tune

Kara McCullough of DC was crowned Miss USA over the weekend, but some of her pageant answers have the liberal side of the Internet upset.

MISS USA KARA MCCULLOUGH CONSERVATIVE COMMENTS

McCullough, 25, shared some of her conservative opinions during the competition, specifically those on feminism and healthcare. When asked if she considered herself to be a feminist, she said she preferred the term “equalism” to feminism, and that she doesn’t “like to consider myself a diehard, you know, like I don’t care about men.”

But what sparked even more controversy was her rhetoric on healthcare. Miss DC was asked if she believed healthcare to be a privilege or a right, and she responded that it is a privilege. “As a government employee, I’m granted health care and I see firsthand that for one to have health care, you need to have jobs,” she said. “Therefore, we need to continue to cultivate this environment so that we’re given the opportunities to have health care as well as jobs for all Americans worldwide.”

A post shared by Kára McCullough (@missdcusa) on May 15, 2017 at 9:09am PDT

McCullough is a chemist who works for the U.S. Nuclear Registry Commission in the capital city. She is given government healthcare through her work, as she pointed out, and many took this as a form of hypocrisy.

“Why do people with privilege and perceived status think they are the only ones who get health care? Ask Miss USA. Makes no sense,” wrote on user on Twitter. “Miss USA has it wrong. Affordable health care should be a RIGHT,” said another.

Some supported the new Miss USA. “I agree!! Health care iS a privilege! Thanks for being willing to stand for your beliefs ! Stay strong!!” said one user. “So people that were responsible in purchasing their own health insurance should be forced to pay for another? Move to Sweden or Russia!” wrote one more.

Now, however, the 25-year-old seems to have changed her tune. On Good Morning America this morning, Miss USA backtracked on her comments about healthcare. “I am privileged to have health care and I do believe that it should be a right,” she said. “I hope and pray moving forward that health care is a right for all worldwide. I just want people to see where I was coming from. Having a job, I have to look at health care like it is a privilege.”

She also clarified what she meant in her response about feminism. “I believe that if a person does a good job, they should be, you know, credited for that in a sense,” she started. “I don’t want anyone to look at it as if I’m not all about women’s rights, because I am. We deserve a lot when it comes to opportunity in the workplace as well as just like leadership positions. I’ve seen and witnessed firsthand the impact that women have.”