Mary Starrett
Encyclopedia
Mary Starrett is the National Political Communications Director of the Constitution Party
. She worked as a local television news reporter and talk show
host, and a radio commentator, but claims she was fired for articulating extremist views. In 2006, she became the nominee of the Constitution Party of Oregon
for the office of Governor of Oregon
. Starrett earned a bachelor's degree
from Emerson College
in Boston
, Massachusetts
in speech communications. She is a vegetarian.
Starrett worked in local broadcast media for over twenty years. Her first position in Portland, Oregon
was as a reporter for American Broadcasting Company
affiliate KATU
television channel 2. Later, she co-hosted its local, morning television program AM Northwest for years. Following her career on TV, Starrett hosted a political radio talk show
on Portland station True Talk 800, KPDQ (AM)
from 1997 to 2002.
Starrett is a political conservative
. She ran for Governor of Oregon in 2006 on the Constitution Party ticket. Glen Livingston suggested that she run for president in 2008. Mary Starrett serves as the executive director of Oregonians for Life.
nominee in the 2006 Oregon gubernatorial election
. Her platform advocated free-market economic, individual property rights, and the Second Amendment
or anti gun-control policies, and opposed abortion
, gay, and immigrant rights. She questioned whether global warming
exists. Starrett opposed the war in Iraq, and advocated immediate troop withdrawal during her campaign. She received 50,229 votes (or 3.6%) in the November 7 election.
Her nomination generated an Elections Division complaint. Three voters alleged that Starrett was improperly nominated because the Constitution Party failed to provide adequate notice for the meeting where she was nominated. The complaint was dismissed.
Constitution Party (United States)
The Constitution Party is a paleoconservative political party in the United States. It was founded as the U.S. Taxpayers' Party by Howard Philips in 1991. Phillips was the party's candidate in the 1992, 1996 and 2000 presidential elections...
. She worked as a local television news reporter and talk show
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
host, and a radio commentator, but claims she was fired for articulating extremist views. In 2006, she became the nominee of the Constitution Party of Oregon
Constitution Party of Oregon
The Constitution Party of Oregon is a political party organized as a minor party pursuant to state election law, and recognized by the State of Oregon as a state-wide nominating party....
for the office of Governor of Oregon
Governor of Oregon
The Governor of Oregon is the top executive of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon. The title of governor was also applied to the office of Oregon's chief executive during the provisional and U.S. territorial governments....
. Starrett earned a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from Emerson College
Emerson College
Emerson College is a private coeducational university located in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1880 by Charles Wesley Emerson as a "school of oratory," Emerson is "the only comprehensive college or university in America dedicated exclusively to communication and the arts in a liberal arts...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
in speech communications. She is a vegetarian.
Starrett worked in local broadcast media for over twenty years. Her first position in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
was as a reporter for American Broadcasting Company
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
affiliate KATU
KATU
KATU, virtual channel 2, also known as K2, is an ABC-affiliated television station broadcasting on digital channel 43 in Portland, Oregon, USA. It has been owned by Fisher Communications of Seattle, Washington, which has been the owner of the Seattle's ABC affiliate KOMO-TV, ever since it began...
television channel 2. Later, she co-hosted its local, morning television program AM Northwest for years. Following her career on TV, Starrett hosted a political radio talk show
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
on Portland station True Talk 800, KPDQ (AM)
KPDQ (AM)
KPDQ is a radio station broadcasting a religious radio format. Licensed to Portland, Oregon, USA, it serves the greater Portland metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by Salem Media of Oregon, Inc. and features programing from Salem Communications.-External links:...
from 1997 to 2002.
Starrett is a political conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
. She ran for Governor of Oregon in 2006 on the Constitution Party ticket. Glen Livingston suggested that she run for president in 2008. Mary Starrett serves as the executive director of Oregonians for Life.
2006 Oregon Governor election
Mary Starrett was the Constitution Party of OregonConstitution Party of Oregon
The Constitution Party of Oregon is a political party organized as a minor party pursuant to state election law, and recognized by the State of Oregon as a state-wide nominating party....
nominee in the 2006 Oregon gubernatorial election
Oregon gubernatorial election, 2006
The 2006 gubernatorial election in the U.S. state of Oregon took place on November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democrat Ted Kulongoski defeated Republican Ron Saxton, winning his bid for a second term as Governor of Oregon....
. Her platform advocated free-market economic, individual property rights, and the Second Amendment
Second Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights that protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, along with the rest of the Bill of Rights.In 2008 and 2010, the Supreme Court issued two Second...
or anti gun-control policies, and opposed abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
, gay, and immigrant rights. She questioned whether global warming
Global warming
Global warming refers to the rising average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans and its projected continuation. In the last 100 years, Earth's average surface temperature increased by about with about two thirds of the increase occurring over just the last three decades...
exists. Starrett opposed the war in Iraq, and advocated immediate troop withdrawal during her campaign. She received 50,229 votes (or 3.6%) in the November 7 election.
Her nomination generated an Elections Division complaint. Three voters alleged that Starrett was improperly nominated because the Constitution Party failed to provide adequate notice for the meeting where she was nominated. The complaint was dismissed.
Controversial remarks
- Mary Starrett accused George W. BushGeorge W. BushGeorge Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
of knowing about the 9/11 terrorist attacks plans in advance, and allowing the attacks to occur. Her KPDQ (AM)KPDQ (AM)KPDQ is a radio station broadcasting a religious radio format. Licensed to Portland, Oregon, USA, it serves the greater Portland metropolitan area. The station is currently owned by Salem Media of Oregon, Inc. and features programing from Salem Communications.-External links:...
radio program was cancelled in 2002. She argues that her radio show was cancelled because of her statements about Bush and 9/11. However, KPDQ cancelled all local talk shows on the station that day. In an interview on KATU TV on September 26, 2006, Starrett reaffirmed her belief that Bush knew about the plan for the 9/11 attacks and allowed the attacks to occur.
- Mary Starrett has referred to the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
a fascist nation. "Fact is, fascism has come to America and we have allowed it to happen...Fascism didn't come to America wearing jack boots and brown shirts. It came respectably-clad in suits and ties and calling itself Republicans and Democrats."
- Mary Starrett has implied that the space shuttle explosion may have been staged to increase NASA funding. "When was the last time you heard a talk-show host question the ominous reluctance of the media to ask the tough "something's fishy here" questions about 9-ll or the "tragedy" of the space shuttle explosion (coincidentally on the eve of Congressional debate over funding for the NASA program!)?"
- Mary Starrett has said that drugs should be legal. ""When I tell people I'm for the de-criminalization of drugs they look at me kind of funny. Knowing my rather straight arrow code they can't quite reconcile my stance." "But, simply put, the war on drugs is all about a war on freedom."