Star Parker
Encyclopedia
Star Parker is an American
syndicated columnist
, social critic, book author
, and conservative political activist. In 2010 she was the Republican
candidate for California's 37th congressional district
, but was defeated in the general election.
Parker is a syndicated columnist with the Scripps Howard News Service
. Her column is carried weekly by newspapers across the country and opinion sites such as Townhall.
woman, Parker spent her teen and early adult years as an unemployed mother on welfare
. She has chronicled her teenaged arrests for shoplifting and publicly disclosed that she has had four abortion
s. After embracing the Christian
religion, Parker embarked upon a career as a spokesperson for conservative social and political causes. She opposes many public entitlements
, claiming that welfare is similar to an invitation to a government plantation, which creates a situation where those who accept the invitation switch mindsets from "How do I take care of myself?" to "What do I have to do to stay on the plantation?" She claims that stable families and strong moral values are the key to ending poverty. She has asserted a moral objection to abortion and claims that rampant abortion has hurt black families.
, but is currently based in Washington, D.C.
daytime talk show
The View on June 19, 2007. She expressed her opposition to abortion, birth control
and same-sex marriage
. Parker is currently a speaker for the Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute's college campus lecture program. On August 27, 2009 Parker appeared with Alaskans for Parental Rights to kick off a statewide signature drive to make teen abortions in Alaska
illegal without parental consent
Parker was a guest speaker at the conservative Value Voters Summit in 2009.
. She entered the race as Republican candidate in California's 37th congressional district
, which encompasses most of Long Beach
and Compton
, as well as Carson
, Signal Hill
, and parts of other municipalities. Her campaign emphasized personal responsibility and accountability, using her past experiences as a welfare recipient to support her arguments. Parker lost the November 2 general election, earning 22.7% of the votes. This district is currently represented by Democrat Laura Richardson
. Despite her election loss, Parker affirmed her intent to pursue inner city improvement, telling supporters, "My message of freedom and individual responsibility is timeless and needs to be heard in Long Beach, Carson, Compton, Signal Hill and across the country more than ever before. I will continue to deliver that message.”
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
syndicated columnist
Syndicated columnist
This list of syndicated columnists comprises columnists whose recurring columns are published in multiple periodical publications .*Ghaith Abdul-Ahad*Yasmin Alibhai-Brown*Timothy Garton Ash*Lucius Beebe*Max Boot...
, social critic, book author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, and conservative political activist. In 2010 she was the Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
candidate for California's 37th congressional district
California's 37th congressional district
California's 37th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California based in Los Angeles County. The district encompasses most of Long Beach and Compton as well as Carson, Signal Hill, and parts of other adjacent municipalities and neighborhoods in Greater Los...
, but was defeated in the general election.
Parker is a syndicated columnist with the Scripps Howard News Service
E. W. Scripps Company
The E. W. Scripps Company is an American media conglomerate founded by Edward W. Scripps on November 2, 1878. The company is headquartered inside the Scripps Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Its corporate motto is "Give light and the people will find their own way."On October 16, 2007, the company...
. Her column is carried weekly by newspapers across the country and opinion sites such as Townhall.
Background
A conservative African AmericanAfrican American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
woman, Parker spent her teen and early adult years as an unemployed mother on welfare
Welfare
Welfare refers to a broad discourse which may hold certain implications regarding the provision of a minimal level of wellbeing and social support for all citizens without the stigma of charity. This is termed "social solidarity"...
. She has chronicled her teenaged arrests for shoplifting and publicly disclosed that she has had four 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...
s. After embracing the Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
religion, Parker embarked upon a career as a spokesperson for conservative social and political causes. She opposes many public entitlements
Welfare
Welfare refers to a broad discourse which may hold certain implications regarding the provision of a minimal level of wellbeing and social support for all citizens without the stigma of charity. This is termed "social solidarity"...
, claiming that welfare is similar to an invitation to a government plantation, which creates a situation where those who accept the invitation switch mindsets from "How do I take care of myself?" to "What do I have to do to stay on the plantation?" She claims that stable families and strong moral values are the key to ending poverty. She has asserted a moral objection to abortion and claims that rampant abortion has hurt black families.
Center for Urban Renewal and Education
In 1995 Parker founded the Center for Urban Renewal and Education (CURE), and she serves as its president. The organization was founded in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, but is currently based in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Appearances
Parker appeared as co-host on the ABCAmerican 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...
daytime 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....
The View on June 19, 2007. She expressed her opposition to abortion, birth control
Birth control
Birth control is an umbrella term for several techniques and methods used to prevent fertilization or to interrupt pregnancy at various stages. Birth control techniques and methods include contraception , contragestion and abortion...
and same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
. Parker is currently a speaker for the Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute's college campus lecture program. On August 27, 2009 Parker appeared with Alaskans for Parental Rights to kick off a statewide signature drive to make teen abortions in Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
illegal without parental consent
Parker was a guest speaker at the conservative Value Voters Summit in 2009.
Congressional campaign
In March 2010, Parker announced her candidacy for a congressional seat in the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. She entered the race as Republican candidate in California's 37th congressional district
California's 37th congressional district
California's 37th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California based in Los Angeles County. The district encompasses most of Long Beach and Compton as well as Carson, Signal Hill, and parts of other adjacent municipalities and neighborhoods in Greater Los...
, which encompasses most of Long Beach
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
and Compton
Compton, California
Compton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city of Compton is one of the oldest cities in the county and on May 11, 1888, was the eighth city to incorporate. The city is considered part of the South side by residents of Los...
, as well as Carson
Carson, California
Carson is a city in Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2010 census, Carson had a total population of 91,714. Located south of downtown Los Angeles and approximately 14 miles away from the Los Angeles International Airport, it is known as a suburb of the city....
, Signal Hill
Signal Hill, California
Signal Hill is a small city in California located in the Greater Los Angeles area. Signal Hill, completely surrounded by the city of Long Beach, was incorporated on April 22, 1924, roughly three years after oil was discovered in Signal Hill. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
, and parts of other municipalities. Her campaign emphasized personal responsibility and accountability, using her past experiences as a welfare recipient to support her arguments. Parker lost the November 2 general election, earning 22.7% of the votes. This district is currently represented by Democrat Laura Richardson
Laura Richardson
Laura Richardson is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. She is a member of the Democratic Party. The district encompasses the inland section of Long Beach, Carson, Compton and Signal Hill, as well as parts of other municipalities.She previously represented the 55th district in the...
. Despite her election loss, Parker affirmed her intent to pursue inner city improvement, telling supporters, "My message of freedom and individual responsibility is timeless and needs to be heard in Long Beach, Carson, Compton, Signal Hill and across the country more than ever before. I will continue to deliver that message.”
Books
- Parker, Star (1998). Pimps, Whores and Welfare Brats: From Welfare Cheat to Conservative Messenger, Pocket BooksPocket BooksPocket Books is a division of Simon & Schuster that primarily publishes paperback books.- History :Pocket produced the first mass-market, pocket-sized paperback books in America in early 1939 and revolutionized the publishing industry...
. ISBN 0-671-53466-1 - Parker, Star (2003). Uncle Sam's Plantation: How Big Government Enslaves America's Poor and What We Can Do About It, Thomas NelsonThomas Nelson (publisher)Thomas Nelson is a publishing firm that began in Scotland in 1798 as the namesake of its founder. Its former US division is currently the sixth largest American trade publisher and the world's largest Christian publisher. It is owned by the private equity firm Kohlberg & Company...
. ISBN 0-7852-6219-9 - Parker, Star (2006). White Ghetto: How Middle Class America Reflects Inner City Decay Thomas Nelson. ISBN 1-59555-027-5