VAN NUYS, Calif. – In one of those heart-warming moments when love and respect push aside recrimination and hateful rhetoric, a conservative political action committee on Wednesday named a porn company president “Entrepreneur of the Year.”
Oops.
On Friday, the PAC rescinded the award, saying someone "made a mistake."
Washington, D.C.-based American Solutions for Winning the Future, headed by notorious former Republican Congressman Newt Gingrich, bestowed the honor upon Pink Visual President Allison Vivas. Vivas said she was thrilled.
“I’m honored, and more than a little surprised, to receive this prestigious award,” she said. “It never occurred to me that Newt Gingrich, one of the principal architects of the conservative ‘Contract with America’ in the 1990s, would be willing to brave criticism from the far right of his party in order to recognize good work done on the part of an adult entertainment professional.”
According to the notice from ASWF, Vivas was invited to attend a private dinner Oct. 7 at the historic Capitol Hill Club, where she would “dine privately with Newt,” who would present her with the “well deserved award” and pose for a photo with her.
The notice from ASWF also informed Vivas that Gingrich was “looking forward to finally meeting [Vivas] face to face — and get[ting her] thoughts on Cap and Trade and Obama’s Tax Policy.”
On Friday, Gringrich staffer Dan Kotman told Washington City Paper, "We have notified Allison Vivas that the notice she received was sent by mistake. We regret the error."
Probably not half as much as Gingrich and company regret extending the award in the first place. Vivas and Pink Visual made good use of the time before the honor was withdrawn.
“Rest assured, I’ll take the opportunity to inform Mr. Gingrich of some of the major challenges facing the adult entertainment industry in the current market,” Vivas said before ASWF was alert to its "error." “From obscenity prosecutions to content piracy, I’ll make sure he walks away from that dinner educated about the realities of the online porn market. Why else would they have invited me but to hear such feedback, right?”
In addition to a certificate recognizing her as Entrepreneur of the Year, Gingrich also intended to present Vivas with a replica of the “gavel that changed America.” That prize is out of reach now, too.
Vivas acknowledged the gavel would “[have made] for a pretty cool prop for a ‘Couples Seduce Teens’ episode.”
Kathee Brewer is an award-winning news, feature and opinion writer, editor and photojournalist. After five years of designing adult and mainstream websites, she spent seven years on staff at AVN Online before departing for the glamorous and financially fulfilling world of full-time freelancing. Food and shelter, she says, are overrated.
