MADD Severs Ties With Miss Teen USA

LOS ANGELES - Mothers Against Drunk Driving said Wednesday it was severing ties with Miss Teen USA Katie Blair because it was "disappointed" by news reports that she had partied with Miss USA Tara Conner. The day before, Conner had tearfully admitted drinking as a minor at New York nightclubs. She turned 21 on Monday. "In the past, MADD has teamed with Miss Teen USA to raise awareness about the serious and often deadly consequences of underage drinking," said Heidi Castle, a spokeswoman for MADD, in a statement. "However, we do not feel, at this time, that Ms. Blair can be an effective spokesperson on underage drinking and will not ask her to represent MADD in future initiatives." A message left for a representative of Blair, an 18-year-old from Billings, Mont., wasn't returned Wednesday. Donald Trump — owner of the Miss Universe Organization, which includes Miss Teen USA and Miss USA — said Tuesday at a news conference in New York that he would allow Conner to keep her crown if she settled down and entered alcohol rehab. Miss Universe Organization spokeswoman Lark-Marie Anton said Blair's crown also was safe. Anton said the company respected "MADD's decision as much as we respect their work. We look forward to working with them in the future." In a story Wednesday in The Billings (Mont.) Gazette, Paula Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organization, said "a lot of the stories" of Blair's activities were unfounded. "I'm sorry that Katie got dragged into this," Shugart said. "People just wanted to tell a story, and a lot of it is just to see the name of a particular club in the New York papers, whether it's true or not." Rosie O'Donnell, co-host of ABC's "The View," said on Wednesday's show that Trump's news conference with Conner had annoyed her "on a multitude of levels." "Left the first wife, had an affair, left the second wife, had an affair. Had kids both times, but he's the moral compass for 20-year-olds in America," the comedian and actress said to roars of audience laughter. "Donald, sit and spin, my friend." Trump didn't respond Wednesday to a phone call from The Associated Press seeking comment about O'Donnell's remarks. © 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Updated: December 20, 2006, 8:24 pm http://www.wrex.com