By J.R. Taylor

FREEDOM CHAMBERS One convention begins in New York City, but the GlamourCon just wrapped over at the Holiday Inn O'Hare International in Chicago. Sadly, the national networks refused to cover the presence of vice presidential candidate Marilyn Chambers. Many a proud American has already pulled his lever to Chamber's body of work. Now we can dangle our chads in tribute to the adult icon—at least in Utah, where Chambers is already on the ballot as a vice presidential candidate for the Personal Choice party.

"We're trying to get on the ticket in five other states," Chambers explains from her Southern California home. "I've never been into politics, because I've never felt that an actress needs to spout her political beliefs—but I'm not a reluctant candidate. When [Personal Choice presidential candidate] Charles Jay asked me if I wanted to do this, I thought he was kidding. Once my name and biography were on the site, I thought I better get going."

Chambers, of course, is best known for her pioneering porno-chic work in 1972's Behind the Green Door—in addition to mainstream roles in films such as Rabid and Angel of H.E.A.T. (1982). Chambers would often confound an expectant media by being an unexpectedly eloquent interviewee. It's no surprise that she can make a compelling case for her own candidacy.

"The candidates with the Personal Choice Party have the freedom to comprise their own platforms," she explains, "and mine is built on the right to have your personal choices. Americans are supposed to have the Constitutional right to partake in whatever activities they want to, without restrictions. That's not quite how the country's being run."

Don't expect Chambers to meet anybody's stereotype of the right or left, either. "The right to bear arms is very important to me," she explains. "I used to own a gun shop in Las Vegas called the Survival Store. It's a good thing for people to register their guns, but there are criminals that can do that, too. I need a gun in my home if somebody breaks in. I want to be able to shoot them. I also want to be able to protect my country."

Note that there's no reason that you can't write in the Jay/Chambers ticket in our upcoming ballot. Voters can further take comfort that Chambers isn't some kind of celebrity filling up her free time: "I'm really very serious about standing up for the rights of others. When people talk about freedom of speech, very rarely do they concern themselves with standing up for the freedom of others.

"I spoke to this agent who thought I was making a mockery out of the system. Maybe I'll get some attention from this, but it's not a joke." o