Several conservative groups and individuals plan to boycott the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) which takes place later this month (Feb. 10-12) in Washington, DC. Why are the groups boycotting and who are they?
From speakers like Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., to panels on “How Political Correctness is Harming America’s Military” and “Reagan at 100: Role Model for the Next Generation,” the agenda for the three-day gathering is chock full of personalities and events designed to fire up the conservative base.
But not everybody is pleased. Prominent elected officials, including Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, as well as several powerful right-leaning groups such as the Family Research Council, the Heritage Foundation, Concerned Women for America, the Media Research Center and others plan to boycott this year’s conference in protest of the involvement of the gay conservative group, GOProud.
GOProud, founded in 2009, bills itself as a group that advocates for a “traditional conservative agenda that emphasizes limited government, individual liberty, free markets and a confident foreign policy.” But critics say its other mission — supporting gay rights — should disqualify it from co-sponsoring CPAC.
GoPac says it has been embraced by mainstream conservatives. Mary Matalin will host a fundraiser for this group. Additionally, organization’s advisory board includes conservative Andrew Breitbart and Grover Norquist. So is this a schism?
Back in November, the American Principles Project fired off a letterto CPAC officials announcing the boycott, and urging organizers to exclude GOProud from this year’s conference. Gary Bauer, president of American Values, Brian S. Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage, and Mathew Staver, dean of the Liberty School of Law, were among the co-signers.
CPAC organizers say there should be no conflict and that loyalty on every conservative issue is not required. Vigorous debate is expected on many topics like immigration reform trade policy, and gay rights. David Keene, chairman of the American Conservative Union, which plans the annual CPAC event quoted former President Reagan saying, “It’s like Reagan said, if you’re 80 percent with me, you’re with me.”
So are conservative groups and individuals showing their true colors by boycotting on account of a pro-gay organization? Is this the hole in the ‘big tent?’ Do these exclusionary groups hurt conservative causes? Just out of curiosity, do these conservatives not want conservative votes? Gay bashing has taken on a new low.
This isn’t “gay bashing.” Disapproval of homosexuality is not automatically “gay bashing.” However, I think that the groups boycotting CPAC are shooting themselves in the feet. I think that they should go. If they disapprove of GOProud, then tell them to their face.
I think it is a little more than that. Why would anyone stay home? That would be like me not liking unions, or disapproving of the dream act and boycotting a Democratic get together.
No one is asking them to support gays. I think it is gay bashing in a really sissy way.
I am so sorry to see conrepublicans bickering amongst themselves – not!
Hey Starry! You’ll like this.
Sarah Palin is supporting GOProud for CPAC.
http://www.breitbart.tv/sarah-palin-throws-support-behind-goproud-participation-at-cpac/
“Well, I’ve never attended a CPAC conference ever so I was a little taken aback this go around when I couldn’t make it to this one either and then there was a speculation well I either agree or disagree with some of the groups or issues that CPAC is discussing. It really is a matter of time for me. But when it comes to and David, perhaps what it is that you’re suggesting in the question is should the GOP, should conservatives not reach out to others, not participate in events or forums that perhaps are rising within those forums are issues that maybe we don’t personally agree with? And I say no, it’s like you being on a panel shoot, with a bunch of the liberal folks whom you have been on and you provide good information and balance, and you allow for healthy debate, which is needed in order for people to gather information and make up their own minds about issues. I look at participation in an event like CPAC or any other event, along, or kind of in that same vein as the more information that people have the better.”
More talk from the sidelines. She will not be there nor has she ever gone. It is good to know though, that she wouldn’t not go, even though she is not going.
Want a real reason to be wary of CPAC? Some of their sponsors.
http://www.redstate.com/aglanon/2011/02/07/the-muslim-brotherhood-and-the-acu/
So conservatives should back away from healthy debate if they don’t like one particular organization? That just tells me they have a weak case.
@Moon-howler
Where did you get that?
Or are you talking about their stance on GOProud, which we covered.
My link was to show that some of the sponsors have connections to shady connections on the Muslim side. I didn’t say, boycott. I said be wary. Go. Debate. Discover. And expose what you don’t like to the light of day. Make them convince you.
Interesting to see Grover Norquist (head of Americans for Tax Reform, member of the board of the NRA, and friend of the Koch brothers) thrown under the bus in the article by his fellow conservatives. Prince Bin Waleed, the second biggest shareholder of News Corps (Fox News) supported the mosque, too, so using the logic applied in the article all true conservatives should be wary of O’Reilly, Beck, and Hannity due to their “shady connections on the Muslim side.”
I would be wary of any political group. All have their own agendas.
@Morris Davis
Um, yep. We should be. If one is aware of the source of money funding something, one should watch for that source’s agenda.
Have you seen Fox really talk about the implications of sharia, jihadism, etc?
Grover’s great on taxes, etc. But, one can always have some bad connections.
Trust, but verify.