Agorism
01-08-2011, 10:17 AM
Nearly every presumptive 2012 Republican presidential candidate will be there, along with 120 conservative groups and thousands of activists.
But the first big conservative forum of the 2012 election—next month’s Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC–is causing yet another kafuffle on the right because of the participation of a small group, called GOProud, that represents conservative gays.
Similar to last year’s CPAC, more than a half dozen groups say they won’t attend the three-day forum to protest the involvement of GOProud. Most of the groups are conservative Christian organizations such as the American Family Association or the Family Research Council.
But more surprising is that this year, the Heritage Foundation—which usually focuses more on fiscal and defense policy—also plans to sit out the conference, typically one of the biggest conservative draws of the year.
“We hope that CPAC will better define what they are about,” say Heritage’s vice president for communications, Mike Gonzalez, who said the decision was not directly linked to GOProud’s participation.
CPAC director Lisa De Pasquale said she’s sorry the conference is causing some strife. But she noted that few of the groups protesting GOProud’s involvement have ever come to CPAC in the past.
“Our job is to provide the best experience possible for those people who are able to attend,” she said.
For now, Ms. De Pasquale says, the real challenge with CPAC isn’t the groups declining to attend, but the profusion of newly elected Republicans who want to address the forum.“We are having to turn people away,” she says.
So far, among potential 2012 contenders, Haley Barbour, Mitch Daniels, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and John Thune all plan to address the forum. CPAC wants Sarah Palin to give the opening address, but she has yet to respond.
GOProud’s executive director, Jimmy LaSalvia, is taking the whole thing in stride. “We’re going to be at CPAC this year, just like we were last year,” he said. “We just wish all conservatives could join us.”
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2011/01/07/another-cpac-dust-up-over-gays
But the first big conservative forum of the 2012 election—next month’s Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC–is causing yet another kafuffle on the right because of the participation of a small group, called GOProud, that represents conservative gays.
Similar to last year’s CPAC, more than a half dozen groups say they won’t attend the three-day forum to protest the involvement of GOProud. Most of the groups are conservative Christian organizations such as the American Family Association or the Family Research Council.
But more surprising is that this year, the Heritage Foundation—which usually focuses more on fiscal and defense policy—also plans to sit out the conference, typically one of the biggest conservative draws of the year.
“We hope that CPAC will better define what they are about,” say Heritage’s vice president for communications, Mike Gonzalez, who said the decision was not directly linked to GOProud’s participation.
CPAC director Lisa De Pasquale said she’s sorry the conference is causing some strife. But she noted that few of the groups protesting GOProud’s involvement have ever come to CPAC in the past.
“Our job is to provide the best experience possible for those people who are able to attend,” she said.
For now, Ms. De Pasquale says, the real challenge with CPAC isn’t the groups declining to attend, but the profusion of newly elected Republicans who want to address the forum.“We are having to turn people away,” she says.
So far, among potential 2012 contenders, Haley Barbour, Mitch Daniels, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Tim Pawlenty, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and John Thune all plan to address the forum. CPAC wants Sarah Palin to give the opening address, but she has yet to respond.
GOProud’s executive director, Jimmy LaSalvia, is taking the whole thing in stride. “We’re going to be at CPAC this year, just like we were last year,” he said. “We just wish all conservatives could join us.”
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2011/01/07/another-cpac-dust-up-over-gays