Social Conservatives Boycott CPAC 2011 Over Invite To GOProud
As they did last year, several top social conservative activist groups are boycotting next year's Conservative Political Action Conference over the extension of an invitation to a gay conservative group, and nobody seems to care that they won't be there.
As they did in 2009, two of the top social conservative lobbying groups are boycotting the 2011 Conservative Political Action Conference over the invitation extended to GOProud, a gay conservative group:
Two of the nation’s premier moral issues organizations, the Family Research Council and Concerned Women for America, are refusing to attend the Conservative Political Action Conference in February because a homosexual activist group, GOProud, has been invited.
“We’ve been very involved in CPAC for over a decade and have managed a couple of popular sessions. However, we will no longer be involved with CPAC because of the organization’s financial mismanagement and movement away from conservative principles,” said Tom McClusky, senior vice president for FRC Action.
“CWA has decided not to participate in part because of GOProud,” CWA President Penny Nance told WND.
FRC and CWA join the American Principles Project, American Values, Capital Research Center, the Center for Military Readiness, Liberty Counsel, and the National Organization for Marriage in withdrawing from CPAC. In November, APP organized a boycott of CPAC over the participation of GOProud.
This really isn’t that much of a surprise, of course, since we saw the same kind of boycott last year along with criticism from Mike Huckabee, who also did not attend the 2010 conference, that CPAC had become “too libertarian.” Huckabee has not said whether he will be attending this year’s CPAC conference, although if he does intend to run for President in 2012 his attendance would be de rigueur. As for the boycott itself, one gets the impression that it will have the same impact that last year’s did — which was pretty much none at all. In fact, one of the more notable events at last year’s CPAC came when conservative activist Ryan Sorba was roundly booed from the floor when he condemned the extension of an invitation to GOProud:
Since then longtime conservative activist Grover Norquist has joined the board of GOProud, Ann Coulter has spoken at its annual conference, and the group recently allied itself with a coalition of Tea Party groups to urge the incoming Republican Congress to concentrate on fiscal, rather than social, issues in the new term. GOProud was also one of the few conservative groups to support repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
Perhaps Mike Huckabee is right, perhaps the conservative movement is becoming more libertarian, or returning to the libertarian roots that Ronald Reagan acknowledged in 1975, or perhaps it’s at least becoming more tolerant. and leaving behind the gay bashing of groups like the FRC and CWA. If that’s true, it’s a good thing.
Young Americans for Freedom for Young Americans Who Aren’t Gay. At least the audience told him where to go. In fact, that’s a pretty interesting video.
When you accuse CWA & the FRC of “gay bashing,” what exactly are you referring to?
So…. it makes no difference if they don’t show, but it may cost them the presidency?
Proof that the left is just as capable of self- righteous arrogance as those they accuse.
Cue the peanut gallery with low reading comprehension……
“Alo Konsen says:
Tuesday, December 28, 2010 at 15:52
When you accuse CWA & the FRC of “gay bashing,” what exactly are you referring to”.
Not to answer for Doug, but the Southern Poverty Law Center has named both groups as anti-gay crusaders. And I guess with some crusading comes some bashing.
Here’s a good overview of CWA and FRC (among others): http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2005/spring/a-mighty-army
FRC and CWA are listed as hate groups by the SPLC due to their chronic lies about gay people.
Thanks ever so much, but I’d rather hear from Doug before I get sucked into a discussion about the SPLC’s alleged credibility.
http://v.gd/Sbe6LO
It’s helpful when these “conservative” groups show their true colours; they are really religious zealots. Not the same thing. This lot doesn’t care nearly as much about lowering taxes and government spending, and certainly not about individual freedom and initiative. What they evidently want is to continue to use the powers of big government to do what the church no longer can (thank goodness): force their beliefs about sexuality on others who don’t share them. As for FRC and CWA not being homophic bigots, you only have to look at their websites (that is, if you were brain-dead and didn’t already know this); they are perfectly clear about their “core values”.
While I am not a full on Libertarian I think the GOP becoming a bit more libertarian is a good thing and I think widening the tent to include libertarians is the only way for the party to advance.
Is the Republican party becoming more libertarian or are most beginning to realize social issues are a waste of time when the electorate is concerned with the economy, jobs and pensions/retirement funds?
“Is the Republican party becoming more libertarian or are most beginning to realize social issues are a waste of time when the electorate is concerned with the economy, jobs and pensions/retirement funds?”
Considering how many people there are who actually like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, it is highly doubtful that the GOP will be becoming too libertarian anytime soon…as for social issues being a waste of time, tell that to all the people (mostly Republican) who were against the repeal of DADT…
True, IP. It will be interesting to observe how things go. Although there are many against the repeal I don’t think many viable candidates will be emphasizing DoM, stem cells, abortion or the more extreme limits of immigration in the next 18 months.
Mr. Prosser, we’ll see how accurate your prediction is when senators like this one face primary challenges…
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/29/richard-burr-dadt-vote_n_802256.html
The fastest war to marginalize a group is to get them to take themselves out of the equation.
As to the Family Research Council’s stance on homosexuality etc., try reading what FRC leaders and spokesmen have said on the subject. I did once, it reminded me of some of the things the Nazi’s said about Jews, and the Soviets said about capitalist society.
That’s way to to maginalize . . .
Well, you sure wouldn’t want to risk catching the gay. Think what the people back in Two Mules, KS would say if you started hanging matching drapes in your house or watching Ellen?
Again, Doug … when you accuse CWA & the FRC of “gay bashing,” what exactly are you referring to?
Hello?