Posted on 01/08/2011 9:45:54 AM PST by Hawk720
Friction between parts of the social conservative and libertarian wings of the conservative movement has escalated into a shooting war in the run-up to the 28-year old Conservative Political Action Conference, with accusations of embezzlement (true), homosexuality (true), and creeping sharia (disputed) hurled against the 28-year old conservative institution.
CPAC’s leaders respond that its foes’ real gripe is that it won’t give a platform to their lunatic conspiracy theories about presidential birth certificates (disputed).
But however esoteric the disputes, the fracas has led to real-world repercussions: a move by a group of conservative figures to begin organizing a move to turn the Value Voter Summit, a newer annual event planned for October, into a full-fledged rival to CPAC by shifting its focus toward economic and security issues, according to two participants in the developing strategy. Two of the heavyweight groups of the broader right, the Heritage Foundation and the Media Research Center, have dropped out of CPAC and are expected, planners said, to add to the Value Voter Summit’s heft.
And with CPAC scheduled for February 10, the presidential hopefuls scheduled to speak there – including Haley Barbour, Mitch Daniels , Tim Pawlenty, and Mitt Romney – will take the stage against the backdrop of a puzzlingly heated intramural conflict.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
CPAC has brought this on themselves. GOProud was the last straw.
And before people accuse anyone of splitting the movement, CPAC is entirely responsible for doing that. You cannot have a conservative movement without defending the social issues: marriage, family, and the right to life.
First, it’s just plain wrong. And second, it will SPLIT the party, just as Rove succeeded in doing in 2006.
You cannot have true freedom without responsibility. You cannot have freedom without the right to LIFE. If people cannot be shown how to discipline themselves, then the police state will move in and do it for them. And police states are not terribly concerned about the real moral issues. They just want power.
If the Heritage Foundation has dropped out of CPAC, then I’m gone too, as far as support goes.
Thats seals it for me. - I will follow the HF darn near anywhere.
Most unfortunate the mistakes by the leadership of the ACU over the past few years have created infighting at this most inopportune time.
LLS
CPAC can end the controversy by simply dropping the word “Conservative” from their name.
They can become “New Age PAC”.
I agree. i sounds like CPAC is turning into LPAC, the Libertarian Political Action Committee.
A concise list of who NOT to vote for in the GOP primaries next year...
If the GOP nominates another warmed over RINO, then it proves they are in the employ of the democrats.
One more chance and I am no longer a member of the GOP...
CPAC has been run into the ground for the last six years and it looks like 2011 will be no different. In 2005, the liberal Rudy Giuliani won the straw poll as the candidate of choice. From 2007 to 2009 the faux conservative Mitt Romney took the honors. Last year the loony liberatarian Ron Paul was the winner. That should tell core conservatives all they need to know.
This ain’t Ronald Reagan’s CPAC anymore.
And FWIW, CPAC has been around for 38 years, NOT 28.
Last year was the last year for me......they tried so hard to push Romney down our throats....also, why spend all that money and not get into hear the speakers unless you sit there and never give up your seat all day
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