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CPAC Welcomes Gay Rights Groups After Years of Exclusion
The National Journal ^ | Wednesday, February 19, 2014 | Beth Reinhard

Posted on 02/19/2014 8:42:04 AM PST by kristinn

Meet the kinder, gentler Conservative Political Action Conference.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, snubbed last year after palling around with President Obama, is coming. So is GOProud, the gay rights group that was banned for the past few years amid noisy boycotts from critics and supporters. There's even a panel debating the merits of medical marijuana.

"CPAC is about finding conservative solutions to every challenge in America and not just saying 'no'," said Al Cardenas, chairman of the American Conservative Union, which runs the conference in Washington, D.C. "We're determined to win the majority of American support."

The annual debate over CPAC's participants and focus reflects the broader, ongoing dialogue over growing the conservative movement and the Republican Party without compromising core principles. Gay rights are a major part of that debate, as conservative groups remain firmly opposed to gay marriage despite polls showing increasing and majority support.

The dispute with GOProud dates back to 2011, when a number of socially conservative groups, including the Heritage Foundation and the Family Research Council, objected to the group's involvement and declined to participate. Insults were traded between GOProud leaders and ACU board members, culminating in the group's exclusion.

Two former GOProud summer interns, Ross Hemminger and Matt Bechstein, took over last summer and sought to repair the bitterly frayed relationship. Under a compromise reached last week, they will attend the March 6-8 gathering as guests, without sponsorship or a booth. GOProud sees the lower-profile role as an important first step.

"We really just want to be part of the conservative movement," said Hemminger, a veteran of the losing Senate campaigns by Scott Brown and Gabriel Gomez in Massachusetts. "We want to establish a fruitful and respectful relationship."

(Excerpt) Read more at nationaljournal.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: bigmistake; cpac; goproud; homosexualagenda
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To: Jane Long

Because they were infiltrated by liberals with the intent to make you do likewise or ‘be the odd man/woman out. Just like churches. Just like schools. Just like the Girl/Boy scouts. Just like local governments.

That’s how communism has worked since it’s inception. People just have a hard time accepting that Reagan’s party went from opponent to participant when he left office.


81 posted on 02/19/2014 10:59:42 AM PST by Norm Lenhart
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To: cripplecreek

Open up all your bank accounts and let us share with all the flamers the credit cards... what a democratic concept win for elections...

Are these “conservatives” out of their fracking minds?


82 posted on 02/19/2014 11:16:19 AM PST by lavaroise (A well regulated gun being necessary to the state, the rights of the militia shall not be infringed)
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To: Norm Lenhart

Indeed, any effort at “equalization” on specious historicist argument is red communist horse crap.


83 posted on 02/19/2014 11:17:37 AM PST by lavaroise (A well regulated gun being necessary to the state, the rights of the militia shall not be infringed)
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To: Kansas58
Let's be sure to invite the pederasts, necromancy enthusiasts and bestiality aficionados as well as long as they don't like high taxes.
84 posted on 02/19/2014 11:26:50 AM PST by steve86 (Some things aren't really true but you wouldn't be half surprised if they were.)
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To: steve86

Last year several freepers were pushing a relaxing of our abortion stance to ‘get votes’ for Romney. They were at it for weeks until the lightning came down.

Some had been here for some time too, not new sign ups.

BUTDONTYOUDAREQUESTIONTHEIRCONSERVATISM!


85 posted on 02/19/2014 11:29:43 AM PST by Norm Lenhart
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To: kristinn

Aren’t about 1/2 the “rights” that Gay lobby groups ask for already rights that every citizen in this country already has like the right not to be harassed in our own houses.

The other 1/2 of the “rights” they want are nothing more than “Hedonistic Privlidges” like the so called “right” to parade around Nakked in fron of our children while marching in a “Charade Parade”....

If they want the conservatives to even consider taking them seriously they NEED to drop that 2nd half, the “Hedonistic Publica Display” thing first.


86 posted on 02/19/2014 11:30:29 AM PST by GraceG
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To: Norm Lenhart

I remember that. lol


87 posted on 02/19/2014 11:30:34 AM PST by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans!)
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To: GeronL

It will repeat soon with the elections coming up. Bank on it. Pearls will be clutched.


88 posted on 02/19/2014 11:35:11 AM PST by Norm Lenhart
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To: DLfromthedesert

[ I agree with Kansas; there is a lot of diversity among gay people; there are those whose identity is wholly their sexual orientation, and others who have conservative values and just want to live their lives without being harassed.

It is foolish to turn down the support of people we do not agree with 100% ]

Maybe they should just identify themselves as “Part of a BLT Guacamole Sandwich but not gonna tell you wich part because it is really no one’s business. “

When normal straight people talk to each other do they always bring up their sexual proclivities as part of casual conversation?

NOPE


89 posted on 02/19/2014 11:35:54 AM PST by GraceG
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To: MinuteGal

Yes, and the Rand Paul groups will be there to disrupt, and if they only knew that both Ron Paul and Rand Paul are for open borders, small Military force, and do not support Israel, perhaps they would think again about supporting Rand Paul!

I am not going to CPAC this year, and will not attend until they realize the most important issue we face is our National Security! I DO remember what happened to our economy on September 12, 2001! And I hope folks realize what happened to the economy of Boston when the citizens of Boston were told to stay home for a WEEK following the Terrorist bombing there! Like a friend of mine said, “If you lost you head you sure wouldn’t be complaining about the rotten economy, no jobs, or the IRS scandal!”


90 posted on 02/19/2014 11:39:03 AM PST by seekthetruth (I still want a Commander In Chief who honors and supports our Military!)
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To: Norm Lenhart

I’ll probably laugh out loud the first few times I see it


91 posted on 02/19/2014 11:41:53 AM PST by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans!)
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To: kristinn

Don’t forget that the entire board is pro-Muslim Brotherhood, with Muslim shills Grover Norquist and Suhail Khan.


92 posted on 02/19/2014 11:44:08 AM PST by montag813
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To: GraceG

What about 500 or so conservatives should do is dress in full bondage/BDSM gear and sho up making all the demands the gays do based on their “BDSM orientation/sexuality” that they ‘were born with”.

Because there is exactly ZERO difference.

Mockery is a great weapon.


93 posted on 02/19/2014 11:44:56 AM PST by Norm Lenhart
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To: Norm Lenhart

[ What about 500 or so conservatives should do is dress in full bondage/BDSM gear and sho up making all the demands the gays do based on their “BDSM orientation/sexuality” that they ‘were born with”.

Because there is exactly ZERO difference.

Mockery is a great weapon. ]

Mokery works so well because most people are mirror blind...


94 posted on 02/19/2014 11:47:16 AM PST by GraceG
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To: DLfromthedesert

I agree. I hate the fact that everything now is gay this, gay that thanks to the media and Obama driving the train for the gay agenda ( I think we know why, but for another day). BUT, I know gay people who are very much like most people on here with their views on fiscal issues and yes some are very much pro life and pro second amendment. They are business people, they hate government waste and excess and very much law and order. That seems like 80 to 90% of the conservative pie right there. However some on here think they should be shut out of the process or discussion of conservative ideas and thus they have no other place to go but the Rats where they will take their votes just like they do with Blacks, Hispanics, Women etc., but give them crumbs and the status quo they find themselves in return.

We are sound like MSNBC or DU with the group think at times on here.


95 posted on 02/19/2014 11:47:41 AM PST by The South Texan (The Drive By Media is America's worst enemy and American people don't know it.)
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To: The South Texan

Then go somewhere more gay.


96 posted on 02/19/2014 11:49:21 AM PST by Norm Lenhart
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To: The South Texan
However some on here think they should be shut out of the process or discussion of conservative ideas

Nobody said that. It is just when they drag out the gay thing, the conservative ideas vanish. They can talk conservatism all day and nobody will say anything, but if they decide to inject their homosexuality its over.

97 posted on 02/19/2014 11:51:08 AM PST by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans!)
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To: GraceG

I’m dead serious about this. Since BDSM is a huge thing in the gay ‘scene’ the freakout would be spectacular. And as they/the media freak, 500 people shouting in unison “Don’t question my sexuality!”

The GOPe couldn’t deny them without offending the gays or couldn’t accept them without offending traditional conservatives. Hoist on their own petard.

Oh it would be hilarious. And it would become SUCH a meme with no way for libs to counter.


98 posted on 02/19/2014 11:54:19 AM PST by Norm Lenhart
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To: Norm Lenhart

Agree!!


99 posted on 02/19/2014 12:25:04 PM PST by Jane Long (While Marxists continue the fundamental transformation of the USA, progressive RINOs assist!)
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To: kristinn
Just when I thought the GOP could not become any more irrelevant they go and prove me wrong and embrace immorality and alienate conservatives even further than they already have.
100 posted on 02/19/2014 12:32:44 PM PST by Manic_Episode (GOP = The Whig Party)
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