Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

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
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-123 next last

1 posted on 02/19/2014 8:42:04 AM PST by kristinn
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: kristinn

Conservative? I don’t think so. I can call my F150 a 747, but it won’t fly.


2 posted on 02/19/2014 8:43:44 AM PST by LouAvul (In a state of disbelief as to how liberals destroyed America in a mere 40 years.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kristinn

Wow.

Doesn’t sound very “Conservative” to me!


3 posted on 02/19/2014 8:45:04 AM PST by ConservativeMan55 (In America, we don't do pin pricks. But sometimes we elect them.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LouAvul

They’re nothing but an agenda looking to infect the GOP.

Dave Agema is correct, the GOP puts opposition to gay marriage in the platform but has zero intent to uphold it. The GOP platform is nothing but voter bait.


4 posted on 02/19/2014 8:46:49 AM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: kristinn

I’ll never go again.


5 posted on 02/19/2014 8:47:44 AM PST by Born to Conserve
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kristinn

Lesser evil. We were told that’s needed remember?


6 posted on 02/19/2014 8:48:17 AM PST by Norm Lenhart
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kristinn

I hope they will invite contingents of both abortionists and Stalinists. Both add so much diversity to an otherwise homogenous gathering.


7 posted on 02/19/2014 8:48:31 AM PST by madprof98
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kristinn
I hope I don't get flamed here, but I know several gay people who can not stand Obama or Hillary.
I want their votes, for our conservative candidates.
Lots of gay folks don't want to be Muslim, don't want to get nuked, don't like high taxes and many do not like abortion on demand.
Can we attract their votes without watering down our values?
8 posted on 02/19/2014 8:49:28 AM PST by Kansas58
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kansas58

Their values are not ours. Their values are based on their sexual desires.

That we share some beliefs does not make them ‘one of us’.


9 posted on 02/19/2014 8:51:27 AM PST by Norm Lenhart
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Kansas58
Can we attract their votes without watering down our values?

The fact that their sexuality is their primary focus says no.
10 posted on 02/19/2014 8:52:02 AM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: kristinn

Karl Rove and Reince Pukus must be excommunicated.


11 posted on 02/19/2014 8:52:09 AM PST by Viennacon
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FReepers
Nothing Has Changed...........

Christopher Barron, GOProud Chairman of the Board: "We are a gay organization, we only work on gay issues, we have never claimed otherwise. My God people."

http://twitter.com/ChrisRBarron Aug 4, 2010; 4:04pm


Click The Pic To Donate

Support FR, Donate Monthly If You Can

12 posted on 02/19/2014 8:52:52 AM PST by DJ MacWoW (The Fed Gov is not one ring to rule them all)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kristinn

They might as well take the “Conservative” out of the CPAC name since it ain’t Conservative no more.


13 posted on 02/19/2014 8:53:47 AM PST by Timber Rattler (Just say NO! to RINOS and the GOP-E)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kristinn

Another poor choice. But it is politically correct, I guess.
Sad days in and for America and many Americans.


14 posted on 02/19/2014 8:54:12 AM PST by mulligan (I)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kristinn

Anyone who self identifies as anything other than a taxpaying American citizen is no conservative.


15 posted on 02/19/2014 8:54:21 AM PST by skeeter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kristinn
>> "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." <<

We'll be happy to have you, when you stop advertising your sex life and identifying your political cause around who you sleep with.

16 posted on 02/19/2014 8:55:07 AM PST by BillyBoy (Looking at the weather lately, I could really use some 'global warming' right now!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LouAvul
I can call my F150 a 747, but it won’t fly.

you aerophobe!

17 posted on 02/19/2014 8:55:10 AM PST by Cementjungle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Timber Rattler

When people endorsed the ‘moderate’ Romney with their votes, and lesser evil bullXhit, they kicked the door wide open for this. Many of us said exactly this would be the result. We were attacked for it.

Yet we were right. Whether anyone will man up and admit it or not.


18 posted on 02/19/2014 8:56:19 AM PST by Norm Lenhart
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: kristinn

America is done ... roll up the sidewalks ... turn out the lights ...


19 posted on 02/19/2014 8:56:30 AM PST by knarf (I say things that are true .. I have no proof .. but they're true.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Timber Rattler

FudgPAC


20 posted on 02/19/2014 8:56:55 AM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 121-123 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson