Conservative Political Action Conference

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"CPAC" redirects here. For other uses, see CPAC (disambiguation).

The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC; play /ˈsiːpæk/ see-pak) is an annual political conference attended by conservative activists and elected officials from across the United States.

CPAC is hosted by the American Conservative Union Foundation (ACUF), a 501(c)3 charity. More than 100 other organizations contribute in various ways. Human Events, the Young America's Foundation, and the National Rifle Association have been three of the most prominent cosponsors in recent years. CPAC has a full time staff of two people, conference director Christopher Malagisi and Deputy CPAC Director Jillian Weleski.[1][2]

Contents

[edit] History

Number of CPAC attendees over time

The conference was founded in 1973 by the American Conservative Union and Young Americans for Freedom as a small gathering of dedicated conservatives.[3][4] Over the years it has grown to thousands of attendees annually. Roughly half of those in attendance in the past few years have been college-aged.[5][6][7]

Speakers have included Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, Pat Buchanan, Karl Rove, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Tony Snow, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Allen West, Michele Bachmann, and other conservative public figures.[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] Before, during, and after his presidency, Ronald Reagan spoke at CPAC a total of 12 times.[18] In his 1985 speech, he referred to CPAC as his "opportunity to dance with the one that brung ya", referring to CPAC having been a contributing factor to his political success.[19][20][21]

CPAC has featured "groups at odds with conservative orthodoxy in years past—including the American Civil Liberties Union," and, more recently, the gay Republican group GOProud, which has attracted major controversy.[22]

[edit] Recent conferences

In 2006, then Senator George Allen won the straw poll. Allen went on to lose his Senate seat in the 2006 election. John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, and Condoleezza Rice finished second, third, and fourth, respectively.[23]

In 2007, the top three candidates in the straw poll were Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani, and Sam Brownback.[24]

Former President George W. Bush waves to the crowd at CPAC 2008, alongside American Conservative Union chairman David Keene.

In 2008, then President George W. Bush addressed CPAC. Mitt Romney won the straw poll, but officially dropped out of the presidential race and ended his campaign during his speech.[25]

In 2009, Romney won the straw poll for the third consecutive year, while Bobby Jindal finished second.[26] Conservative radio show host Rush Limbaugh gave the keynote address in which he urged conservatives to "take back the nation" after the election of Barack Obama.[27]

Television and radio host Glenn Beck delivering the keynote address at CPAC 2010.

In 2010, the conference was opened by Marco Rubio, then a candidate for the U.S. Senate in Florida, and closed by conservative commentator Glenn Beck. In his keynote address Beck denounced progressivism, labelling it as "a disease in America."[28] The Ronald Reagan Award was given to the Tea Party Movement, which marked the first time it was ever given to a group instead of an individual.[29] The 2010 conference marked the first year in which one of the co-sponsoring groups was the long discredited but once again active John Birch Society.[30] The 2010 conference also featured co-sponsorship by an LGBT Republican organization called GOProud. Among nine other key policies, that group opposes a attempts to federally curtail state gay marriage rights and favored the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'; the repeal became law in 2011 with bipartisan support.[31] In response, some groups, such as Focus on the Family, made threats to leave the conference, but none actually did so.[32] Rep. Ron Paul won the straw poll for the first time.

A so-called "conservative civil war" marked the 2011 conference because of a controversy over the participation of GOProud.[33] Numerous prominent organizations, including the Heritage Foundation, Family Research Council, the American Family Association, and the Media Research Council, among others, joined a boycott organized by the American Principles Project, which said GOProud stood in "diametrical opposition" to core principles of the conservative movement.[34][35] Senator Jim DeMint also announced he was boycotting the conference.[36] Those boycotting the conference also pointed to alleged financial mismanagement by the ACU and the invitation issued to Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, who had called for a "truce" on social issues, to be the keynote speaker.[37] Mike Huckabee declined to attend the 2010 and 2011 conferences, citing his concern that because of the inclusion of GOProud and Ron Paul's victory in the 2010 and 2011 straw polls, CPAC is turning libertarian.[22] Some conservative figures are moving to turn the more recently created Values Voter Summit into a "full-fledged rival to CPAC" by expanding its social issues focus to include economic and security issues.[33]

[edit] Straw poll

The annual CPAC straw poll vote traditionally serves as a barometer for the feelings of the conservative movement. During the conference, attendees are encouraged to fill out a paper survey that asks questions on a variety of issues. The questions regarding the most popular possible presidential candidates are the most widely reported. One component of CPAC is evaluating conservative candidates for president, and the straw poll serves generally to quantify conservative opinion.[38]

Year Straw Poll Winner
1976 Ronald Reagan[39][40]
1980 Ronald Reagan
1984 Ronald Reagan
1986 Jack Kemp[41][42]
1987 Jack Kemp[43]
1993 Jack Kemp[44]
1995 Phil Gramm[45]
1998 Steve Forbes[46]
1999 Gary Bauer[47]
2000 George W. Bush[48]
2005 Rudy Giuliani[49]
2006 George Allen
2007 Mitt Romney
2008 Mitt Romney
2009 Mitt Romney
2010 Ron Paul
2011 Ron Paul

[edit] Criticism

Matthew Albright, a journalist for the award-winning Louisiana State University Daily Reveille, has chided CPAC, writing: "The youth presence at CPAC is disturbing — but only because CPAC itself is disturbing. The event is a riotous and self-congratulatory anger festival showcasing the many faults of the most militant, reactionary and dangerous wings of the Republican Party and the conservative movement. The prime speakers at the event included Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter — a veritable laundry list of exactly who should not be in charge of steering a movement, let alone a political party."[6] Albright also pointed to CPAC's warm welcome for James O'Keefe, who is serving a three-year probationary sentence (2010 to 2013), having pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count, reduced from an initial FBI felony charge of maliciously interfering with the office telephones of U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu. Albright wrote: "Instead of being shunned, this thug — who may well be a felon before the year is out — was given a hero's welcome at the party, including an open bar tab, VIP spots and all the cigars he could smoke.[6]

[edit] Awards

Every year there are several awards given to notable conservatives. Although the exact lineup of awards varies, five awards are usually presented:

  • The Ronald Reagan Award is the highest award given at CPAC. It is awarded to dedicated activists, regardless of how high their profile may be on a national scale. ACU director David Keene described the award in 2008: "The winners of this award, our highest honor, are not household names, but the men and women working in the trenches who sacrifice and, in so doing, set an example for others."[50] This award is different from the Ronald Reagan Freedom Award, which is not affiliated with CPAC.
  • The Jeane Kirkpatrick Academic Freedom Award is presented annually in honor of Jeane Kirkpatrick. Kirkpatrick was affiliated with the American Conservative Union for many years.
  • Defender of the Constitution Award
  • The Blogger of the Year Award is given to a leading conservative member of the blogosphere.
  • The Charlton Heston Courage Under Fire Award is named after the late actor and political activist Charlton Heston.

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Christopher Malagisi". Executive Staff Press Release. American Conservative Union. http://www.conservative.org/10234/10234/. Retrieved 2011-06-13. 
  2. ^ "Jillian Weleski". Executive Staff Press Release. American Conservative Union. http://www.conservative.org/american-conservative-union-announces-new-deputy-cpac-director/10883/. Retrieved 2011-06-13. 
  3. ^ Diamond, Sarah (1995) [1995], Roads to dominion: right-wing movements and political power in the United States (2 ed.), New York, NY: The Guilford Press, pp. 128, 138, 146, 198, 210, 212, 285, 289, 327, ISBN 0-89862-862-8, http://books.google.com/books?id=w1bqY-DxHMEC&lpg=PA289&dq=Conservative%20Political%20Action%20Conference&pg=PA289#v=onepage&q=Conservative%20Political%20Action%20Conference&f=false 
  4. ^ Wilcox, Derk Arend (2000). The right guide: a guide to conservative, free-market, and right-of-center organizations. United States of America: Economics America, Inc.. p. 43. http://books.google.com/books?id=g51IAAAAYAAJ&q=%22conservative+political+action+conference%22&dq=%22conservative+political+action+conference%22&hl=en&ei=sRPmTOO0HcG78gbN0tXUCQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=9&ved=0CFUQ6AEwCA. 
  5. ^ "Ron Paul Wins CPAC Straw Poll". Firstread.msnbc.msn.com. 2010-02-21. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/02/21/4429332-ron-paul-wins-cpac-straw-poll. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
  6. ^ a b c Matthew Albright, Nietzsche Is Dead: Youth attendance at CPAC swells but disappoints, 21 February 2010. Accessed 2011-02-13.
  7. ^ Wooldridge, Adrian (2004). The right nation: conservative power in America. New York, NY: The Penguin Post. p. 172. ISBN 1-59420-020-3. http://books.google.com/books?id=R5uJDUIDIwwC&lpg=PA172&dq=Conservative%20Political%20Action%20Conference&pg=PA172#v=onepage&q=Conservative%20Political%20Action%20Conference&f=false. 
  8. ^ Walters, Robert (1974-01-28). "Buchanan: A Dissenting View". St. Petersburg Times (Saint Petersburg, FL: Washington Star-News Service): pp. 3-A. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aMINAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RXMDAAAAIBAJ&dq=conservative%20political%20action%20conference%20nixon&pg=6699%2C2880673/. Retrieved 2010-11-18. 
  9. ^ "Beaver Country Times". News.google.com. 1975-02-17. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KrMtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PNoFAAAAIBAJ&dq=conservative-political-action-conference&pg=5007%2C3493919. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
  10. ^ "Bangor Daily News - Feb 10, 1977". News.google.com. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FUI0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=hDgHAAAAIBAJ&pg=4502%2C2953844. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
  11. ^ "The Hour - Feb 21, 1979". News.google.com. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LucgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=FW4FAAAAIBAJ&dq=conservative%20political%20action%20conference&pg=5648%2C4357363. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
  12. ^ "Reagan Gives Conservatives A Pep Talk". Nl.newsbank.com. 1986-01-31. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SJ&s_site=mercurynews&p_multi=SJ&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB727BCC9F4A839&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
  13. ^ Article: CPAC comeback? (Conservative Political Action Conference) (Editorial) Article from: The Nation Article date: March 15, 1993 Author: Corn, David highbeam.com
  14. ^ Verlag, VS (2003). Conservative parties and right-wing politics in North America: reaping the benefits of an ideological victory?. Germany: Leske + Budrich, Opladen. p. 174. ISBN 3-8100-3812-1. http://books.google.com/books?id=9bkFRFdl4bQC&lpg=PA174&dq=%22conservative%20political%20action%20conference%22&pg=PA174#v=onepage&q=%22conservative%20political%20action%20conference%22&f=false. 
  15. ^ Goldberg, Michelle (2003-02-04). "Shock troops for Bush". Salon. http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2003/02/04/cpac/. Retrieved 2010-11-19. 
  16. ^ "Jim Worthing Debuts “American Highway” CD at CPAC". Lincolntribune.com. http://www.lincolntribune.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=6047. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
  17. ^ Pilon, Roger (February 1, 1986), The Georgetown Journal of Law and Public Policy II: 5–22, http://www.cato.org/pubs/articles/pilon_gtwnfs_lawlessjudging.pdf 
  18. ^ Schneider, Gregory L. (1999) [1999], "Revival and Collapse", Cadres for conservatism: young Americans for freedom and the rise of the Contemporary Right, New York, NY: New York University Press, p. 163, ISBN 0-8147-8108-X, http://books.google.com/books?id=Ux-qhbQ62IkC&lpg=PA163&dq=Conservative%20Political%20Action%20Conference&pg=PA163#v=onepage&q=Conservative%20Political%20Action%20Conference&f=false 
  19. ^ Ronald Reagan, 1985 CPAC keynote address, March 1, 1985
  20. ^ Reagan went even farther in his book of speeches: "I went to these Conservative Political Action Conference events almost every year I was president. I attended before I was president, too. These were my people, the people who had labored for the conservative cause when it seemed like a hopeless endeavor.... They were the people who persevered, and I can't tell you how much I admire them for their tenacity and their hope."
  21. ^ Reagan, Ronald W. (1989) [1989], Speaking My Mind: Selected Speeches (1 ed.), New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, p. 93, 0-671-98857X, http://books.google.com/books?id=MH7b57xk6jIC&lpg=PA93&dq=Conservative%20Political%20Action%20Conference&pg=PA93#v=onepage&q=Conservative%20Political%20Action%20Conference&f=false 
  22. ^ a b McCarthy, Daniel, CPAC’s Social War, The American Conservative
  23. ^ Sen. George Allen Tops CPAC Poll
  24. ^ Romney, Giuliani Top Conservative Straw Poll
  25. ^ Mitt Romney Quits Race at CPAC (Updated)
  26. ^ Romney wins CPAC poll again
  27. ^ Rush Limbaugh calls on conservatives to take back nation
  28. ^ "Glenn Beck Rips Progressivism at CPAC". FOXNews.com. 2010-02-20. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/02/20/beck-encourages-conservatives/. Retrieved 2010-02-20. 
  29. ^ CPAC Reagan Award Winner flashreport.org
  30. ^ Karl, Jonathan (February 19, 2010). "Far-Right John Birch Society 2010". ABC News. http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2010/02/farright-john-birch-society-2010.html. Retrieved 2010-02-22. 
  31. ^ GOProud at CPAC creates controversy, calls for boycotts, hotair.com, December 16, 2009
  32. ^ "CPAC Goes Gay". Mother Jones. 2010-02-18. http://motherjones.com/politics/2010/02/cpac-goes-gay. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
  33. ^ a b "A conservative civil war over the Conservative Political Action Conference". Politico.com. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0111/47231.html. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
  34. ^ "Drafting Mitch Daniels into the CPAC Boycott". Slate.com. 2011-01-11. http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/weigel/archive/2011/01/11/drafting-mitch-daniels-into-the-cpac-boycott.aspx. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
  35. ^ "CPAC’s Social War". Amconmag.com. http://www.amconmag.com/blog/cpacs-social-war/. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
  36. ^ Smith, Ben (2011-01-21). "DeMint joins CPAC boycott". Politico.com. http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0111/DeMint_joins_CPAC_boycott.html?showall. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
  37. ^ Domenico Montanaro writes:. "Social conservatives: Don't ignore us". Firstread.msnbc.msn.com. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/01/12/5824297-social-conservatives-dont-ignore-us. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
  38. ^ Ron Paul wins CPAC straw poll msnbc.com
  39. ^ Conservatives drop third party idea, attempt to win nomination for Reagan http://news.google.com February 17, 1976
  40. ^ "Conservatives abandon talk of a third party, throw their support behind Reagan". The Associated Press. February 16, 1976. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=B9c0AAAAIBAJ&sjid=530DAAAAIBAJ&dq=conservative-political-action-conference%20reagan%20straw%20poll&pg=5360%2C2935820. Retrieved November 9, 2010. 
  41. ^ President Is 'Saving Best Stuff for Last Act' http://news.google.com Gadsden Times - Feb 2, 1986
  42. ^ Gailey, Phil (February 1, 1986), "G.O.P. Strategists Clash Over a Presidential Poll", The New York Times, ISSN 03624331, http://www.nytimes.com/1986/02/01/us/gop-strategists-clash-over-a-presidential-poll.html 
  43. ^ President Is 'Saving Best Stuff for Last Act' http://news.google.com Schenectady Gazette - Feb 21, 1987
  44. ^ "Republican Right Wing Gathers To Bash Clinton, Look to 1996 Conservatives meet in record numbers to find that there is life - and echoes of past unity - after the presidency". The Christian Science Monitor. 22. ISSN 08827729. 
  45. ^ Gramm gets support in conservative straw poll http://nl.newsbank.com February 12, 1995
  46. ^ Forbes tops Bush in presidential straw poll of conservatives; Buchanan, Gingrich tie for third http://nl.newsbank.com February 1, 1998
  47. ^ Neal, Terry M. (31). "Bauer Planning Steps for Presidential Bid". Washington DC: Washington Post Company. p. A2. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/campaigns/wh2000/stories/bauer013199.htm. Retrieved 2010-11-06. 
  48. ^ "Bush wins conservative poll; Forbes supporters impressed; Governor wins 42 percent, Keyes second at 23 percent". Washington Post Company. 23. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/campaigns/wh2000/stories/bauer013199.htm. Retrieved 2010-11-06. 
  49. ^ "Bracing for the Worst". Washington Times. 24 February 2005. http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-3709701/Bracing-for-the-worst-NATION.html. Retrieved 2010-11-06. 
  50. ^ CPAC Pleased to Present Annual Ronald Reagan Award to Jessica Echard highbeam.com

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