CPAC Confidential: Because Small-Government Conservatives Think the Gov't Should be Big Enough to Hate on teh Gays
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) is head of the Republican Study Committee, the group that's supposed to be the conscience of the GOP when it comes to limiting government's reach. Jordan is one of a bunch of proud Republicans who are pointedly snubbing this week's coming Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) because of the participation of GOProud, a gay conservative group. The Cleveland Plain-Dealer says:
"Congressman Jordan believes that, in addition to low taxes and less spending, conservatives must advocate for traditional family values like life and marriage," [spokesman Meghan] Snyder said. "Family is the cornerstone upon which a community, state or nation is built, and conservatives must lead the way in promoting the strengths of the traditional family whenever we can."
Politico says Jordan is the "most prominent elected official to publicly pass on the event." He is frequently mentioned as a potential 2012 U.S. Senate candidate against Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat.
In 2009, Jordan introduced legislation that would have overturned the District of Columbia's decision to recognize gay marriages performed in other states. Jordan's legislation went nowhere, and the District of Columbia last year began issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples.
Another big name who pulled out: Brent Bozell of the Media Research Center.
"To bring in a 'gay' group is a direct attack on social conservatives, and I can't participate in that."
So has Floyd Brown, the founder of Citizens United:
"[Heritage Foundation and other long-term participants withdrawing] is a huge blow to CPAC," said Floyd Brown, president of the Western Journalism Center and founder of Citizens United. "It shows the CPAC leadership needs to do a full evaluation of their decision to allow this homosexual group to be a participating organization."
And dig this. CPAC has taken heat for inviting Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, cuz he called for a "truce" on social war stuff:
"Governor Daniels' selection is an affront to the millions of conservatives who believe that social issues such as abortion and traditional marriage are non-negotiable," [American Principles Project]'s executive director Andy Blom said in a statement.
Blom told CNN he sees Daniels having a difficult time winning the GOP nomination, or the general election, without the help of social conservatives.
"He has flown his white flag and he has surrendered," Blom said. "The foot soldiers in the conservative movement have for so long been pro-lifers. You can't win a national election by throwing these people away. We aren't going to stand for it."
More Blom on Blom action is here.
So what's so icky about GOProud, the group causing most (though not all!) the ruckus? Here's an excerpt from the group's statement of purpose:
GOProud is committed to a traditional conservative agenda that emphasizes limited government, individual liberty, free markets and a confident foreign policy. GOProud promotes our traditional conservative agenda by influencing politics and policy at the federal level.
We are conservatives who believe in limited government, individual liberty, free markets, a strong national defense and a confident foreign policy. We believe that every individual should be equal under the law.
If there's a reason to be pissed at GOProud, it ain't because they're not conservatives. It's because they've invited Sophie B. Hawkins to headline a CPAC party. But then again, tolerance is a virtue. Hawkins, who's in a long-term same-sex relationship, has been critical of Obama and the gummint in general. Here's a snippet from a Hill story about her from last year:
The singer campaigned on the trail with Hillary Rodham Clinton during her presidential campaign, and told The Hil from her tour bus that she "never believed in [Obama's] philosophy"—which she said runs contrary to her beliefs in "smaller government, smart government, flexible government."
"I think the writing was on the wall," Hawkins said. "I honestly couldn't believe so many people were into him."
She describes herself as a centrist who's identified with the Democratic and Green parties, but said even though she's never been Republican she wouldn't cross that vote off the list if the right leader came along.
In fact, she's open to a Republican Congress.
"I want the Congress that really is going to listen to the people," she said. "I really don't care what party it is anymore."
Hawkins said she attended a Tea Party rally in Santa Monica, Calif., that was "mostly all Democrats."
"The Tea Parties are only here because people are not listening," she said.
Here's the "original, banned" video of Hawkins' biggest hit.
