The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) is less than a month away and the now-annual kerfuffle over the participation of gay conservative group GOProud was in full swing on Twitter this weekend.
Why is dissing @GOPROUD an issue every CPAC? Can we just focus on crushing progressivism? Thanx. Love, A Dude Interested in Victory.
— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) February 16, 2013
When GOProud co-sponsored CPAC in 2011, several conservative groups boycotted the conference. Later that year, the American Conservative Union’s board of directors voted to exclude GOProud from formal participation in 2012 and the welcome mat is still rolled up.
https://twitter.com/GayPatriot/status/302817739880407043
In other words, they can't sponsor (as they had in previous years), can't have a booth. To a group/org, that's a BAN.
— A.J. Delgado (@AJDelgado13) February 16, 2013
Naturally, the liberal media presented this as unimpeachable evidence of the Right’s “H8” and intolerance. But among conservatives on Twitter, there’s little controversy over whether to embrace gay conservatives as allies in the fight against the progressive agenda.
https://twitter.com/redsteeze/status/302683786016079872
Timeline filled with CPAC related annoyance. Happy to see unified agreement—exclusion of @GOPROUD is wrong. Against GOP principles.
— ?? (@ShannonPoe) February 16, 2013
The ratio of @GOProud supporters to #CPAC-supporters on this issue is, no joke, about 20 to 1. And that's AMONGST conservatives.
— A.J. Delgado (@AJDelgado13) February 17, 2013
Many on the Right have harsh words for some of GOProud’s past decisions.
https://twitter.com/blackrepubprobz/status/302964946805878784
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Shortly before the 2011 CPAC, GOProud co-founder Chris Barron branded conservative attorney Cleta Mitchell a “nasty bigot.” And in late 2011, the group attracted an avalanche of well-deserved criticism, including condemnation from its own members, for the appalling outing of Gov. Rick Perry’s chief pollster.
@jimmiebjr You mean like outing someone they don't agree with as a vendetta? Yeah wonder why people forget that
— Duke (@irishduke2) February 16, 2013
But for many conservatives, this isn’t about deifying a particular organization while ignoring its warts. It’s about not marginalizing dedicated conservative warriors, gay or straight.
I am a Conservative: One again, our problem isn't gays who are conservative, it's "conservatives" who aren't conservative. cc: @cpacnews
— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) February 16, 2013
https://twitter.com/kesgardner/statuses/302929819753132033
https://twitter.com/MaryClimer1/status/302818162116816896
https://twitter.com/Shelly_Bl/status/302802723252871169
I want as many people with me fighting for freedom/limited government as I can get. Gay, straight, white, black, male, female–you name it.
— Jedediah Bila (@JedediahBila) February 16, 2013
I rather not go to cpac then not having fellow warriors there with me to fight the tyranny of libs group think
— Brad Bandido! (@BradEssex) February 16, 2013
This fight is not about CPAC vs. ACU. This is a much larger conversation we are having about gays in the liberty movement.
— Allie Gravitt (@alliegravitt) February 16, 2013
That said, if a gay couple wants to fight to lower taxes and help us be more free, then I want them on my team. Period.
— Allie Gravitt (@alliegravitt) February 16, 2013
why would you choose to alienate an entire group of perfectly good Conservatives? @cpacnews @acuconservative #GOProud #CPAC2013
— ComfyPaws™ (@ComfyPaws) February 16, 2013
Anyone can go to CPAC, regardless sexual orientation. But it sends a horrible message to exclude a gay conservative group from sponsorship.
— (((AG))) (@AGHamilton29) February 16, 2013
Banning GOProud is bad PR, bad politics and bad form. #CPAC
— Harold Stickeehans (@StickeeNotes) February 16, 2013
THIS-> MT @amylutz4: #CPAC2013 still isn't inviting @goproud? It's about time the welcomed them into the conference.I don't see the problem.
— Rachelle (@Shelly__Marie) February 16, 2013
We all want to kick out the progressives and leftists who are ruining America. So does @GOProud. Why exclude them?!?!?!?!
— Mary #FlyTheW (@mchastain81) February 16, 2013
I am a Conservative: If you have to be a jerk to someone, be a jerk to the socialist, not the guy who won't compete with you for chicks.
— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) February 17, 2013
And here’s something else the mainstream media won’t tell you: It’s not just squishes criticizing CPAC.
Hey @CPACnews, the folks agreeing with me aren't hipsters or squishes. These are hardcore cons who love guns and God and hate progressivism.
— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) February 16, 2013
Plenty of social conservatives are eager to fight liberalism alongside gay allies.
https://twitter.com/m_mcaulay/status/302611335924047872
https://twitter.com/blackrepubprobz/status/302881766513983488
@GPollowitz @goproud I'm conservative, against gay marriage but can't understand why CPAC would do this.
— Sardine Oil (@jeremyburns44) February 16, 2013
Most of ppl I know from @GOProud are vastly more conservative than many of the groups allowed at #CPAC. Everyone should get seat at table.
— Andrew Bair (@ProLifePolitics) February 16, 2013
https://twitter.com/LilMissRightie/statuses/302632734201876480
<—- SOCON who is pro traditional marriage and loves @GOProud's patriotism. Pls don't paint me into a corner. You'll lose 🙂 #tcot
— Sister Toldjah ? (@sistertoldjah) February 16, 2013
Indeed, many gay conservatives are stalwart champions of fiscal conservatism, patriotism, the pro-life movement, and even — gasp! — traditional marriage. Meanwhile, the ACU promoted conservafraud Donald Trump and embraces Grover Norquist, a board member who has actively undermined conservative goals. (Norquist also joined the GOProud advisory council in 2010.)
In fact, CPAC welcomes many speakers who disagree with the ACU on crucial issues.
So #CPAC will ban fellow conservatives but allow someone like Chris Hayes to participate? SO MUCH FAIL.
— Mary #FlyTheW (@mchastain81) February 16, 2013
Yes, MSNBC host Chris Hayes received an invitation to speak on a CPAC panel this year. That’s the same Chris Hayes who said he was “uncomfortable” calling fallen soldiers “heroes.”
https://twitter.com/NathanWurtzel/status/302812193450254336
If we let the libertarians do their thing at CPAC, why not @goproud?
— Christine "Go Donate Blood" Rousselle (@crousselle) February 16, 2013
So, CPAC disses Gay conservatives, but welcomes Joe Scarborough who is not conservative and bashes conservatives on a regular basis. #Dumb
— Kathleen (@katnandu) February 17, 2013
Wait so CPAC is allowing that racist idiot Derbyshire to be involved but not @GOPROUD? WTF
— Greg B (@gregb94) February 16, 2013
At least one conservative blogger suggested a free market solution.
https://twitter.com/BenHowe/statuses/302959002831187969
Exit question from blogger Sister Toldjah:
Q from earlier: GOProud shldn't have been 'banned' from CPAC, but it does bring up a Q: Where SHOULD CPAC draw the line on invites, if any?
— Sister Toldjah ? (@sistertoldjah) February 17, 2013
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