DeMint Foregoing CPAC

by: Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Birthplace of Independent Conservatism

As I again go out on a limb....Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC) is the most recent "prominent" GOP legislator who has opted out of attending CPAC because of the inclusion of GOProud, a gay conservative group. In addition to his apparent concern over gays in the GOP he also has a problem with what he views as an increased libertarian tilt within CPAC.

While opting out of this year's gathering his spokesperson stated that he hopes to attend a unified event next year. One cannot help but presume he really means to attend -- only if GOProud and libertarians somehow just disappear.

This from Politico:
South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint will skip this year's Conservative Political Action Conference, making him the most prominent conservative figure yet to express objections to what critics see as a pro-gay, libertarian tilt to the 38-year-old event.

"With leading conservatives organizations not participating this year, Sen. DeMint will not be attending. He hopes to attend a unified CPAC next year," DeMint spokesman Wesley Denton said in an e-mail.

Prominent social conservatives have dropped out of the event and criticized it for its inclusion of the gay conservative group GOProud. Rep. Jim Jordan, who heads the House's Republican Study Committee, also has joined the boycott.

Libertarians and gays ain't going away. Nor should they. It seems only logical that if conservative republicans want to GROW the party its prominent members might well consider shedding their narrow and restricting dogma thereby expanding the party's tent. There are many conservative libertarians as well as gays. To shun an organization based on Mr. DeMint's reasoning just doesn't make sense. At least not to this independent conservative.

Cross posted to Rational Nation USA

Via: Memeorandum

Comments

  1. Fuzzy SlippersSat Jan 22, 11:59:00 AM EST

    I'm with you. I find this very disappointing, but not very surprising. I love DeMint because he's unafraid to put his money where his mouth is and to walk the talk. He's doing that here, even if I disagree with his reasoning and think that this weird anti-gay stuff going on in the conservative movement is just silly and potentially destructive to all the progress we've made, let alone all that remains to be done.

    DeMint is one of the few principled pols in DC; I admire that and would almost be disappointed if he didn't stick to them on this issue re: CPAC.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Les CarpenterSat Jan 22, 12:09:00 PM EST

    Fuzzy Slippers - I too like DeMint for his limited government credentials and his conservatism. Having said this I believe he is being shortsighted on this issue and if anything hurts the movement.

    Perhaps LCR said it best in his comment over at his sight. Check it out. I think you will agree with his "expanded" nuance on this.

    ReplyDelete

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