On CPAC: Let's Lose the Hyphens Already

Conservatives, as all political factions do from time to time, are having a family squabble involving the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). It appears to be especially cantankerous this year. The rub pertains to the increasing presence of gay-Republicans and the degree to which event organizers embrace or shun them. Our country is in trouble. The stakes are high. Conservatives need to work together because they are right. I offer a humble suggestion. Conservatives need to check their hyphens at the door.

I attended my first CPAC in 1995. It was amazing. Spirits were high and guards were down as the who’s who’s in conservatism rubbed elbows with bright eyed young activists like me. There were Christian-conservatives, libertarian-conservatives, black-conservatives Asian-conservatives and almost every group one could imagine in attendance. All that mattered was that we were all patriots.

On the 100^th Anniversary of President Reagan’s birth, it is fitting that we remember why conservatism peaked under his leadership. His style was elegant in its simplicity, and had a common theme that I love. You are uniquely blessed to have been born an American. Not better, just blessed. Every individual is valuable in God’s eyes. Freedom is your birth right, join me in its cause. If you are with me, great. If not, get out of the way. I think he would have an answer for the gay controversy at CPAC.

The Gipper was once challenged for taking campaign contributions from gays. The challenger hoped to separate him from his evangelical support on account of his gay support. He was challenged whether the contributions showed he agreed with the gays views. He responded that their contributions showed they must agree with his views. So it is with CPAC. The attendance of ticket buying gays at CPAC shows that they support the CPAC views.

Now, there are fair questions being asked regarding whether the gay inclusion amounts to compromising values. Certainly tolerance at some point implies endorsement. If one is ok with Gay-conservatives then what about Islamist-conservatives, or Muslims who happen to be conservative but are not radical Islamists? I think Reagan would have an answer for that too.

Reagan did not apologize for opposing gay marriage or standing with Israel versus Islamofascism. He opposed anyone who opposed freedom and he stood by his values. I believe The Great One would have welcomed participation of controversial groups as long as they stood for liberty and his freedom agenda above all else. Now, as hyphenated conservatives have violated Reagan’s 11^th Commandment by taking shots at fellow conservatives they need to apologize for that.

So I think Reagan would have welcomed any freedom-minded patriots to unite with him for the cause. But Reagan would have a message to all who enter the Marriot Wardman Hotel. Come, join us for freedom, but please, check your hyphen at the door.