The American Conservative Union’s decision to prevent GOProud from participating in CPAC next year is already having ramifications within New Media and the conservative entertainment community. Roger L. Simon of Pajamas Media, and Andrew Breitbart of “the Bigs”/Breitbart.com, will not be attending CPAC 2012, specifically because of the ACU’s decision. There is no word yet on whether PJM or the Breitbart websites will decline to cover the conference, but it seems unlikely that either Simon’s or Breitbart’s operations will be supporting the conference as they have in the past—or giving CPAC nearly as much ink or airtime.
At least one Hollywood production company that has been a co-sponsor of the event is skipping it next year, as well.
Jeff Dunetz of the Yid with Lid blog is upset, and many other bloggers are confused. A tiny minority see this manuever as a sort of “back to basics” move—an attempt to take the conservative conference to its Christian roots. Yet none of the non-Christian organizations that are linked to CPAC (Muslims, Jews, etc.) have been forbidden to have a booth at the event.
There is some question as to whether Ann Coulter will attend next year. Some theorize that participating in a “boycott”—however informal—would be out of character, and that she is more likely to attend, but to blast the organizers for this seeming misstep. A self-proclaimed born-again Christian, Ms. Coulter has been a strong supporter of GOProud’s participation in CPAC.
The gay newspaper The Advocate points out that GOProud has at least two former ACU members on its Board of Directors; Breitbart is also part of that body. And over at Gay Patriot, the premier gay conservative blog, B. Daniel Blatt has some thoughts, along with an updated statement from GOProud.
It appears that all our pan-conservative strategizing next spring will have to take place via conference calls.
DaTechGuy on August 1, 2011 at 7:04 am said:
Totally ignored is that the John Birch Society is also being excluded. Nobody seems to be bothered by that on the blogs. They had a huge booth this year.
Joy McCann on August 1, 2011 at 2:22 pm said:
I think the fact that William F. Buckley marginalized them first–and set a precedent–lends that decision some legitimacy in the minds of many who feel that the Birchers traffic in conspiracy theories.
serr8d on August 2, 2011 at 12:44 am said:
Meh. Roger L. Simon isn’t all that anymore; he’s not a TeaPartyer that’s for sure. He smells much of ‘G.O.P.’, an odor I can walk away from with ease. Breitbart, I can take him or leave him. I seldom read ‘The Bigs’ unless someone links.
Now Ann Barnhardt, someone should snag her and bring her on board, and soonest. )