Jump to content

Conservative Political Action Conference

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Conservative Political Action Conference
Logo of CPAC since 2014
DatesFebruary/March/July (dates vary)
FrequencyAnnual
Location(s)Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, National Harbor, Maryland, U.S. (2024)
Inaugurated1974; 50 years ago (1974)
Most recentFebruary 21–24, 2024
Organized byAmerican Conservative Union
Websitecpac.conservative.org

The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC /ˈspæk/ SEE-pak) is an annual political conference attended by conservative activists and elected officials from across the United States. CPAC is hosted by the American Conservative Union (ACU).[1] The first CPAC took place in 1974.

The same name and acronym has been used for conferences in other countries.

History

[edit]
President Ronald Reagan speaking at the 1985 CPAC
President George W. Bush speaking at the 2008 CPAC
President Donald Trump speaking at the 2018 CPAC

1974

[edit]

The conference was founded in 1974 by the American Conservative Union and Young Americans for Freedom as a small gathering of dedicated conservatives.[2][3][4] Ronald Reagan gave the inaugural keynote speech at CPAC in 1974.[5] The presidential hopeful used it to share his vision for the country—"A Shining City Upon A Hill," words borrowed from John Winthrop.[6]

2010–2017

[edit]

The 2010 CPAC featured co-sponsorship for the first time from GOProud, a gay conservative group. GoProud is credited in the media for initiating talks with ACU to invite Donald Trump to speak at CPAC 2011.[7] The 2011 CPAC speech Trump gave, is credited for helping kick-start his political career within the Republican Party.[8][9][10] Christopher R. Barron, co-founder of GOProud who would later not only endorse Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, but also launch LGBT for Trump, said he "would love to see Mr. Trump run for president".

In 2014, CPAC extended an invitation to American Atheists, which was immediately withdrawn on the same day due to controversial statements by AA's president David Silverman, who declared his group was going to "enlighten conservatives" and that "the Christian right should be threatened by us".[11] The 2015 CPAC featured Jamila Bey who became the first atheist activist to address CPAC's annual meeting.[12]

The 2016 CPAC featured co-sponsorship for the first time from the Log Cabin Republicans.[13] In December 2016, CPAC extended an invitation to conservative blogger Milo Yiannopoulos to speak at the event, despite his history of controversial views on feminism, racial minorities, and transgender issues. The invitation was canceled when the Reagan Battalion re-posted a video of 2016 and 2015 YouTube videos[14] in which Yiannopoulos is heard making comments defending sexual relationships between adult men and 13-year-old boys, citing his own sexual experiences at that age with a Catholic priest.[15]

Richard Spencer, a figurehead of the alt-right and a white supremacist, entered the lobby of the Gaylord National Hotel on February 23, 2017, in an attempt to access CPAC. Organizers of the conference ejected him from the hotel as soon as his presence was discovered, citing his "repugnant [views which] ... have absolutely nothing to do with conservatism or what we do here" as cause for rejecting his admission to CPAC.[16] ACU's Executive Director Dan Schneider castigated Spencer and the alt-right in a main-stage speech, calling them "garden-variety, left-wing fascists," and saying that the alt-right "despises everything [conservatives] believe in".[17][18]

Media members across the political spectrum condemned the intrusion as yet another attempt by groups like the alt-right to conceal their extremist views within a legitimate philosophy. Opinion columns in The New York Times, and articles in Mother Jones and Rolling Stone voiced concern about the 2017 interview of ex-Trump Adviser Steve Bannon and ex-Trump Chief of Staff Reince Priebus with ACU Chairman Matt Schlapp, advocating for the American Right to reject the tenets of the alt-right, including homophobia, xenophobia, sexism, and racism.[19][20][21]

2019

[edit]

The 2019 Conservative Political Action Conference was held at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Oxon Hill, Maryland, from February 27 to March 2, 2019. The event was headlined by President Trump, with many additional speakers. Themes throughout the conference were fighting against socialism; criminal justice reform; China; and criticizing Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Green New Deal.[citation needed]

2020–2021

[edit]

In 2020, CPAC hosted its main event just prior to the federal emergency declaration regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. On Saturday, March 7, 2020, ACU confirmed that an attendee at the 2020 CPAC had tested positive for COVID-19. Senator Ted Cruz, Representatives Matt Gaetz, Paul Gosar, Doug Collins, and Mark Meadows had recent contact with the patient, who remained unnamed; none of whom would go on to test positive immediately after the event.[22][23]

The following year, the 2021 Conservative Political Action Conference was held during the COVID-19 pandemic. The previous customary venue for CPAC, (Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center) in National Harbor, Maryland was subject to restrictions in Maryland, issued by Republican governor Larry Hogan, who had restricted gathering sizes to a maximum of 10.[24][25]

As a result, the conference was relocated to Orlando, Florida,[25] which had removed all prior pandemic-related limits on gathering sizes.[26] The event was still subject to Orlando mandatory mask-wearing rules. Notwithstanding those restrictions, numerous attendees chose to not wear masks during the event, despite frequent announcements by the event's organizers and hotel staff, requesting attendees to comply with the local mask-wearing mandate.[27] Florida Governor Ron DeSantis characterized the state's resistance to pandemic gathering-size limits as comporting with the state's status as "an oasis of freedom."[27] The conference's theme, "America Uncancelled", sought to highlight alleged attempts by social media companies, the Democratic Party, U.S. universities and progressive organizations to censor conservatives' public expression of their political views. The conference's main event was a closing address by former U.S. president Donald Trump, his first public address and political speech since leaving office. Trump spent significant portions of the speech criticizing his successor, Joe Biden. The speech received significant media coverage in anticipation of Trump's announcement of his post-presidential political activity.

A second 2021 conference was held in Dallas from July 9 to 11 at the Hilton Anatole hotel.[28] The theme of the conference was immigration policy and border security, in the context of the ongoing migrant crisis at the U.S. Southern Border.

2022

[edit]
CPAC Florida 2022

The 2022 conference was held on February 24 to 27 in Orlando, Florida.[29] Speakers included Trump, Florida governor Ron DeSantis, and former Democratic congresswoman and presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard.[30]

As in 2021, a second conference was held in Dallas, Texas from August 4 to 6. Speakers included Trump, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Arizona Republican Gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, and many congressional representatives.

As part of one of the 2022 break-out sessions, the Dallas CPAC conference displayed a banner across their main stage with the phrase "We are all domestic terrorists."[31][32][33][34][35]

2023

[edit]

CPAC returned to National Harbor, Maryland for their 2023 conference. Major speakers at the winter event included Donald Trump, Steve Bannon, U.S. House members Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz and Lauren Boebert, presidential candidate Nikki Haley, and Donald Trump Jr.[36] Attendance was thinner than at previous conferences, with the main ballroom often half-full during speeches, though Trump drew a capacity crowd.[37][38] He said he would not withdraw from the 2024 presidential race if he was indicted as a result of federal and state investigations underway.[39] CNN fact checker Daniel Dale found that Trump "made some of his most thoroughly dishonest speeches" at the conference.[40] Trump said, in part:

In 2016, I declared: I am your voice. Today, I add: I am your warrior. I am your justice. And for those who have been wronged and betrayed: I am your retribution.[41]

Also during the conference political commentator Michael Knowles called for the elimination of "transgenderism," arguing that those who identify as transgender are "laboring a delusion, and we need to correct that delusion." Knowles further stated that "there can be no middle way in dealing with transgenderism," and that "for the good of society, and especially for the good of the poor people who have fallen prey to this confusion, transgenderism must be eradicated from public life entirely."[42] Knowles' comments were criticized by several political media figures, including civil rights attorney Alejandra Caraballo, describing them as genocidal.[43] Knowles demanded that The Daily Beast retract a headline stating that he was calling for the eradication of the "transgender community".[44]

Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy later alleged that a political consultant with ties to CPAC had offered to rig the straw poll in his favor in exchange for a fee exceeding $100,000, which Ramaswamy refused.[45]

Longtime CPAC board member and vice-chair Charlie Gerow resigned in August 2023, calling for investigations of Matt Schlapp and the organization's financial practices. He said, "The situation at CPAC has become such that I felt compelled to resign." Four other longtime board members resigned earlier in the year, with one citing concerns over CPAC's financial reports.[46]

2024

[edit]

CPAC returned to National Harbor, Maryland for their February 2024 conference. Speakers included Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, Ben Carson, Steve Bannon, Nigel Farage, Liz Truss, Javier Milei, Nayib Bukele, Santiago Abascal, deposed Catholic bishop Joseph Strickland, as well as Senators and Members of Congress.[47][48][49] Politico noted that CPAC had been diminished due to the previous year's scandals involving Matt Schlapp and belief that the conference had "come to be seen as a mere adjunct of Trumpism".[49]

During an event at CPAC on February 23, alt-right commentator Jack Posobiec made a speech that was widely covered in the media, stating "Welcome to the end of democracy – we're here to overthrow it completely. We didn't get all the way there on January 6th, but we will endeavor to get rid of it and replace it with this right here" holding his clenched fist in the air. "Because all glory is not to government — all glory to God."[50][51][52][53] The event notably featured several neo-Nazis who were able to secure official CPAC badges to walk the show floor and were not ejected unlike previous years.[54][55]

In addition to the annual presidential straw poll, a poll was also taken on who should be presumptive nominee Trump's vice president. Kristi Noem and Vivek Ramaswamy tied at 15%, followed by Tulsi Gabbard at 9%, and Elise Stefanik and Tim Scott at 8%.[56]

Opposition to Donald Trump among some conservatives led to a rival conference held by the group Principles First.[57]

Annual straw poll

[edit]
Straw poll results at the 2015 CPAC, showing Rand Paul as the apparent winner

The annual CPAC straw poll vote traditionally serves as a barometer for the feelings of the conservative movement. During the conference, attendees are encouraged to fill out a survey that asks questions on a variety of issues. The questions regarding the most popular possible presidential candidates are the most widely reported. One component of CPAC is evaluating conservative candidates for president, and the straw poll serves generally to quantify conservative opinion.

Year Straw poll winner % of votes Second place % of votes Eventual Republican nominee
1974–75 Polling irregular?[citation needed] Gerald Ford (1976)
1976 Ronald Reagan[58] 77.2 George Wallace 14.6
1977–79 Polling irregular?[citation needed] Ronald Reagan (1980)
1980 Ronald Reagan[59] n/a n/a n/a
1981–83 Not held (Ronald Reagan's nomination presumptive)[59] Ronald Reagan (1984)
1984 Ronald Reagan[59] n/a n/a n/a
1985 Not held[59] George H. W. Bush (1988)
1986 Jack Kemp[60][61] n/a George H. W. Bush n/a
1987 Jack Kemp[62] 68 Pat Buchanan 9
1988 Not held[59]
1989–91 Not held (George H. W. Bush's nomination presumptive)[59] George H. W. Bush (1992)
1992 Pat Buchanan[63] ? ? ?
1993 Jack Kemp[64] n/a n/a n/a Bob Dole (1996)
1994 Not held[59]
1995 Phil Gramm[65] 40 Bob Dole 12
1996 Bob Dole[66] 26 Pat Buchanan 24
1997 Not held[59] George W. Bush (2000)
1998 Steve Forbes[67] 23 George W. Bush 10
1999 Gary Bauer[68][69] 28 George W. Bush 24
2000 George W. Bush[70] 42 Alan Keyes 23
2001–04 Not held (George W. Bush's nomination presumptive)[71] George W. Bush (2004)
2005 Rudy Giuliani[72] 19 Condoleezza Rice 18 John McCain (2008)
2006 George Allen[73] 22 John McCain 20
2007 Mitt Romney[73] 21 Rudy Giuliani 17
2008 Mitt Romney[73] 35 John McCain 34
2009 Mitt Romney[73][74] 20 Bobby Jindal 14 Mitt Romney (2012)
2010 Ron Paul[73][75] 31 Mitt Romney 22
2011 Ron Paul[76] 30 Mitt Romney 23
2012 Mitt Romney[77] 38 Rick Santorum 31
2013 Rand Paul[78] 25 Marco Rubio 23 Donald Trump (2016)
2014 Rand Paul[79] 31 Ted Cruz 11
2015 Rand Paul 26 Scott Walker 21
2016 Ted Cruz 40 Marco Rubio 30
2017–18 Not held (Donald Trump's nomination presumptive)[80] Donald Trump (2020)
2019 Donald Trump[81][82] 82 Mitt Romney 6
2020 Not held (Donald Trump's nomination presumptive)[83]
2021 (1) Donald Trump[84] 55 Ron DeSantis 21 Donald Trump (2024)
(presumptive)
2021 (2) Donald Trump[85] 70 Ron DeSantis 21
2022 (1) Donald Trump[86] 59 Ron DeSantis 28
2022 (2) Donald Trump 69 Ron DeSantis 24
2023 Donald Trump 62 Ron DeSantis 20
2024 Donald Trump 94 Nikki Haley 5

In total, former U.S. President Donald Trump holds the record for the most wins in CPAC straw polls with seven (as of February 2024). Mitt Romney follows with four, and Ronald Reagan, Jack Kemp, and Rand Paul follow with three wins each, followed by Ron Paul with two wins. Of these five, the Pauls are the only two to win more than one straw poll, yet never appear on a Republican presidential ticket in any election, although Ron Paul did receive one Electoral College vote in 2016.[87]

Despite his former popularity, Romney was not invited from CPAC in 2020 because of his vote to hear additional witnesses in the first impeachment trial of Donald Trump[88] and was also not invited to the 2021 CPAC after he voted to convict Trump on one count in his second impeachment trial.[89] CPAC's chairman said he could not ensure Romney's "physical safety" at the 2020 CPAC conference.[90]

Foreign CPACs

[edit]

Australia

[edit]

Australia's first CPAC was held in August 2019 by Andrew Cooper,[91] founder of conservative think-tank LibertyWorks. Guest speakers included former prime minister Tony Abbott, Brexit campaign leader Nigel Farage, former Breitbart News editor-in-chief Raheem Kassam and NSW One Nation leader Mark Latham. Liberal Senator Amanda Stoker and Craig Kelly MP were at the event. There were calls for Kassam to be banned from coming into the country before the event.[92][93]

The second conference was held in November 2020.[94] Canadian alt-right YouTuber Lauren Southern was initially scheduled to appear, but her invitation was rescinded by the organizers.[95]

The 2022 conference was held in Sydney on October 1. Attendees included Tony Abbott, Eric Abetz, Katherine Deves, Nigel Farage, Jacinta Price and Amanda Stoker.[96]

The 2023 conference was held in Sydney from August 19–20.[97][98][99] One prominent speaking point of the conference was in opposition to the proposed constitutional amendment to create an Indigenous voice to parliament. Tony Abbott, Warren Mundine and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price were among the speakers at the conference.[100]

Brazil

[edit]

The first CPAC in Brazil took place on October 11–12, 2019, in the city of São Paulo, attended by leading American conservatives including ACU chairman Matt Schlapp and his wife Mercedes Schlapp, Utah senator Mike Lee, Fox News specialist Walid Phares, as well as Brazilian figures including President Jair Bolsonaro's son Eduardo Bolsonaro, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ernesto Araújo, and the Prince Imperial of Brazil Bertrand Maria José de Orléans e Bragança and others.[101][102]

The ACU Foundation announced that the event would take place annually in Brazil from 2019.[103][104]

In September 2021, Jason Miller, a former senior adviser to Donald Trump, and other American right-wing media personalities in his traveling party, were detained and questioned for three hours at Brasília International Airport following participation in the 2021 CPAC Brazil Conference. The investigation was part of an inquiry by Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes into misinformation allegedly perpetuated by the administration of President Jair Bolsonaro. Miller had praised Bolsonaro's supporters as "proud patriots" and claimed they had been deplatformed and shadow banned by Brazilian authorities.[105] Miller continued to advise Jair Bolsonaro after his October 2022 election defeat, meeting with the president's son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, in November 2022, as protests and election challenges continued.[106]

The 2024 CPAC Brazil featured Jair Bolsonaro, Eduardo Bolsonaro, Argentinian President Javier Milei, Chilean Republican Party leader José Antonio Kast and Salvadoran Justice and Public Security Minister Gustavo Villatoro.[107]

Hungary

[edit]
Viktor Orbán speaking at CPAC Hungary
Rick Santorum speaking at CPAC Hungary 2022

A conservative conference billed by the organizers as CPAC Hungary was held on May 19–20, 2022 in Budapest, Hungary.[108][109][110] Speakers included Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán; Spain's Vox party leader Santiago Abascal; Eduardo Bolsonaro; right-wing US commentator Candace Owens; Ernst Roets, the Deputy CEO of AfriForum;[111] and former US White House chief of staff Mark Meadows,[112] as well as far-right US conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec and Hungarian journalist Zsolt Bayer.[113]

CPAC 2024 in Hungary attracted attention by refusing registration to journalists from various national media, using 'CPAC is a NO WOKE ZONE' as an argument.[114] The event was attended by 3000 participants, among them 500 from abroad, from 6 continents: two Prime Ministers in office (Irakli Kobakhidze (Georgia) and Viktor Orbán (Hungary), three former Prime Ministers (Tony Abbot, Mateusz Morawiecky, and Janes Jansa), seven ministers in office (5 Hungarians and 2 Israelis), ten presidents of political parties (amongst them: Santiago Abascal, Geert Wilders, and Tom Van Grieken), three American congressmen (Andy Harris, Paul Gosar, and Keith Self), and seven high ranking Polish political leaders. Participants of the conference were greated with video messages by: Donald Trump, the 45th president of the United States of America, Vivek Ramaswamy, former candidate for the Republican nomination for President of the United States, and André Ventura, founder of the Portuguese party Chega!.[115]

Japan

[edit]

The first international CPAC was hosted in Tokyo on December 16–17, 2017 by the Japanese Conservative Union (JCU) in conjunction with the American Conservative Union (ACU).[116] JCU and ACU have continued to co-host J-CPACs every year since. Participants have included notable lawmakers and conservatives from the U.S., Japan, and around the world. They include ACU chairman Matt Schlapp and executive director Dan Schneider, White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, U.S. Representatives Bruce Westerman, and Paul Gosar, Fmr. METI Minister Akira Amari, Fmr. Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, Fmr. Defense Minister Tomomi Inada, Fmr. Taiwanese Finance Minister and WTO ambassador Ching-Chang Wen [zh], journalist Sara Carter, then-SEC commissioner Michael Piwowar, Asia expert and commentator Gordon G. Chang, to name just a few. Hong Kong localist activist Andy Chan Ho-tin attended Japanese CPAC 2019 by video after he was arrested in Hong Kong on his way to Tokyo to make a live appearance.[117]

Mexico

[edit]

The first CPAC in Mexico (CPAC México) took place on November 18–19, 2022 at a Westin hotel in Santa Fe, Mexico City. Speakers included former Trump White House advisor Steve Bannon, American anti-abortion activist Abby Johnson, Eduardo Bolsonaro, Argentinian presidential candidate Javier Milei, former Chilean presidential candidate José Antonio Kast, and Juan Iván Peña Neder, the President of the Mexican Republicans.[118] It was organized by Mexican anti-abortion activist Eduardo Verástegui.[119][118] At the start of the conference, a group of anti-fascist protesters wearing Che Guevara shirts and waving red hammer and sickle flags showed up at the hotel; Matt Schlapp dubbed the protest "CPAC Derangement Syndrome".[118]

South Korea

[edit]

The first CPAC in South Korea (KCPAC) took place between October 3, 2019, in the city of Seoul. They include ACU chairman Matt Schlapp and executive director Dan Schneider, Fmr. acting United States Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, Fmr. Deputy National Security Advisor of the United States K. T. McFarland, Asia expert and commentator Gordon G. Chang, Fox News host Jeanine Pirro, Founder of the New Institute Andrew Crilly, Fox News Contributor Sara A. Carter, Professor of law at Handong International Law School Eric Enlow, Professor emeritus at Yonsei University Kim Dong-gil, Fmr. public security prosecutor Koh Young-ju, Co-chairperson KCPAC Annie M. H. Chan, Fmr. Prime minister of South Korea Hwang Kyo-ahn, Liberty Korea Party members of the National Assembly Kim Jin-tae and Chun Hee-kyung and Min Kyung-wook, Director of the International Strategic Research Institute Kim Jung-min, Director of Korea Institute for Crisis Management Analysis Huh Nam-sung, Fmr. Director of Korea Institute for National Unification Kim Tae-woo, Founder and former Chief of Pennmike Chung Kyu-jae, Lawyer Chae Myung-sung, Leader of Dawn of Liberty Party Park Kyul, Leader of Truth Forum Kim Eun-koo.[120] In Korea, Min Kyung-wook and Ryu Chulwoong presented at CPAC2021 in the United States.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "CPAC 2015 Straw Poll: Rand Paul wins again – but Scott Walker is surging". The Washington Times. February 28, 2015. Archived from the original on September 12, 2015. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  2. ^ Diamond, Sara (1995) [1995]. Roads to Dominion: Right-Wing Movements and Political Power in the United States (2 ed.). New York, NY: The Guilford Press. pp. 128, 138, 146, 198, 210, 212, 285, 289, 327. ISBN 0-89862-862-8.
  3. ^ Wilcox, Derk Arend (2000). The Right Guide: A Guide to Conservative, Free-Market, and Right-of-Center Organizations. United States of America: Economics America, Inc. p. 43. ISBN 978-0-914169-06-2.
  4. ^ "CPAC Over 30 Years: Conservatives Have Come a Long Way". Human Events. February 3, 2003. Archived from the original on July 14, 2018. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  5. ^ "Why Ronald Reagan Is Such a Big Deal at CPAC". Time. Archived from the original on December 14, 2018. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  6. ^ "CPAC speeches show GOP's shift". Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2023 – via PressReader.
  7. ^ Chris Moody; Alexander Rosen (June 15, 2016). "Gays for Trump? Activist plans new effort". CNN.
  8. ^ "GOProud Leads 'Trump In 2012' Movement At CPAC – Towleroad". towleroad.com. February 10, 2011. Archived from the original on November 24, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  9. ^ "Gay GOProud Founder Chris Barron Launches Loathsome 'LGBT for Trump' Campaign: WATCH – Towleroad". towleroad.com. June 15, 2016. Archived from the original on January 25, 2017. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  10. ^ Moody, Chris (March 3, 2021). "How gay conservatives helped launch Donald Trump". CNN. Archived from the original on December 2, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  11. ^ "Atheists Invited, Then Uninvited, to CPAC". Political Outcast. February 26, 2014. Archived from the original on February 22, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  12. ^ "In a first, atheist activist addresses conservative conference". The Washington Post. December 14, 2012. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  13. ^ "'Smooth sailing' for gay Republicans at CPAC". washingtonblade.com. March 4, 2016. Archived from the original on August 28, 2017. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  14. ^ Ohlheiser, Abby (February 21, 2017). "The 96 hours that brought down Milo Yiannopoulos". Archived from the original on March 5, 2017. Retrieved March 5, 2017 – via The Washington Post.
  15. ^ Hartmann, Margaret. "CPAC Blasted for Milo Yiannopoulos Invite After Pedophilia Remarks Resurface". New York Magazine. Archived from the original on February 21, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  16. ^ Montanaro, Domenico (February 23, 2017). "White Nationalist Richard Spencer Kicked Out Of CPAC". NPR.org. Archived from the original on March 26, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  17. ^ "A Top Conservative Said the Alt-Right Are Actually 'Left-Wing Fascists'". Time. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  18. ^ Weigel, David; Wagner, John (February 23, 2017). "Alt-right leader expelled from CPAC after organizer denounces 'fascist group'". Archived from the original on December 24, 2017. Retrieved January 7, 2018 – via www.WashingtonPost.com.
  19. ^ "Conservatives can't figure out whether to embrace or denounce the alt-right". Mother Jones. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
  20. ^ "CPAC's Flirtation With the Alt-Right Is Turning Awkward". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
  21. ^ Williamson, Elizabeth (February 24, 2017). "Big Tent or Circus Tent? A Conservative Identity Crisis in the Trump Era". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
  22. ^ "Senator Cruz Self Quarantines After Contact With Coronavirus Carrier". reuters.com. March 9, 2020. Archived from the original on April 8, 2020. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  23. ^ Al-Arshani, Sarah. "Incoming White House chief of staff Mark Meadows is self-quarantining until Wednesday after attending CPAC". Business Insider. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  24. ^ Frost, Chris Berinato, Bryna Zumer and Mikenzie (December 17, 2020). "Gov. Hogan lowers MD gathering limit, issues emergency travel order". WBFF. Retrieved February 27, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  25. ^ a b "Trump, Mr. Potato Head and CPAC: Republicans Show Their Loyalties". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  26. ^ Cutway, Adrienne (September 25, 2020). "Here's what to expect when Florida enters phase 3 of reopening". WKMG. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  27. ^ a b Walker, Steven Lemongello, Steven (February 26, 2021). "CPAC Orlando: DeSantis calls Florida an 'oasis of freedom' as some resist COVID-19 mask rule". orlandosentinel.com. Archived from the original on March 28, 2021. Retrieved February 27, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  28. ^ "Trump, GOP power players to headline CPAC 2021 in Dallas". spectrumlocalnews.com. Archived from the original on July 11, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2021.
  29. ^ "CPAC 2022". CPACregistration.com. Archived from the original on February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  30. ^ "Announced Speakers". CPAC.Conservative.org. Archived from the original on July 10, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  31. ^ Chron, Michael Murney (August 8, 2022). "'We are all domestic terrorists' banner displayed at CPAC Dallas". Chron. Archived from the original on August 20, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  32. ^ LaCapria, Kim (August 9, 2022). "CPAC 'We Are All Domestic Terrorists' Digital Banner – Truth or Fiction?". Archived from the original on August 9, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  33. ^ "Did a CPAC Banner Say, 'We Are All Domestic Terrorists'?". Snopes.com. August 10, 2022. Archived from the original on August 18, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  34. ^ Hardy, Michael (August 8, 2022). "In Dallas, Donald Trump Provided a Violent Blueprint for Seizing Power". Texas Monthly. Archived from the original on August 20, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  35. ^ Weigel, Dave (August 9, 2022). "The Trailer: Your hour-by-hour guide on what to watch in four states tonight". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 2, 2022.
  36. ^ Laura Barrón-López; Matt Loffman (March 3, 2023). "What this year's CPAC says about Republican priorities". PBS NewsHour. Archived from the original on March 6, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  37. ^ Caroline Vakil; Julia Manchester (March 4, 2023). "Trump reigns supreme at a diminished CPAC". The Hill.
  38. ^ Oliphant, James (March 5, 2023). "At right-wing CPAC forum, Trump shows why he'll be tough to topple". Reuters. Archived from the original on March 6, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  39. ^ Eric Bradner; Kristen Holmes; Kate Sullivan (March 4, 2023). "Trump says he won't drop out of 2024 race if he's indicted". CNN. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  40. ^ Dale, Daniel (March 5, 2023). "Fact check: Trump delivers wildly dishonest speech at CPAC". CNN. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  41. ^ Eric Bradner; Kristen Holmes; Kate Sullivan (March 4, 2023). "Trump says he won't drop out of 2024 race if he's indicted". CNN. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  42. ^ Kilander, Gustaf (March 4, 2023). "CPAC speaker sparks alarm with call for trans people to be 'eradicated'". The Independent. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2023. The full quote is from the video. The text omits "and especially for the good of the poor people who have fallen prey to this confusion."
  43. ^ Hawkinson, Katie (March 4, 2023). "Michael Knowles Says Transgenderism Must Be 'Eradicated' at CPAC". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on March 5, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  44. ^ McClure, Kelly (March 4, 2023). "CPAC speaker says, "Transgenderism must be eradicated," while claiming it doesn't exist". Salon. Archived from the original on March 6, 2023. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  45. ^ McGraw, Meridith (March 6, 2023). "Vivek Ramaswamy says he received an offer to buy his way into the CPAC straw poll". Politico.
  46. ^ Allison, Natalie (August 25, 2023). "CPAC vice chair resigns amid turmoil". Politico. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  47. ^ "CPAC in DC 2024". CPAC Digital. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  48. ^ Gillespie, Patrick (February 16, 2024). "Milei Heading to Pro-Trump Event on Heels of Blinken Meeting". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2024.
  49. ^ a b Jacobs, Ben (February 22, 2024). "Bewildered Conservatives Greet a Fallen British Prime Minister". Politico. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  50. ^ Bender, Michael C. (February 23, 2024). "Election Updates: On eve of S.C. primary, Trump is speaking to the Black Conservative Federation". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  51. ^ Lindsey, David (February 25, 2024). "Trump's GOP shows its extremism could be a problem in November". Axios. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  52. ^ Axelrod, Tal; Shepard, Brittany (February 25, 2024). "'Red meat,' J6 and Trump regalia: The GOP base rallies outside Washington". ABC News. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  53. ^ Woodward, Alex (February 23, 2024). "Far-right influencer calls for 'end of democracy' at CPAC as Republicans downplay January 6: Jack Posobiec stated he wants to 'overthrow it completely' as panelists hit back at prosecutors for January 6 crimes". The Independent. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  54. ^ Goggin, Ben (February 24, 2024). "Nazis mingle openly at CPAC, spreading antisemitic conspiracy theories and finding allies". NBC News. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  55. ^ Moye, David (February 26, 2024). "NBC Journalist Shows CPAC Head Matt Schlapp the Nazis Who Attended". HuffPost. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  56. ^ Isenstadt, Alex (February 24, 2024). "CPAC straw poll results: Who should be Trump's VP pick?". Politico. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  57. ^ "Principle First summit draws Republicans who don't support frontrunner Trump". NPR. February 22, 2024. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  58. ^ "Conservatives drop third party idea, attempt to win nomination for Reagan". The Bulletin. February 17, 1976. p. 14. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved April 1, 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  59. ^ a b c d e f g h Gonyea, Don (February 22, 2017). "What Is CPAC? A Room That Didn't Always Love Trump, But Owes Him A Lot". npr.org. National Public Radio (NPR). Archived from the original on March 24, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  60. ^ "Looming Kemp-Bush battle gets early shove". Gadsden Times. p. A12. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved April 1, 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  61. ^ Gailey, Phil (February 1, 1986). "G.O.P. Strategists Clash Over a Presidential Poll". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  62. ^ Nelson, W. Dale. "President Is 'Saving Best Stuff for Last Act'". Schenectady Gazette. p. 3. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved April 1, 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  63. ^ Johnson, Eliana (February 22, 2017). "Alt-right influence casts cloud over CPAC". POLITICO. Archived from the original on February 12, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  64. ^ "Republican Right Wing Gathers To Bash Clinton, Look to 1996 Conservatives meet in record numbers to find that there is life – and echoes of past unity – after the presidency". The Christian Science Monitor. February 22, 1993. ISSN 0882-7729.
  65. ^ "Archive Search Results". nl.newsbank.com. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved November 8, 2010.
  66. ^ Salant, Jonathan D. (March 2015). "Christie places in the back of the pack in CPAC straw poll". nj.com. Advance Local Media, LLC. Archived from the original on January 16, 2021. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  67. ^ Hallow, Ralph Z. "Forbes tops Bush in presidential straw poll of conservatives". The Washington Post – via nl.newsbank.com.
  68. ^ Neal, Terry M. (January 31, 1999). "Bauer Planning Steps for Presidential Bid". The Washington Post. Washington DC. p. A2. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
  69. ^ "Conservative activist Bauer runs for president". Life Advocate. Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  70. ^ "Bush wins conservative poll; Forbes supporters impressed; Governor wins 42 percent, Keyes second at 23 percent". The Washington Post. January 23, 2000. Retrieved November 6, 2010.
  71. ^ "Romney wins The Washington Times/CPAC Straw Poll in 2012". The Washington Times. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  72. ^ "Bracing for the worst". The Washington Times. February 23, 2005. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  73. ^ a b c d e Danielle Kurtzleben (February 11, 2011). "CPAC Straw Poll Not Predictive of Eventual Nominee". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
  74. ^ Sam Stein (March 31, 2009). "Romney Wins CPAC Poll, Palin Tied For Third". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on February 27, 2017. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
  75. ^ Shepard, Brenda; Murray, Mark (February 21, 2010). "Ron Paul wins CPAC straw poll". NBC News. Archived from the original on May 18, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
  76. ^ Falcone, Michael (February 12, 2011). "Ron Paul Wins 2011 CPAC Straw Poll, Sarah Palin Finishes a Distant 9th Place". ABC News. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
  77. ^ Lederman, Josh (February 12, 2012). "Santorum suggests Romney rigged CPAC straw poll victory". The Hill. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
  78. ^ Sherfinski, David; Dinan, Stephen (March 16, 2013). "Rand Paul wins The Washington Times-CPAC 2013 Straw Poll". Washington Times. Archived from the original on March 17, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2013.
  79. ^ Hohmann, James (March 8, 2014). "A Rand Paul rout in CPAC straw poll". Politico. Archived from the original on July 1, 2015. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  80. ^ Gonyea, Don (February 22, 2017). "What Is CPAC? A Room That Didn't Always Love Trump, But Owes Him A Lot". listen.sdpb.org. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  81. ^ Sherfinski, David; Dinan, Stephen (March 2, 2019). "CPAC straw poll: Biden biggest threat to Trump". Archived from the original on February 1, 2020. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  82. ^ CPAC 2019 Straw Poll, March 2, 2019, archived from the original on December 12, 2021, retrieved February 2, 2020
  83. ^ CPAC Attendee Survey Archived March 1, 2021, at the Wayback Machine February 29, 2020.
  84. ^ Coleman, Justine (February 28, 2021). "Trump wins CPAC straw poll with 55 percent". The Hill. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  85. ^ "Trump wins the CPAC straw poll as attendees clamor for him to run again". CNN. July 11, 2021. Archived from the original on August 2, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  86. ^ Caputo, Marc; Allen, Jonathan (February 27, 2022). "Trump wins CPAC straw poll, revs up campaign speculation amid Biden polling collapse". Archived from the original on March 1, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  87. ^ Patrick Svitek (January 9, 2017). "Rogue Texas elector explains decision to back Ron Paul". The Texas Tribune. Archived from the original on February 20, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2017.
  88. ^ Choi, Matthew (January 31, 2020). "Romney not welcome at CPAC after impeachment witness vote". Politico. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  89. ^ "Here Are Some of the Top Republicans Not Attending CPAC This Year". Bloomberg.com. February 25, 2021. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  90. ^ "CPAC chairman says he would fear for Mitt Romney's 'physical safety' at conference". The Washington Post. 2020.
  91. ^ Elizabeth Byrne (June 16, 2021). "Conservative think tank LibertyWorks loses High Court bid against Australia's foreign influence law". ABC News. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  92. ^ "Labor wants right-wing 'bigot' banned from Australia ahead of conservative conference". SBS News. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  93. ^ Doran, political reporter Matthew (July 31, 2019). "Right-wing provocateur who wanted female politician's legs 'taped shut' on his way to Australia". ABC News. Archived from the original on August 2, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  94. ^ McGowan, Michael (November 4, 2020). "Australian rightwing conference a mix of triumphalism and despair on day of US election". The Guardian. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  95. ^ Hutchinson, Samantha; Brook, Stephen (October 1, 2020). "Alt-right activist Lauren Southern dumped from Conservative conference". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on October 5, 2020. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  96. ^ Butler, Josh (October 1, 2022). "'Socialism sucks' stickers on display as CPAC Australia stokes fears of Indigenous voice". The Guardian. Archived from the original on October 8, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  97. ^ Butler, Josh (August 19, 2023). "CPAC Australia: hardline culture warriors rail against Indigenous voice, 'fake news' and 'woke corporates'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  98. ^ Visentin, Lisa (August 19, 2023). "Inside the conservative forum rallying troops against the Voice". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  99. ^ Butler, Josh (August 20, 2023). "CPAC Australia defends comedian who referred to traditional owners as 'violent black men'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  100. ^ "CPAC Australia: hardline culture warriors rail against Indigenous voice, 'fake news' and 'woke corporates' | Australian politics | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com. August 19, 2023. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  101. ^ "Official website". CPAC Brazil (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on October 13, 2019. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  102. ^ "ACU Foundation Events". ACU Foundation. Archived from the original on August 14, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  103. ^ @jairbolsonaro (August 14, 2019). "-É com grande satisfação que após meses de trabalho anunciamos que o maior evento conservador do mundo, CPAC, será realizado pela 1ª vez no Brasil. Em breve divulgaremos grandes nomes da direita mundial que se farão presentes em São Paulo nos dias 11 e 12/OUT. Sigam: @cpacbrasil" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  104. ^ "Eduardo Bolsonaro tenta trazer ao Brasil maior evento conservador do mundo" (in Portuguese). Poder 360. May 18, 2019. Archived from the original on March 14, 2021. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  105. ^ Sonmez, Felicia; McCoy, Terrence (September 7, 2021). "Former Trump adviser Jason Miller briefly detained in Brazil as political tumult grips country". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on September 8, 2021. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  106. ^ Dwoskin, Elizabeth; Sá Pessoa, Gabriela (November 23, 2022). "Trump aides Bannon, Miller advising the Bolsonaros on next steps". Washington Post. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  107. ^ "Junto a Milei y Bolsonaro: El viaje de Kast a la cumbre de la ultraderecha brasileña". July 2, 2024. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved July 6, 2024.
  108. ^ "Budapest to Host CPAC Hungary Conference in March". Hungarytoday.hu. January 26, 2022. Archived from the original on February 2, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  109. ^ "Budapest to Host the Largest American Conservative Conference". Hungarianconservative.com. October 13, 2021. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  110. ^ Garamvolgyi, Flora; Walker, Shaun (February 11, 2022). "Viktor Orbán invites Trump to Hungary to boost re-election campaign". The Guardian. Archived from the original on February 11, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  111. ^ "Ernst Roets at CPAC Hungary 2022 – Don't be derailed by the Keepers of the Script". YouTube. May 22, 2022. Archived from the original on May 23, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  112. ^ Garamvolgyi, Flora (May 20, 2022). "Viktor Orbán tells CPAC the path to power is to 'have your own media'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on May 21, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  113. ^ Garamvolgyi, Flora; Borger, Julian (May 21, 2022). "Trump shares CPAC Hungary platform with notorious racist and antisemite". The Guardian. Archived from the original on May 22, 2022. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  114. ^ NWS, VRT (April 10, 2024). "VRT NWS niet welkom op conservatief congres CPAC in Boedapest, wegens "te woke"". vrtnws.be (in Dutch). Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
  115. ^ https://magyarnemzet.hu/kulfold/2024/04/cpac-letrejott-a-nemzeti-erok-nemzetkozi-osszefogasa Archived August 28, 2024, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved: 2024.04.28
  116. ^ "American Conservative Union announces 'Japanese CPAC' in Tokyo". Washington Examiner. November 17, 2017. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  117. ^ Fordham, Evie (September 6, 2019). "Conservatives visit Hong Kong activist arrested on his way to CPAC in Japan". FOXBusiness. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  118. ^ a b c Tomson, Danielle (November 23, 2022). "CPAC México wants to unite a fractured international far-right". Coda Media. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  119. ^ O'Boyle, Brendan (November 19, 2022). "At CPAC Mexico, 'orphaned' right tries to build home as region tacks left". Reuters. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  120. ^ "KCPAC 2019 | KCPAC". cpackorea.com. Archived from the original on May 19, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
[edit]