Conservative Political Action Conference
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Conservative Political Action Conference is an annual political conference attended by some 5000+ conservatives, activists, and elected officials from across the United States. CPAC began in 1973 as a small gathering of dedicated conservatives but has since grown into a large event attracting members of Congress, college activists and other political celebrities. It is sponsored by the American Conservative Union in association with Human Events and the Young America's Foundation. David A. Keene is the chairman of the American Conservative Union. Lisa De Pasquale is director of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).
Previous speakers have included Ronald Reagan, Dick Cheney, Pat Buchanan, Karl Rove, and Newt Gingrich. It is not affiliated with the Republican Party and thus attracts a number of non-partisan groups and also other political parties of the right such as the Constitution Party.
[edit] CPAC 2006
CPAC 2006 was held February 9th-11th at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C.
Speakers included:
- Vice President Dick Cheney
- Speaker Dennis Hastert
- Senator George Allen
- Columnist George Will
- Hon. James S. Gilmore III
- Senator Rick Santorum
- Senator Mitch McConnell
- Hon. Dick Armey
- Senator Bill Frist
- Columnist Ann Coulter
- GOP Chairman Ken Mehlman
- Wayne LaPierre of the National Rifle Association
[edit] CPAC 2007
CPAC 2007 was held March 1st-3rd at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington D.C. It was the largest CPAC to date with almost 7,000 in attendance. Its tone was uncharacteristically anti-Republican because many speakers and attendees felt that Republicans in congress and to some extent President Bush abandoned conservative principles. Many of the speakers blamed the 2006 election losses on Republican corruption and fiscal irresponsibility. Noticeably absent was John McCain and whenever his name was mentioned at the conference many in the crowd booed loudly.
Speakers included:
- Vice President Dick Cheney
- Mitt Romney
- Rudy Giuliani
- Sean Hannity
- Ann Coulter
- Michelle Malkin
- Senator Jim DeMint
- Senator Sam Brownback
- Represenative Tom Tancredo
- Represenative Ron Paul
- Jim Gilmore
- Newt Gingrich
- Laura Ingraham
- Ward Connerly
- Michael Steele
- and many others.
While speaking to the ACU at CPAC on March 2nd, 2007, Ann Coulter insinuated that Democratic candidate John Edwards was a "faggot." Many in the audience gasped, then laughed and applauded.[1]
Matthew Sanchez, a Marine Corps corporal, received an award at CPAC 2007.
