Ad Charges CPAC Betrays Conservative Principles and Threatens Conservative Unity

AFTAH Joins Liberty Counsel, Vision America, other pro-family groups in defending Reagan’s vision

See text of the Washington Times ad in the text of this article.

MEDIA ADVISORY, Feb. 7, 2011 /Christian Newswire/

In a full-page ad in today’s Washington Times, a group of conservative leaders say they are deeply troubled by the direction of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) – which opens on February 10. Click HERE to see the ad as it appears in today’s Washington Times” (including a list of signers).

Vision America President Pastor Rick Scarborough, who initiated the project, noted: “For the third year in a row, GOProud will be participate in CPAC. GOProud seeks repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, without which judges will ultimately legislate homosexual ‘marriage.’ Last year, GOProud advocated for homosexuals serving openly in the military, which will devastate our armed forces and sacrifice unit cohesion on the altar of ‘inclusiveness.'”

Some of the most prominent conservative groups and leaders are boycotting CPAC, due at least in part to the presence of GOProud. They include American Family Association, Liberty Counsel, Family Research Council, the Heritage Foundation, Gov. Mike Huckabee, Sen. Jim DeMint and Sean Hannity.

“Ronald Reagan spoke at CPAC in 1977. But would Reagan be comfortable at CPAC 2011?” Scarborough asked. “Our 40th president spoke of conservatism’s three-legged stool, economic, defense and social (family values) issues. Remove one, and the entire structure collapses.”

“CPAC organizers have decided that while limited government and national security are sacrosanct, the family is unimportant. American Conservative Union Chairman David Keene was quoted in the January 27 New York Times saying that CPAC could allow participation by a group promoting abortion, if it also supported the principles that really count, in his estimation,” Scarborough noted. CPAC is sponsored by the ACU.

“This is ultimately self-defeating,” Scarborough added. “Capitalism depends on individuals willing to make short-term sacrifices. Only families provide the incentive for such sacrifices. Without families to protect, who will want to man the ramparts to defend freedom?” Scarborough added.

The ad charges: “CPAC is betraying conservative principles and threatening conservative unity by creating the false impression that gay activism is somehow compatible with conservatism.” Click here for the ad as it appears in today’s Washington Times, including a list of signers.

To schedule an interview with Dr. Rick Scarborough or other spokesmen for the project, contact Misty at 936-560-3900.

For more information, contact Vision America, P.O. Box 10, Lufkin, Texas 75902 or 936-560-3900 www.visionamerica.org; Christian Newswire

Here is the text of the CPAC-Reagan ad:

CPAC AND THE CONSCIENCE OF CONSERVATIVES

The undersigned are deeply troubled by the direction of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) which threatens to divide the movement and undermine everything we’ve worked to achieve since the era of Ronald Reagan.

As President Reagan himself noted, conservatism is a “three-legged stool” – social conservatism (family values), fiscal conservatism (the free market) and defense/foreign policy conservatism (peace through strength).

When one leg is removed, the entire structure collapses. Who undermines the family, undermines America. Our nation can’t have a sound economy or an effective national defense without strong families.

CPAC is betraying conservative principles and threatening conservative unity by creating the false impression that gay activism is somehow compatible with conservatism.

GOProud is a participating organization in CPAC 2011, as it has been since 2009.

The self-proclaimed gay Republicans support hate crime laws (which will be used to bludgeon the church) and oppose the Federal Defense of Marriage Amendment, without which judges will ultimately legislate homosexual “marriage” – making the natural family an endangered species.

Last year, GOProud advocated for homosexuals serving openly in the military, which will devastate our armed forces and sacrifice unit cohesion on the altar of “inclusivenesss.”

Ask yourself: Would CPAC allow participation by the Democratic Socialists of America? Why is the free market an inviolable conservative principle, but not family values?

Would organizers invite George Soros to address the gathering? Then why associate with groups which share his worldview?

What does it profit us to gain tax cuts and lose the family – the foundation of a free society?

CPAC is the largest conservative event of the year. Speakers include many of the movement’s luminaries. CPAC is a focus of media attention. It has been considered by many to confer conservative legitimacy and credentials on participants.

Once, that was true. It is no longer. Because of the participation by organizations openly at war with family values, many of the largest and most prominent conservative groups are staying away from an event they once participated in proudly.

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), a regular speaker at past CPACs, has just announced he won’t participate in this year’s conference, in hopes that conservative unity will be restored at next year’s event.

President Reagan used to say that he didn’t leave the Democratic Party, the Democratic Party left him. Sadly, that’s the way many conservatives increasingly feel about CPAC’s current direction.

We appeal to the Board of Directors of the American Conservative Union (CPAC’s parent organization) to end the moral confusion.

Until that happens, we call on CPAC sponsors and participating organizations to re-think their involvement with the conference — involvement which tacitly condones the direction in which CPAC is moving.

In the war on the family, Judeo-Christian morality and authentic conservative principles, neutrality is impossible. We call for a return to first principles.

Signed

Mark Andrews

Susan Carleson (American Civil Rights Union)

Brian Camenker (MassResistance)

Mandi Campbell (Liberty Center for Law And Policy)

Frank Cannon (American Principles Project)

Chris Carmouche (GrassTopsUSA)

Joseph Farah (WorldNetDaily.com)

Don Feder (Don Feder Associates)

Diane Gramley (American Family Association of Pennsylvania)

Bishop E.W. Jackson, Sr. (STAND America PAC)

Phillip Jauregui (Judicial Action Group)

Gordon James Klingenschmitt (Pray In Jesus Name)

Peter LaBarbera (Americans for Truth About Homosexuality)

Shelli and David Manuel (Resurrect America Project)

William J. Murray (Religious Freedom Coalition)

Rev. Rick Scarborough (Vision America)

Rev. Louis P. Sheldon (Traditional Values Coalition)

Sharon Slater (Family Watch International)

Mat Staver (Liberty Counsel)

Mike Valerio and Helen Valerio, Americans

Tim Wildmon (American Family Association)

 For more information, contact Vision America, P.O. Box 10, Lufkin, Texas 75902 or 936-560-3900 www.visionamerica.com