The '''Conservative Political Action Conference''' ('''CPAC''' (Conservative Political Action Conference) is a predominantly [[libertarian ]] conference consisting of overwhelmingly white male college students, many of whom attend for free or at heavily discounted rates. CPAC historically met in [[Washington, D.C.]], in February or March, with attendance increasing beyond 10,000. CPAC outgrew the largest hotels in D.C., and in 2014 through 2017 convened outside of D.C. in the massive Marriott Gaylord hotel in National Harbor, Maryland. In recent years CPAC has been dominated by impostors who are not really conservative, and [[Donald Trump]] even canceled his appearance at CPAC in early March 2016 to avoid a [[Leftist]]-type walkout plot against him. CPAC has largely abandoned its tradition of being the largest annual gathering of [[conservativesMaryland]].
==Shift to the Left=={{See also|O'Sullivan’s First Law}}In recent years CPAC has been dominated by impostors who are not really conservative, and [[Donald Trump]] even canceled his appearance at CPAC in early March 2016 to avoid a [[Leftist]]-type walkout plot against him. In 2018, CPAC banned the pro-family conservative organization [[MassResistance]] for its opposition to homosexual "marriage,"<ref>Multiple references:*[http://americasurvival.org/2018/02/conservative-group-banned-from-conservative-conference.html Conservative Group Banned from Conservative Conference]. ''America's Survival''. February 13, 2018. Retrieved February 15, 2018.*Berry, Susan (February 14, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/02/14/massresistance-pro-family-group-banned-at-cpac/ MassResistance Pro-Family Group Banned at CPAC]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved February 15, 2018.*Moore, Art (February 14, 2018). [http://www.wnd.com/2018/02/cpac-bans-pro-family-group-for-tone-toward-gays/ CPAC bans pro-family group for 'tone' toward 'gays']. ''WND''. Retrieved February 15, 2018.</ref> and it simultaneously allowed the pro-homosexuality Log Cabin Republicans to attend.<ref>Mainwaring, Doug (February 15, 2018). [https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/top-u.s.-conservative-conference-bans-pro-family-group-approves-pro-lgbt Top U.S. conservative conference bans pro-family group, approves pro-LGBT]. ''LifeSiteNews''. Retrieved February 15, 2018.</ref> '''''By caving into the [[homosexual agenda]], CPAC has largely abandoned its tradition of being the largest annual gathering of [[conservatives]]'''''. Also in 2018, CPAC caved to the [[gun control]] lobby by keeping the [[National Rifle Association|NRA]]'s president's name off its speaking schedule and refusing to advertise his speech.<ref>Delk, Josh (February 20, 2018). [http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/374712-cpac-keeping-nra-leaders-name-off-schedule CPAC keeps NRA leader's name off schedule]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved February 20, 2018.<br>See also:*Shaw, Adam (February 21, 2018). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/02/21/nra-boss-keeps-details-cpac-speech-concealed-as-gun-control-fight-heats-up.html NRA boss keeps details of CPAC speech concealed, as gun control fight heats up]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved February 21, 2018.</ref> CPAC also canceled a free speech panel after it tried forcing out one of the attendees due to controversial comments he made.<ref>Multiple references:*Pollak, Joel B. (February 21, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-journalism/2018/02/21/cpac-free-speech-jim-hoft/ Free Speech Panel at CPAC Canceled by Pamela Geller After Gateway Pundit Jim Hoft Banned]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved February 21, 2018.*Geller, Pamela (February 21, 2018). [http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/02/21/geller-cpac-joins-leftist-social-media-giants-censoring-conservatives/ Geller: CPAC Joins the Leftist Social Media Giants in Censoring Conservatives]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved February 22, 2018.*Lima, Cristiano (February 21, 2018). [https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/21/cpac-florida-shooting-jim-hoft-gateway-pundit-panel-speaker-420360 Speaker pulled from panel alongside CPAC over Florida shooting controversy]. ''Politico''. Retrieved February 21, 2018.</ref> Students for Life is the largest annual conservative conference that has a balance between men and women in attendance. It sells out with its annual conference of 2000 in D.C., around the time of the [[March for Life]]. It also succeeds without the libertarian and big money dominance that increasingly plagues CPAC. But CPAC does remain a good counterweight to the [[neocons]] who dominate the [[Fox News Channel]].
In 2010, the CPAC audience demonstrates its lack of social conservatism by ranking issues in the following importance:
:85%: reducing government and government spending
:10%: eliminating [[abortion]]
:1%: stopping [[same-sex "marriage"]]
There was, however, virtually unanimous opposition among attendees to the policies of the [[Obama Administration]].
==Other activities==[[Ted Cruz]] and [[Marco Rubio]] finished 1-2 in the straw poll for president at CPAC in 2016. [[Donald Trump]] finished in a distant third place, but then won the [[Republican]] nomination and the presidency. [[Ron Paul]] won the straw poll among attendees for president in 2012, but [[Mitt Romney]] came in a close second. Romney then won the Republican nomination for president, but lost in the general election.
=== Ronald Reagan Award ===
Each year the special [[Ronald Reagan]] Award is given to a rising star in the conservative movement, and there have been some tremendous recipients in the 1990s and 2000s. In 2010, this award went to the [[Tea Parties]].
*[[Sean Hannity]]
*[[Bill Kristol]]
==References==
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==External links==
*[http://www.cpac.conservative.org/ Official Website]
{{Conservatism}}
[[Category:Conservative Organizations]]
[[Category:Conservative Conferences]]