CPAC Organizer Suggests He May Cut Ties With GOProud

Al Cardenas, the new director of the American Conservative Union, the organizing body behind the annual CPAC conference, said Thursday that "it's going to be difficult to continue the relationship" that they've had with the gay Republican group GOProud for the past two years.

In an interview with FrumForum, Cardenas expressed concern over a recent incident in which GOProud director Chris Barron referred to ACU chair Cleta Mitchell as a "nasty bigot."

"I have been disappointed with their website and their quotes in the media, taunting organizations that are respected in our movement and part of our movement, and that's not acceptable. And that puts them in a difficult light in terms of how I view things," Cardenas told Frum Forum.

It's just the latest disturbance between GOProud and CPAC, whose partnership has been strained at best. A number of organizations have joined a boycott of the conference due to the ACU's decision to include a group that they argue runs counter to the principles of social conservatism.

While Barron has since apologized for the insult, Cardenas remained unwilling to commit to inviting GOProud back next year, telling CNN Friday that Barron's mea culpa was a "good start," but that the schedule for next year's event was already looking full.

"We had a significant waiting list this year for people, for organizations that wanted to be participating organizations. I met quite a few who gave me their card and who didn't want to miss out next year. So actually that is a good problem to have," Cardenas told CNN. "Where we go from here. We are going to start thinking about that after CPAC, not during CPAC."

Comments

[sushigirl]

10:40 PM on 02/13/2011

I'll never understand how a gay person can be a republican, that just doesn't go together. Why would they want to belong to a party that has no use for them, that hates them. Gays will never change the republicans minds, they will always be excluded and looked down on by them. They think being gay is a sickness and can be changed. So gay republicans, walk into the light, come into the party that accepts you for who you are, not what you do.

[Raccoon1]

06:20 PM on 02/13/2011

The GOP gets more and more 'pure.' Soon they'll be able to have their meetings in a Motel 6.

[Ucan2]

06:01 PM on 02/13/2011

I heard the following statement used for many situations, so I will use it for this one.

A Gay person voting for a republican, would be like a chicken voting for Kernel Sanders.

[Rogo99]

05:29 PM on 02/13/2011

Hey, Mr. Barron, that defense of the R party and CPAC that is on the HP somewhere is gonna come back to bite you, eh?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alex-becker/goprouds-chris-barron-dra_b_822433.html

[ScottV]

05:03 PM on 02/13/2011

Ahh Republicans are so inclusive that is as long as your old, white and rich.

[jones]

04:09 PM on 02/13/2011

Gay republicans are probably the last vestige of humanity within the GOP.

[bluecatb]

02:24 PM on 02/13/2011

Gay Republicans, the GOP are just not ever into you.

Please stop getting played on your rights.

[bluecatb]

01:56 PM on 02/13/2011

Compared with dems big tent,th Republicans have a pup-tent

lol

[nbb]

05:12 AM on 02/13/2011

Better make that GOPNot-So-Proud.....

[gustafson]

02:39 AM on 02/13/2011

Gee, They have a problem the with the gays, the mexicans, the arabs, the librials, the african-americans, the jewish americans, the asian americans, and the middleclass....doesn't leave much for them to suck up to....other than the rich ( no surprise here!!!)

[tryingtodobetter]

01:48 AM on 02/13/2011

Remember Barron on MSNBC last spring saying how the t-party was not about social issues, just small government? Still on that line Chris? Huh?

[backekuchen]

01:17 AM on 02/13/2011

Obviously only certain people can be Republicans. Those who don't qualify are excluded. Based on that prejudice I will never vote for a Republican no matter how qualified they might be. It's really too bad that some of us are excluded because we are gay.

[NWBrunette]

10:54 PM on 02/12/2011

Homoph0bia lives strong in the GOP.

[jfbuf]

10:02 PM on 02/12/2011

GOP response to GOProud, Just Go

[bluecatb]

02:10 PM on 02/13/2011

I'm surprised we haven't seen picketing within their own party, and physically blocking the Gay voters.

Is this the reason for the religious right, wielding their power of not attending, unless the majority of voters, kneel to their prejudice?

Won't be the 1st time, extortionary tactics were used.

Will the majority, follow with a church first policy, or government of the people, by all people, indefense of this coutnry.

[TheRaceCard]

09:40 PM on 02/12/2011

Does anybody find it interesting that they have a problem with gay men and women but willingly invite white supremacists and other socially challenged groups?