January 7, 2011
While much of the attention this week has been focused on the Republican takeover of the house, something else has been stirring in Washington that has received less attention.
CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Conference, has previously drawn the biggest names and most potent conservative groups for an annual winter conference. Not this year. The scheduled February 10-12 gathering will be boycotted by virtually every conservative social issues organization. The reason? CPAC has allowed a so-called conservative homosexual group, GOProud, to be part of the gathering and have an exhibit.
The American Family Association says "the baseline reason" for not participating" is that "homosexuality is not a conservative value."
They're right. When political pragmatism overtakes morals and values, what is the purpose of a movement? Other groups that have pulled out are the Heritage Foundation, Liberty Counsel, Family Research Council and the National Organization for Marriage.
Secularists have long been embarrassed by social conservatives. Let's see how far they get without them.
Cal Thomas is a nationally syndicated columnist based in Washington, D.C.
