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> Activists Hear from Luminaries and Potential '16 Candidates at CPAC 2014 |
          |
| March 6-8,
2014--Thousands of conservative
activists from around the country gathered at the Gaylord National
Resort &
Convention Center near Washington, DC for speeches, panels, films,
networking,
and a bustling exhibit hall at the
41st
Conservative Political Action Conference.
The audience included many young people; forty
six
percent
of all registrants
at this year's CPAC were
students, Attendees enjoyed hearing from
prominent figures in the conservative movement, including many
of those mentioned as possible
2016
Republican
presidential
candidates.
At
least
ten
potential
candidates
spoke,
depending
upon
whom
one
considers
as
a
potential
candidate:
Sen.
Ted
Cruz
(TX),
Rep.
Paul
Ryan
(WI),
Gov.
Chris
Christie
(NJ),
Gov.
Bobby
Jindal
(LA)
and
Sen.
Marco
Rubio
(FL)
on
day
one;
Gov.
Rick
Perry (TX), former Gov. Mike Huckabee
(AR), former Sen. Rick Santorum (PA) and Sen. Rand Paul (KY) on day
two; and neurosurgeon Ben Carson on day three; Sarah Palin and Donald
Trump also spoke. Democrats, meanwhile, ridiculed the conference, issuing a memo stating that "the traveling circus is back in town and the gathering is more divisive than ever." The progressive American Bridge 21st Century posted a graphic on its Facebook page noting that, "Only 3 of the 25 speakers confirmed for CPAC 2014 are women." Some conservatives also have quibbles with CPAC. EMPact America and Breitbart News Network hosted "Uninvited II: The National Security Action Summit" on March 6 at the Westin Hotel around the corner from CPAC. While CPAC does have its over the top moments and limitations, the conference serves to energize conservative activists and spread conservative ideas. in past years progressives / liberals have held comparable "Take Back America!" conferences, but there do not appear to be plans for such a conference in DC this year. In the much-watched straw poll, 2,459 registrants participated, down from 2,930 in 2013. Sen. Rand Paul finished with a huge lead at 31%, followed by Sen. Ted Cruz at 11%, neurosurgeon Ben Carson at 9%, Gov. Chris Christie at 8%, Gov. Scott Walker at 7%, former Sen. Rick Santorum at 7%, Sen. Marco Rubio, last year's second place finisher, at 6% and others rounding out the field (>). This year's conference marked the 50th anniversary of the the American Conservative Union, the primary organizer of the CPAC conferences. William F. Buckley, Jr. formed the ACU following Barry Goldwater's defeat in the 1964 presidential election. |
Transcripts/Texts:
Cruz | Ryan | Christie | Jindal | Rubio || Perry | Huckabee | Santorum | Paul || Carson
Democracy
in
Action
Coverage
of
Past
CPACs:
2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005
2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005
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Copyright ©
2014
Eric M.
Appleman/Democracy
in
Action.
All rights reserved.