CPAC

Conservative Watchdog Group To Honor CBS News Reporter At CPAC

David Taintor | February 7, 2012, 5:27PM

In the past, the award has gone to conservative media stars like Andrew Breitbart, Tucker Carlson and Michelle Malkin. But this year, the conservative watchdog group Accuracy in Media's Reed Irvine Accuracy in Media Award will be presented to Sharyl Attkisson and Dana Loesch at this year's Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington. The decision to honor Loesch, the editor-in-chief of Breitbart's Big Journalism makes sense. But the decision to honor Attkisson, an Emmy-award winning investigative journalist at CBS News, turned some heads.

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Wisconsin Recalls

Scott Walker To Deliver Big Speech At CPAC

Eric Kleefeld | December 13, 2011, 5:03PM

Gov. Scott Walker (R-WI) shakes hands with Republican legislative members after delivering his budget address to a joint session of the legislature at the state Capitol on March 1, 2011 in Madison, WI.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) is clearly both a hated man -- and a beloved one. At the same time as Wisconsin Democrats are organizing a massive recall petition drive against him, on the other end he has been invited to deliver a a keynote speech at the 2012 Conservative Political Action Conference, organizers announced on Tuesday.

CPAC 2012 will be held from February 9 through February 11. Comparing this with the timeline for the recall campaign, this means that Walker's big speech will be held about three weeks after Democrats handed in the petitions to hold the recall election. (This analysis assumes that the Dems will have met the goal, rather than falling short.)

Thus, the state election officials will be in the the middle of reviewing the signatures, a process that will likely take 60 days. Meanwhile, we can imagine that both Democrats and Republicans will be actively campaigning back home in Wisconsin, while Walker is making his appeal in Washington to national conservative activists -- and perhaps more importantly, conservative donors -- for what could be the second most watched campaign of the year.

Pres '12

Ron Paul: How Many Elections Has Donald Trump Won? (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | February 14, 2011, 1:18PM

Donald Trump and Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)

Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) is firing back at Donald Trump, who provoked a cascade of boos when he declared to the Paul-friendly crowd at CPAC that the libertarian Republican Congressman from Texas can't win a presidential election.

Paul appeared today on MSNBC's Morning Joe, and was asked about Trump's comments attacking his electability.

"Well, you always take that risk when you put your name on the ballot, you know -- you could get elected," Paul responded." But you know, the other thing is, is that's what they told me years ago. Because Joe, you've known me long enough that I've said the things and voted the same way for many years. And they told me that when I first started running for Congress -- there's no way you can run on that platform. You're sort of obsessed with this Constitution, and you know, you live in the Dark Ages, you can't be elected.

"So I was elected 11 times. And somebody said, well how many times has Donald Trump been elected? Does he have, really, the right to go and criticize others and say they're unelectable?"

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Ron Paul

Ron Paul Wins 2011 CPAC Straw Poll

Evan McMorris-Santoro | February 12, 2011, 5:14PM

Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)

For the second year in a row, Ron Paul won the CPAC presidential straw poll, taking home 30% of the votes cast. Mitt Romney came in second with 23% of the vote. The rest of the 16 candidate field shared single-digit levels of support.

Results of the poll were first published by Human Events, with other media organizations following shortly after. The final results were announced to attendees at about 5:30.

Paul's win was widely expected, as his supporters have packed the halls here (and spent big money to do it.) It's true that he has a lot of die-hard support, but it's hard to see the CPAC win today as a sign that he has any kind of a broad base in the GOP electorate

For Romney, who made a big deal out of his 2008 CPAC straw poll win, second place here probably solidifies him as the frontrunner in the early stages of the 2012 presidential race.

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CPAC

John Bolton: Obama Has Been 'Inconsistent, Confused, And Just Plain Wrong' On Foreign Policy

Jillian Rayfield | February 12, 2011, 3:43PM

Fmr. UN Amb. John Bolton

Former Ambassador (and possible 2012 presidential candidate) John Bolton took the stage at CPAC today, and continued his unflinching criticism of President Obama's foreign policy initiatives. Bolton said Obama has handled Egypt the same way he's handled every other foreign policy crisis: he's been "inconsistent, confused, and just plain wrong."

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Steve King

Steve King: 'I Know' Jihadists Are Coming Over The Border From Mexico

Jillian Rayfield | February 12, 2011, 3:35PM

Rep. Steve King (R-IA)

TPM tracked down Congressman Steve King at CPAC today, and asked him whether he thinks jihadists are coming over the southern border of the U.S., like Rep. Sue Myrick and Rick Santorum have claimed.

"I know there is. I know from reports that we occasionally pick up 'people of interest from nations of interest,'" King said, explaining that "people of interest from nations of interest" is a government euphemism for jihadists.

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CPAC

It's Hard Out There For A Black Candidate At CPAC

Evan McMorris-Santoro | February 12, 2011, 1:45PM

Michael Williams, Commissioner on the Railroad Commission of Texas and candidate for U.S. Senate (R)

Wandering around the vast and labyrinthine CPAC yesterday, I stumbled into Michael Williams, a Texas Railroad Commissioner (an important elected gig in the Lone Star State) and a Republican candidate for the Senate seat Kay Bailey Hutchison is retiring from.

Last year, I interviewed Williams -- who at the time was among the lucky conservatives to have Sen. Jim DeMint's (R-SC) endorsement in the Senate race that was supposed to happen when Hutchison quit after her run for governor (she didn't, so Williams had to wait.) During our chat, he told me how conservatives need to do a better job reaching out to the African American community, where he acknowledged right wingers have little entre or experience.

When I ran into him yesterday, it appeared conservatives have not made much progress on that front. Ahead of me was a CPAC attendee rushing past, as they are wont to do in this giant place.

"Hey, are you Herman Cain?" the young man asked Williams, referring to another African American conservative running for federal office and attending CPAC.

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CPAC

Barbour At CPAC: America Agrees WIth The GOP

Jillian Rayfield | February 12, 2011, 11:51AM

Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS)

Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MI) said at CPAC today that Republicans have to keep in mind that the "average American agrees with us on the issues," and "the main thing" Republicans have to accomplish it "electing a Republican President next year."

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Andrew Breitbart

Breitbart: Code Pink Protestors Used To Be 'Kind Of Slutty,' Now They're 'Long In The Tooth'

Jillian Rayfield | February 12, 2011, 11:15AM

In his rambling CPAC speech today, Andrew Breitbart described how he has enjoyed going to progressive rallies and peppering the protesters with questions. But, he said, the women of the anti-war group Code Pink are "tedious at this point" because they used to be "kinda slutty lefties," but "they're getting long in the tooth."

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CPAC

Final Day At CPAC: The Straw Poll

Evan McMorris-Santoro | February 12, 2011, 8:50AM

Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)

We still have two more possible 2012 contenders to go here at CPAC, but the real news on the dais today won't come from the pen of a speechwriter. After two days of non-stop conservative/Libertarian/Republican/Tea Party action (thus is the makeup of the crowd at CPAC), we'll finally get to hear who won the straw poll.

What that means exactly is anyone's guess. Once an anticipated barometer of a candidate's cred with the conservative wing of the GOP (see: Romney, Mitt circa 2008), most people here think today's straw poll will be a measure of how many people Team Paul brought along.

As Dave Weigel reported, fans of Ron and Rand Paul spent $100,000 bringing throngs of supporters to CPAC. As we saw on Thursday, they've had an impact on the tone of the place.

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CPAC

Herman Cain To CPAC: 'Stupid People Are Ruining America' (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | February 11, 2011, 6:46PM

Herman Cain

Former pizza chain CEO, tea partier and potential 2012 Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain closed out CPAC on day two, declaring that "the American Dream is under attack," and that "stupid people are ruining America."

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Orrin Hatch

Hatch: 'I'm Prepared To Be The Most Hated Man In This Godforsaken City'

Jillian Rayfield | February 11, 2011, 5:52PM

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT)

Sen. Orrin Hatch spoke at CPAC earlier today, and in what was perhaps an attempt to appeal to the unfriendly forces in the tea party movement, he said that he is "prepared to be the most hated man in this godforsaken city in order to save this country, and I need your help."

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2012 Presidential Primaries

Tim Pawlenty: Leave The Debt Ceiling Alone! (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | February 11, 2011, 4:47PM

Tim Pawlenty

One of the most vexing issues facing the Republicans these days is what to do about the federal debt ceiling. Does the GOP-controlled House do what its tea party members want and refuse to increase the amount of money the government can borrow, thereby setting a stage for a redux of the 1995 government shutdowns that cost the last Republican majority so dearly? Or do they do what House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) -- and many other Republicans -- have suggested and do the "adult" thing and grit their teeth and let the ceiling rise?

It's a problem, and one that has no solution yet. No one really knows how the debt argument will play out among the GOP, nor how the decision will affect the Republican party in the long run.

At CPAC today, former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty made it clear that for him, the argument is over. And he's on the side of the tea party. Not only does he not want the ceiling raised, he's actually touting the state government shutdown of which he was part.

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CPAC

New CPAC Head: 'It's Going To Be Difficult To Continue The Relationship' With GOProud

Eric Kleefeld | February 11, 2011, 1:57PM

American Conservative Union chairman Al Cardenas

Do the folks at CPAC wish they knew how to quit GOProud?

As Frum Forum reports, the new head of the conservative conference's parent organization, American Conservative Union chairman Al Cardenas, now says that "it's going to be difficult to continue the relationship" with the gay conservative group. GOProud has been at odds with social conservative groups who have criticized its participation in CPAC, some having gone so far as to boycott the convention as a result.

"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," said Cardenas. "And that puts them in a difficult light in terms of how I view things."

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Egypt

John Thune: I'm Glad Mubarak Left

Evan McMorris-Santoro | February 11, 2011, 1:35PM

Sen. John Thune (R-SD)

TPM just caught up with Sen. John Thune ahead of his speech at CPAC, where he's another of the coy maybe 2012ers to take the stage. I asked him if Mubarak's exit in Egypt said anything about how Obama handled the crisis.

Thune declined to talk about Obama, but said he's glad Mubarak is leaving and the military's taking over.

"I think it's right he stepped down," Thune told TPM. He praised the military as "one of the most reliable intstitutions in the country."

Mitt Romney

Romney at CPAC: Unemployment Is A 'Moral Tragedy'

Jillian Rayfield | February 11, 2011, 11:51AM

Former Gov. of Massachusetts Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney just spoke at CPAC, and between all the quips about President Obama's promise for change, he managed to get in a line about the "moral tragedy" of unemployment. "Make no mistake about this. This is a moral tragedy. A moral tragedy of epic proportion. Unemployment is not just a statistic."

Yesterday, Michele Bachmann used that same phrasing when discussing health care reform, describing the "moral tragedy" that is the Obama agenda that is "consuming the future" of generations of Americans.

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CPAC

CPAC Throws Pro-Pot Legalization Libertarian Off Stage (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | February 11, 2011, 10:54AM

Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson (R) is one of the many coy presidential contenders speaking at CPAC this year. He hasn't said officially if he's running for president, but he showed up here with staff who are on the ground for him in Iowa and New Hampshire, as well as a slew of Gary Johnson for President signs. CPAC is generally very welcoming of Republican presidential contenders, giving them space on the dais to speak and time to make their case to the thousands gathered here.

Unless they're pot-legalization supporting libertarians like Johnson. Those, they throw off the stage.

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Tom Price

Tom Price On Cheney Hecklers: 'That's Part Of CPAC, Isn't It?'

Jillian Rayfield | February 11, 2011, 9:57AM

Rep. Tom Price (R-GA)

Rep. Tom Price (R-GA), who will be speaking at CPAC later today, laughed off the Ron Paul supporters who heckled Dick Cheney yesterday and told TPM: "That's part of CPAC, isn't it?"

"This is a wonderful, wonderful organization," Price said, "a great group that gets together every year and provides that enthusiasm and that energy, that's necessary so that we continue to take our country back."

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CPAC

CPAC Day 2: Ron Paul Expected To Outshine Other Conservative Luminaries

Evan McMorris-Santoro | February 11, 2011, 9:20AM

Ron Paul

The first day of CPAC was largely made interesting thanks to the work of Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) supporters. The second day will likely be memorable for the same reason.

Paul's supporters staged a protest during Dick Cheney's "surprise" appearance with Donald Rumsfeld near the end of the day yesterday, walking out en masse as the Bush administration stars took the stage. It was the dramatic highlight of a day that was mainly about the will-they-or-won't-they presidential contenders Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and Donald Trump.

This afternoon, expect another raucous scene when Ron Paul himself takes the stage.

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Health Care

Steve King: Let's Kill The Government If Obama Won't Kill Health Care Reform

Brian Beutler and Evan McMorris-Santoro | February 11, 2011, 8:00AM

Rep. Steve King (R-IA)

Here's how the Republicans' power over the purse could lead to an insoluble fight over spending, and, potentially, a government shutdown.

In a presentation at CPAC on Thursday, Rep. Steve King (R-IA) called on Republicans to hold the government hostage until President Obama abandons his dream of reforming the nation's health care system.

Or to put it in King's words: Republicans should do to "ObamaCare" what Democrats did to the Vietnam War.

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CPAC

Paul Supporters Hijack Cheney-Rumsfeld Reunion (Video)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | February 10, 2011, 4:52PM

Dick Cheney just popped up here at CPAC to introduce his old pal and Bush administration colleague Donald Rumsfeld. Fans of Ron Paul turned what should have been a friendly moment before an audience of fellow conservatives into a screaming match and protest action that resembled what a Cheney-Rumsfeld hug at the Netroots Nation convention might look like.

Rumsfeld is being given CPAC's "Defender Of The Constitution" award, a concept that apparently rankled Paul supporters in the crowd. Many of them got up and walked out en masse at the mention of Rumsfeld, though some stayed behind in the conference hall to heckle the architects of the invasion of Iraq.

One shout of "where's Bin Laden?" rang out as Cheney spoke of Rumsfeld.

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CPAC

Santorum At CPAC: Obama 'Doesn't Say That Jihadism Is Evil'

Jillian Rayfield | February 10, 2011, 4:36PM

Rick Santorum

One theme of Rick Santorum's CPAC speech was that President Obama has his priorities all wrong, because he "doesn't believe America is exceptional," does see America as a "force for disruption, and even evil," and won't "say that jihadism is evil."

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CPAC

Donald Trump Trashes Ron Paul At CPAC: He 'Can't Get Elected' (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | February 10, 2011, 4:12PM

Donald Trump was at his Donald Trumpiest in his CPAC speech today, bragging that he's "acquainted with winning," and declaring that Ron Paul "cannot get elected" as President.

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Newt Gingrich

McConnell And Gingrich At CPAC: Dems Need To Stop Co-Opting Reagan

Jillian Rayfield | February 10, 2011, 2:03PM

Rep. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Newt Gingrich took the stage at CPAC today, and both chastised Democrats for going around talking about how much they love Ronald Reagan.

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CPAC

Bachmann At CPAC: Obama Has 'Ushered In Socialism'

Jillian Rayfield | February 10, 2011, 10:23AM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Rep. Michele Bachmann opened CPAC this morning with a quippy speech about needing unity in the conservative movement so they can kick Obama out of office in 2012.

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CPAC

Bachmann, McConnell, King Kick Off Day One Of CPAC

Jillian Rayfield | February 10, 2011, 9:06AM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Here are the main speakers scheduled for the Conservative Political Action Conference, day one.

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CPAC

CPAC Out To Prove It Doesn't Need Social Groups To Be Important

Evan McMorris-Santoro and Jillian Rayfield | February 10, 2011, 8:48AM

Tim Pawlenty, Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney and Michele Bachmann.

The lead-up to this year's Conservative Political Action Conference has mostly been a question of "will they or won't they" -- will the country's top conservatives attend, or will they be swayed by a bubbling social conservative boycott over the inclusion of the gay conservative group GOProud.

As the hootenanny kicks off today with an agenda that includes almost every whispered-about potential 2012 candidate, the boycotting social conservatives increasingly seem like they're on the outside looking in.

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CPAC

Good News, GOProud: New CPAC Boss Will Take 'Big Tent' Approach

Ryan J. Reilly | February 9, 2011, 4:40PM

Al Cardenas and Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC)

Here's some bad news for South Carolina Republican Sen. Jim DeMint and others who want to ban gay groups from the Conservative Political Action Conference -- the new chair of the group that runs CPAC plans to stay the course on inclusivity.

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CPAC

GOProud Co-Founder: Tony Perkins "Demonizes Gay People" (VIDEO)

Andrew Jones | February 9, 2011, 4:05PM

Family Council Research President Tony Perkins and GOProud Co-Founder & Chair Christopher Barron

The 2011 Conservative Political Action Conference hasn't begun yet, and it's already producing fireworks.

Those fireworks took the form of a segment earlier today on MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell Reports in which GOProud co-founder & chair Christopher Barron hammered Family Council Research (FRC) President Tony Perkins for not only misrepresenting his group's agenda, but for also being anti-gay.

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CPAC

David Keene Steps Down As Head Of American Conservative Union

Ryan J. Reilly | February 9, 2011, 2:30PM

David Keene

A day ahead of the start of the Conservative Political Action Conference, David Keene stepped down as chair of American Conservative Union, just as the organization's board elected Al Cardenas to replace him.

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CPAC

Allen West To Be Top Speaker At CPAC

Eric Kleefeld | February 9, 2011, 12:28PM

Rep. Allen West (R-FL)

Rep. Allen West (R-FL), is getting a high-level speaking post for a freshman -- the closing keynote speaker at CPAC.

This is a huge gig. Back in 2009, the closing speaker was none other than Rush Limbaugh, and in 2010 the honor went to Glenn Beck.

West, an Iraq War veteran whose military career ended after the alleged torture of an Iraqi policeman, has since gone on to emerge as a star of the conservative movement. (No evidence was found to corroborate the information obtained from the policeman, of an alleged planned attack against West's troops.)

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Rick Santorum

Santorum Backtracks On Comment That Palin's Skipping CPAC For The Money

Jillian Rayfield | February 9, 2011, 10:47AM

Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin

Rick Santorum today denied that he said Sarah Palin was skipping CPAC for financial reasons, calling a Politico story about the comments "garbage."

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CPAC

Sarah Palin Turns Down Keynote Spot At CPAC

Jillian Rayfield | February 3, 2011, 12:19PM

Former VP candidate Sarah Palin (R)

In another blow to boycott-ridden Conservative Political Action Conference, Sarah Palin has turned down the coveted-keynote speaker spot, making this the fourth time in a row Palin's skipped out on the conference.

Palin's political action committee SarahPAC is sponsoring the "Presidential Diamond Reception" on February 10 at CPAC, Ben Smith of Politico reports, so her absence is seemingly not part of the boycott.

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CPAC

Rumsfeld To Get 'Defender Of The Constitution' Award At CPAC

Jillian Rayfield | January 31, 2011, 2:11PM

Donald Rumsfeld

Former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld will receive the "Defender of the Constitution" award at CPAC this year.

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CPAC

Marco Rubio Skipping Boycott-Saddled CPAC This Year

Jillian Rayfield | January 31, 2011, 1:48PM

Former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio (R-FL)

Marco Rubio may have keynoted CPAC as a senate candidate last year, but now that he's a senator he's not going to show up at all.

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CPAC

Heritage Changes Reason For CPAC Dropout: GOProud Was Part Of It

Jillian Rayfield | January 28, 2011, 11:30AM

The Heritage Foundation has shifted its explanation for backing out of this year's CPAC conference, with James Weidman, a foundation spokesman, telling the New York Times: "GOProud was one element in the decision."

A number of conservative groups and politicians aren't participating in the annual conservative conference -- some citing GOProud's involvement as the reason.

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CPAC

Jim DeMint Joins Conservative Boycott Of CPAC

Jillian Rayfield | January 21, 2011, 3:07PM

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC)

Sen. Jim DeMint will also not be attending the CPAC conference this year, Ben Smith of Politico reports.

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CPAC

Thune To Appear At CPAC

Eric Kleefeld | January 13, 2011, 12:24PM

Sen. John Thune (R-SD)

At least one potential Republican presidential candidate is not joining the right-wing boycott of CPAC over its inclusion of a gay conservative group: Sen. John Thune (R-SD), who will be headed there to speak.

Several prominent social conservative groups are boycotting CPAC, due to the participation of GOProud, with others having pulled out because of financial disputes with the conference's parent group, the American Conservative Union.

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CPAC

GOP Rep. Jim Jordan Also Boycotting CPAC

Jillian Rayfield | January 11, 2011, 6:17PM

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH)

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) has said that he is joining the conservative boycott of CPAC.

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