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Washington Times on McCain Rejection of CPAC Invite
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ShareMarch 01, 2007 6:14 AM
ABC News' Jake Whitman Reports: In today's Washington Times, Ralph Z. Hallow reports that sponsors of the Conservative Political Action Conference, which begins today in Washington and brings together "thousands of conservative leaders and grass-roots activists," say Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., "has 'dissed' organizers by attempting to schedule a private reception for attendees after rejecting invitations to speak at the event." http://washingtontimes.com/national/20070301-122231-3780r.htm
"'It was a classical McCain move, dissing us by going behind our backs,' said William J. Lauderback, executive vice president of the American Conservative Union."
"Conservative activists have speculated that Mr. McCain did not want to be seen on television 'pandering' to Republican 'right-wingers' but wanted to court those same activists at a reception in the same hotel."
"By contrast, he said, other Republican presidential aspirants have called ACU to seek permission to hold receptions at the hotel during CPAC. Each of those candidates -- including Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Virginia Gov. James S. Gilmore III and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney -- 'called us a long time ago to arrange for a hospitality reception he will give for CPAC attendees,' Mr. Lauderback said."
"'We would have still allowed McCain to do something at CPAC, but by the time his folks approached the hotel, everything was in concrete and there was no facility available for what he wanted,' Mr. Keene said."
"Mr. McCain's conservative supporters, from Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty," who speaks to the group on Saturday, "to veteran conservative consultants such as Becky Donatelli, have told friends that they tried hard to get the senator to accept the invitation to speak at CPAC."
"'It makes no sense,' Mr. Lauderback said. 'McCain alienates the left by calling for the repeal of the Roe v. Wade decision ... but he then alienates the right by dissing their organizations -- refusing to speak at the recent National Review conference, the House Republican Study Committee retreat and now CPAC.'"
Craig Shirley, a longtime Republican activist and Reagan historian, said "skipping CPAC is a mistake for any Republican candidate."
"'Any GOP politician who doesn't understand this and the importance of this conference doesn't understand conservatism,' he said."
March 1, 2007 in Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (0)
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