Yesterday marked the start of the 2014 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, D.C., and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) made headlines after sauntering onto the stage holding a rifle while Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” played in the background. On radio this morning, Glenn questioned whether CPAC is really as conservative as its name suggests or if the big-government, progressive Republicans have invaded the event.
“Like this is the most absurd Mitch McConnell entrance of all time… What a stupid, stupid entrance at CPAC. But CPAC is not for conservatives. It is the GOP. That's all it is… They have great conservatives there… [but] it's the GOP.”
In addition to the various speeches, a ‘minority outreach’ panel was also on yesterday’s CPAC agenda. In theory, minority outreach should be an important component of Republican strategy, but Glenn warned of the difference between big government and small government-minded outreach.
“And CPAC is doing things like minority outreach. You tell the truth, and then those who are attracted to truth will come,” Pat said. “Those minority outreach things go: What positions can we change or manipulate to make them think we are believing a certain thing when we are not.”
“Hang on just a second. I believe the GOP does believe those things. We'll go to the communities and promise them all kind of stuff,” Glenn interjected. “Conservatives don't.”
As Pat explained, there are plenty big government Republicans who pretend to be pro-small government. Even President Obama will masquerade as Ronald Reagan every once in a while.
“I'm fine with small government conservatives,” Glenn concluded. “But if you want to be very clear on making my point for me, this is CPAC – the Conservative Political Action Conference.”
Front page image courtesy of the AP