In a move likely to send signals of unity across the conservative movement, The American Conservative Union (ACU) is set to announce that Andrew Breitbart will be a featured speaker at CPAC 2012 – the 39th annual Conservative Political Action Conference.
“I have decided to accept CPAC’s gracious offer to speak on the theme of unity and the GOP Big Tent,” Breitbart said in a statement. “We need to unite in 2012. White, black, gay and straight. Tea Party, Social Conservatives, establishment types, Libertarians and Neo-Cons, alike,” he said.
This is latest example of full court press by new ACU Chairman Al Cardenas to have a unified CPAC — and nix the drama.
Breitbart’s participation comes as a surprise. As recently as this summer, the conservative new media mogul announced he would be skipping CPAC in response to the ACU’s announcement that the gay conservative group GOProud wouldn’t be permitted to co-sponsor this year’s CPAC.
“Andrew Breitbart is one of the most influential conservative media voices in America today, and we are honored to welcome him back to CPAC,” said Cardenas. “From founding and publishing some of the leading conservative news and opinion sites to his news-breaking coverage of liberal scandals, Andrew is one of the brightest and most exciting stars in the conservative movement today.”
Heading into this vital presidential election year, Breitbart’s participation also seems to signal the disparate wings of the conservative movement are at least willing to temporarily put their past differences aside. “I look forward to speaking at CPAC as a symbol that even our most seasoned warriors must seek peace with those we have vigorously challenged,” Breitbart said.
Cardenas and his team at the ACU have worked hard to mend fences and make this a good CPAC. In addition to Breitbart’s participation, social conservative leaders like Mike Huckabee and Sen. Jim DeMint will return this year. So will The Heritage Foundation and The Family Research Council’s Tony Perkins. What is more, Sarah Palin and Bobby Jindal will address the conclave for the first time this year.
But that doesn’t mean there won’t be internal debates and disagreements. “My speech won’t be all Kumbaya talk,” Breitbart warned. “I will step up to the podium and in no uncertain terms declare 2012 a call to arms. Patriots need to unite behind our candidate, behind the GOP, behind the conservative movement. Or else.”
In addition to Breitbart, CPAC 2012 will feature an all-star line-up that also includes former Governors Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee and Mitt Romney, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain, Ann Coulter, Senators Jim DeMint and Marco Rubio, former Speaker Newt Gingrich, Laura Ingraham, Congressmen Jim Jordan, Steve King, Paul Ryan and Allen West, Oliver North, former Senator Rick Santorum, Governors Bobby Jindal and Scott Walker.
America’s largest gathering of conservative leaders and activists will be held Thursday, February 9 – Saturday, February 11, 2012, in Washington, D.C.
Read Andrew Breitbart’s full statement here:
The year 2011 was one of turmoil for the conservative movement, as we celebrated the success of 2010 but faced a divisive counter-revolution by the Democrats and the media.
The Republican establishment, together with social conservatives, libertarians and the Tea Party, waged war against the Obama administration, the public sector unions, the mainstream media, the Occupy Wall Street Movement and the Progressive movement, writ large. And simultaneously, in these terrible economic times and our new, challenging political reality, we were unfortunately, too often, fighting each other.
I have been a steadfast combatant in the trenches against the organized left, with the scalps and scars to prove it.
Yet the last year has had me often fighting our own. In the heat of the great battle over ideas, I argued with CPAC and the American Conservative Union on behalf of GOProud, and I argued against GOProud on behalf of privacy and civility.
I realize now, as the great debate of 2012 unfolds, that being MIA from the battlefield in the most important election of our lifetime is exactly the wrong decision.
Davids Brooks, David Gergen, and David Frum may “disagree.” But this David fights!
But we need to work with each other. Not against each other. [Frum, let’s do lunch!] We need to communicate better. [Gergen, perhaps I could have said it better!] We cannot let internecine battles and pressures of high-stakes politics to separate us at a time when unity is needed most. [Brooks, Obama does have a nice creased pant leg!]
I have decided to accept CPAC’s gracious offer to speak on the theme of unity and the GOP Big Tent. We need to unite in 2012. White, black, gay and straight. Tea Party, Social Conservatives, establishment types, Libertarians and Neo-Cons, alike. We all must find common ground. Not just for the sake of winning this monumental election. But to reclaim the Big Tent, Big Party mantle of the man who united us best, Ronald Reagan.
Yet I promise my speech won’t be all Kumbaya talk. No, sirree. I will step up to the podium and in no uncertain terms declare 2012 a call to arms. Patriots need to unite behind our candidate, behind the GOP, behind the conservative movement. Or else.
UPDATE: GOProud released a statement praising Breithbart’s decision to speak about the need for unity at CPAC. Here’s the full release:
Today, GOProud ally Andrew Breitbart announced that he has agreed to speak at this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference. “We thank Andrew for agreeing to speak. We encouraged Andrew to go to CPAC and speak about the need to come together as a movement to defeat Barack Obama,” said Jimmy LaSalvia, Co-Founder and Executive Director of GOProud – an organization of gay and straight Americans seeking to promote freedom by supporting free markets, limited government, and a respect for individual rights.
“Andrew Breitbart has been, andcontinues to be, an important ally and supporter of GOProud and an outspoken supporter of gay conservatives everywhere,” said Christopher R. Barron, Co-founder and Chief Strategist.
“I continue to support the conservative objectives of GOProud, they are an important part of the conservative family,” said Andrew Breitbart. “I believe in the GOP Big Tent. We need to unite in 2012. White, black, gay and straight. TeaParty, Social Conservatives, Establishment types, Libertarians and Neo-Cons,alike. We all must find common ground. Not just for the sake of winning this monumental election. But to reclaim the Big Tent, Big Party mantle of the man who united us best, Ronald Reagan..”
“Now, more than ever, we need a united conservative movement. The stakes are simply too high in this election,” concluded LaSalvia.