The annual tradition of arguing over CPAC booths is alive and well. It kicked off again today when it was announced that Atheists would conduct conservative outreach via their booth. For a moment, this led to the predictable, “why can Atheists have a booth if the gay conservative group GOProud can’t?” discussion.
But before that got much traction, the American Atheists booth was promptly revoked.
Conservative leader Brent Bozell then jumped in the middle of it. In a statement, Bozell said, “The invitation extended by the ACU, Al Cardenas and CPAC to American Atheists to have a booth is more than an attack on conservative principles. It is an attack on God Himself. American Atheists is an organization devoted to the hatred of God. How on earth could CPAC, or the ACU and its board of directors, and Al Cardenas condone such an atrocity?”
“It makes absolutely no difference to me,” Bozell continued, “that CPAC and ACU have backed down and removed the booth.”
Asked for a response, I was emailed this statement from Meghan Snyder, the ACU Communications Director:
“American Atheists misrepresented itself about their willingness to engage in positive dialogue and work together to promote limited government. We spoke with Mr. [American Atheists president David] Silverman about his divisive and inappropriate language. He pledged that he will attack the very idea that Christianity is an important element of conservatism. People of any faith tradition should not be attacked for their beliefs, especially at our conference. He has left us with no choice but to return his money.”
Why should this year be different?