RSS Feed MenuThe new chair of the American Conservative Union, Al Cardenas, today distanced his organization from GOProud, telling FrumForum in an exclusive interview that “it’s going to be difficult to continue the relationship” with the gay conservative organization.
The ACU, which annually organizes the Conservative Political Action Conference, has faced some criticism for including GOProud as a co-sponsor for the second year in a row. Socially conservative organizations have denounced the move, and the Heritage Foundation claimed that GOProud’s inclusion was part of their decision to opt-out.
Cardenas, who was selected yesterday to replace outgoing chairman David Keene, told FrumForum that he disapproved of GOProud’s response to the furor.
“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. And that puts them in a difficult light in terms of how I view things,” said Cardenas.
GOProud had asserted that Cleta Mitchell, the chairman of the ACU Foundation, was pushing conservative groups and individuals to boycott CPAC because of GOProud’s inclusion. Chris Barron, the chairman of GOProud, recently said in an interview that Mitchell was “a nasty bigot.”
“It’s going to be difficult to continue the relationship [with GOProud] because of their behavior and attitude,” Cardenas told FrumForum.
Asked for GOProud’s response, the group’s chairman apologized for his comments about Cleta Mitchell.
“For the past six months, we have watched as unfair and untrue attacks have been leveled against our organization, our allies, our friends and sometimes even their families. Everyone has their breaking point and clearly in my interview with Metro Weekly I had reached mine. I shouldn’t have used the language that I did to describe Cleta Mitchell and for that I apologize,” said Chris Barron.
Asked about whether he values a big tent approach to conservatism, Cardenas said that he did – but that his vision applied principally to reaching out to different minorities and ethnic groups.
“There are not enough African-Americans, Hispanics and other minorities here. That diversity is critical – you don’t need to change your value system to attract more diversity into the movement… [but] I’m not going to – for the sake of being inclusive – change the principles that have made the movement what it is,” said Cardenas.
“David [Keene] invited these folks [GOProud] in an effort to be inclusive… Having friends of ours leaving… presents difficulties to me,” he said. “There’s always going to be some tension, [but] there should never be any tension between time-tested values.”
Asked if someone who supported gay marriage could be a conservative, Cardenas replied, “Not a Ronald Reagan conservative… I will say this: we adopted a resolution unanimously at ACU advocating traditional marriage between a man and a woman, so that answers how we feel on the issue.”
Cardenas says that his priorities as the new ACU chairman will be focused on “making sure that our true friends never leave the table.”
Cleta Mitchell’s position as ACU Foundation chairman also appears to be safe. The new chairman, who has the authority to appoint a new one should he want to, told FrumForum that he has “no intentions [regarding Mitchell] except to keep her where she is.”
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Scrooge // Feb 11, 2011 at 12:26 pm
Houndentenor, yeah, withholding my vote/money until they get their act together is what I’ll probably do. If I agreed with the Democrats on more things, I’d consider that option, but it really doesn’t make much sense for me to join a party that I disagree with so much on. I am fairly conservative in several ways (just not socially). Becoming an independent and supporting specific candidates sounds like a good position to take until things change.
A Less Libertarian CPAC In The Future? // Feb 11, 2011 at 12:34 pm
[...] new head of the American Conservative Union seems to be inclined to move away from the direction that the group, and its signature event CPAC, h… The new chair of the American Conservative Union, Al Cardenas, today distanced his organization [...]
Alberto Cardenas Replaces David Keene: The Muslim Problem, The Gay Problem | Maggie's Notebook // Feb 11, 2011 at 3:25 pm
[...] of gay activists GOProud. And what a controversy it has been. Source. In an interview with FrumForum, Cardenas expressed concern over a recent incident in which GOProud director Chris Barron referred [...]
ktward // Feb 11, 2011 at 4:03 pm
Cardenas sure wasted no time.
Perhaps he felt pressure to take a position straight out of the gate in hopes that it would endear his newbie arse to the boycotters who he’d like to have back next year.
If that’s true, it’s painfully short-sighted–along with overtly rude to a current paying participant. He couldn’t wait a few days?–and likely to widen the rift that threatens to seriously derail the GOP’s 2012 primary.
Here’s the thing: for the RR, “conservatism” isn’t an ideology, it’s a pathology. They’ve drawn a line in the sand and there exists no scenario in which they’ll move it. Everyone else is going to have move around it– iow, pick a side. Cons at CPAC are already picking sides, and some of the loudest and most influential voices are supportive of GOProud’s otherwise far-right advocacy.
So, the ball is in GOProud’s court: if they step out of the fray, perhaps the conservative movement will remain tenuously intact. But if they decide to take their marbles elsewhere, their friends are likely to follow. And they have some pretty influential friends.
CPAC Attendees Largely Accepting of GOProud « Commentary Magazine // Feb 11, 2011 at 5:34 pm
[...] some of the conference organizers. The new chair of the American Conservative Union, Al Cardenas, told Frum Forum that it will be “difficult to continue the relationship” with the group because of [...]
CPAC’s New Leadership: Alberto Cardenas New Chair of ACU | The Lonely Conservative // Feb 12, 2011 at 11:29 pm
[...] of gay activists GOProud. And what a controversy it has been. Source. In an interview with FrumForum, Cardenas expressed concern over a recent incident in which GOProud director Chris Barron referred [...]
Tammy Bruce Resigns GoProud // Feb 13, 2011 at 1:39 am
[...] as it has run into opposition from the incoming ACU chair Al Cardenas who indicating that he may want to distance CPAC from the organization after controversial statements made by GoProud co-founder Chris [...]
New ACU Chairman Suggests GOProud May Be Out - NOM Blog // Feb 14, 2011 at 12:38 pm
[...] Frum Forum: The new chair of the American Conservative Union, Al Cardenas, today distanced his organization from GOProud, telling FrumForum in an exclusive interview that “it’s going to be difficult to continue the relationship”… [...]
CPAC and GOProud: Can Gay Rights Edge into the Conservative Movement? : Ms Magazine Blog // Feb 15, 2011 at 2:09 pm
[...] top it off, the new American Conservative Union’s (ACU) chair, Al Cardenas told FrumForum after CPAC that “it’s going to be difficult to continue the relationship” with [...]
CPAC balloting confirmsGOProud out for 2012 // Jul 30, 2011 at 2:51 am
[...] According to a blogger at the FrumForum, Cardenas earlier had warned it was “going to be difficult” to work with GOProud going forward. [...]
Look who’s outfor CPAC 2012 // Jul 30, 2011 at 3:36 pm
[...] According to a blogger at the FrumForum, Cardenas earlier had warned it was “going to be difficult” to work with GOProud going forward. [...]
Gay GOP group barred from sponsoring CPAC | Gay News from Gay Agenda - GayAgenda.com // Aug 2, 2011 at 11:14 am
[...] as “a nasty bigot” in an interview. Barron apologized, but ACU chair Cardenas told FrumForum that “it’s going to be difficult to continue the relationship” with GOProud and expressed [...]
Gay GOP group barred from sponsoring CPAC « MGN: Miami Gay News // Aug 3, 2011 at 5:23 am
[...] Foundation, as “a nasty bigot” in an interview. Barron apologized, but ACU chair Cardenas told FrumForum that “it’s going to be difficult to continue the relationship” with GOProud and expressed [...]
American Conservative Union bars GOProud from co-sponsoring 2012 CPAC | Pam's House Blend // Aug 29, 2011 at 5:10 am
[...] Foundation, as “a nasty bigot” in an interview. Barron apologized, but ACU chair Cardenas told FrumForum that “it’s going to be difficult to continue the relationship” with GOProud and expressed [...]