Every year Republicans come together at the Conservative Political Action Conference, a right-of-center meeting of the minds designed to create a long-term strategy for the Party. Riding the success of the November elections, Republicans this year were hoping to get past some of their internal divisions and develop a big-tent, inclusive strategy that could unite social and economic conservatives, traditional Republicans, and Tea Partiers. But out of the gate, there’s been trouble. GOProud, a gay conservative group, is a sponsor of the meeting. That didn’t sit well with church-based groups such as the Family Research Council and others such as the Heritage Foundation, which are pulling out. What does it say about the chances of a Republican “big tent” if they refuse to be in the same room? And what will the schism mean for the 2012 Presidential elections?
Guests:
Jimmy LaSalvia, executive director of GOProud
Wendy Wright, President of Concerned Women for America, which is one of the groups that pulled out of CPAC
Tom McClusky, Senior Vice President for FRC Action (the lobbying arm for the Family Research Council, which advocates for socially conservative causes)