Jenny Erikson
Jenny EriksonSeveral ultra-right-wing groups are boycotting CPAC in 2011 because of the inclusion of the gay conservative group GOProud. CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) is held annually in Washington, D.C., and is a mecca for conservative activists to convene and commingle.

Conservatives are not a bunch of old white guys. Contrary to popular belief, the Republican Party is very diverse, and encompasses many groups not typically associated with the GOP. Take me for example: As a blonde twenty-something Californian, I should be a Democrat.

GOProud is another break in the conservative stereotype. Its website states that the group members are “conservatives who believe in limited government, individual liberty, free markets, a strong national defense and a confident foreign policy.” That’s standard Republican stuff, but what makes GOProud so interesting is that they represent gay conservatives and their allies.

Yes, gay conservatives actually exist. And we need them. “Moral issue” groups like World Net Daily (WND) and the Family Research Council (FRC) are shooting the GOP in the foot by refusing to attend CPAC because there will be someone else there that they don’t agree with on every issue. The number-one issue at the moment is reducing the overreach of government into our personal lives. If we don’t stop bleeding money, we’re going to cease to exist as a prosperous nation, and whether or not gay marriage should be legalized will be the least of our problems.

The most important thing Republicans can do right now is unite against a common enemy: The liberal agenda from Nancy Pelosi, Barney Frank, Harry Reid, and the rest of them trying to make us into a cradle-to-grave society. If we can’t unite for one political conference, how will we ever band together to defeat the nanny-state-ers?

Now is not the time to be throwing our toys in the sand and stomping home in a huff. There are bullies on the playground, and without manpower, they will continue to do whatever they want, like decide Billy needs to pay Sally’s health insurance. We have to stick together with the common goal of ridding the playground of the bullies -- only then will we have the luxury of squabbling over which way you’re supposed to swing on the swing set.