CPAC - the Conservative Political Action Conference, which was established by the American Conservative Union - is meeting this weekend. It generally proves to be a barometer of the current state of conservatism and provides Republican candidates one of the first opportunities to demonstrate their level of support when the group hold its straw poll for president.
This year's meeting may demonstrate the re-emergence of a split within the movement between libertarians and the religious right. The meeting organizers decided to allow a gay Republican group - GOPride - to paricipate, and several religious groups opted then not to go. Some comments:
The Huffington Post: The majority of Tea Party members do not consider themselves a part of the religious right and less than a quarter of the Christian right identifies as being in the Tea Party. Add to that the fact that the majority of Tea Party members hold positions Christian conservatives consider "pro-gay and pro-choice," and it shouldn't be hard to see why these tensions that have been simmering just under the surface since the time of Reagan are now coming to a head on the Hill and most prominently this past week at CPAC.
Christian Science Monitor: Romney gives a speech, blasts Obama, and avoids discussing health care.
CNN Politics: Cheney and Romney get mixed reception.
