CPAC The Untold Story

Sangamon County Libertarians | February 27, 2010

The Neo-Conservative movement is in big trouble as Constitutional/Libertarianism- Conservatism is on the rise. CPAC-2010 straw poll numbers spell out the unpopularity of big government Neo-Conservative policies. There is more behind the numbers than the Libertarian/Constitutional straw poll victory of Ron Paul. Here is what the traditional media has missed.

Respondents responded to the question of what most represents your core beliefs in the following:

My most important goal is to promote individual freedom by reducing the size and scope of government and its intrusion into the lives of its citizens - this came in first with - 80%

Traditional values came in second with - 9%.
While safety and security finished in third with - 7%

In another section of the straw poll the Neo-Cons lost out again to the Libertarian-Constitutional conservatives. Reducing the size of the Federal Government came in first at 52%. Reducing spending came in second at 33%. Lowering taxes and the war on terror both tied for third at 18%.

In another section on fiscal issues: Cutting Federal spending came in first at 58%.
Reducing the debt came in second at 23%. While reducing taxes came in at 15%.

Now we go to the straw poll: Ron Paul 33%, Mitt Romney 22%, Sarah Palin 7%, Tim Pawlenty 6%, Mike Pence 5%, Newt Gingrich 4%, Huckabee 4%, Daniels 2%, Santorum 2%.

The traditional Neo-Con candidates did not fare well. The issues are trending towards the Constitution-Libertarian wing of the party. These new trends are not represented yet in the leadership or media portion of the party. The youth movement is also overwhelmingly with the Constitutional-Libertarian branch of the party. I wonder how traditional media will respond to the new numbers? Ignore the new trends and the traditional media will continue to lose customers and credibility.

The traditional pundits initially mocked or dismissed the results at CPAC. They claimed that Paul is an extremist and his policies are supported by youthful ideologues.

While Dick "deficits don't matter" Cheney and the policies of Bush are somehow treated as credible by the same supposed more rational/real world media. While these Neo-Con - Neo-Lib ideologues promote more war, more debt and the further growth of government. I wonder, which group lives in the real world? I wonder if the youth movement is responding to the generational plunder of the boomers upon their generation. The current youths are defending their pocket book. Nothing is more real or rational. They are defending it by pointing to the Constitution. They point to human rights. They are mocked. This is why you see the Gasden Flag.

Tom Ansell - Sangamon County Libertarians