Dear Friend,

Every year there are a few things we know will happen after CPAC. We know our attendees will be better educated on the issues and energized to fight for the restoration of our country. We also know that CPAC will be attacked by people with ulterior motives.

 

Some of these detractors are motivated to sell their books, others hope to increase their social media footprint, but the worst want to divide and defeat America and like-minded conservatives for their own personal gain and notoriety.

 

I have gotten hundreds of phone calls and messages in recent weeks from attendees who loved CPAC Florida. But predictably, the hard left and even some on the right could not resist their annual effort to derail our work. The most laughable accusations mean to challenge our commitment to the pro-life cause as well as our efforts to defend our culture (including protecting girls’ sports, the right of parents to control their children’s education and the central role of families in society).

We addressed each of these issues from the CPAC stage and our record of achievement is strong. Nevertheless, because the CPAC team and the entire Schlapp family have been dedicated to supporting the pro-life movement, I take these insults personally. What’s comical is how easy these insults are refuted.

 

For example, over the past 5 years we have scored 460 life-related bills in Congress and in state legislatures. These bills form the core of our ratings system so voters will know where their elected officials actually stand on the issues. No other organization has evaluated and scored so many pro-life bills.

 

Our fight for the unborn is reflected in our other efforts. That is why, during my tenure, we have included substantial pro-life programming at each of our CPACs. This stands in stark contrast to the prior CPAC leadership team which had a culture cap: they would not allow more than 10% of the CPAC agenda to be about culture. We blew that cap away and have addressed life and other cultural issues unapologetically and thoroughly at CPAC and on our weekly CPAC NOW shows.

 

I’m proud that the CPAC highlights so many national pro-life leaders, including Penny Nance, Marjorie Dannenfelser, Tony Perkins, Ben Carson, and Catherine Glenn Foster. As you know, we also educate our viewers year round through our “CPAC Now” on-line show where we reported from the March for Life event and have featured a number of pro-life leaders including Lila Rose, Mallory Carroll, and Brandi Swindell. 

 

And there is a simple reason why CPAC is so committed to this cause. Of the three philosophical pillars of a free society (life, liberty, and property), life comes first. Life must always come first. Without a proper respect for the right to life, and the corresponding recognition that life is a gift from God, all our other rights are put in jeopardy. Without a robust defense of life, we will lose America and we will lose freedom forever.

 

CPAC will never shy away from protecting life. It is the heart of what we believe and what we do. 

In freedom,

- Matt

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Matt Schlapp

Chairman, CPAC