CPAC kicks off as conservatives mull future

Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., speaks at the 40th annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Md., Thursday, March 14, 2013. / AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta

This post was updated at 1:59 p.m. ET

The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), an annual gathering of the conservative movement's brightest stars, kicked off on Thursday at a deciding moment for American conservatives and the Republican Party: as some counsel the GOP to tack to the center in the wake of a disappointing 2012 electoral defeat, other elements of the conservative base have warned that nothing will invite irrelevance more quickly than a dilution of principle.

That schism was on display on the very first morning of the conference, as a trio of speakers delivered defiantly conservative speeches but at times nodded obliquely to the political problems confronting the conservative movement.

The first speaker, Virginia attorney general Ken Cuccinelli, perfectly embodies the dispute vexing the GOP. The likely Republican nominee in Virginia's 2013 gubernatorial race, Cuccinelli is beloved by the base for his crusades against the Obama administration on healthcare and environmental regulation, but some more pragmatic conservatives fear he may be too far-right to win the governor's mansion in a swing state.

He began with the red meat, decrying "bureaucrats" who are "unbridled in their attempts" to extend the reach of the state into the daily lives of Americans.

"Our nation stands at a threshold," he warned. "What type of country, what type of people do we want to be?"

Noting that he was the first state attorney general to sue to halt the implementation of Obamacare and recalling his successful stand against an EPA rule that he said would classify rainwater as a pollutant, Cuccinelli explained, "Democrats and their liberal allies...have labeled me as someone who must be defeated at all costs."

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Ken Cuccinelli: Dems will "stop at nothing" to prevent me from becoming Va. gov.

"They will stop at nothing to make sure that I am not elected Virginia's next governor because I have dared to defend our most sacred principles rather than bow to their vision for America's future."

But despite his chest-beating about his conservative bona-fides, Cuccinelli sounded very much like someone seeking statewide office in a competitive state, sounding a few surprising notes that could earn him a second look from swing-voters in Virginia.

He called for tax reform that creates a simpler, more "fair" code by eliminating loopholes for the "well-connected," echoing language President Obama has used in similar calls for a tax code overhaul.

He also delivered a passionate call for criminal justice reform, decrying a system that simply locks up offenders and throws away the key. "If we really believe that nobody is beyond redemption," Cuccinelli said, "we need to stop throwing away the key. Conservatives should lead the campaign to change the culture of corrections in America."

But if Cuccinelli's speech marked a move to the center in anticipation of his race, the next speaker, former Florida Rep. Allen West, sounded very much a man freed from the stagecraft of campaigning, delivering a scalding rant against Mr. Obama and his progressive allies.

Play Video

Allen West: Suggestions that GOP must moderate "a bunch of malarkey"

"Last November we did take one on the jaw," West admitted. "But this movement...is not defined by the punches that we take. We're defined by how quickly we pull ourselves off the mat."

"There's no shortage of people telling us what conservatism can't do," he said, labeling suggestions that conservatives must moderate "a bunch of malarkey"

"A bended knee is not, nor shall it ever be, a conservative tradition," he thundered.

"We cannot just give lip service to our principles," he warned, urging attendees to "pick up the torch and carry conservatism, high and proud, into the 21st century."

"I'm tired of these insufferable lectures of progressivism," West said, asserting that charitable giving among conservatives is greater than among progressives. "The only charity a progressive sends is a smug sermon on 'fair share' and what fairness is."

Play Video

Allen West: Being a black conservative like "being surrounded by a bunch of Taliban"

West, a prominent black conservative, also declared that "there is nothing on this green earth that a liberal progressive fears more than a black American who wants a better life and a smaller government."

Asked about that remark after his speech, West explained that he and other black conservatives are frequently targeted as outcasts because of their political beliefs. "Being a black conservative is like being in a combat zone surrounded by a bunch of Taliban," he said.

Despite the doldrums of the conservative movement, West promised, it's always darkest before the dawn: "When Barack Obama packs his bags and beats a hasty retreat back to Chicago, we will persevere."

• GOP's past and future collide at conservative conference
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Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., took to the lectern after West to lament "out of control" federal spending. He told the audience that he recently left a markup hearing for "[Senate Banking Committee chairman] Patty Murray's budget," ceding full ownership of that plan to Senate Democrats making clear that Republicans are a long way from signing on.

Toomey said he remains "haunted by the experience of the 2012 campaign" and the frequent warning from Mr. Obama that we cannot give the car keys back to the Republicans who drove us into the ditch.

"It was the left that got us into this mess," Toomey declared, his voice sharp with incredulity. The problem, he said, was that Republicans "never had an alternative compelling narrative that explained that."

"We can't let that happen in this fight over the level of government spending," he warned. "The premise from the left is clear: they think that economic growth depends on a huge, bloated federal government."

"That's ridiculous," Toomey argued. "John Maynard Keynes died a long time ago, I wish the man could just rest in peace. Let's be done with this."

Upcoming speakers at the conference, which proceeds through Saturday, include former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, billionaire Donald Trump, and 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney.

CBS News' Tolleah Price contributed to this report.

[stevehamilton858]

The first thing the Republican Party needs to address is how can they attract a CEO caliber candidate to be the top dog in the party. It's ironic that this party which likes to think it's business friendly has absolutely no idea how to run a business. Here is a hint from someone who was the CFO of several successful cyclical companies over a 25 year period: 1) identify someone who can lead your organization, 2) have a governing board provide the new leader with a set of priorities and objectives, together with a timeline for accomplishment, 3) turn the reins over to the new leader and have the governing board give him all the support it can provide.

Where is the GOP today? It has a doofus in charge of the RNC. Priebus is the equivalent of Brownie at FEMA, when Katrina hit. He has no significant management experience, he's not very bright, he has just ingratiated himself to a lot of truly powerful Republicans by being an amiable gofer and a brown-nose. And Carl Rove was onto something truly big when he started to evaluate the impact of the Tea Party on the ability of the GOP to elect candidates. But, Rove didn't go far enough; the Tea Party members and supporters are insurrectionists. That cannot be allowed to exist in a successful organization; the GOP has truly lousy discipline within its ranks.

How on God's green earth do these guys think they can run the country when they can't even run their own party?

[sickofwhiners]

Note to Allen West: Don't forget the pitchfork when you get your torch.
Maybe CPAC will address the incongruity of the fact that they preach about personal freedom while at the same time trying to abridge the freedom of others.Nah, that will never happen.

[steeepe]

West is an idiot. I can't think of anything productive to say in the face of such stupidity.

[Shery P]

Where were all these people when GWB was cutting taxes without replacing the income? When the same GWB was forcing us into ten years (+) of war without any regard to paying for it, or what it was even for. They say it is the progressives who got us into this mess...yet the deficit is actually lower under Obama than GWB. What amazes me is how these folks can get ordinary people to side with them, people who are clearly not a part of the beneficiaries of the tax cuts, are the direct losers in the bad economy, lack of jobs, etc.

How does one deride the government and ANY government regulation then at the next breath demand that the government make very personal and intimate decisions. If I look up Hypocritical in the dictionary, does the CPAC logo show up?

[stevex47]

The birthers need to stay the course for sure ! what did their hero say? "Dont retreat, reload".

Thats the attitude sheep need !

[Larnan5]

CPAC = Lunatic escapees from the asylum.

[ManOfSteel-Velvet]

CPAC = Cerebral Palsy Afflicted Conservatives.

[qyeteye]

QA-1: Of the two main political institutions, which contributed MOST to the decline of the USA?

1. Republicans
2. Democrats

QA-2: If patriotism is found to be acting in ways that obstructs the majority will of We The People, should they be...
1. Voted in
2. Voted out

[Lindag20]

If they were FISCAL conservatives instead of social moralists they might be worth listening to. As it is all they want to do is spend money on things THEY want and the real fight is over what to spend money on.

[pcohee]

This appears to be a piece of journalism. But I can't decide whether it's really mere opinion (one obviously shared by the commentariat here) or partisan agitprop. Mr Miller, your varnish runs very thin.

[Shery P]

Are you suggesting that the quotes are all made up?

[dodinyc]

The CPAC leaders say any move for moderation is a violation of principle. Principle is only an honorable thing until it gets in the way of sensibility, pragmatism and changing circumstances. To stand on principle and say NO revenue increases to go along with cuts in spending just sends a message to the people of principle above all and at all cost and to heck with the consequences. I did not leave the Republican party - the Republican party is leaving me.

[Lindag20]

The Republicans chased me out YEARS ago with their unfunded wars and social agenda.