The Conservative Party

(CBS)  Where can you find in the same room, Dick Cheney, Charlton Heston, Benjamin Netanyahu, Jesse Helms and Bob Barr all receiving standing ovations as they enter?

At this week's Conservative Political Action Conference in Arlington, Va., of course.

The 28th annual gathering, known as CPAC, was the largest ever with over 3,500 attendees, according to David Keene, head of the American Conservative Union and chairman of the conference.

"It’s the one time each year when conservatives of all stripes get together," explained Keene. "It’s become the ecumenical gathering of conservatives."

Along with speeches from Cheney, Helms, Heston, Steve Forbes and Alan Keyes, there was a series of panel discussions on topics ranging from national security to campaign finance reform. The panels featured such prominent conservatives as Oliver North, Robert Bork, columnist Fred Barnes and pollster Kellyanne Fitzpatrick.

Given those participating, it’s safe to say there was no shortage of digs aimed at the Democrats.

Some were subtle: Cheney, criticizing the Clinton administration, said, "The days of the so-called ‘War Room’ and the permanent campaign are over. The president (George W. Bush) and his administration are going to change the tone in the city of Washington."

Others were more direct: National Rifle Association leader Charlton Heston quipped that for "the first time in a long while, I can say ‘president’ without dreading the name that follows."

However, said Keene, the CPAC crowd was hopeful and excited for the future because, for the first time since Ronald Reagan, they have a president they consider one of their own.

"They’re celebrating their president in the White House and that he’s so far demonstrated that he’s conservative," Keene told CBSNews.com.

Self-described conservative political consultant Jay Townsend agreed, saying that conservatives "expect Bush to stay fairly close to conservative ideologies and he hasn’t disappointed" so far.

Even though Mr. Bush has wavered on some conservative issues like school vouchers, the faithful are applauding his tax-cut plan, his early action overturning the funding of overseas abortions and, especially, his selection of John Ashcroft to be attorney general. Ashcroft was honored by the group Thursday but wasn’t in attendance to receive his award.

The conservatives’ positive reaction to George W. is in direct contrast to how they felt about his father. The group never really embraced the senior Bush as they harbored skepticism about his conservative credentials, according to Keene.

Interestingly, some other notable conservatives weren’t invited to this week's gathering, including Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Pat Buchanan.

McCain, Keene said, attended several of the past conferences but he alienatd conservatives when he "made a decision to challenge Bush from the left during last year’s presidential primaries by pushing campaign finance reform and "reversing his position on guns."

And Buchanan, who many feel is one of the most outspoken conservatives, burned his bridges, these conservatives feel, when he bolted the Republican Party in late 1999.

Buchanan, as a Reform Party presidential candidate, addressed last year’s conference, and proceeded to rail against the Republican Party. Because of that, Buchanan "lost favor with the principal wing of the movement," according to Keene.

Also missing, or at least in decline, at this year’s convention was criticism of Bill Clinton. Yes, Clinton foes like Tom DeLay, Helms and Barr were there, and there was a panel discussion called Reflections on the Clinton Era, And Will There Be a Second Act. But unlike past years, the focus was on the new president and not on tarnishing Mr. Clinton’s image.

Take for instance the 1994 CPAC. Paula Jones and her attorney chose to hold their first news conference there, announcing her sexual harassment allegations against President Clinton.

Now, though, Keene explained that they’re "glad [Clinton’s] not the center of our lives anymore."

Townsend said, however, that while the right is moving on at the urging of Mr. Bush and Cheney, they would still pay some attention to Mr. Clinton. He pointed out the current congressional and federal investigations concerning the pardon of billionaire Marc Rich.

Townsend joked that some now view Mr. Clinton as "the nutty uncle who came over for Thanksgiving dinner and spoiled dinner and dessert. Then he was dragged up to a closet and now we wish they’d lock the door and never hear from him again."

But given the amount of attention Bill Clinton’s still receiving, and the continued pursuit of him by some Republicans, it seems that might be wishful thinking on the part of conservatives.


(c) MMI Viacom Internet Services Inc. All Rights Reserved