Thread by @AlisonHowardC

CPAC claims to be the largest annual gathering of conservatives in the nation.

I’ve always been happy that #CPAC included the discussion of abortion and prolife speakers, and have spoken twice at the conference. Once pregnant and once as a new mom.

I have served on the Social and Cultural Planning Committee for CPAC, where a small group of leaders meets to compile topic and speaker ideas and submit them to CPAC. These always seemed to be considered and many accepted.

But not this year.

Oddly, this year, not a single speaker or session focused on abortion.

Not one on the threat to women's sports

Not one on religious liberty

Not one on family, marriage, sex trafficking, pornography, etc...

The planning committee never saw the final agenda. We saw the lineup as everyone else did.

The #CPAC2022 titles:

-Put Him to Bed, Lock Her Up, + Send Her to the Border

-The Moron in Chief

-Lock Her Up, FOR REAL

-Obamacare Still Kills

-Stacy Abrams, you’re not the governor

These felt like click bait headlines from years ago, not what the conservative movement is currently fighting or wants to advance in the years ahead. What was once a place to discuss serious policy issues now looked like the focus was simply to “own the libs”.

I had private discussions with other prolife leaders who were confused about this new direction. This isn't about any single one of us not being invited to speak, this is about NO ONE being invited to speak. Groups that have sponsored #CPAC for years. Major pro-life leaders/ CEOs

I’m not a fan of publicly airing private movement problems, and asked for answers privately, but soon saw this interview with the head of CPAC, saying it’s ok not to include prolife speakers + that it was his decision to cut the topic.

Asked by @news_ntd why there were no prolife speakers at CPAC 2022, Matt Schlapp said it was his decision. Incredibly problematic.

Matt says “everythings prolife that we talk about.”

That’s not true and it’s not a logic he applies to other issues.

Imagine him saying: “Everything we talk about is prison reform.”

"Everything we talk about is 'lock her up.'"

Secondly, while yes, everyone is invited to attend CPAC, they should come and hear what the conservative movement is advancing to save lives.

Imagine Matt saying “We don’t want to talk about lower taxes because there are some here who believe in higher taxes.”

The right to life is a key tenant of conservative values.

The acknowledgment that every life has value is something one side uniquely claims to believe.

I can’t let CPAC or conservative leaders play down the seriousness of abortion.

For abortion not to be covered this year, as the Supreme Court reconsiders Roe v. Wade, as states actively pursue prolife and pro-abortion legislation, is incredibly disappointing.

There is a multi-million dollar marketing Goliath pushing abortion to women and girls every day, in every way they can.

Democrat conferences proudly include those voices.

CPAC couldn’t give 30 minutes to address the life-affirming options of parenting and adoption?

It’s incredibly sad that after 40+ years of advocacy, to have a very prominent conservative leader cancel prolife speakers and publicly claim that prolife can mean anything.

To be prolife has to be anti-abortion because abortion kills children and destroys families.

I know in my heart Matt knows this. He’s heard the message for years. He’s a father of 6 GIRLS. His wife served the President and First Lady, and is someone I looked up to for her working mom bad@ssery. I just wonder why the change this year and hope CPAC can course correct.

Abortion is killing little girls and boys by the thousands every day.

Dan Schneider, Exec. VP of CPAC, has referred to me as his "prolife pitbull" and I wouldn’t be living up to my name if I failed to encourage a course correction and return to acknowledging the right to life.

Here’s the full interview

Here’s the full interview: