Good Morning America's John Hendren on Saturday fretted that attendees to the
Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) came "from the right" and "the
far right." He allowed that conservative are "on fire" with optimism about the
future, but opined that the movement is "fractious."
John Avlon, author of
Winguts:
How the Lunatic Fringe Is Hijacking America, was featured in a sound bite to
deride intolerant conservatives: "Reagan's ideal of the big tent, which invited
people in, is now seen as code language for liberal."
On February 19, Avlon appeared on CNN attacked the "saving freedom" agenda of
CPAC as "
a
little extreme" and "a little far out."
Hendren is the same reporter who, on
February
16, dismissed as a "tempest in a teapot" the idea that Republicans and
conservatives could make impressive gains in the 2010 midterms. For that GMA
segment, he lectured, "But, for now, despite all the passionate, anti-incumbent
tea parties, the math suggests limited changes on Capitol Hill."
Hendren seemed to be offering a contradictory message on Saturday:
"Conservatives hope to take advantage of a historic opportunity, to unite a
public that polls show is shifting to the right."
On Friday's show, correspondent
Claire
Shipman reported from CPAC's Washington D.C. conference and chided the GOP
for its "big tent problem."
Hendren's comment on Saturday about the "far right" came before he played a
clip of Ryan Sorba of the Young Americans for Freedom organization. Sorba
denounced CPAC for allowing a group of gay conservatives to participate in the
event. Sorba screamed, "I'd like to condemn CPAC for bringing GOPRIDE to this
event! Bring it! Bring it! I love it."
A transcript of the February 20 segment, which aired at 7:14am EST, follows:
BILL WEIR: Well, conservatives are out in full force in Washington today, as
they wrap up their annual conference. The right is rejuvenated, predicting big
Republican gains in November. And setting their sights on the White House in
2012. But who will lead that charge? John Hendren is there covering that and
joins us now. Good morning, John.
JOHN HENDREN: Good morning, Bill. This annual Conservative Political Action
Conference is an ideal place to look for where the conservative movement is
heading and just who is heading it in the years of George W. Bush. They come
from the right-
KEN CUCCINELLI: Shrink the power of government. Period.
HENDREN: And the far right.
RYAN SORBA : I'd like to condemn CPAC for bringing GOPRIDE to this event.
Bring it! Bring it! I love it.
HENDREN: New faces. And familiar ones.
MICHELE BACHMANN: You like that. I do, too.
HENDREN: Old, young, and very young to unite at the Conservative Political
Action Conference, against a common adversary.
TIM PAWLENTY (R-Minn): President Obama does not share that commitment. If
government spending were an Olympic sport, he would be a repeat gold
medalist.
HENDREN: 125 People showed up at the first CPAC meeting in 1973, to hear a
keynote speaker named Ronald Reagan. Today, there are a record 10,000. And
they're on fire.
DICK CHENEY: A welcome like that is almost enough to want to make me [sic]
run for office again.
HENDREN: Conservatives hope to take advantage of a historic opportunity, to
unite a public that polls show is shifting to the right. But that movement is
fractious.
JOHN AVLON (Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe Is Hijacking America): Reagan's
ideal of the big tent, which invited people in, is now seen as code language for
liberal Republicans.
CRAIG SHIRLEY (Author, Rendezvous With Destiny): I never liked the phrase big
tent because, to me, it meant that, you know, you let too many clowns into the
movement or into the party.
HENDREN: The tea party goers came with their own agenda and a fiscally
conservative contract from America [sic] they want all GOP candidates to
sign.
SHIRLEY: There's still a marital counseling between the Republican Party and
the conservative movement and the tea party movement. They are going to dictate
terms to the Republican Party. And the Republican Party is going to have to
follow along if it wants their support.
HENDREN: That leaves Democrats with an opportunity to portray Republicans as
a party that can unite only on saying no.
REP. MIKE PENCE [In unidentified liberal ad]: The answer is, no.
HENDREN: United against President Obama, conservatives now face the challenge
of uniting voters behind them. Today, conference attendees will be voting in a
straw poll for a new conservative standard bearer. But many say the likeliest
winner isn't eligible this year. That's because Sarah Palin didn't show up.
Bill?
-Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research
Center.
