CPAC: An Acronym for "Consciously Providing Ammo to Critics"

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Sarah Palin's decision not to attend CPAC this year, wrote Chris Cillizza on the Washington Post blog The Fix,  is "a decision, according to those familiar with her thinking, due at least in part to the fact that the John Birch Society is one of the sponsors." Ryan Mauro, director of intelligence at the Asymmetrical Warfare and Intelligence Center, in a Pajamas Media op-ed last month, about the JBS and its association with CPAC:

The jokes will practically write themselves as the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) takes place — co-sponsored by the John Birch Society. Every liberal commentator needs to send a thank-you note to CPAC’s organizers for that monumentally stupid decision.

By having the John Birch Society sponsor it, CPAC can guarantee that 90% of the coverage regarding the conference will relate to JBS’ oh-my-god-look-a-conspiracy attitude rather than the heavy-hitters and rising stars of conservatism and libertarianism that speak there. Instead of focusing on politics, reporters will ask attendees for their response to the JBS controversy and will ask organizers whether they are in such financial distress that they had to embrace a fringe group for support.

Mauro says some conspiracy theories the organization promotes today are not unlike those  advanced by JBS founder Robert Welch in the 1950s, only some of the names and guilty parties have changed. Instead of Dwight D. Eisenhower being "a dedicated agent of the communist conspiracy," now it's Dick Cheney who is a master manipulator for the "globalist" conspiracy, as evidenced by the former vice president's membership in the Council on Foreign Relations.

The author concludes by trying to understand what could have possibly caused CPAC to take on the Birch Society as a sponsor:

The most concerning element of this development is the question of how much influence JBS will have over CPAC, an event whose importance in the conservative movement can’t be understated. Is this simply a reflection of the dissatisfaction of conservatives, willing to find just somebody to uphold small government? Is this a reflection of libertarians just looking for somebody to oppose overseas wars and the war on drugs, and push more radical policies than most conservatives are willing to consider?

CPAC has made a major PR mistake in forming this alliance with JBS. It won’t be long until the media puts all those taking part on the defensive, forcing the organizers to spend precious time explaining this move. From now on, when I hear the acronym “CPAC,” I won’t think “Conservative Political Action Conference.” I’ll think “Consciously Providing Ammo to Critics.”

As for Sarah Palin, the last thing in the world she wants to do right now is feed her critics more ammunition. Why can't some in the conservative commentariat wrap their minds around that fact.

- JP