Speech at 2015 CPAC conference: on Principles & Values


Sharron Angle: Hosts Conservative Commandos: "Believe in the Constitution"

Here at CPAC, Angle is part of the much-loathed press as a co-host of Conservative Commandos, a radio program billed as being "For those who believe in the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, and the freedom in which to express those core values: Where the newsmakers go to be heard."

Angle sits behind the black rope in the Conservative Commandos booth. With one hand, she clutches tightly a microphone that reads "WNJC 1360". With the other, she fiddles with a gold chain around her neck. She doesn't say much, and doesn't look that interested.

But Angle says she likes her job on the radio. She does it "just to kind of keep in the game, you know? You need to be familiar with the press, especially when you run for office or you have a public persona. It's good to stay in contact with the press."

Throughout the course of several conversations, Angle expresses disdain for the press but acknowledges the importance of being someone the press cares about.

Source: TheDailyBeast on 2015 Conservative Political Action Conf. Mar 1, 2015

Chris Christie: Sometimes must tell constituents to sit down & shut up

In a twenty-minute Q&A session, Christie repeatedly argued that the media has given conservatives the wrong idea about him. Again and again, he trashed the media, suggesting that "when you do things that I've done, when you take on a lot of these special interests that they [the media] support, they'll kill you." He also argued that he's much more conservative than you might expect, bragging about how he proved that a pro-life Republican could win in the Northeast. "Don't believe what the media will tell you," he said.

Christie tried to portray his fiery persona as just what Washington needs. When asked about his temper and specifically a past comment that a constituent should sit down and shut up, Christie answered, "Sometimes people need to be told to sit down and shut up," to cheers and applause. "There should be more of that stuff in Washington, DC," he added. "Someone should say it's time to shut up."

Source: Vox.com coverage of 2015 Conservative Political Action Conf. Feb 27, 2015

Ted Cruz: I'm despised by GOP establishment, but so was Reagan

Though Cruz is loathed by the GOP establishment, conservative activists love him. Concerns about his electability are his biggest problem. After 8 years of Obama, conservatives are eager to win back the White House--and to many, Cruz just seems too extreme to win a general election.

His response: Essentially, Cruz argued that he is the reincarnation of Ronald Reagan, and that those foolish doubters would have impeded Reagan's rise. "It was 40 years ago at CPAC that President Reagan said the path to victory is not pale pastels but bold colors," he said, as some in the crowd shouted those last two words along with him. "I am convinced 2016 is going to be an election very much like 1980," he said.

Translation? Don't worry about electability, because the glorious GOP landslide is imminent. "It's worth remembering, when Reagan ran, Washington despised Reagan," he added. The subtext--that Cruz himself is similarly despised--was obvious.

Source: Vox.com coverage of 2015 Conservative Political Action Conf. Feb 27, 2015

Carly Fiorina: Started "Unlock Your Potential PAC" in 2014

A prime speaking slot, a straw poll spot, a new super PAC--the former HP CEO is set to make a big splash at the GOP confab, and, if everything goes right, take on Hillary Clinton. The annual presidential audition known as the Conservative Political Action Conference has long been a place where a candidate can go from "who?" to "oh, right, that person." And if all goes according to plan, "that person" at the 2015 event will be likely Republican presidential hopeful Carly Fiorina. She's also the chair of the American Conservative Union Foundation, the group that puts on CPAC every year.

Fiorina started Unlock Your Potential PAC in 2014 to help the GOP better appeal to women voters. The group spent $512,394 in Senate races last cycle. She'll no doubt be discussing this effort on a CPAC panel called "Lies Told to You by Liberals" and "Countering the 'War on Women' Lie."

Source: TheDailyBeast.com: 2015 Conservative Political Action Conf. Feb 26, 2015

  • The above quotations are from Speeches to Conservative Political Action Conference, Feb. 26-27, 2015.
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2020 Presidential contenders on Principles & Values:
  Republicans:
Gov.John Kasich(OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(NY)
Gov.Bill Weld(MA)
Democrats:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Larry Hogan (D-MD)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
V.P.Mike Pence (R-IN)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
V.C.Arvin Vohra (L-MD)
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