The problem with linking libertarian causes like personal responsibility and limited government to the conservative movement is that the conservative movement is... well... conservative. Case in point (WND):
I don't personally blame CPAC for making this choice. Like the rest of the GOP, it's stuck in a Faustian bargain between its paleo-libertarian wing and its theocratic reactionary wing. Historically, the theocratic wing of the GOP has done a far better job of advancing its agenda forward, usually through the same negotiating tactics perfected by all toddlers everywhere - yell, scream, and stamp their feet until the adults in the room finally cave so they stop making a scene. The good news is the paleo-libertarian wing is starting to fight back. Breitbart, among others, is threatening to boycott. Even Chuck Muth is using the opportunity to burnish his libertarian-leaning credentials:
The good news about Muth publicly speaking up about this is he's not a "big-L" libertarian by any stretch of the imagination - he prefers to focus on "winning" libertarian issues and advance them selectively. If he's speaking up in favor of sexual orientation-neutral policies at conservative events, that's a very encouraging sign for the direction of the conservative movement and for anyone that wants to treat gay people as... well... people. Here's hoping Muth's support for GOProud's participating in CPAC is a sign that the conservative movement is finally abandoning yet another reactionary, mistaken policy once and for all. Now if only we could get them to stop blindly supporting the invasion of small, dusty countries and spending gobs of money on useless military boondoggles... |