Last week, thousands of conservatives from around the country gathered in the Washington, D.C. area for the annual Conservative Political Action Conference. The assembly of activists, politicians, media and various other thought leaders discussed the pressing issues facing the conservative movement and the nation in 2014 — and, ultimately, there was common ground.
After the conference, many people continued to make hay about various divides within the movement, as one might expect. Undoubtedly, differences exist between libertarians, social conservatives, moderates, young people, old people and everyone in between.
But as CPAC came to a close, one thing was abundantly clear – conservatives are united in the free-market agenda as the greatest, most proven avenue to prosperity for all. The overarching priorities that will drive the conservative agenda and attract voters to our side include opposing the President’s disastrous health care law, expanding school choice options and advancing America’s energy independence.
Conservatives across the country continue to focus on the negative consequences of President Barack Obama’s health care law. Despite the claims of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Obamacare’s horror stories are real, and the law’s unpopularity continues. It is clearly one of the primary unifiers not just of the conservative movement, but of voters generally, many of whom feel lied to by Democrats who told them they could keep their health plan if they liked it.
Throughout the three days at CPAC, speakers and attendees stressed the need to free the nation from Obamacare. Support for political leaders holding the Left accountable for this disastrous law comes from all factions of the conservative movement, as well as increasing numbers of frustrated independents who are dealing with canceled plans and rising costs.
As conservatives present their message to Americans, perhaps no issue provides a better ice-breaker than school choice. Allowing parents, not government bureaucrats, to determine what school is right for children seems like a common sense move for policymakers. A family’s location or income should never prevent a child from getting a great education, which is the first step in mobility and a bright future for children from low income communities.
Unfortunately, too many Democratic politicians remain beholden to powerful teachers unions that seek to stifle competition and accountability, and therefore keep kids in failing government schools. But school choice can shine the light of a bright future where the shadow of liberalism has long darkened the prospects of millions. Educational freedom is not only the first step in providing opportunity to downtrodden children, but it is also a great opening act in the introduction to the power of free-market ideals.
Obviously, the most pressing priority of political leaders is — or at least, should be — economic growth and job creation, and great opportunity exists in unleashing the energy sector. Unfortunately, too many liberals remain intent on stifling the advancement that created successes like the Texas boom and North Dakota’s nation-low 2.7 percent unemployment rate.
CPAC was rife with calls for to approve the Keystone XL pipeline that Obama has delayed for years, and to eliminate harmful energy mandates being advanced by off-base environmentalists. The prospect of thousands of jobs, energy independence from volatile foreign countries, and low-cost energy for millions of families is an easy effort to rally around, regardless of political stripes.
While Senate Democrats followed CPAC with a ‘sleepover’ — or all-night talkathon — dedicated to climate change, free-market advocates showed they are in touch with the concerns of average, hardworking Americans: Health care freedom, a great education for their kids, jobs for the unemployed and affordable energy to heat and light homes.
CPAC provides an annual bellwether, and for all the talk of divisiveness among factions, the oldest, largest gathering of conservatives in the country made it clear that millions of Americans around the country are still united and galvanized in the fight for economic freedom.
