A cautionary note for RINO hunters

Boycotting as a political strategy

By Jennifer Rubin

Pete Wehner writes a smart post on the decision by two social conservative groups to boycott the CPAC convention because GOProud, a conservative gay rights group, will attend. Pete makes the case that "the boycotting organizations come across as defensive and insecure, as if they fear that their arguments cannot win the day on the merits. Perhaps they can or perhaps they cannot; but for organizations to pick up their marbles and leave -- and in the process to accuse CPAC of engaging in a 'moral sell-out' and of committing an act of 'moral surrender' -- strikes me as small-minded and unwise."

I would add a couple of points. First, this is, I would suggest, not an isolated problem. With the repeal of don't ask, don't tell and a number of states' movement on gay marriage, social conservatives appear off balance and adrift. What issue should they focus on, and why are certain arguments not resonating with younger voters? If liberal social positions achieve majority support, what can be done -- or should be done? Can the success in swaying public opinion on issues like partial birth abortion be duplicated? These are difficult questions that require serious discussion. If they can't be discussed at a gathering of hardcore conservatives, how are these issues to be resolved?

Second, this is part of an unpleasant trend in politics to excommunicate those who don't check the box on every issue. Taken to its logical conclusion, the CPAC boycotters would want to toss from the party those senators who voted to repeal don't ask, don't tell, leaving conservatives' forces much diminished and dimming the chances for progress on a host of other issues. It might be personally satisfying, but pursuit of doctrinal purity is a recipe for permanent minority status.

For the 2012 presidential contenders, this is a early test: are they going to encourage and stand with the boycotters or leave them on the sidelines while stumping for votes and trying to broaden their own support? We'll find out.