I fell in love at CPAC

I was apprehensive about attending CPAC in Washington, D.C., Feb. 26 to 28, and was thinking about just coming on Saturday on an exhibit hall pass when what should tip the scales to signing up for the whole shebang but an invitation to coffee from Little Miss Attila!

My standard for imagining how I would be treated came from my experiences with smaller-scale conventions, meetings, Gay Pride Day and Pride and pro-choice marches in the lesbian and gay communities (yes, plural). So I was expecting demeaning remarks from speakers and panelists, and anything from tirades to full-blown psychotic rants to punches from individuals I would meet. Mostly I’m talking about how I’ve been treated by other lesbians, but some of the nasty experiences were from people who felt called by God to threaten us during Gay Pride marches.

That’s what I braced for, but I placed my trust in the courtesy of conservatives and was rewarded beyond my wildest dreams.

As I’ve explained in an earlier post, a panelist for Conservatism 2.0 — I think it was Andrew Klavan — specifically called on conservatives to welcome lesbians and gays and I took the opportunity to speak. My remarks were very well received and for the rest of the conference strangers complimented me on my contribution. After the meeting, AlonZo Rachel, aka MachoSauce (see his video here for why we felt a kinship over my observations that victim groups like blacks and lesbians enslave their constituents), came up to talk to me! Joe the Plumber told me he liked what I said! (Later, when I came to his booth to buy his book, he remembered me and made a special point of finding a copy he hadn’t yet autographed to custom autograph my copy!)

I also got a kind reception at Bloggers Row, not only from Little Miss Attila, who is every bit as charming and intelligent as her blog leads you to expect, but also especially from Ed Morrissey of Hot Air, Pamela Geller of Atlas Shrugs — who I think is one of the bravest persons ever born, Andrea Shea King (Radio Patriot) and Dr. Melissa Clouthier. Little Miss Attila and I ran into Stacy McCain on our way to dinner after Rush’s speech, and he was nice, too, although not here, which I will deal with in my next couple of posts.

A couple more things about conservatives impressed me at CPAC. First, the racial and ethnic diversity of the people attending CPAC — as well the presence of another minority dear to my heart, people in wheelchairs (thanks to my late life partner, who was quadriplegic due to MS for the last 10 years of her life — even though I know from taking Margaret to a conference at the Omni Shoreham that it is difficult to navigate in a wheelchair).

Second, I experienced a very subtle detail that showed how well conservatives walk their talk on inclusiveness. Here’s the story: the Conservatism 2.0 conference on Saturday meeting room couldn’t fit everyone who wanted in. When the organizers offered those of us waiting in line the remaining box lunches if we would go get them, I begged an organizer to bring me a lunch so I wouldn’t have to lose my place in line since I was only second or third. When she did, I was initially disappointed to find it was a vegetarian lunch — sauteed green peppers in a pita pocket, a brownie and lettuce. I’d been envisioning tuna. Then the woman minding the door explained how much thought had gone into providing the lunches, including the vegetarian ones, and asked me how I liked mine. I remembered my manners and told her it was nice and I was grateful, which I was. Later I realized how much that vegetarian lunch meant in terms of inclusiveness, and then I was glad I got the vegetarian lunch instead of the one I’d hoped for.

As all these kind experiences added up, I fell in love with the conservative movement at CPAC — not any particular person — and I think what finally captured my heart was the final panel of Conservatism 2.0, which featured Glenn Reynolds (Instapundit), Scott Ott (ScrappleFace), AlonZo Rachel (MachoSauce) and Stephen Green (VodkaPundit) talking about three of the most divisive issues to conservatives — gay marriage, illegal immigration and abortion. What I loved was the civility of the discussion and the speakers’ indications that, while their beliefs and opinions are firm, they will give different ones a fair hearing. Well, that and Glenn saying he’s looking for lesbians and gays with closets full of assault weapons. I am a junior NRA expert sharpshooter.

Other kindnesses: I purchased books by columnist and author Jerome Corsi and Roger Simon, screenwriter and founder of Pajamas Media, at the conference. By coincidence, each man had to be somewhere else urgently when I asked for his autograph, and yet each graciously took the time to sign my books.

All of which made me think, “I am going to like it here.”

Which brought the following tune from Flower Drum Song into my head (ignore the last three verses, see above, “not any particular person”):

Music by Richard Rogers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II:

I’m going to like it here.
There is something about the place,
An encouraging atmosphere,
Like a smile on a friendly face.

There is something about the place,
So caressing and warm it is.
Like a smile on a friendly face,
Like a port in a storm it is.

So caressing and warm it is.
All the people are so sincere.
Like a port in a storm it is.
I am going to like here.

All the people are so sincere.
There’s especially one I like.
I am going to like here.
It’s the father’s first son I like.

There’s especially one I like.
There is something about his face.
It’s the father’s first son I like.
He’s the reason I love the place.

There is something about his face.
I would follow him anywhere.
If he goes to another place,
I am going to like it there.