CPAC is the largest and most prominent annual event for the conservative movement. Every year, the conference attracts more than 10,000 attendees and the biggest names in the Republican Party.
The gathering draws speakers from every facet of the activist movement. The speakers include media darlings such as Sarah Palin and Donald Trump; congressional leaders such as U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Wisconsin Representative Paul Ryan, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell; business leaders such as ACU Board Member Carly Fiorina; and leading activists such as National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre and Eagle Forum founder Phyllis Schlafly.
This year’s March 14 event will even be a reunion of sorts, as 2012 presidential candidates Mitt Romney, U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann, former Speaker of the U.S. House Newt Gingrich, Texas Governor Rick Perry, and former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum are scheduled to be speakers.
For those of you who do not believe that black conservatives exist, CPAC has assembled a stunning array of speakers from the African-American community. If you are an African-American (and even if you are not), you may want to tune in and listen to these speakers.
1. Dr. Benjamin Carson, director of pediatric neurosurgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital
This will be the most anticipated speech of the convention. Carson made headlines when he was the keynote speaker at this year’s National Prayer Breakfast. PolicyMic pundit John Giokaris described it as “the longest 27 minutes in Obama’s presidency.” Al Cardenas, chairman of the American Conservative Union, said “Dr. Ben Carson represents the optimism and hope of the future of the conservative movement, while at the same time he articulates the deep fiscal and social challenges that our nation faces.”
2. Crystal Wright, editor and publisher, conservativeblackchick.com
Wright describes herself as a triple minority: “[She’s] black, a woman and a Republican living in a Democratic dominated city.” Wright is a communications consultant and through her blog and other media appearances gives voice to black female conservatives. Wright is a leading voice for black female conservatives and writes frequently on conservative issues. Her articles appear regularly on Townhall.com, and she is a PolicyMic pundit.
3. Mia Love, mayor of Saratoga Springs, Utah
The Haitian-American Mormon burst onto the national scene last year when she gave a very well-received speech at the Republican National Convention. The National Journal named her one of ten Republicans to follow on Twitter. In 2012, she received endorsements from Romney, Cantor, Ryan, and Speaker of the House John Boehner. Last year she lost a tightly contested congressional race in Utah.
If she had won she would have become the first African-American Republican woman in Congress. Love lost by a little over 1 percent of the vote. Love will be a showcase speaker, focusing on young conservative leaders. She has said her goal is to “remind everyone that the GOP was originally formed to end slavery. [and] … we’re trying to end slavery from the federal government.”
4. Francesca Chambers, editor, Red Alert Politics
Red Alert Politics is an online publication written by and for young conservatives, and a product of the same group that owns the Washington Examiner andThe Weekly Standard. Chambers is the editor and leads a team focused on the conservative movement. Chambers has amassed an extensive and impressive resume as a leader in the conservative movement.
She is a veteran of several political campaigns and political organizations and has also worked in new media and communications. She has spoken at many conservative and libertarian events including The Leadership Institute, Cato Institute, and Americans for Prosperity’s “Defending the American Dream Summit. Chambers was named to the District of Columbia’s Republican Committee “35 Under 35” list, honoring some of the most influential young conservatives in the country.
5. Chelsi Henry, outreach chair, Young Republican National Federation
Henry [was] the youngest of the 50 delegates representing Florida at the 2012 GOP convention, and at 24 [was] one of the youngest of the 2,286 total delegates.” BET.com recognized her as one of “10 Republicans to watch.”
Henry is the first Republican in her family and considers Condoleezza Rice to be her role model. She has appeared in magazines such as Glamour and Seventeen and holds a seat on Duval County’s Soil and Water Conservation District, to which she was elected fresh out of undergrad in 2010. Henry serves as the Chief of Staff for the National Assembly of Black Republicans and the Florida Assembly of Black Republicans, both chartered by the Republican National Committee and the Republican Party of Florida. Henry says her goal is to ensure “minority Republicans are represented on the ballot and throughout conservative leadership.”
Henry lends her voice, shares her background and values and provides outreach strategies for groups looking to expand their message to the minority communities. Henry particularly enjoys taking the conservative message to historically black colleges and universities…
Read More: policymic.com
