TPM: Presidential Contenders, Top GOPers Roll Into DC To Kiss Ralph Reed’s Ring

[flpoljunkie]

Presidential Contenders, Top GOPers Roll Into DC To Kiss Ralph Reed’s Ring



Evan McMorris-Santoro
June 3, 2011, 8:32AM

With all the talk of fiscal austerity and entitlement reform dominating these early months of the 2012 presidential cycle, it can be easy to forget that the Republican party is still the home to America's social conservatives. Though it may be on the backburner of the presidential race for the moment, the culture war is alive and well in many Republican circles.

This weekend it gets its due. Nearly all the men and women running for the Republican presidential nomination and a good portion of the party's top leadership will be on hand for the Faith And Freedom Conference, a social conservative confab organized by former Christian Coalition head Ralph Reed.

All the big names will be here: from the presidential field, Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, Jon Huntsman, Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul and Herman Cain will speak. From Congress, Paul Ryan, Eric Cantor, John Boehner (among others) will appear. RNC Chair Reince Priebus will be there. And from the world of conservative entertainment, Glenn Beck and Donald Trump will make an appearance. A spokesperson for Trump told TPM he's attending at the request of Reed, though the speech comes as Trump seems intent on pushing his way back into the presidential field he left just weeks ago.

Speeches are divided over two days, with most of the major addresses coming Friday night. The event ends Saturday.

more...

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/presidential-contenders-top-gopers-roll-into-dc-to-kiss-ralph-reeds-ring.php?ref=fpa

[Proud Liberal Dem]

1. Why isn't he in jail?

or for that matter Grover Norquist? I thought that I remembered hearing that both of them were previously in cahoots with "Casino Jack" Abramhoff on some of his schemes involving Indian gaming?
:wtf:

[flpoljunkie]

2. C-span.org has the conference LIVE--if you can stomach it

http://www.cspan.org/Events/Faith-Freedom-Coalitions-2nd-Annual-Conference/10737421995-1/

I mean, really stomach it. The loathsome Eric Cantor is speaking next. And, if you hurry, you can get tickets to their banquet tomorrow where Herman Cain will be the featured speaker!!!

[flpoljunkie]

3. The faithful are getting the hard sell on the 'freedom' part of the 'Faith and Freedom' Conference

Paul Ryan, Who Supported Auto Bailout And TARP, Says Government Shouldn’t Pick Winners
Benjy Sarlin
June 3, 2011, 10:37AM

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) warned at Friday's Faith and Freedom Conference that the government needed to remove itself from the free market.

In a well-received speech, he offered his prescription for recovery: "Pay off the debt, keep our tax rates low and stable and predictable, stop picking winners and losers in Washington through the regulatory system, and get the system under control so we can flourish."

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/06/paul-ryan-who-supported-auto-bailout-and-tarp-says-government-shouldnt-pick-winners.php

[The Unawriter]

4. Don't forget AIPAC

Kissing a ring? HA! More like fellatio!