The Heritage Foundation has shifted its explanation for backing out of this year’s CPAC conference, with James Weidman, a foundation spokesman, telling the New York Times: “GOProud was one element in the decision.”
A number of conservative groups and politicians aren’t participating in the annual conservative conference — some citing GOProud’s involvement as the reason.
Heritage has previously been quick to deny that its decision had anything to do with GOProud’s participation, and the Wall Street Journal reported them saying earlier this month:
We hope that CPAC will better define what they are about,” say Heritage’s vice president for communications, Mike Gonzalez, who said the decision was not directly linked to GOProud’s participation.
Ben Smith wrote yesterday that Gonzalez has suggested “that it was just a matter of cutting down the number of events they participate in.” And Dave Weigel reported that Heritage told him it was a financial decision.
Though Gonzalez also told World Net Daily at the time: “We believe in the traditional definition of the family. We believe in defending the family against any threats that come against it. We’re not for gay marriage. We don’t think institutions that have existed for millennia can be done away with at the drop of a hat.”
