In another blow to boycott-ridden Conservative Political Action Conference, Sarah Palin has turned down the coveted-keynote speaker spot, making this the fourth time in a row Palin’s skipped out on the conference.
Palin’s political action committee SarahPAC is sponsoring the “Presidential Diamond Reception” on February 10 at CPAC, Ben Smith of Politico reports, so her absence is seemingly not part of the boycott.
ABC News’ Michael Falcone reports that Palin was offered the chance to give the closing speech on Sunday, February 12, but declined, citing “a scheduling issue.”
A spokesman for David Keene, Chairman of the American Conservative Union (which organizes CPAC), told Falcone: “We’re disappointed that she wasn’t able to make it this year,” and that Palin had “expressed interest in wanting to come this year.”
In 2008 and 2009 Palin dropped out at the last minute after accepting invitations to speak, and last year she declined without giving a reason, CPAC director Lisa de Pasquale said at the time. Politico cited a reported feud between Palin and Keene as the reason behind her absence.
It’s been a rocky road to CPAC this year, with several social conservative groups backing out of the conference over the inclusion of the gay conservative group GOProud. Even groups like the Heritage Foundation and the Media Research Center, and Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) are skipping it this year.
