The Cream Of The Conservative Crop: 2009 Values Voter Summit

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The 2009 Values Voter Summit kicked off Friday, September 18 in Washington, D.C. and ran through Sunday, September 20. The annual conservative gathering featured such Republican stars as Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX), above. TPM dissects the more interesting names for breakout sessions, including ‘Obamacare: Rationing Your Life Away’ here.

Check out the TPM roundup of the summit.

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Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, which sponsored the summit.

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A conference attendee. One of the planned sessions was entitled ‘Defunding Planned Parenthood.’

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Gil Mertz of the Family Research Council was the master of ceremonies for the event.

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The National Organization for Marriage made an appearance, still touting its 2M4M campaign.

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House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH).

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Bill Bennett.

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Mitt Romney, who told the audience that President Obama is ‘weakening’ America.

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Romney came in second behind Mike Huckabee in the straw poll.

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The books of Bill O’Reilly, John McCain, and Stephen Baldwin (among others) were on sale at the event.

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‘Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays’ was one of the many exhibitors attending the event.

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Mike Huckabee won the Values Voter straw poll, beating Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, Bobby Jindal, Newt Gingrich, and others.

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Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), Rep. Tom Price (R-GA), and Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) held a health care panel at the event, a study in out-of-touch conservatism. According to Bachmann, 95 percent of our health care problems would be fixed if we allowed people to buy their own insurance. Plus a little tort reform.

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More from the health care panel:“You own your health care just like you own your auto insurance,” Bachmann said. “You can band together with whomever you want…it’s called freedom!”

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Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) diagnosed the conservative condition, saying “Right now, millions of Americans are waking up realizing that they don’t recognize their country anymore.”

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Former Miss California Carrie Prejean also gave a speech at the event (preceded by the likes of Cantor and Boehner), where she impressed the audience with an emotional message. “Even though I didn’t win the crown that night,” she said, “I know that the Lord has so much of a bigger crown in heaven for me.” The crowd got up and cheered.

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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

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“How Would Jesus Vote?”

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For the Cadillac.

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Stephen, drummer of the Baldwin Band.

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Terry Jeffrey.

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Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO) talks monkeys and golf balls.

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Anti-abortion student activist Lila Rose.

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Attendees head for breakout sessions.

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No snack breaks.

Check out the TPM roundup of the summit.

Jeff Malet/maletphoto.com

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