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Jimmy McMillan Takes CPAC by Storm

Jimmy McMillan
Jimmy McMillan of the Rent is Too Damn High party speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Feb. 11, 2011. Brian Montopoli

Jimmy McMillan of the The Rent is Too Damn High party held an impromptu press conference at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Friday that ended with a crowd of young conservatives chanting his slogan and begging for photos.

Standing in front of the booth for GOProud, the gay conservative group, McMillan, who said at the New York gubernatorial debate that "if you want to marry a shoe, I'll marry you," reiterated his support for gay marriage.

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He said he didn't want to know what anyone else did in his or her bedroom, and doesn't want them asking what he does in his - "because I get freaky in my bedroom."

Asked how he feels about "personal liberties," McMillan responded, "if you want to drop your pants, drop 'em, dog. I got your back."

McMillan said he would make an "official announcement" about a presidential run this afternoon, though the young conservatives gathered around him seemed more amused by his presence than concerned about his positions. He complained that "if you smoke a joint they'll take your ass to jail."

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He continued: "Oh, I know they're going to say, 'oh, Mr. McMillan, you're running for president, you can't say ass,' well Barack Obama said ass and I said I was coming after his black ass too."

McMillan said that "my job as your father is to make sure my children understand." He then said, "we got it? I want to hear you say why."

Chanted the throng: "The Rent is Too Damn High! The Rent is Too Damn High! The Rent is Too Damn High!"

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"That's what I'm talking about," McMillan responded. A few minutes later, he kept talking, urging support for Egyptian protesters and talking about other issues while holding up one of his shoes and urging the crowd to join him. One passing conference-goer was not impressed.

"It's just a guy screaming," he said.


Brian Montopoli is a senior political reporter for CBSNews.com. You can read more of his posts here.

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