Melissa Griffin: CPAC Speakers Have No California Love
SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) - Some of the most conservative members of the Republican party gathered this past weekend for the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, DC. The speakers took aim at President Obama, the Democrats, each other and the State of California.
While by no means exhaustive, here are a few clips of what the conference's speakers had to say.
First, best-selling author Ann Coulter blasted fellow Republicans like Jeb Bush for recently suggesting that the government offer a path to legalization (not citizenship) for undocumented persons, saying, "There are many negative consequences to amnesty, but the one I think that ought to concern this crowd is: if amnesty goes through, America becomes California and no Republican will ever win another national election."
While I'm sure this comes as a relief for California Democrats, it's a pessimistic view of the Republican Party's recent efforts to win Latino voters. In fact, the Republican Growth and Opportunity Project has released its report which calls for the party to embrace comprehensive immigration reform.
Then there's former Florida congressman Allen West who basically called Californians greedy communists who are driving people out of our state and into red states. "When did ask not what your country can do for you become ask only what your country will give you? Look at California. It's hard to describe that state as being in anything other then a depression. Californians asked government, 'What can you do for us?,' and they got their answer. And every year thousands of Californians flee that populist paradise for tax-eased, small government, oasis of America's red states."
But there is at least one prominent Republican who bucked West's theory that taxes drive people out of California. In a segment called "Fight Club" (that you should watch if you have 30 minutes to spare) in which CNN Political Contributor Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson, editor of The Daily Caller, went head to head, asking each other questions.
Begala: "Here's my question for Tucker. Mr. Carlson: Mitt Romney, one of the wealthiest guys in the world could live anywhere he wants... except the White House. And so he chose sell his mansion in conservative Utah and buy a mansion in liberal La Jolla, California. Why did Mitt Romney choose to settle in high-tax, left-wing California, Tucker?"
Carlson: "Mitt Romney. Now the name does ring a bell...as someone who is from La Jolla, California as you well know, I would say it's inexplicable, to be completely honest with you. I would have been a lot happier had Mitt Romney moved to Highland Park, Texas."
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