The American Mind

CPAC makes the front page of The Washington Times, and Sen. John McCain’s campaign shouldn’t be pleased:

Sen. John McCain is the only major Republican presidential candidate who will not address the nation’s premier gathering of conservatives this year.

Sponsors of the Conservative Political Action Conference, which begins today in Washington and brings together thousands of conservative leaders and grass-roots activists, say the Arizona Republican has “dissed” organizers by attempting to schedule a private reception for attendees after rejecting invitations to speak at the event.

“It was a classical McCain move, dissing us by going behind our backs,” said William J. Lauderback, executive vice president of the American Conservative Union.

…

“It makes no sense,” Mr. Lauderback said. “McCain alienates the left by calling for the repeal of the Roe v. Wade decision … but he then alienates the right by dissing their organizations — refusing to speak at the recent National Review conference, the House Republican Study Committee retreat and now CPAC.”

Mr. Shirley said skipping CPAC is a mistake for any Republican candidate.

“Any GOP politician who doesn’t understand this and the importance of this conference doesn’t understand conservatism,” he said.

ACU chairman David Keene told the paper McCain was “dismissing” conservatives. Like I said before missing CPAC was a dumb move.

“McCain Rejects CPAC Invite”

UPDATE: Dan Riehl thinks McCain nixed CPAC in preparation for a third party run:

I’ve always suspected McCain will go Bull Moose if he can’t win the Republican nomination - and I don’t think he can. If that SOB ultimately goes another way and throws the election to a Dem like Hillary or Obama, nothing will stem the conservative wrath.

[via memeorandum]