The New Republic

At this weekend’s Conservative Political Action Conference, reeling from its demographic drubbing in last year's elections, the American right—or part of it, at least—is chewing over how to align itself with the nation's evolving mores. And much has been made of their efforts to expand the tent. Maybe undocumented immigrants, for example, shouldn't be deported on sight? And is it possible that gays, too, should have the right to marry?  READ MORE >>

While much has been made of Marco Rubio’s performance at CPAC and the GOP’s Latino outreach, it’s hard, walking the crowded, carpeted halls at this gathering, not to notice the Republican Party’s other big demographic problem: women. The attendees are overwhelmingly male and, of the forty-two speakers in the first two days of the conference, there were only five women. (Sarah Palin was slated for the convention’s third day.) This reflects the Party’s broader dilemma. READ MORE >>

Take a moment to browse the CPAC agenda, and guess which event today was most likely to devolve into a roomful of conservatives yelling “Can I just say something?” and “Stop lecturing us!” If you guessed “Trump the Race Card: Are You Sick and Tired of Being Called a Racist and You Know You’re Not One?”—a panel organized by the Tea Party Patriots—then pat yourself on the back. READ MORE >>

How do you find a job in conservative Washington? If the panelists at today’s jobs panel at CPAC are to be believed, the answer is simple: wiles, persistence, and thank you cards. READ MORE >>

As this year's Conservative Political Action Conference, at National Harbor in Washington, is the GOP’s first major gathering since the Democratic coalition trounced Republicans in November, it stands to reason that the party's demographic dilemma would be a preoccupation among panelists. How goes Republicans' hopes to refill the Big Tent with Latinos and young voters and the like? Not so hot.  READ MORE >>