An anti-abortion activist dubbed the “pro life pitbull” of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) has spoken out as video evidence (below) emerged of conference Chairman Matt Schlapp admitting he shut down attempts to host a panel discussion on the subject at their latest event in Florida.
Alison Centofante – who has served at Live Action, Alliance Defending Freedom, and the Concerned Women for America – took to Twitter on Wednesday to explain her disappointment with the American Conservative Union (ACU) and its conference, CPAC, for refusing to promote pro-life issues in the same way they promote other issues.
“I have served on the Social and Cultural Planning Committee for CPAC,” said Centofante, “where a small group of leaders meets to compile topic and speaker ideas and submit them to CPAC. These always seemed to be considered and many accepted. But not this year.”
“Oddly, this year, not a single speaker or session focused on abortion. Not one on the threat to women’s sports Not one on religious liberty Not one on family, marriage, sex trafficking, pornography, etc.”
CPAC claims to be the largest annual gathering of conservatives in the nation.
I’ve always been happy that #CPAC included the discussion of abortion and prolife speakers, and have spoken twice at the conference. Once pregnant and once as a new mom. pic.twitter.com/TzsXzttATc
— Alison H.Centofante (@AlisonHowardC) March 9, 2022
Centofante explained: “I had private discussions with other prolife leaders who were confused about this new direction. This isn’t about any single one of us not being invited to speak, this is about NO ONE being invited to speak. Groups that have sponsored #CPAC for years. Major pro-life leaders/ CEOs.”
The news comes as an interview with Schlapp – currently under fire for accepting $183,250 from a Soros-linked left wing fund – has emerged showing him admitting to shutting down any potential pro-life events at the conference. On Wednesday morning, Schlapp took to Real America’s Voice to protest that the money he receives from the left has no bearing on the content of his conference. But critics have pointed to Schlapp’s apparent endorsement of “compassion” towards transgender people as well as his antipathy to pro-life events as evidence of influence.
“We always say every year we should have a pro-life panel,” Schlapp explained, “And I broke that. I was like, ‘I don’t want a pro life panel’ and they were like, ‘Why?’ because I think everything is pro life that we talk about. Everything should be life affirming.”
He went on to say, “We will have speakers that are pro-abortion and for legal abortion,” before going on to state how he wants CPAC to be welcoming of people of different perspectives, not just pro-life conservatives.
But the argument failed to hit home with activists like Centofante, who responded on Twitter: “Matt says ‘everythings prolife that we talk about.’ That’s not true and it’s not a logic he applies to other issues. Imagine him saying: ‘Everything we talk about is prison reform.’ ‘Everything we talk about is ‘lock her up.” Secondly, while yes, everyone is invited to attend CPAC, they should come and hear what the conservative movement is advancing to save lives. Imagine Matt saying ‘We don’t want to talk about lower taxes because there are some here who believe in higher taxes.’
“The right to life is a key tenant of conservative values. The acknowledgment that every life has value is something one side uniquely claims to believe. I can’t let CPAC or conservative leaders play down the seriousness of abortion.
“For abortion not to be covered this year, as the Supreme Court reconsiders Roe v. Wade, as states actively pursue prolife and pro-abortion legislation, is incredibly disappointing. There is a multi-million dollar marketing Goliath pushing abortion to women and girls every day, in every way they can. Democrat conferences proudly include those voices. CPAC couldn’t give 30 minutes to address the life-affirming options of parenting and adoption?”
Schlapp has still not pledged to return his nearly $200,000 donation from the far-left New Venture Fund, instead attacking critics as being upset at not being invited to speak at his conference.
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