WILL THE INMATES TAKE OVER THE ASYLUM? – AT 7:14 P.M. ET:  We already reported on one disgraceful blunder by the people running the CPAC convention in Washington – allowing the execrable John Birch Society to be one of the sponsors. 

Now there's another embarrassment:

Rep. Ron Paul, the libertarian-leaning Texas Republican who ran a quixotic bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, was the top vote-getter in the Conservative Political Action Conference’s straw poll, capturing the support of 33 percent of those who participated in the contest.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who had won the CPAC straw poll for three consecutive years, took 22 percent of the vote. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin won 7 percent and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty 6 percent. Pawlenty attended the conference; Palin did not.

Paul’s victory renders a straw poll that was already lightly contested among the likely 2012 GOP hopefuls all but irrelevant as the 74-year-old Texan is unlikely to be a serious contender for his party’s nomination.

Ron Paul is not a conservative.  He's a kook, a right-wing nut with fascistic leanings.  He is also, incredibly, an open, unashamed apologist for Osama bin Laden.  His website recently featured a tribute to a vile, pro-Hitler writer who'd just died.   

CPAC organizers were plainly embarrassed by the results, which could reduce the perceived impact of a contest that was once thought to offer a window into which White House hopefuls were favored by movement conservatives.

Well, at least they were embarrassed.  I guess they couldn't control who came to the convention, but maybe there should be mental health professionals on hand next time.

A spokesman for the conference rushed over to reporters following the announcement to make sure they had heard the unmistakable boos when the screen first showed Paul had won the straw poll.

This is the same old story.  William F. Buckley Jr. and Ronald Reagan fought against this craziness all their lives.  Through their efforts, the conservative movement largely freed itself from the extremists who'd held it back. 

I'm afraid we have some further work to do.

Many conservatives just don't comprehend the damage that the fringe can do.  Remember, the mainstream media covers for the extremists on the left.  I can cite you chapter and verse on how the media leaves out critical facts about leftist fringe operators.  But the media will never extend that courtesy to the right.  Every nut case will be brought front and center in news stories and TV reports. 

Look at what was emphasized at tea party rallies.  Thousands of responsible people showed up.  But if one guy had a crazy, threatening sign, it would make CNN.  A few days ago, when that suicide pilot crashed his plane into a building in Texas, some commentators actually linked his views to that of the tea partiers, even though there was no link whatsoever.

One of the most noble things you can do in life is to keep your movement honest and clean.  A movement, or a party, can be a big tent, but it cannot be an infinite tent.

I wrote at Angel's Corner last night about the danger of extremism on the right.  It didn't take very long for some nuts at the CPAC convention to prove the point.

Hard work ahead.  A lot hangs in the balance.

February 20, 2010