Conservatives urged to ‘stick together’
VP tells CPAC that Trump, Congress a rare GOP opportunity
Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference, White House chief of staff Reince Priebus pleaded for patience and unity, urging activists not to squander the Republican Party’s control of both chambers of Congress and the White House. Trump adviser Steve Bannon made his case for a governing strategy based on aggressive deregulation and an “economic nationalism” in negotiating new free trade deals.
“What you’ve got is an incredible opportunity to use this victory,” Priebus said. Some of Trump’s plans for creating jobs and putting more money in people’s pockets will take time, he said. “We’ve got to stick together and make sure we have President Trump for eight years.”
Priebus’ pleas acknowledged conservatives’ underlying skepticism about the new president, a former Democrat who in the past has elicited boos at the conference.
Trump has often suggested he doesn’t prioritize the social issues many conservatives elevate, and his proposal for a massive infrastructure bill has fueled doubts about his commitment to curb government spending.
But with a Republican in the White House for the first time in eight years, many activists say they feel energized and more than willing to give him a chance.
The decades-old CPAC, as the event is known, is now really more like “TPAC,” White House counselor Kellyanne Conway said.
She and other Trump administration speakers thanked conservatives for voting for Trump on Nov. 8. Bannon said appreciation would largely be the theme of the president’s remarks Friday to the group.
Meanwhile, Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday night that the country has what could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to install conservative solutions to the nation’s problems.
Pence said Trump’s election is the “chance we’ve worked so hard, so long, to see.”
Earlier, many in the audience chanted “Trump! Trump! Trump!” as Bannon, a provocateur and outsider, and Priebus, a GOP party insider, made a joint appearance on stage. The duo’s chummy joint interview seemed designed to rebuff media reports that the two are working at cross-purposes in a factionalized White House.
Priebus presented their partnership as evidence that conservatives and Trump supporters can work together.
“The truth of the matter is Donald Trump, President Trump, brought together the party and the conservative movement,” he said.
“If the party and the conservative movement are together, similar to Steve and I, it can’t be stopped.”
In his remarks, Bannon emphasized Trump’s plans to deregulate businesses — or what he described as “deconstruction of the administrative state.”
“Every business leader we’ve had in is saying not just taxes, but it is also the regulation. I think the consistent, if you look at these Cabinet appointees, they were selected for a reason and that is the deconstruction,” he said.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos urged the activists to “engage” and “be loud” in the face of politicians who stand in the way of changing the education system.
Earlier, white nationalist Richard Spencer was kicked out of the conference after organizers gave him credentials to attend and then wavered on whether to let him stay.
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