American Conservative Union

The American Conservative Union (ACU) is an American political organization that advocates for conservative policies, ranks politicians based on their level of conservatism, and organizes the Conservative Political Action Conference. Founded on 18 December 1964, it calls itself the oldest ongoing conservative lobbying organization in the U.S.[1] The ACU is concerned with what they define as foundations of conservatism, issues such as personal liberty or freedom, foreign policy, and traditional values.[2]

American Conservative Union
FormationDecember 18, 1964 (1964-12-18)
Location
  • 1199 N Fairfax St, Alexandria, VA 22314
Coordinates38.9005°N 77.0306°W / 38.9005; -77.0306
Websitewww.conservative.org

Activities

The ACU comprises three entities: The American Conservative Union, a 501(c)(4) organization which conducts lobbying; The American Conservative Union Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization best known for hosting the Conservative Political Action Conference; and The American Conservative Union Political Action Committee, a PAC that formally endorses and funds conservative candidates for federal office.

Congressional ratings

Dating back to 1971, ACU has implemented its own scoring system which annually rates politicians on their conservatism.[3] While the scorecard was novel to conservatism, Americans for Democratic Action has utilized a liberal rubric for liberalism since 1947.[4][5]

Each publication of Congressional and State Ratings contains a statement from Chairman Matt Schlapp about the philosophy guiding the ratings as one of conservatism: "We begin with our philosophy (conservatism is the political philosophy that sovereignty resides in the person) and then apply our understanding of government (its essential role is to defend life, liberty, and property)."[6]

Unlike other congressional ratings that take positions on pending legislation, ACU Foundation rates votes already cast by lawmakers. Each rating provides a conservative interpretation of an official's view of governance. As one spokesperson for the ACU once noted, "clear-cut distinctions between liberals and conservatives [occur] if you have Crane, Ashbrook, and Kemp go a certain way and Burton goes the other".[7]

The ACU annually rates politicians according to how they vote on key issues, providing a numerical indicator of how much the lawmakers agreed with conservative ideals. They use this rating system as a point of accountability for politicians, comparing their political rhetoric to their voting records to assess their conservativeness.[8] Politicians are given a percentile rating, anyone with a rating of over 80% is considered to be an "ACU Conservative".[9] These scores are often used in political science research, in news stories and in election campaigns.

Conservative Political Action Conference

ACU's most well-known event is the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), an annual event organized by the ACU foundation.[5] CPAC has an annual attendance of thousands. Speakers regularly include sitting and former presidents and other famous conservatives. CPAC 2017 featured President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), Governors Matt Bevin (R-KY), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Doug Ducey (R-AZ), and Scott Walker (R-WI) and executive branch officials (EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos).[10][11][12]

American Conservative Union Foundation

The ACU Foundation's purpose is to educate the public on conservative principles and currently has five "policy centers" which focus on different political areas. There is the Center for Arts & Culture, the Center for Human Dignity, the Center for Statesmanship & Diplomacy, the Center for 21st Century Property Rights, and the Center for Criminal Justice Reform (CCJR). These policy centers are mainly blogs which post articles regarding their topic area.[13] The most extensive of these is the CCJR, who advocate for conservative criminal justice reform through advising governmental officials, media advocacy, and testifying as expert witnesses at governmental hearings. The CCJR focuses on two main policy areas: preventing civil asset forfeiture and increasing mental health facilities within the criminal justice system. The CCJR works with the Texas Public Policy Foundation and Prison Fellow Ministries in the Right on Crime campaign, and offers a panel at the Conservative Political Action Conference each year.[14]

History

Founding

The American Conservative Union was one of many conservative organizations formed in the 1960s as part of the resurgence of conservatism.[15] As conservative activist M. Stanton Evans predicted, "Historians may well record the decade of the 1960s as the era in which conservatism, as a viable political force, finally came into its own."[16] During a time of increasing polarization between liberals and conservatives, activists began to build a well-organized conservative movement, forming organizations such as Young Americans for Freedom and the ACU.[17] During this era, conservative groups focused less on direct action and more on long term planning and sought to gain positions in public office.[17]

The ACU was founded in December 1964 in response to the predominance of liberalism in America as evidenced by the defeat of Barry Goldwater's presidential campaign.[18] Founders included Frank S. Meyer, William F Buckley Jr, and Robert E. Bauman, who organized the first meeting.[18] In the initial meetings, a 50-member board of directors was appointed, whose members included Lammot Copeland, Peter O'Donnell, John A. Howard, Donald C. Bruce, and John Dos Passos.[18] Membership grew to 7,000 within 9 months, and 45,000 by the end of 1972.[18]

As part of ACU's mission to unite conservatives, William F. Buckley and Robert Bauman led an initiative to declare ACU's views of the John Birch Society. ACU's founding documents state that,

There is no relation between the two organizations. The directors of the ACU take a view of world affairs substantially at variance with that taken by Mr. Robert Welch in his most publicized writing. Under the circumstances, the leadership of the ACU will be wholly distinct from that of the John Birch Society.[19]

Conservatives' view of the Birchers became a national storyline when Buckley continued to criticize the Birchers in his National Review column.[20][21][22]

Foreign policy influence

The ACU spent roughly $1.4 million opposing the ratification of the Panama Canal treaties in 1977.[23] They used a mass mailing campaign, sending out around 2.4 million letters.[24] This brought in roughly $15,000 a day in support of conservative candidates who opposed the treaties.[25] They also produced a thirty-minute-long television ad which aired on 150 television station in eighteen states, and took out newspaper ads in thirty states, encouraging citizens to write to their senators to oppose the treaties.[26] The ACU also helped to fund a "truth squad," formed by Senator Paul Laxalt, whose purpose was to "focus renewed public interest in the treaties" and pressure senators to vote against the treaties.[26] Gary Jarmin, who was at the time Legislator of the ACU, stated that the Panama Canal Treaties were "a good issue for the conservative movement. It's not just the issue itself we're fighting for. This is an excellent opportunity to seize control of the Republican Party."[26]

In 1980, the ACU estimated that it would cost roughly $1.8 million to defeat SALT II; together with other conservative groups, SALT opponents outspent supporters 15:1.[27] Having found the technique of mass mailing to be successful during other campaigns, the ACU used this same technique to oppose SALT II, reaching roughly 500,000 people with this strategy.[27] Additionally, they produced a half-hour-long anti-SALT television program called Soviet Might/American Myth: The United States in Retreat, which was aired on 200 television stations around the country.[28][4]

In 1985, the ACU sent out roughly 100,000 pieces of mail in support of Nicaraguan contra aid in 1985.[29] They also escorted Nicaraguan refugees around Capital Hill in order to persuade undecided politicians to support Reagan's contra aid request.[29]

Leadership

Founding members include: William F. Buckley, Jr. Rep. Donald Bruce (R.-Ind.), Rep. John Ashbrook (R.-Ohio), Rep. Katherine St. George (R.-N.Y.), William A. Rusher, Frank Meyer, Thomas S. Winter, John A. Howard and L. Brent Bozell.[30] Donald Bruce served as the first chairman from 1964 to 1966,[31] succeeded by John Ashbrook from 1966 to 1971.[32][33] M. Stanton Evans then served six years from 1971 to 1977,[34][35] succeeded by a two-year term served by Philip Crane from 1977 to 1979.[36] Mickey Edwards served as chairman from 1979 to 1983.[30] David A. Keene was chairman from 1984 until 2011, succeeded by Al Cardenas, who served until 2014. He was succeeded by the ninth and current chairman, Matt Schlapp, who has previously served as George Bush's political director.[37]

Lobbying in the 21st century

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the American Conservative Union spent roughly $20,000 on lobbying in 2001, $400,000 in 2003, and $1,100,000 in 2005.[38] They did not spend any money on lobbying in 2004. In the years since Schlapp was elected chairman ACU, has spent $120,000 on lobbying.[38]

Recurring lobbyists are Lorenz Hart and Amir Iljazi.[38]

Controversies

FedEx

In 2009, ACU offered FedEx the option of paying as much as $3.4 million for e-mail and other services for "an aggressive grass-roots campaign" to stop a legislative provision being considered by the U.S. Senate.[39] The letter said the ACU's campaign could include "Producing op-eds and articles written by ACU’s Chairman David Keene and/or other members of the ACU’s Board of Directors."[39]

Two weeks later, Keene and leaders of five other conservative organizations issued a letter saying that FedEx was mischaracterizing the legislative situation and was unfairly trying to tap into public resentment against federal bailouts to attack its competition.[40] The letter included, at its top, logos from ACU and the other organizations.[41] Whitfield said that Keene had endorsed the second letter as an individual, even though the letter bore the logo of ACU.[42] The ACU then issued a press release saying that permission to use the logo had not been given by ACU, and that the ACU continued to stand with the policy supported by FedEx.[43]

Embezzlement

Diana Hubbard Carr, ACU's former administrative director and ex-wife of David Keene, pleaded guilty in June 2011 to embezzling between $120,000 and $400,000 from 2006 to 2009, during her time as bookkeeper for the group.[44][45]

References
  1. "American Conservative Union | Who We Are". conservative.org. Archived from the original on October 19, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  2. "American Conservative Union | Foundations of Conservatism". conservative.org. Archived from the original on October 20, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  3. "ACU Ratings". ACU Ratings. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  4. Kalman, Laura (June 28, 2010). Right Star Rising: A New Politics, 1974-1980. W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN 9780393080889.
  5. Micklethwait, John; Wooldridge, Adrian (January 1, 2004). The Right Nation: Conservative Power in America. Penguin. p. 5. ISBN 9781594200205. american conservative union.
  6. http://acuratings.conservative.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/06/Virginia_2017.pdf
  7. Fowler, Linda L. (January 1, 1982). "How Interest Groups Select Issues for Rating Voting Records of Members of the U. S. Congress". Legislative Studies Quarterly. 7 (3): 401–413. doi:10.2307/439365. JSTOR 439365.
  8. "American Conservative Union | What We Do". conservative.org. Archived from the original on October 19, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  9. "Stewart Named Top Conservative By American Conservative Union" (Press release). Congressman Chris Stewart. April 3, 2014. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  10. Stein, Jeff (February 21, 2017). "President Trump and his most controversial appointees will address conservatism's biggest conference". Vox.
  11. Levine, Daniel S. (February 22, 2017). "CPAC 2017 Speakers List: Headliners Include Donald Trump, Mike Pence & Steve Bannon".
  12. "LIST OF SPEAKERS AND SCHEDULE FOR CPAC 2017". February 22, 2017.
  13. "Home". acufoundation.conservative.org. The American Conservative Union. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
  14. "Center for Criminal Justice Reform". acufoundation.conservative.org. The American Conservative Union. Retrieved December 11, 2016.
  15. Durham, Martin (March 20, 1985). "Family, Morality and the New Right". Parliamentary Affairs. 38 (2): 180–191. ISSN 0031-2290.
  16. Evans, M. Stanton (January 1, 1961). Revolt on the campus. Chicago. hdl:2027/mdp.39015000534472. ISBN 0-313-21160-4.
  17. Hijiya, James A. (January 1, 2003). "The Conservative 1960s". Journal of American Studies. 37 (2): 201–227. doi:10.1017/S0021875803007072. JSTOR 27557328.
  18. Carlisle, Rodney P. (March 17, 2005). Encyclopedia of Politics: The Left and the Right. SAGE Publications. p. 509. ISBN 978-1-4522-6531-5. american conservative union foreign policy.
  19. Schoenwald, Jonathan (2001). A Time for Choosing: The Rise of Modern American Conservatism. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 234. ISBN 0-19-513473-7.
  20. "The Inside Story of William F. Buckley Jr.'s Crusade against the John Birch Society". June 20, 2017.
  21. Welch, David (December 4, 2012). "Opinion | Where Have You Gone, Bill Buckley? (Published 2012)" – via NYTimes.com.
  22. "Goldwater, the John Birch Society, and Me". March 1, 2008.
  23. Krepon, M.; Caldwell, D. (April 30, 2016). The Politics of Arms Control Treaty Ratification. Springer. ISBN 9781137045348.
  24. Smith, Craig Allen (1986). "Leadership, Orientation, and Rhetorical Vision: Jimmy Carter, the 'New Right,' and the Panama Canal". Presidential Studies Quarterly. 16 (2): 317–328. JSTOR 40574653.
  25. Critchlow, Donald T. (January 1, 2005). Phyllis Schlafly and Grassroots Conservatism: A Woman's Crusade. Princeton University Press. p. 258. ISBN 0691070024. American Conservative Union.
  26. Skidmore, David (January 1, 1993). "Foreign Policy Interest Groups and Presidential Power: Jimmy Carter and the Battle over Ratification of the Panama Canal Treaties". Presidential Studies Quarterly. 23 (3): 477–497. JSTOR 27551108.
  27. Sanders, Jerry Wayne (January 1, 1983). Peddlers of Crisis: The Committee on the Present Danger and the Politics of Containment. South End Press. ISBN 9780896081819. peddlers of crisis.
  28. Diamond, Sara (January 1, 1995). Roads to Dominion: Right-wing Movements and Political Power in the United States. Guilford Press. p. 137. ISBN 9780898628647. american conservative union anti-salt.
  29. Newsom, David D. (January 1, 1996). The Public Dimension of Foreign Policy. Indiana University Press. p. 212. ISBN 0253329604. american conservative union support for contras.
  30. "CPAC Over 30 Years: Conservatives Have Come a Long Way". HumanEvents.com. Human Events. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  31. "Conservative Body Elects Rep. Bruce As First Chairman". The New York Times. December 22, 1964. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  32. Weil, Martin (April 25, 1982). "John M. Ashbrook Dies". Retrieved January 8, 2018 – via www.WashingtonPost.com.
  33. "Who was John Ashbrook? - Ashbrook". Ashbrook.org. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  34. Clymer, Adam (March 3, 2015). "M. Stanton Evans, Who Helped Shape Conservative Movement, Is Dead at 80". Retrieved January 8, 2018 – via NYTimes.com.
  35. Schudel, Matt (March 5, 2015). "M. Stanton Evans, guiding force in modern conservatism, dies at 80". Retrieved January 8, 2018 – via www.WashingtonPost.com.
  36. Langer, Emily (November 10, 2014). "Philip M. Crane, stalwart Illinois Republican and 1980 presidential candidate, dies at 84". Retrieved January 8, 2018 – via www.WashingtonPost.com.
  37. "The Hon. Matt Schlapp". Conservative.org. American Conservative Union. Archived from the original on December 30, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  38. "American Conservative Union Lobbying Profile". OpenSecrets.
  39. "Letter, June 30, 2009, from ACU Executive Vice President Dennis Whitfield to Rick Rogers, FedEx". Politico. Retrieved July 17, 2009.
  40. Andy Barr (July 16, 2009). "Conservatives deliver FedEx smackdown". Politico.
  41. "Letter to Frederick W. Smith, President, Chairman & CEO, FedEx Corp". Politico. July 15, 2009. Retrieved July 17, 2009.
  42. Mike Allen (July 17, 2009). "Exclusive: Conservative group offers to sell endorsement for $2M". Politico.
  43. "Press release: Statement from ACU regarding false headline by Washington publication POLITICO". American Conservative Union. July 17, 2009. Archived from the original on July 22, 2009. Retrieved July 17, 2009.
  44. "ABC 7 News, June 6, 2011".
  45. Former Manager At The American Conservative Union Pleads Guilty To Embezzlement, June 7, 2011
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