As Media Matters pointed out, this year's CPAC has been the site of a battle between traditional, socially conservative groups such as the Family Research Council, and GOProud, a gay conservative group. In the days leading up to CPAC, the right-wing media, even the holdouts, began taking sides, almost universally against GOProud and in favor of social conservatives.

The rising tide against GOProud appears to have had an effect. In a recent interview on the FrumForum, Al Cardenas, the incoming head of the American Conservative Union, the group responsible for CPAC, stated that “it's going to be difficult to continue the relationship” with GOProud. From the FrumForum:

Cardenas, who was selected yesterday to replace outgoing chairman David Keene, told FrumForum that he disapproved of GOProud's response to the furor.

“I have been disappointed with their website and their quotes in the media, taunting organizations that are respected in our movement and part of our movement, and that's not acceptable. And that puts them in a difficult light in terms of how I view things,” said Cardenas

Cardenas made it clear, however, that the issues with GOProud were not limited to reaction and personal attacks, but ideology as well. Cardenas stated that he will prioritize the “true friends” of the ACU. From the FrumForum:

Asked about whether he values a big tent approach to conservatism, Cardenas said that he did - but that his vision applied principally to reaching out to different minorities and ethnic groups.

“There are not enough African-Americans, Hispanics and other minorities here. That diversity is critical - you don't need to change your value system to attract more diversity into the movement... [but] I'm not going to - for the sake of being inclusive - change the principles that have made the movement what it is,” said Cardenas.

“David [Keene] invited these folks [GOProud] in an effort to be inclusive... Having friends of ours leaving... presents difficulties to me,” he said. “There's always going to be some tension, [but] there should never be any tension between time-tested values.”

Asked if someone who supported gay marriage could be a conservative, Cardenas replied, “Not a Ronald Reagan conservative... I will say this: we adopted a resolution unanimously at ACU advocating traditional marriage between a man and a woman, so that answers how we feel on the issue.”

Cardenas says that his priorities as the new ACU chairman will be focused on “making sure that our true friends never leave the table.”