Ronald Kessler, Newsmax's chief Washington correspondent, is nothing if not a committed conservative (perhaps a little too committed, if Kessler's creepy fixation on Mitt Romney's wife is any indication). So it's not surprising that one of his favorite sources is American Conservative Union president David Keene. Kessler has repeatedly provided Keene a platform for his views.

It's a relationship that recently paid off for Kessler. At February's Conservative Political Action Conference -- operated by Keene's ACU -- Kessler received the inaugural Robert Novak Journalist of the Year Award. The award, which was voted on by the 96 co-sponsors of CPAC, was presented by Keene himself. During his acceptance speech, Kessler asserted that Fox News “really is fair and balanced,” which also shows just how committed a conservative he is.

Kessler reciprocated by penning a pair of fawning articles about CPAC. This was followed up by a March 1 article in which Kessler provided Keene with a platform yet again, this time to rebut complaints that CPAC isn't conservative enough, as allegedly evidenced by allowing the gay group GOProud to participate. “Keene sees the divergent views as being emblematic of the conservative movement and a sign of its health,” Kessler wrote. He didn't mention, however, that he had just received an award from CPAC.

Kessler goes on to note that Keene “becomes president of the National Rifle Association in May of next year, in addition to heading the ACU.” Look for Kessler to write a lot more about guns in the near future.