Two Minutes That Changed Everything
SFL’s president, Alexander McCobin was invited to speak at the 2010 Conservative Political Action Conference. His speech caused a controversy that jolted SFL to the forefront of national attention and opened the eyes of millions to the meaning of liberty. It began with these words:
“First off, I’d like to thank the American Conservative Union for inviting me to speak. This panel is titled “Saving Freedom Across America,” and so in the name of “Freedom,” I would like to also thank the American Conservative Union for welcoming GoProud as a co-sponsor of this event, not because of any politics, but because of the message that it sends. If what you truly care about is freedom, limited government, and prosperity, then this symbol is a step in the right direction, and look to the student movement for support. The typical student’s response is to be socially tolerant and fiscally responsible. Students today recognize that freedom does not come in pieces. It is a single concept we must defend at all times.”
While Alexander’s remarks were met with a few boos, cheers and applause from the 1,000+ person crowd overwhelmed the handful of detractors. At the end of the speech, Alexander received a standing ovation (the only speaker on the 15-person panel to receive such an honor), and the support from the audience was so great that the panel’s moderator had to ask the audience three times to quiet down so the next panelist could speak. When another panelist took the podium and denounced CPAC for its tolerance, the audience booed him off stage, condemning him for not respecting the equal rights of individuals regardless of sexuality.
The controversy became a YouTube sensation and was featured on national media ranging from the Countdown with Keith Olbermann to The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, reaching millions of viewers. After CPAC, SFL was inundated with emails from individuals on both the left and right praising us for speaking out against the mainstream and showing that people can believe in liberty in both the social and economic realms. CPAC highlighted the growing support for liberty and propelled SFL into a leading role in building that support.
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