Scott Root at CPAC 2021

Republican Atheists’ Board Member and Arizona Correspondent, Scott Root, attended CPAC (Conservative Action Political Conference) this year in Orlando, Florida, that took place February 25-28, 2021. CPAC is one of the largest, if not the largest, political conservative event to take place in the United States every year.

This was Scott’s first time attending CPAC. While there, he handed out official Republican Atheists business cards to attendees, and discussed the priorities of Republican Atheists’ members based on a survey he conducted. Thank you Scott for sharing Republican Atheists with the public!

Scott was kind enough to provide details about his experience at CPAC, copied below..

CPAC is an experience that I would recommend to all true Conservatives, as well as those on
the fence. The topics covered were pertinent to these troubling times. The speakers were
uplifting in pointing out both problems and solutions. Some were definitely favorites of the
attendees, drawing several standing ovations. I would only have a couple of complaints. First,
there was no time to break for lunch or dinner, without missing speakers. Second, except for
the dinner Saturday night, the food available was terrible and expensive.

Should you attend, plan your days well in advance. Note the speakers you want to see and
schedule your nutrition and nature breaks. My wife will be attending with me next year. CPAC 2022 is scheduled for March 2nd-6th, with no venue yet decided. I wrote to Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union, with suggestions for breaks and that rotating the event around the country would be a good idea. I came home excited for the party and paid a total of $1900.00. Worth it all!

More details about my CPAC 2021 experience:

My journey started on February 24, 2021, at 5:45 AM with the airport shuttle picking me up at my home. They required a mask, which I hadn’t worn except for my eye doctor appointments and when visiting Costco. I arrived at my room at the Hyatt around 5:00 PM and could finally remove my Trump MAGA mask. Nearly 10 hours of torture; but, at least it kept the undesirables away. I received many compliments on the mask.

Hungry and thirsty, I showered, masked up and went down to the Rocks bar in the hotel.
Once seated, I could remove my mask and ordered a Sam Adams. Asking for a menu, the
bartender informed me that they didn’t serve food, but the 24-hour Market had pre-packaged
sandwiches. I passed, and opted to drink my dinner. Five beers later, I retired for the evening.

Thursday morning I ventured to the B-Line Diner in the hotel for breakfast. The food was
good, although not worth the $35.00 price tag. Now I was off to explore the convention center
which is about 400 steps through the hall from the hotel side. I snapped a picture of “media
row” with a few booths being manned for the event. Down the hall I found one of the volunteers
who had me take a survey that would show, “If I was honest” that I wasn’t Wuhan positive, and
told me to proceed on to register. I found that only media and exhibitors could register until
noon, when the general attendees were allowed. With 3 hours to kill, I went back to my room,
called my wife and watched Newsmax until 11:50.

Arriving at the check-in room about 12:10, I found a line with nearly 200 people in front of
me. Once inside there were about 15 lines for issuing badges. Nothing set up by last name, so
after identifying me the volunteer had to sort through badges to find the proper one. After
getting the badge I had to go to another area to get a temperature check, which if you passed,
you got a sticker. Another $32 for lunch and a wait for the Welcome Reception starting at
7:00.

The reception was in “CPAC Central,” which was the exhibitor’s room. I estimated that other
than exhibitors and servers, only 300-500 attendees were there. I moseyed around visiting
different booths and spent a half hour talking with Thomas Sheedy, President of Atheists For
Liberty. I became a member and snapped some photos of their booth. Friday being a full day, I
retired around 9:30.

Day 1

Breakfast, my table was next to James Lankford, then off to get a good seat. Once again I
had to go through a temperature check and get a different colored sticker. The front center
was reserved, with the cheap seats on the wings. Chairs were grouped in fours and I got an aisle
seat mid-way to the front. Masks were not mandatory, which was a big relief. Ron DeSantis
gave a welcome speech around 9:15 and we were off.

Speakers were Mike Lee, James Lankford, Scott Walker, Pam Bondi, Josh Mandel, Wayne
LaPierre, Lawrence Jones, Ted Cruz & Deroy Murdock. This got us to around noon; but, there was no break for lunch. I slipped out to concessions in the hallway and purchased an 8” pizza and Dr. Pepper for $15.00 to take back to my seat. I think the pizza was just a circle cut from a
Cheerios box with a slice of processed cheese and 4 pieces of pepperoni. I choked it down while
listening to the presenters.

Speakers were Ian Smith from Atlas Gym, Madison Cawthorn, Tom Cotton, Jason Chaffetz,
Marsha Blackburn, Ben Furguson, Matt Gaetz, Charlie Kirk, Buck Sexton, Matt Whitaker, Rick
Scott, Josh Hawley, Kimberly Guilfoyle and Donald Trump Jr. Time for a quick bathroom break
which wasn’t too far away. Then heard James O’Keefe and Dan Bongino.

There was a movie screening of “Save our States” and also the “Roe vs. Wade” movie
premiere. Not feeling like sitting through either, I opted for a shower and dinner. The nice
restaurant was Fiorenzo, and I was looking forward to a decent Italian dinner. When I asked to
be seated, I was told nothing was available until 9:30 PM. Back to Rocks for a couple of beers
and inquired about getting outside delivery to my room. The Bartender gave me a good pizza
joint which I ordered for 7:30 delivery. I had 2 beers and went to my room. The delivery guy
called about 7:15 saying he would meet me in the lobby at 7:30. The hotel would only allow their guest into the elevators. I bought a soda to take to my room with the pizza. They soak you $5 for a 28oz! A call to my wife and some news on the TV, then retired for the night.

Day 2

A letter under my door explained extra security from 7:00 AM until 7:00 PM Monday.
Expensive breakfast, temperature check, sticker; and off to the ballroom getting a seat in the
same area as Friday. 8:30 start featured speakers Paul Gosar, Mercedes Schlapp, Ken Paxton,
Richard Grenell, Bill Hagerty, Bob Lighthizer, Sara Carter, Jody Hice, Kurt Schlichter, KT
McFarland, Devin Nunes, Jodey Arrington, Mike Kelly, Cindy Lummis, Burgess Owens, Leo Terrell and Jack Brewer. I decided to skip a session for a stretch and bathroom break.

The food sucks, so I forgo lunch. Around 1:00 speakers were Ken Buck, Dan Schneider,
Darrell Issa, Mark Walker, Jim McLaughlin, Mike Pompeo, Andy Biggs, Lauren Boebert, Vernon Jones, Dana Loesch, Roger Williams, Warren Davidson, Jim Banks, Kevin McCarthy, Matt Schlapp, Pete Hegseth, Kristi Noem, Darrell Scott and Dan Schneider. It’s a little after 5 and time to shower for the Reagan Dinner.

Tables for 8 were only allowing 4. Each place setting had a copy of Pete Hegseth’s book. I
sat with a consultant, brain surgeon and retired Marine. We were entertained by a Rush
Limbaugh video, Mike and Sarah Huckabee, Matt and Mercedes Schlapp and Ben Carson. A plaque was presented to Kathryn Limbaugh who thanked all of his followers. Dinner started with salad and bread and a decent red wine which was never ending. I ended up having 8 glasses, as did others at the table. The entree was filet mignon, grouper, potato risotto, and glazed vegetables. Desert included 4 small items on our plates with coffee. Everything was pleasantly plated and delicious. As things were wrapping up, I made a bathroom stop. When I returned my tablemates had left, along with my book! Back to the room, a call to my wife and sleeping by 11:00.

Day 3

Breakfast, temperature check and sticker. A 9:00 start, sitting in my familiar spot.
Presenters were Jenny Beth Martin, Heather Flick, Mike Kelly, Gordon Chang, Larry Kudlow,
Josh Phillips, Scott Perry, James Carafano, Ronny Jackson, Hans Von Spakovsky, Dan
Schneider, Matt Schlapp, Tom Fitton, Wayne LaPierre, Matt Whitaker, Denise Cohen, Chip Roy,
Charles Hurt, Mike Johnson and Jim Jordan. We then got the results of the Presidential straw
poll, showing Donald Trump to still be the conservatives favorite with Ron DeSantis next.

There was a cattle row to enter the ballroom for Donald J. Trump. They let us in in groups of 25, and I was in the 4th group. I got a seat in the 5th row to the right of the stage. Again the $2500
people got front and center. Videos were presented on the screens and several personalities
came to the barrier for photos. I only approached Jim Jordan to thank him for the job he has
done and to shake his hand. I caught hell for not getting a picture with him. The president
arrived about 45 minutes late as usual with great applause and spoke for about 90 minutes.

I returned to my room around 6:00 only to discover I had left my jacket on the back of my
chair. Worried about being able to get back in, I was relieved to find it still there. A quick call
home and I’m in bed by 9:00. My Lyft to the airport is scheduled for 5:00 AM. Monday Morning
5:10 and my ride didn’t show. I ordered another from Lyft that was to arrive at the pick-up
area at 5:25. At 5:27 he called me and said that he couldn’t find me, hung up and left. One more
attempt was successful and the 20 minute ride started at 5:46 AM. My flight was a 7:05 so
breakfast was out of the question, and no time between flights in Dallas. Another 9-½ hours
wearing a Trump mask before Erica picked me up at the Phoenix airport.

Thank you Scott for taking the time to share this information about CPAC 2021 with us!

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