QUESTIONABLE SOURCE
A questionable source exhibits one or more of the following: extreme bias, consistent promotion of propaganda/conspiracies, poor or no sourcing to credible information, a complete lack of transparency, and/or is fake news. Fake News is the deliberate attempt to publish hoaxes and/or disinformation for profit or influence (Learn More). Sources listed in the Questionable Category may be very untrustworthy and should be fact-checked on a per-article basis. Please note sources on this list are not considered fake news unless specifically written in the reasoning section for that source. See all Questionable sources.
- Overall, we rate CPAC.org as right-biased based on its role as a platform for mobilizing conservative activists. We also rate it questionable and low for factual reporting due to poor sourcing, the promotion of conspiracy theories, pseudoscience, propaganda, and numerous false claims by its speakers at its annual conference.
Detailed Report
Questionable Reasoning: Poor Sourcing, Conspiracy Theories, Propaganda, Pseudoscience, False Claims
Bias Rating: RIGHT
Factual Reporting: LOW
Country: USA
MBFC Country Freedom Rank: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Organization/Foundation
Traffic/Popularity: Minimal Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: LOW CREDIBILITY
History
Founded in 1974, CPAC (Conservative Political Action Conference) is an annual event organized by the American Conservative Union (ACU), a 501(c)(4) organization involved in lobbying. The ACU consists of three entities: the American Conservative Union, which handles lobbying; the American Conservative Union Foundation, a 501(c)(3) best known for hosting CPAC; and the American Conservative Union Political Action Committee (PAC), which endorses and funds conservative candidates at the federal and state levels.
CPAC is a prominent platform for conservative politics in the U.S., featuring speeches and panels that address political issues from a conservative viewpoint. It provides a space for strategizing, promoting new conservative figures, and advancing key agendas like opposing government overreach and promoting conservative principles. The ACU, which organizes CPAC, is based in Virginia.
Read our profile on the United States government and media.
Funded by / Ownership
CPAC is organized and funded by the American Conservative Union, a nonprofit that generates revenue through donations, corporate sponsorships, and partnerships with right-leaning organizations. The ACU Foundation does not publicly disclose its donors in detail. However, the organization’s filings on ProPublica provide insights into its financials.
The ACU also generates revenue through ticket sales and event merchandise during CPAC events. Its Political Action Committee (PAC) formally endorses conservative candidates and funds federal and state campaigns. The ACU’s funding sources include major conservative donors, advocacy groups, and corporations that align with conservative values and policies.
Analysis /Bias
CPAC.org is a platform for conservative grassroots activism and policy advocacy designed to mobilize its audience toward conservative causes. Given its evident right-wing bias, it is important to assess the factual accuracy of its claims rather than focus only on its ideological stance. Typically, CPAC content highlights Trump’s achievements and emphasizes his role in the conservative movement. This focus on ideological alignment over critical evaluation limits the factual depth. For example, the article “Take Action: Stand with President Trump” encourages support but relies heavily on emotional appeals, positively portraying Trump’s policies without in-depth analysis or external references, which diminishes its credibility and makes it more of a rallying piece than an informative one.
Similarly, the article “World Day Against Trafficking in Persons: Our Kids Are Not for Sale,” while addressing an important issue, also lacks references to specific data or studies on human trafficking. The piece focuses on emotional appeals and broad statements without linking to research or expert testimony, which could better inform readers. The absence of these elements reflects a typical pattern on CPAC.org, where content often appeals to emotions but lacks substantiated claims.
Lastly, the article “America Uncanceled: Mercedes Schlapp is Joined by Sergio de la Peña” centers on conservative national security and defense perspectives. It highlights the successes of conservative leadership without presenting alternative viewpoints. The content continues the trend of CPAC.org, focusing on promoting conservative values while lacking external citations or balanced critique, reinforcing a one-sided narrative.
While the website is not a traditional news source, the speakers at CPAC consistently fail fact checks. In fact, most times, CPAC is fact-checked like this FactChecking Trump’s CPAC Speech. In this fact check alone, they highlighted 9 false, misleading, or conspiratorial claims by former President Donald Trump. Other notable CPAC speakers with poor fact-checking records include Mike Lindell, Steve Bannon, Robert Malone, and Tom Fitton. These figures have a track record of spreading conspiracy theories and pseudoscience.
Failed Fact Checks
- CPAC.org has not been directly fact-checked; however, its speakers and candidates they endorse have documented poor fact-checking records.
Overall, we rate CPAC.org as right-biased based on its role as a platform for mobilizing conservative activists. We also rate it questionable and low for factual reporting due to poor sourcing, the promotion of conspiracy theories, pseudoscience, propaganda, and numerous false claims by its speakers at its annual conference. (M. Huitsing 09/10/2024)
Source: https://www.cpac.org/
Last Updated on September 10, 2024 by Media Bias Fact Check
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