***UPDATED: RESPONSES FROM ROBERT SPENCER AND JOHN HAWKINS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST***

According to Hoyle, 2,717 conservative voters like to read about space aliens, Martians and ET’s. So they nominated the best science fiction blog on the subject for an award at this year’s CPAC.

Haha. Fooled you. That was sarcasm.

Robert Spencer needs no introduction. He is arguably the foremost western authority on Islam today. Er … you can retire now Bernard Lewis. Your replacement is here.

By an overwhelming majority of votes, Robert Spencer won The People’s Choice Blog Award. Slight problem. From the article:

Robert Spencer – I was surprised and honored that Jihad Watch was among the nominees for the People’s Choice Blog Award, sponsored by Right Wing News and TheTeaParty.net, to be awarded at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) 2013.

People's Choice Blog Award

As you can see from the vote above, Jihad Watch won decisively, getting over 50% of the vote in a field of fifteen. And I received confirmation of the victory from one of the organizers of the CPAC blog awards when I asked him when voting officially ended:

From: XXXXXXXXX
Subject: Re: You’ve Been Nominated For A People’s Choice Award At the CPAC Blogger Awards
Date: March 2, 2013 2:58:26 AM EST
To: Robert Spencer xxxxxxxxxxx
Robert

It officially ended at midnight. You won!

But as time went by and no announcement was made of this victory, and the voting continued despite my having been told that it officially ended last Friday night and that I had won, and the promised links and other placement promised to the winning blog didn’t materialize, I started to wonder. So I contacted the organizer who had written me telling me I won and asked him what was going on.
He told me that there was a slight problem: the Tea Party group, which co-sponsored this People’s Choice Blog Award, didn’t want to allow me to receive it at CPAC next week unless I promised not to criticize Grover Norquist and Suhail Khan as I accepted the award.

I told the organizer that I couldn’t agree to that. He asked me if I had planned to talk about Grover and Suhail. I said no, I hadn’t, but I had to now. So that’s that. The People’s Choice Blog Award is now the Grover’s Choice Blog Award. I will not be going to CPAC and will not be receiving this award.

The article continues here.

TRS covered the issues with CPAC in this thread.

UPDATED(TRS): I’ve been asked by the person who was involved with Robert Spencer in this ordeal to post his side of this story since he feels he was wronged. His name is John Hawkins and he runs the People’s Choice Blog Award at CPAC and he’s the one who spoke to Robert Spencer. I discussed this with 911infidel and we felt that in the interest of fairness, that we should also contact Robert Spencer and get a statement from him on the details of this as well. We have it and will post it in full as well.

First, this statement from John Hawkins:

From: John Hawkins
Date: Thu, Mar 7, 2013 at 7:30 PM
Subject: Has The People’s Choice Blog Award morphed into the Grover’s Choice Blog Award?
To: therightscoop

I’m John Hawkins and I’m the one who spoke to Robert on the phone.

Just to give you some background, I helped Pamela get the room she used at CPAC last year. TheTeaParty.net, the group that’s co-sponsoring the blogger awards this year, provided that space. Pamela and Robert were both at the blogger award ceremony last year and Pamela won an award. I’ve also interviewed both Robert and Pamela at http://www.rightwingnews.com, linked them from my blog and I considered Pamela a friend and Robert a friendly acquaintance before this happened.

I asked Robert, as a personal favor, to just pick up his award without ranting about the ACU. Some people may disagree, but I don’t think asking someone not to pull a Kanye West at an award ceremony is a big imposition. The awards are supposed to be about awarding unappreciated bloggers for the good work they’re doing, not about Robert Spencer airing his personal grievances with the ACU. When Robert refused to agree to that, it was the end of the conversation because there was nothing else to say. Let me note that I absolutely, unconditionally did not tell him that he was “barred from receiving his award.” In fact, I thought he was going to be at the ceremony until his post claiming he was “barred from receiving his award” came out.

Additionally, Robert did win the award, I personally had the plaque made for him and as late as yesterday he was even going to have someone receive it on his behalf, although I’ve been told he changed his mind about that. Either way, he will have a plaque and I promise to put up a picture of it when the pictures of the award ceremony come out if he doesn’t want to have someone pick it up for him.

Last but not least, if anybody has a problem with this, they can feel free to blame me for it. I’m the one who talked to Robert Spencer and I’m the one who’s saying that I think demanding the right to throw a tantrum as a condition of accepting an award is unacceptable. All I can say beyond that is that I hope lying to get his 5 minutes of PR was worth burning people who’ve been supportive of him, because he is dead to me.


Steadfast and loyal

John Hawkins

Now, here is the response from Robert Spencer:

From: Robert Spencer
Date: Thu, Mar 7, 2013 at 11:02 PM
Subject: Re: Has The People’s Choice Blog Award morphed into the Grover’s Choice Blog Award?
To: therightscoop

John Hawkins’ account below is highly tendentious to the point of being outright dishonest.

John represents his telling me not to speak about Norquist and Khan’s ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamic supremacists as a “personal favor” he was asking of me, not to “rant” and “throw a tantrum.” The ties that Norquist and Khan have to islamic supremacists are not a matter of a rant or tantrum, but a serious issue that is causing immense damage to the conservative movement and the Republican Party’s ability to oppose Barack Obama’s consistent enabling of Islamic supremacism domestically and internationally. It needs to be raised, yet as I told John when we spoke, I had no intention of doing so at the awards ceremony until he conveyed to me the order not to do so — which order only impressed upon me anew the need to call attention to this problem.

Also, John never represented this to me as a “personal favor.” He stressed to me repeatedly that he was conveying an order from higher ups which he told me he was further ordered not to name to me. And while he did make clear that I was welcome to come and accept the award, he also made it quite clear that I was not to say anything about Norquist and Khan (the ACU was actually never discussed), and that one was conditional on the other.

I ask in the interests of fairness and accuracy that if you print his highly misleading and disingenuous remarks below, that you also print these.

Regards
R

I have made this post show up as a latest post so that it will get the viewing it deserves.




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45 comments
eskimo08
eskimo08

Spencer is a truthful person. When he was told he can not speak about certain issues that are important to him, he declined the honor. And although he did not plan on speaking about these particular issues, if he is being honored with the award and asked to speak, he shouldn't be told what he can, and can not speak about, especially when he believes his views on these issues are truthful and important. That's not the way you honor someone. Spencer's refusal to accept the award shows that truth matters to him more than an award and an honorary speech. That's pretty impressive.

aNorwegian
aNorwegian

Any no-need-to-talk-about-Islam pseudo-conservative republicans should take their bible to one of the numerous Muslim dominated enclaves in Europe and tell the Muslims that, according to the Bible, Allah is Satan and the false prophet prophet Muhammad was demon possessed.

I am pretty sure that those of you that survive, will end up supporting Robert Spencer in his efforts to warn the West against totalitarian and evil Islam.

If you keep on supporting thugs like Grover Norquist and Suhail Khan you will end up like Europe. You have the privilege to learn from our mistakes. Don't let it all be in vain.

Greetings from Europe.

BayouCoyote
BayouCoyote

LGen.Boykin: Well, Grover Norquist, and it is hard for the Republicans to accept this, but Grover Norquist is a Muslim Brotherhood facilitator. Now, he's very popular because of his tax position and the influence that he has over taxes. But the fact of the matter is Grover is the one who brought in Suhail Khan into the conservative movement and has staunchly defended Suhail Khan, who is the son of a very radical Islamic cleric who had [Ayman al-Zawahiri] in his mosque in San Diego a decade ago raising funds, essentially to support terrorism. And Gover has a very checkered background and, let me say Glenn, that even now members of Congress are starting to recognize that Grover has been involved with some very questionable insurgent elements from the Muslim Brotherhood here in America."

That tree's needing a watering...

misterlogic0013
misterlogic0013

I found that, one can always tell a lefty by how they berate with personal attacks their subject matter, always comes out, can't keep it in. Case closed = fake Tea Party person .. Robert stand tall accept the plaque (award) be above it all, give respect, get respect, its not about you, its bigger .. this is a big deal, do not, not go there, (show up) represent the truth / truth never hides, so don't you .. many battles to be fought, go win this one .. thanks .. Sarah will be there .. woman has spine, show us yours ..

Laurel
Laurel

Well said! I think he played right into their hands and let them marginalize him.

las1
las1

How bad would it look at CPAC if someone who wins an award was refused the opportunity to collect it. He should show up anyway and flip the bird to Khan and Grover. Those bastards would have their mouths rammed shut faced with that scenario. Agreed.... Spencer should go, no conditions... period.

golfmom3
golfmom3

People's Choice Blog Award is sponsored by Right Wing News and TheTeaParty.net, right? And Cardenas claimed the "Tea Party group" said there could be no criticism of Grover? That's because this is a fake Tea Party group that circles back to CPAC.

"Fake Tea Party group sponsored cruise with slime Grover Norquist, TheTea Party.net PAC raised over $1 million, only gave $12,500 to candidates in 2012. Gives money to corrupt CPAC"

http://impeachobamatoday.blogspot.com/2012/12/tea-party-pac-theteapartynet-leadership.html

Laurel
Laurel

This isn't just a CPAC problem, which used to be a great organization, this is becoming a Tea Party problem. People better let them know if you are displeased or Grover will co-opt it.

Grover has a long history of being a self serving idiot. If he is allowed to co-opt Tea Party and CPAC then it is over.

aposematic
aposematic

Never trusted CPAC. Nothing new here for me. The name just, at least in my book, reeked of deception and possible deceit (like the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act name is an ultimate deception of extraordinary deceit) and nothing they do has even come close to changing my mind.

Laurel
Laurel

Have you ever attended a CPAC?

deTocqueville1
deTocqueville1

It appears that CPAC is being taken over by a group which has other than conservative objectives. Perhaps over the next year or two there will be a new and unbastardized group formed to return to the principles of the Reagan, Buckley, Goldwater era.

Laurel
Laurel

Or kick these guys out and put them in their place. If we allow 'new groups' to continually re-form then all we do is divide and conquer each other which is exactly what Obama and the left wants...let alone the ME and enemies abroad. Conservatism is the true bulwark in this country against despotism. the rest of the world knows this possibly better than most citizens.

12grace
12grace

Robert Spenser is a patriot and a man of great honor and integrity so glad he was awarded.

Betsey_Ross
Betsey_Ross

I thought I had comforting news about CPAC and our intrepid Governor, Bob McDonnell, but since connecting the dots it was just a head fake.

Tea Party meeting on Tuesday was mostly to vent against the politicians that voted for Bob McDonnell's huge tax raising transportation bill. Hastily constructed and not solving the problem which has been around for decades, it passed the House of Delegates with three votes from our area. These are all Republicans and two were elected because they were so-called grass roots Republicans. It got these three votes because the lead dog was promised more power by heading more committees. The other two went along to get along. Boom! It passed. This problem needed a solution, but not this one.

We found out that Bob McDonnell was invited to speak at CPAC and that he was dis-invited. Now that I have connected the dots, it is just a cover-up to protect Norquist. The Republican ranks are not happy with our Delegates and there will be hell to pay. I was pretty much ignorant of Norquist's recent past as he has always been somewhat of a hero to my husband with his tax stances. He knew of Norquist back in the '70s. He was pretty surprised to hear of this. Many people will be. Spread the word. This CPAC junk is unacceptable.

misterlogic0013
misterlogic0013

It will be about Norquist if you let it .. why is that ? much bigger .. firstly this post is about Robert Spenser.. Why split hairs, read more into it ? Robert steps up / Norquist is Morquist .. Sat high noon the winner = America = Sarah Palin .. got it ..

Wolfie
Wolfie

CPAC - Conning Pathetic Anarchist Clowns? From what I'm reading these people don't seem to have the first clue what the word Conservative actually means! Either that or, like the US government, it's been usurped by those who do not have the orgs best interest at heart.

"You and I have a rendezvous with destiny. We will preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we will sentence them to take the first step into a thousand years of darkness. If we fail, at least let our children and our children’s children say of us we justified our brief moment here. We did all that could be done" — Ronald Reagan

God I miss Ronald Reagan.

las1
las1

Infidel... here's a bit of a run-down over the last four years of the Khan/CPAC desert fiefdom imposed on ACU and the CPAC with regards to Geller and Spencer. From Pamela Hall.

http://thesilentmajority.wordpress.com/2013/03/06/the-death-of-free-speech-cpac-exposed-2009-2013/

Patriot077
Patriot077

Thanks so much for this link. I feel like I have followed this pretty closely over the past several years but there is still a lot of background I know nothing of! I haven't followed all the links or read all the material yet but look forward to diving into it.

las1
las1

What is interesting is that when Geller showed Wilder's film "Fitna"... at CPAC a few years back, Wilder's had to leave the room for security reasons as the mean and unhappy group “Muslims For America” were in attendance.

Patriot077
Patriot077

Yup. But non muslims are the ones who are branded to be the offenders. I read Geert Wilder's book and it is shameful that free speech has cost him his freedom. He is a very brave man. I wish more people would see political islam for what it is and stop treating it as an untouchable religion.

57thunderbird
57thunderbird

I don't know what Tea Party group he is speaking of,but nobody in my group has any problem with attacking Islam loving Grover.CPAC is a joke.And a bad one at that.

ssenecal5000
ssenecal5000

WOW Pam Gellar is so popular. Okay then she should hold her own conference and stop pitting herself against the only properly funded conserativa action group we have.

Since Right Wing News and Tea Party .net didnt make the list , how does their noms matter?

Stop the non-sense. Pam Gellar should hold her own forum at the own conference or just attend the existing forums at CPAC

She is the problem, She did interveiws for Current TV's documentary ,making anyone concerned about Jihadism look like crazies.

She is not on a list of "who we aren't going to invite to CPAC" There is no such list

CPAC just lists who are the invited to speak

Agaiin, GOproud, Christie , Pam Gellar can all attend CPAC as participants.

None are on a list of "non-speaker"

Colonel Robert Neville
Colonel Robert Neville

WOW you are so anonymous. Okay then you should hold your own logical fallacy conference and stop patting yourself on your pointed RINO head. No, really.

Patriot077
Patriot077

CPAC has, in the past, accepted Geller's application for Freedom Defense Iniative panels to run concurrently with CPAC. This year they refused her space. A speaking role was never the issue.

deTocqueville1
deTocqueville1

Obviously you need to read the materials again, including Geller's accounts at her site.

las1
las1

Geller's subject to a cordon sanitaire because of Keene, Khan and Norquist. Now that Keene is out of the picture, she's not even allowed on the premises in any speaking capacity. Seriously, How can you be so dim witted and still breathe. Get a clue and educate yourself. Start here.

http://www.therightscoop.com/the-real-reason-why-pam-geller-was-not-invited-to-cpac/

Here's Khan at his best or his Islamic dissembling worst... take your pick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpqbU7wq7Do

Khan and Norquist are running their own little desert fiefdom. Here's a quote from Khan: "Dr. Spencer... doesn't know what he's talking about. And that's why we have a panel of people who actually know what they are talking about... that's why the ACU has rejected Dr. Spencer, and Frank Gaffney, David Horowitz and Pamela Geller.

Khan can't stand the heat, or debate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRRFCe5POj0

Seriously, your lame attempt to defend Khan, and Norquist as the sheiks of CPAC shows there is an even bigger problem among conservatives. And no! Muslims for America attending CPAC is NOT a "Jihad Forum". Give yourself a kick and wake up. You're snoozing on the tracks and a train is coming.

[edit] links fixed

FreeManWalking
FreeManWalking

WOW Pam Gellar LIVES in your HEAD for FREE... You are the only one mentioning her.

You are so far off topic the water must taste a quite salty.

sDee
sDee

Grover Norquist is an unprincipled, quisling, islamic sympathizer who has done severe and permanent damage to our security and sovereignty. If Norquist controls CPAC, CPAC is a hollow shell of conservatism.

Pamela Geller is a warrior and patriot who walks into the belly of the beast to fight such putrid men.

Guest1776rcp
Guest1776rcp

Isn't Grover Norquisling married to a muslim?

Wolfie
Wolfie

Yup. A little more from Wikipedia:

===

He has long been active in building bridges between various ethnic and religious minorities and the free-market community through his co-founding of the Islamic Free Market Institute,[34] and his involvement with Acton Institute, Christian Coalition and Toward Tradition.[citation needed]

In 2010, Norquist, whose wife was born into a Muslim family, emerged as an outspoken Republican foe of politicizing the mosque-in-Manhattan issue, calling it a "distraction".[35]

===

A distraction... Hmm... I can think of many words for it, and none of them is "distraction."

JRD1
JRD1

Thank you for this info.

Sober_Thinking
Sober_Thinking

Who's running this? Karl Rove? Come on... this is ridiculous. So evil and corruption is creeping into every corner of our lives, huh?

Didn't TRS win this last year or recently?

Thanks for the post 911. I appreciate it.

misterlogic0013
misterlogic0013

Its great to know the truth about things .. Give me Sarah Palin the only true blue leader out there, honest, open to all .. debating the Constitution her being .. its never about her, stand tall Robert, more importantly, its about your writers, they won, you couldn't have done it without them .. go there, rise above the fray, be a man .. Speak about the accomplishment, enjoy the moment with your friends, you strength. This is your chance to fight, please make a bigger difference than you already are .. zero personal, freedom larger .. come on / buck up or stay in the truck .. thanks I hope you read this .. congratulations ..

toongoon
toongoon

Do not offend Grover. Do not offend Obama.

Hmmmm. I'm seeing a pattern here,both of them have strong Muslim influence......