Everything about The Council For National Policy totally explained
The
Council for National Policy (
CNP), is an umbrella organization and networking group for
social conservative activists in the
United States.
The New York Times has described it as a "little-known group of a few hundred of the most powerful conservatives in the country," who meet three times yearly behind closed doors at undisclosed locations for a confidential conference. It was founded in 1981 by
Tim LaHaye as a forum for conservative Christians seeking to strengthen the
political right in the United States.
U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney and former Massachusetts governor
Mitt Romney spoke at a four day conference they held in
Salt Lake City, Utah during the last week of
September 2007.
Meetings and membership
Membership is by invitation only. The membership list, previously made public, is now "strictly confidential." Guests may attend "only with the unanimous approval of the executive committee." Members are instructed not to refer to the organization by name, to protect against leaks.This policy is said to be similar to the long-held policy of the
Council on Foreign Relations, to which the
CNP has at times been compared.
CNP's 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status was revoked by the
IRS in 1992 on grounds that it wasn't an organization run for the public benefit. The group successfully challenged this ruling in federal court. A quarterly journal aimed at educating the public, promised in the wake of this incident, hasn't substantially materialized. The group has launched a website
(www.policycounsel.org)
, which contains selected speeches from past gatherings. A controversial 1997 address by the current
Prime Minister of Canada,
Stephen Harper, isn't among them.
While those involved are almost entirely from the
United States, their organizations and influence cover the globe, both religiously and politically. Members include corporate executives, television evangelists, legislators
The Council for National Policy is scheduled to have a conference in late October 2007. Most Republican presidential candidates have pledged to appear, with the exception of Giuliani.
Leadership
CNP was founded in 1981 by
Tim LaHaye, author of the
Left Behind series of books. Other early participants included
Cleon Skousen, a prominent
theologian and law enforcement expert;
Paul Weyrich;
Phyllis Schlafly;
Robert Grant;
Howard Phillips, a former Republican affiliated with the
Constitution Party;
Richard Viguerie, the direct-mail specialist; and
Morton Blackwell, a
Louisiana and
Virginia activist who is considered a specialist on the rules of the Republican Party.
The council employs about eight people. Its first executive director was
Woody Jenkins; later,
Morton Blackwell served in this role, which is currently held by
Steve Baldwin. Presidents have included
Nelson Bunker Hunt of
Dallas, Amway co-founder
Richard DeVos of
Michigan,
Pat Robertson of
Virginia Beach,
Paul Pressler of
Houston, and former Reagan Cabinet secretaries
Ed Meese and
Donald Hodel, as well as current president
Kenneth Cribb.
Criticisms
The
Center for Religion, Ethics and Social Policy at
Cornell University considers the Council for National Policy a leading force in the
Dominionist movement.
TheocracyWatch, a CRESP project, describes it as "an umbrella organization of right-wing leaders who gather regularly to plot strategy, share ideas and fund causes and candidates to advance the
theocratic agenda."
Limited media access
The media were barred from late September 2007 meetings of the organization. However,
Deseret News was afforded access to the meeting. The
Salt Lake Tribune (its competitor) criticized the journalistic ethics of the
Deseret News.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Council For National Policy'.
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