--- title: CPAC 2019: Photographs From the Conservative Meetup description: The Conservative Political Action Conference is the biggest annual gathering of conservatives, making it a microcosm of arguments in the GOP canonical: https://time.com/5542009/cpac-2019-conservatives/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2019-03-01T23:16:02.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T04:57:14.001Z article:section: Politics og:title: CPAC 2019: Photographs From the Conservative Meetup og:description: The Conservative Political Action Conference is the biggest annual gathering of conservatives, making it a microcosm of arguments in the GOP og:url: https://time.com/5542009/cpac-2019-conservatives/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4024676c6207f2c9/69894615ab6d77592d6b4ece/mark-peterson-cpac-photos-02.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: CPAC 2019 og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: CPAC 2019: Photographs From the Conservative Meetup twitter:description: The Conservative Political Action Conference is the biggest annual gathering of conservatives, making it a microcosm of arguments in the GOP twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4024676c6207f2c9/69894615ab6d77592d6b4ece/mark-peterson-cpac-photos-02.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 --- # Inside the World of CPAC Mar 1, 2019 11:16 PM CUT  The Circus' Mark McKinnon in front of a painting by Julian Raven. The Circus' Mark McKinnon in front of a painting by Julian Raven.Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME by [Ryan Teague Beckwith](/author/ryan-teague-beckwith/) ## Ryan Teague Beckwith Mar 1, 2019 11:16 PM CUT The Conservative Political Action Conference is the biggest annual gathering of conservatives, making it a microcosm of the arguments taking place inside — and outside — the Republican Party. This year’s theme could be summed up in one word: socialism. Speaker after speaker railed against the specter of socialism, highlighting freshman Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, warning that the Green New Deal on climate change and Medicare for All would [transform the country’s fabric](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/paloma/the-trailer/2019/02/28/the-trailer-at-cpac-it-s-their-way-or-the-socialist-way/5c7704271b326b2d177d5f84/?utm%5Fterm=.52f7354fe709 "undefined"). At times, they acknowledged that this would be a likely theme of the 2020 presidential campaign. “We can’t think that the American people understand what socialism is,” said Ronna McDaniel, the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee. “We have to go out and educate people. We need to talk about Venezuela.” Another theme: Trump. Just as many speakers praised the president and his policies, conservatives who have raised doubts were mostly off-stage, if they were in attendance at all. TIME sent photographer Mark Peterson to capture the mood of CPAC in 2019.  Fox News' Sara Carter and Kellyanne Conway are interviewed by Scott Walter. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  Cutout of President Donald Trump at CPAC. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  Attendees shows support for President Donald Trump. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  An attendee shows support for President Donald Trump. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  A young attendee shows support for President Donald Trump. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  Vice President Mike Pence greets the crowd. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  President Trump supporters at CPAC. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. seen here in a video played at CPAC. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  An attendee at CPAC and his buttons. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  Attendees at CPAC. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  A selection of books on sale at CPAC. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  Attendees clap during one of the sessions at CPAC. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  An attendee takes a photo of a painting of President Donald Trump with their phone. Mark Peterson—Redux for TIME  President Donald Trump hugs the American flag. 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