LAS VEGAS – Amidst a slew of liberal legislation passing Congress, conservatives have many reasons to feel down and out. However, at the RightOnline convention this weekend, hosted by Americans for Prosperity Foundation, the mood was overwhelmingly positive. From brand-new grassroots activists to veteran campaigners, the feeling was the same.
Activists from all over America took part in sessions that taught tips on how to effectively use blogs, Facebook and Twitter. There was an advanced track that focused more on connecting and mobilizing online. Other sessions stressed the importance of citizen journalism and the major news stories that broke in outlets outside of the traditional mainstream media. The underlying message: Everyone can make a difference.
The mood was overwhelmingly positive. The audience (made up of mostly women and including people from all over the country) cheered wildly for every speaker from Irish journalist and documentary filmmaker Ann McElhinney and RedState editor Erick Erickson to Reps. Mike Pence (R-IN) and Michele Bachmann (R-MN). They were hopeful about the message of personal liberty, free markets and smaller government. It is a message that the American public is hearing, but continues to fall on deaf ears in Washington.
This is the third year of the RightOnline conference and it continues to grow every year. Organizers boasted that it had surpassed the liberal Netroots Nation conference in attendees.
