Gov. Bob McDonnell at Prayer Breakfast: GOP Must Practice Humility
Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell told those in attendance at Friday's Faith & Freedom Coalition prayer breakfast, which is affiliated with the nearby Conservative Political Action Conference [CPAC], that conservatives must remember the biblical teaching of humility while working in the political arena.
"It's been said you have to have a servant's heart if you want to do anything right in the field of politics," McDonnell reportedly told a group of 200 people at Friday's prayer breakfast, according to The Washington Post.
"We want to be able to attract people to the conservative cause. People don't know how much you know until they find out how much you care," McDonnell added.
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The Governor, whose speech was centered far more on the importance of faith and following Jesus' example than politics, went on to suggest that the GOP party should begin acting in a way that reflects their wholesome, biblical values.
"I think we need to start asking, 'How are we acting? Are we happy warriors or are we not?'" McDonnell added.
Although McDonnell did speak at Ralph Reed's Faith & Freedom Coalition prayer breakfast, he was not invited to speak at the CPAC event taking place next door in National Harbor, Md.
Many political pundits speculated that McDonnell was not invited to speak at the large gathering of conservatives because he recently approved a transportation bill that will raise $880 million over the next five years, predominately through increasing the state's sales tax and adding additional sales tax in some regions.
Another well-known Republican voice snubbed from CPAC is New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who critics say was too positive toward President Barack Obama after Hurricane Sandy hit the East Coast in October 2012.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who is attending the CPAC event, told CNN Friday that he believes both high-profile governors should have been invited to the event, which is considered to be the largest showcasing of conservative ideas and leaders in the nation.
"It was a mistake [...] I think they should have invited both governors to speak. They're both remarkable reformers, they both have great records," Gingrich said Friday on CNN.
Gingrich went on to assert, however, that he understands those attending the CPAC event are expecting to see the most relevant GOP icons of 2013, such as Florida Senator Marco Rubio and Kentucky Senator Rand Paul.
"But I was there yesterday … when you see 2,500 students signed up, you see thousands of people coming, some of whom have been coming since it was started 40 years ago," Gingrich added.
Other conservative attendees at the conference told The Washington Examiner that they don't believe that McDonnell represents the true spirit of the conservative movement.
"I love Gov. McDonnell but I don't think he's made a big impact on the conservative movement," Samantha Rozzell, a Virginia Beach native, told The Washington Examiner, adding that she will be voting for Virginia's Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, who will be seeking the Republican nomination for Virginia Governor in 2013.
"He's on his way out. He hasn't really said if he'll do anything after he's done. They just want to show Cuccinelli is the new face," Rozzell added.
The CPAC event is being held March 14 through16 at Gaylord National Hotel in National Harbor, Md., and will feature such high profile political figure like former Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin and Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
