Largest Gathering of Top Republicans Meet Tomorrow
BALDWIN: Would you like to know the who's who of Republicans? Well, the largest gathering of is conservatives really in the whole country is called CPAC. It starts tomorrow, and you're going to see a lot of them there at this particular conference. Joe Johns is here with the "Political Pop," as always. And Joe, set the table for me here. I mean, why should people care about CPAC?</s>JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, you were just talking about food and the first lady and all. This is great stuff for political junkies. It may be junk food to some degree right now, but at the end of the day, it's a big deal, because this conference is seen by many as the kickoff to the 2012 presidential race for Republicans. A bunch of potential White House contenders are expected to be there, top names on the conservative and Republican side. There's going to be something like 15 names on the straw poll that CPAC takes at the end of the week. And 11,000 attendees, many of whom are likely to vote, so the straw poll, at the very least, is going to get some real bragging rights -- Brooke.</s>BALDWIN: Yes. I know the straw poll, of course, always, of course, makes some news. And also who makes news is the person who gives the big speech. And people were hoping that that would be Sarah Palin. We know she's not going to be there. But do we know who will give it?</s>JOHNS: Well, yes. That big speech was supposed to have been given by Sarah Palin, at least some people were hoping. It turns out she had some scheduling conflicts. There's controversy about that. And it turns out they went to Congressman Alan West, African- American congressman from Florida, just a Tea Party darling who really raised his profile in the last election. He's going to be giving the speech at end of the week, and he's quite happy about it. He actually tweeted it out several hours ago, letting people know. I think you can safely say Alan West is still a rising star in the party right now.</s>BALDWIN: Yes, giving that big speech, he would be. And then though, Joe, you touched on some drama, this boycott. Has it taken any kind of foothold yet on the eve of CPAC?</s>JOHNS: Well, you know, it really hasn't. And this is talk about a boycott at CPAC over social issues -- gay marriage, abortion -- and whether that should take a back seat to the fiscal issues because the economy has been suffering for so long. Well, that hasn't gone anywhere, but what they have basically settled on, these people who were talking about boycotting to make sure that social issues remain at the forefront, what they have settled on essentially is things like Internet ads, an open letter to conservatives, calling on them to keep social issues in the forefront, basically an acknowledgement that at CPAC, the show is definitely going to go on</s>BALDWIN: And then I want to get to this, some news from our CNN political unit. They just found out that one of the key people at the whole CPAC is actually leaving. Who is that?</s>JOHNS: Right, OK. Not exactly household names, but in the conservative universe, these guys are a big deal. David Keene, the outgoing head of the American Conservative Union, is just a real fixture in conservative politics. There he is. Been around a long time. Very much connected to CPAC. He's now being replaced by a guy named Al Cardenas, who has been around a long time, too. But frankly, our people had a tough time finding pictures of them in the background file --</s>BALDWIN: Yes.</s>JOHNS: -- because it's been so long. But there they are. This is a big deal for CPAC and the country as it changes, and there's been a lot of swirl around the organization. People are hoping that might come to an end.</s>BALDWIN: Joe, quickly, most definitely a household name, Michelle Obama.</s>JOHNS: Oh, yes.</s>BALDWIN: Talking about her Super Bowl party, and the Super Bowl menu -- hamburgers, kielbasa, et cetera, et cetera. What's new with that?</s>BALDWIN: She has, taken a lot of criticism. On the one hand, she's been pushing Americans to eat healthier, just did this thing in Atlanta today. I think that might still be going on, in fact. There you go. There's a picture of it.</s>BALDWIN: Yes, there are live pictures. Shaking some hands.</s>JOHNS: Sure, yes, at the Super Bowl party. I mean, listen to the menu -- bratwurst, kielbasa, cheeseburgers, deep dish pizza, buffalo wings, German potato salad, twice-baked potatoes. It goes on and on.</s>BALDWIN: Yum.</s>JOHNS: So, she got asked about -- it sounds great to me, but -- don't you think?</s>BALDWIN: What did she say about it?</s>JOHNS: Well, she said what she is talking about here is moderation. You know. And I can relate to that. On the other hand, nobody is really saying that she was entertaining a crowd from Wisconsin and Pittsburgh and they are from Chicago, and it's not like you can serve bean sprouts in this environment, you know.</s>BALDWIN: People, it's the Super Bowl. It's the Super Bowl.</s>JOHNS: It's just not right. Absolutely.</s>BALDWIN: Everything in moderation, Joe Johns. Everything in moderation. Thank you very much. We'll see you back here tomorrow. And several lawmakers trying to crack down on sexting, so they are introducing a new bill that goes after your children. We're "On the Case." That is ahead.