Two organizers of the Conservative Political Action Conference were jeered on Friday when they asked a crowd to wear masks while in a Florida hotel ballroom.
Politico reported that just moments after former Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel finished his speech by chanting “freedom,” American Conservative Union Executive Director Dan Schneider and CPAC deputy director Carly Patrick took the stage to address what appeared to be an overwhelmingly maskless crowd at the Hyatt Regency Orlando.
“I know this might sound like a little bit of a downer, but we also believe in property rights, and this is a private hotel,” Schneider said in apparent reference to the hotel’s mask-wearing policies.
“And we believe in the rule of law, so we need to comply with the laws of this county that we’re in. But a private hotel, just like your house, gets to set its own rules.”
And Patrick added: “We are in a private facility, and we do want to be respectful of the ordinances that they have as their private property. So please, everyone, when you’re in the ballroom, when you’re seated, you should still be wearing a mask.”
Business Insider reported the two were heckled and booed by people in the crowd after making their remarks.
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.