At the Western Conservative Summit, Trump’s taint lingered in the form of far-right speakers

“Smoke taint” was the metaphor that came to mind as I read social media posts from the Western Conservative Summit held at the Denver Convention Center last week.

Smoke taint is what happens when grapes growing close to wildfires absorb compounds released by burning wood. The affected grapes taste fine but later on, when the cork is popped the wine tastes burnt. Dirty ashtray notes don’t pair well so the wine must be discarded.

Likewise, although Donald Trump is out of office and will never live in the White House again, his pernicious influence lingers in the conservative movement like smoke phenols in fruit. It must be thrown out if conservatives ever want to be successful in this state again.

Overall the Western Conservative Summit featured quality speakers including two 2024 presidential hopefuls, representatives from noteworthy national conservative organizations, and three of Colorado’s representatives in Congress. Had I been there, I would have enjoyed hearing Seth Dillion, whose Babylon Bee satire site makes me chuckle; Kristen Waggoner, CEO of Alliance Defending Freedom, a law practice that defends First Amendment rights; and Riley Gaines, former Division I swimmer who is taking a stand for women in sports.

The event was not the Trump fest it has been in the past. Nevertheless, I was dismayed to see that former Trump attorney Jenna Ellis took the stage. She has been publically censured for making false statements about the election. At the summit, Ellis, along with Congresswoman Lauren Boebert, defended the former president who has been charged with willfully taking classified documents and obstructing efforts to secure their return. Their “Democrats got away with it, so he should, too” reasoning is problematic at a Christian forum.

The event also featured Wyoming Congresswoman Harriet Hageman whose only accomplishment has been to unseat Liz Cheney a leader who dared criticize Trump’s complicity in the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, Dudley Brown of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners whose attacks on moderate Republicans helped usher in the party’s minority status, and Kyle Rittenhouse, the teen vigilante whose reckless stupidity is the antithesis of responsible gun ownership. While a minority of speakers, these individuals risk burning the credibility of the Centennial Institute.

Evidence of Trump taint was also in the summit’s straw poll. Trump beat out Florida Governor Ron DeSantis 40.3% to 35.8% for the top place. The good news is that only 40% of participants picked Trump. The bad news is that 40% of participants picked Trump. The man can’t win the 2024 presidential election, even from jail.

Those of us who once held our noses and voted for a cretinous liar who supported some good policies and judicial nominees will not vote for a cretinous liar who tried to steal an election and fomented an attack on the Capitol. Our standards are low but not that low. Believing Trump can beat even an unpopular, addled octogenarian is pure folly. Anything that conservative movement leaders do that contributes to the illusion of Trump’s innocence or his ability to win an election is bad for conservatives. It’s blowing smoke.

The Centennial Institute plays an important role in educating members about the importance of the U.S. Constitution, parents’ rights in education, religious liberty, the right to life, women’s right of association in sports and personal spaces, and other issues.

It is distinctive from other conservative and libertarian think tanks and organizations in its faith-based and socially conservative character. Its annual summit is something many conservatives value. The think tank would do well to jettison its Trump association before Trump taints its efforts to influence the direction of the West.

Krista L. Kafer is a weekly Denver Post columnist. Follow her on Twitter: @kristakafer.

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