But two floors below the Conservative Political Action Conference’s cavernous ballroom, there’s an entirely different show.
An eclectic — and sometimes bewildering — mix of more than 120 vendors are peddling everything from handbags and advanced degrees to atheism and books. It’s a mix of unvarnished capitalism and old school political recruiting.
But perhaps most importantly, the bazaar is a place where conservatives can capture the next generation.
READ: CPAC 2015 coverage
“Look at the kids,” said Ami Francisco, who was working the Young Republican National Federation booth. “There are so many young people. There are high school kids here. There are college kids here and this is the future of our party.”
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“I am selling handbags and that seems odd, I guess,” she said. “These are handbags that are a direct reflection of my personal philosophy and personal concerns I have. I’ve designed a line that comes from my heart, which is conservatism. I hate to say conservatism, to me it is liberty.”
Noster said her handbags cost anywhere from $200 to $600 with names such as the “Liberty Collection,” which are lined with text of the U.S. Constitution.
Noster’s booth was situated across from the NRA’s set-up, which she said “makes me very happy.” The conservative capitalist then noted her next design would be a “concealed carrier version,” for a person to easily access a firearm.
The lining, no surprise, will be the text of the 2nd Amendment.
