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The Council for National Policy (CNP), is an umbrella organization and networking group for social conservative activists in the United States. It has been described by ''The New York Times'' as "a little-known club of a few hundred of the most powerful conservatives in the country," who meet three times yearly behind closed doors at undisclosed locations for a confidential conference.〔David D. Kirkpatrick, ("The 2004 Campaign: The Conservatives: Club of the Most Powerful Gathers in Strictest Privacy" ), ''New York Times'', August 28, 2004〕 ''Nation'' magazine has called it a secretive organization that "networks wealthy right-wing donors together with top conservative operatives to plan long-term movement strategy."〔Max Blumenthal, ( Secretive Right-Wing Group Vetted Palin ) thenation.com 09/01/2008〕 It was founded in 1981 by Tim LaHaye as a forum for conservative Christians seeking to strengthen the political right in the United States.〔David D. Kirkpatrick, ("Christian Right Labors to Find '08 Candidate" ), ''New York Times'', February 24, 2007〕 The CNP describes itself as "an educational foundation organized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. We do not lobby Congress, support candidates, or issue public policy statements on controversial issues. Our over 600 members include many of our nation's leaders from the fields of government, business, the media, religion, and the professions. Our members are united in their belief in a free enterprise system, a strong national defense, and support for traditional western values. They meet to share the best information available on national and world problems, know one another on a personal basis, and collaborate in achieving their shared goals." == Meetings and membership == Marc J. Ambinder of ABC News said about the Council: "The group wants to be the conservative version of the Council on Foreign Relations." The CNP was founded in 1981. Among its founding members were: Tim LaHaye, then the head of the Moral Majority, Nelson Bunker Hunt, T. Cullen Davis, William Cies, and Paul Weyrich.〔(Inside the Council for National Policy ) ABC News May 8, 2008〕 Members of the CNP have included: General John Singlaub, shipping magnate J. Peter Grace, Edwin J. Feulner Jr of the Heritage Foundation, Rev. Pat Robertson of the Christian Broadcasting Network, Jerry Falwell, U.S. Senator Trent Lott, Southern Baptist Convention activists and retired Texas Court of Appeals Judge Paul Pressler, and the Reverend Paige Patterson ,〔 〕 Senator Don Nickles, former United States Attorneys General Ed Meese and John Ashcroft, gun-rights activist Larry Pratt, Col. Oliver North, and philanthropist Elsa Prince, mother of Erik Prince, the founder of the Blackwater private security firm. Membership is by invitation only. The membership list, previously made public, is now "strictly confidential." Guests may attend "only with the unanimous approval of the executive committee." Members are instructed not to refer to the organization by name, to protect against leaks.〔 ''New York Times'' political writer David D. Kirkpatrick suggested that the secrecy since its founding was intended to insulate the Council from the "liberal bias of the news media".〔 CNP's meetings are closed to the general public, reportedly to allow for a free-flowing exchange of ideas. The group meets three times per year.〔Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy, "Still Looking for Mr. Right." "Time" October 4, 2007 http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1668472,00.html〕 This policy is said to be similar to the long-held policy of the Council on Foreign Relations, to which the CNP has at times been compared. CNP's 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status was revoked by the IRS in 1992 on grounds that it was not an organization run for the public benefit. The group successfully challenged this ruling in federal court. A quarterly journal aimed at educating the public, promised in the wake of this incident, has not substantially materialized. The group has launched a website that contains selected speeches from past gatherings. While those involved are almost entirely from the United States, their organizations and influence cover the globe, both religiously and politically. Members include corporate executives,〔Adam Clymer, ("Conservatives Gather in Umbrella Council for a National Policy" ), ''New York Times'', May 20, 1981〕 legislators〔 former high ranking government officers,〔 leaders of 'think tanks'〔 dedicated to molding society and those whom many view as "Christian leadership".〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Council for National Policy」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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