GOP to Hear Conservatives at Convention

After protests from the party’s conservative wing, the Republican National Committee has invited several conservative Republicans to speak during the presidential nominating convention, which begins next month in New York.

Additions include Sens. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and Sam Brownback of Kansas and House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert of Illinois, three of the most prominent conservatives in Congress.

Originally, the party announced a lineup of speakers heavy on moderates, such as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California and former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, who supported abortion rights and opposed a constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriage.

That troubled social conservatives such as Paul M. Weyrich, chairman of the Free Congress Research and Education Foundation.

“If the president is embarrassed to be seen with conservatives at the convention, maybe conservatives will be embarrassed to be seen with the president on election day,” Weyrich wrote recently.

Republican National Committee spokeswoman Christine Iverson denied Tuesday that the new speakers were added to appease conservative critics.

“We had said all along that members of Congress would play a major role in the convention,” she said.

Other members of Congress added to the list of speakers were: Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.), Rep. Heather Wilson (R-N.M.) and Rep. Anne M. Northup (R-Ky.).

In addition, two prominent African Americans -- Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele and Miss America 2003 Erika Harold -- have been scheduled to address the delegates.

Other previously scheduled speakers included: First Lady Laura Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Lynne Cheney, Secretary of Education Rod Paige, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Sen. Zell Miller (D-Ga.), New York Gov. George E. Pataki and New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.

The convention will begin Aug. 30.