"Trump the Race Card" was one of the very few CPAC panels to directly take on the Republican Party's core problem from the 2012 election: it is very white. KCarl Smith's message was partially about spin, but included some substance (he wants more subsidies for poor kids to get private educations). He told the story of Douglass as a man who escaped slavery and became the wealthy intellectual we celebrate through conservative principles. Speaking to one of the more diverse audiences at CPAC, Smith said that right now, "If you call yourself a black Republican, a black conservative... you might as well call yourself a black racist." Conservative, Republican, Tea Party — all these words have been tarnished by the left's propaganda. "People will think you're a Bull Connor Conservative, not a Frederick Douglass Republican." The GOP must embrace Douglass as an icon. He was smart, rich, a hard worker, super into the Constitution and Founding Fathers — plus, "You cannot out-victimize Douglass. Nobody can out-victimize Douglass." Republicans had the true history of promoting racial justice, Smith said. He'd been raised a Democrat, so "I thought George Wallace was a Republican." Then he had an awakening — even the KKK had been Democrats. "I don't care how much they improve, I'm not joining the KKK!" Big laughs.

A young black woman -- who, again, would not give her name, so let's call her Amy [Update, March 16: Her name is Kim Brown] — did not laugh. "I was at the [Democratic National Convention] in Charlotte and I did not see the KKK advocating for Barack Obama." She was not a popular speaker. Then Chad Chapman, a 21-year-old student at Prince George's Community College who is black, stood to speak. "When are we going to stop seeing ourselves as victims, and when are we going to see ourselves as an opponent?" The white people applauded, making me somewhat uncomfortable. Smith said the Bible says we're all conquerers.

Then Terry stood to talk. "It seems to me that you're reaching out to voters at the expense of young white southern males like myself." The audience was open, like maybe he would go in a positive direction. He went in a segregationist direction. There was crosstalk, commotion. Smith regained control of the room, talking about Douglass forgiving his slavemaster. The Terry went full troll: "Did he thank him for giving him shelter?" Whoaaaaaaa. "Slavery was not a 'benefit' to black people!" Brown said. More commotion. Smith said "Racism does not have a political face" -- both liberals and conservatives are capable of it. To make a difference, you have to talk to people. "Dr. King interacted and impacted..." Heimbach broke in: "We don't need Marxists in the Republican Party!" "We don't need Marxists anywhere," Smith said. Brown said King was not a Maxist. "Yes he was!" Heimbach said. "Two of his advisors!" Terry joined in.